Winter Photography Workshop in Acadia National Park

February 4-7, 2027

Overview

This is a small group, intensive workshop designed to help you improve your photography. Our instructors are kind, patient, and attentive to your needs. We work with participants at all levels in their journey. In addition to copious amounts of field instruction, we also provide classroom time to cover special techniques to help your images utilize the latest advances in digital darkroom technology. We also have image review sessions with kind and constructive feedback. Seeing how others in the group capture the same scenes in different ways can be one of the most enlightening and enjoyable parts of the workshop. We celebrate that and want to help you hone your own unique point of view.

• Number of Instructors: 2
• Number of attendees: 10
• Level of difficulty (physical requirements): Moderate

We both agree that winter is our favorite season in Maine. Why would anyone love a time of year when it can be uncomfortably cold, snowy, sometimes wet, windy, with bare trees and brown grass? Just look at some of the images we’ve shared and I think you’ll see why. Winter is stunningly beautiful around here!

Maine is lucky to have real winters. Some mornings can be so cold that dramatic mist called sea smoke rises out of the ocean. Ice coats the shoreline and floats in the water, creating intricate textures and patterns that are fascinating to photograph. Snow covers otherwise distracting ground and simplifies the scene. The alternating stark and quiet and times of terrific storms highlight themes like quietude, beauty, turbulence, struggle, hope and resilience. The angle of light in winter is marvelous, too. The sun seems to scrape along the horizon and create much longer periods of soft and golden light. The features of Acadia’s shoreline also line up nicely in winter to the southerly sun angles, much more so than in summer.

It’s also a time when you can find solitude in one of the busiest parks in the country. We’ll have popular locations like Bass Harbor and the stops along Ocean Drive mostly to ourselves on these days. Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake will have parking! There are also many off the beaten path locations that we can’t wait to show you, our own special spots that we’ve been coming to for years, away from the commotion to where we can concentrate on peace of mind and the space we like to be in when we are making images. Come and see how we do it and share in some of the magic we feel when we’re out here. This workshop includes two instructors and is limited to ten attendees.

Basic Schedule

Our itinerary can and will change due to the weather and other factors. Our goal is to get you in the best possible locations to match the conditions. Over the course of just a few days, you will see a wide range of locations with both grand and intimate scenery and even revisit a few spots for deeper insights.

Day 1: We meet in the hotel lobby at 2:00 PM for orientation and Q&A before going out for an evening photography session. Dinner as a group.

Day 2: Sunrise/morning field session, breakfast, afternoon presentations, sunset field session, group dinner.

Day 3: Sunrise/morning field session, breakfast, afternoon post-processing training, sunset field session, group dinner.

Day 4: Sunrise/morning field session, breakfast, group image review, debrief, and conclusion at noon.

Possible locations include but are not limited to: Boulder Beach, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Jordan Pond, Eagle Lake, Jesup Path, Thunder Hole, Monument Cove, Tremont, and Bass Harbor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lot of experience or expensive gear to take this workshop?

No! You can make great images right away with simple equipment, and that’s what this workshop aims to teach you. If you have photographed before and aim to update yourself on the latest techniques in digital photography, this is definitely for you. If you are just starting out and have a new camera you want to learn, this is for you, too. If you are a seasoned veteran who doesn’t need much help, just wants to go to great locations and have fun with like-minded individuals, well, this is for you, as well!

What are the fitness requirements?

A basic level of fitness is necessary for participation in this workshop. Higher levels of fitness will greatly increase your enjoyment of the experience. Stability is an important consideration on this workshop because of the season. Surfaces are much more slippery in the winter due to snow and ice, but not entirely unmanageable. Microspikes go a long way toward negating these effects. There will be some short hikes of two miles or less, possibly on snow and ice.

What happens if the weather doesn’t cooperate?

Bad weather is good weather to landscape photographers. If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes. There are many idioms that apply to the weather, and if you don’t already know, being out in all weather usually leads to great photo opportunities! Safety will remain a top priority. We won’t drive, nor ask you to drive, in hazardous conditions. With the right preparation, we can survive and even thrive in extreme cold. Please keep an open mind when it comes to your expectations about what ‘good’ conditions are. We want to teach you how to shoot in all conditions!

What to Bring

Photo Equipment:

• DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
• Lenses to cover 16-200mm on a full-frame sensor are recommended, 10-150mm on a crop sensor.
• Sturdy Tripod and Head
• Circular Polarizer and Neutral Density Filters
• Waterproof Camera Backpack (a shoulder bag is not a good substitute)
• Waterproof Covering for Your Camera or a Packable Umbrella
• Laptop with Editing Software
• Card Reader
• Extra Batteries and Memory Cards

Other Gear:

• Winter Boots
• Microspikes
• Wool or Synthetic Socks
• Heavy Coat
• Waterproof and Windproof Shell
• Snow Pants
• Moisture Wicking Insulated Base Layer
• Gloves – wool liner gloves with heavy mittens that fit over them
• Winter Hat
• Hand Warmers

Price: $1695

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A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due at the time of booking.

Included in the Price:

• One-on-one field instruction from two instructors
• Classroom space
• Daily image reviews and post-processing guidance
• Breakfast is included in the lodging

Attendees are responsible for:

• Transportation, including flights
• Lodging
• Park entry fees
• Meals
• Travel Insurance: www.squaremouth.com

We recommend staying at The Inn on Mount Desert in Bar Harbor, where our classroom space will be. Contact Brandon Monroe at 207-266-9136 and tell him you’re with J.K. Putnam Photography.

Acadia park passes can be purchased in person at the following locations:

• Hulls Cove Visitor Center
• Sand Beach Entrance Station
• Bar Harbor Village Green
• Thompson Island Information Center
• Blackwoods Campground
• Schoodic Woods Campground
• Seawall Campground

You can also purchase a pass online HERE.

Cancelations:

Cancelations made 60 days in advance will receive a full refund. Cancelations less than 60 days before the start of the workshop will receive no refund. If a canceled spot is able to be filled before the start date of the workshop a full refund will be given, including the deposit.

Acknowledgement of Risk:

You will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Risk upon arrival.

Questions?

Contact us HERE.

Meet Your Instructors: