Recommendations for 2011 Workshops.

You are one of the great aspects of our workshops.  Your energy, enthusiasm, and creativity feeds into the buzz that keeps us going all day long, all week long.  This energy is at its best when students of similar capabilities get collaborating.  For this reason we have provided a recommended flowchart.  We will not require portfolio reviews for acceptance, but keep the recommendations in mind when choosing a workshop. (If you don't like flowcharts, shoot me an email to discuss programs)
We know that every class will have a range of experience, knowledge, and tastes.  Your unique vision contributes to the class.  If you have any question about choosing the best class for you, please contact us.  Click on the image below to enlarge!

Kilimanjaro and African Safari with International Mountain Guides, June 2010.

Another great Kilimanjaro climb and African safari wraps up with great success.  All 12 climbers to the top!  The climb always exceeds expectations, and the challenges forge lifelong friendships in short time.  Congratulations to Art, Ann, Colston, and Anna Edgerton;  Rob and Meredith Elgar; John and Christina Porter; Elizah Mclaughlin, Shannon Smith and Donna Wise.  Thank you to all of the local porters and guides who helped us stay healthy and strong on our way to the summit.  It takes a special group of people to pull off such a feat!

Work hard then play hard.  After the climb we safaried in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.  We stayed at some "off the beaten path" camps and lodges this time, which I think were some of the best lodging experiences I've had on 11 safaris.  Good living and good friends all the way.  Can't wait to go back next year!

Adam Angel, IMG Guide.

...the ultimate gift of photography...

“I publish more articles in a year than most people publish in a lifetime!”  These were the words of my Paleontology professor.  Soon after, he disappeared for a while, and class was taught by one of the TA’s.  Not what I had paid for, but I would get the credits nonetheless.  Besides, it was actually a nice change of pace.  When our prof returned he told us that he had had a nervous breakdown.  I flashed back to geology field camp, when at each break he would take a wet-wipe bath before sitting down to one of his many nalgenes filled with instant coffee.  What a wreck!  He would stutter and stumble, and his heart fluttered like a hummingbird’s from dawn til dusk.  He was validated however, because he was published.

Fast forward to last autumn.  At the studio, bottle of vino, day is winding down.  The last student there is fretting over a way to sell some of his pictures.  He wants to make a little money, to buy more gear, to make more pictures to sell, to buy more gear.  “Understandable” I say, “But you’ve come a long way already.  Are you willing to put in the time and dollars to get your images out there?  Is that what you really want?”  The great power of photography is so much more than that.  Photography enriches our life.  It can change lives, alter opinions, make us cry or smile or laugh.

“Try this on for size,” I said.  “You’ve got a job that pays good money.  You’ve got a great house and live in a great place here at Mt. Rainier.  You’ve got benefits.  By all measures you are doing quite well.  Your previous success is what brought you to this stage in your photographic journey.”  “Imagine that you forget about selling a picture, and put that energy into only making pictures.  When the pictures are made, you give them away.  You focus on this mountain, and learn it like a lover, paying attention to it’s every mood, good and bad weather, season to season.  Your pictures become the only evidence of a heartfelt relationship that will form with the mountain.  You keep giving and giving and then in 20 years ask yourself this question.  “Did this enrich my life?  Did it enrich the lives of others?”  I’ll bet you my studio and all the equipment in it that it will have.

Looking for outside validation of your inner journey has no end.  You can “publish more pictures in a year than most people publish in a lifetime,” and in order to find worth the next year you’ll need to do it all over again and again.  As cliche as it sounds, it’s the journey that makes it worth while.  And by making and sharing, however it may be, you will enrich your life and the lives of all those around you.  That to me is the ultimate end result, and the ultimate gift of photography.

2011 International Photography Workshops

In 2011 we will return to Kilimanjaro and Serengeti in February.  I will also be leading "The worlds highest trek" to Advanced Base Camp on Mt. Everest, Tibet in April.  For more information visit our main website at MtRainierPhoto.com:
Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari Photography Workshop
Mt Everest ABC Trek, Tibet

Hope to travel with you in 2011 !!

Adam

Limited Time Companion Special!

If you don't get our newsletter you may have missed this incredible special, so here it is.
 

Companion Special!

We know that we have one of the best products in Mt. Rainier National Park and want as many people to enjoy the experience as possible.  Sign up for a regularly scheduled Mt. Rainier Workshop and receive half price tuition for a companion.  If you have a spouse that would like to accompany the group or just need a way to bring down the cost for two people, then take advantage of our Companion Special. Participants must send in their registration forms together, mention the special, and register by April 16th.  Not valid with any other offer.  Visit www.MtRainierPhoto.com to learn more about our workshops.

Adam

Early Season Mt. Rainier Excursion Spring 2010.

May 2nd, 2010.  Early Season on Mount Rainier!  Join us for a unique experience on The Mountain this Spring.  Ever since my first days as a climbing guide on Rainier I have appreciated the fringes of the summer season.  In May you will find Mount Rainier National Park at its most pristine.  The elements might be a bit more challenging, (you might not even see the mountain!) but you will experience a park that few others get to appreciate and explore its beauties in a unique way.  To truly know the mountain you must embrace all of its faces.  This one day excursion will depart from Adam's home on May 2nd very early in the AM.  Details and exact times will follow as road conditions are determined.  Yes, that is early and cold, so dress accordingly.  If you have any questions or would like details ahead of time, please shoot me an email.

The cost of the excursion includes:

• Transportation
• Park Entrance Fee
• Instruction

The day will consist of shooting and discussions, as well as visits to as many locations as we can reach.  We will discuss some of the basic geology, glaciology and history of Mt. Rainier in an effort to better know the park.

Early Season Special: $85 !!!

Adam
Info@MtRainierPhoto.com

Photoluck Returns

OK OK Stop asking everyone!  Here it is.  Photoluck is returning.  New time, same place, same deal.  Photolucks will happen on select Thursdays this fall.  See the schedule in the right hand column of this blog for the select dates and times.

....Breathe....Learn from others....Set goals....Reflect....Recharge....explore creativity.....share your intent....Grow with your photography and have a good time.

Come share your images at our weekly Photoluck Dinner.  Bring a digital file(s) of your favorite picture(s) and your dinner/beverage of choice (just your own), we'll do the rest.  Bring your spouse (they have to bring a photo too) and pass this on.

204 National Park Highway (that's 2nd street to you locals), Morton, WA. 98356.

Adam

Landslide closes section of SR 410 Chinook Pass

Just got back from a great two week tour with the family.  The "Adventure Truck" took us safely through Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Eastern Washington.  The fall colors were spectacular and we visited some world class wineries and restaurants.  On our way home we noticed that SR 410, Chinook Pass access to Tipsoo lake has been closed by a landslide.  For more information about the closure, read here.

While we were gone MRIP received it's CUA to operate in Mt. Rainier National Park in 2010.  So the dates posted on the website are now official.  A reminder for those of you that attended the Landscape Photography 101 workshop at the 2009 Rainier Arts Festival.  You can receive $100 off any regularly scheduled Master Class, if you sign up before October 31st, 2009.

Adam

50th anniversary poses new challenges for Serengeti

By Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN Africa | Aug 22, 2009
 
The Serengeti National Park just celebrated its half century anniversary amid reports on the growing challenges for the national park by human encroachment, demands for concessions by lodge developers and increased tourist traffic into the park.
Unlike in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, the Kenyan extension to the Serengeti ecosystem, there are substantially less lodges and tented camps located in the Serengeti, a standard wildlife conservationists intend to maintain for the long term benefit of the park

Click here for the rest of the story.

Stevens Canyon Road To Open on Thursday, July 30, 2009?

Road Update!
The Stevens Canyon Road is tentatively scheduled to re-open to through traffic by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2009.

Current conditions from the west: Stevens Canyon Road from the Paradise area is open to Box Canyon.

Current conditions from the east: Stevens Canyon Road just past the Grove of the Patriarchs is closed through July until flood damage is repaired. Access to the Grove of the Patriarchs is open only via SR 123.

Adam

June 2009 Kilimanjaro Climb

Absence does make the heart grow fonder. Three years after my last Kilimanjaro expedition I returned with a fantastic group of IMG climbers to go to the top once more.The hiatus renewed my excitement in the mountains, wildlife, and people of Tanzania. The specialness of the region was more apparent than ever to me this time. My understanding of this place, fortified over previous expeditions, gave it a certain familiarity, the kind of familiarity that relaxes you. North Central Tanzania is a fertile, vibrant, organic place. Kilimanjaro sustains it’s rivers during the dry seasons. Our journey takes us from the mountain top glaciers to the heart of one of the most amazing ecosystems in the world, the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem. As a photographer, I returned with a new eye, as a climber I returned with a renewed desire to stand upon the “Roof of Africa.”
Our local staff of 45 porters, cooks, and guides worked hard for us on the mountain. We arrived in each camp to the smell of fresh coffee and popcorn, our tents already set, and washing water soon on the way. Our team made it to each camp in record time and was very proud of their effort. (That was until I pointed out that their average age was about 25 years younger than our typical climb!! Then it didn’t seem so impressive…..:-)
We had great weather the whole climb and the scenery was as good as it gets. All 12 of us made it to the top in good style. Congratulations, Thea Handelman, Mary Grendell, Ashley Ryniak, Suzzane Weinstock, Steve Huff, Dan Talbert, Helen and Charles Frohlich, Jonathan Halata, and Bill and Will Bavinger for making to the top, Uhuru Point. I won’t forget it.

Safari was a blast as usual and a more than adequate reward for the sweat left on the mountain during our climb. Oh, and what happens on safari stays on safari…………..
~Adam Angel

2010 Kilimanjaro Photography Expedition.

For 2010, we plan to offer a "Photographer's Extension" to International Mountain Guides' regularly scheduled June Kilimanjaro Expedition. The price and length is yet to be determined, but please contact us if you are interested in more information as it becomes available. East Africa offers one of the best environments in the world for an enriching cultural and wildlife experience. This is the only photography workshop in Tanzania that features a summit climb of Kilimanjaro with an experienced high altitude climbing guide and professional photographer. Please contact Adam if you want to be added to the Kilimanjaro contact list.

Calculating Sunrise and Sunset for Photographers.

This morning the sun hit my face a little earlier than usual.  Yes, it's because of the fantastic weather we are having here in the Pacific Northwest, but as we all know the days are getting longer already.  This means getting up earlier and earlier to shoot sunrises.... ouch!  A couple of online tools that I use on a regular basis to calculate Astronomical, Nautical, and Civil Twilight, as well as sunrise, sunset and phases of the moon are here.

www.sunrisesunset.com and www.cmpsolv.com/los/sunset.html.

The beginning of civil twilight is when the "color" starts to happen, so I usually arrive at my shooting location during nautical twilight and shoot until sunrise.  Play this scenario in reverse in the evenings. An insiders tip for Mt. Rainier is that because of the huge vertical relief Rainier has in relation to the most of the state, expect the sun to hit the summit 10-15 minutes before official sunrise.  Have fun playing with those online tools and be there when the "show" happens.  I hope to see you on the mountain.

Adam

Expose your photos correctly while climbing Mt. Rainier

When climbing Mount Rainier you will encounter conditions like you've never experienced before.  So will your camera.  There are two photographic problems and two very simple techniques that will help you mitigate them.  You will greatly improve your images when shooting on the mountain if you follow these recommendations.  Yeah!  It should be noted that I am only offering "quick and dirty" techniques in this article, that can make huge strides in your images with very little "know how."  If you are interested in pro level control, please check out our Photography Workshops on Mt. Rainier.

The first problem you will encounter is that the snow will deceive your camera's built in light meter and result in severely underexposed images.  You might have seen or taken images in the past that were taken on snow where the snow looks drab and gray, and the person whose picture you were taking is nothing but a black silhouette.  The second problem is only a problem during sunrise and sunset, BUT these are the times that are best for photography so listen up!!

Let's start with getting proper exposure when shooting in any uniformly bright environment..... like snow.  The light meter in all cameras thinks that the world is 18% gray (middle gray).  This value works well for an "average" scene, whatever that may be, but fails when the world is "really light."  This is where digital cameras make it VERY easy to compensate in a controlled way.  Each manufacturer and camera model vary, so get out the camera manual and learn these functions.  You will need to "compensate" for the camera's attempt at a proper exposure by using the exposure compensation function.  Snow should not be gray, it should be white, which is 1 to 2 stops brighter than middle gray.  The quick and dirty solution is to set the exposure compensation in the range of +1 to +1.5.

The overall effect will lighten up the snow and expose your dark subjects more accurately.

•••••••••••

The second issue is one of white balance.  What is white balance you ask.  In the old days you had daylight balanced film and tungsten balanced film.  If you shot under tungsten lights with daylight balanced films the pictures looked yellow.  Add fluorescent lights, sodium vapor, etc. and the mix got quite complicated.  Luckily today, no matter what the "color temperature" of the light source, you can tell your camera that white is white, and your pictures will look correct.  Most people leave their cameras set on "automatic white balance."  Depending on your camera, it can do a pretty good job, most of the time. (Especially on snow!)  The problem that arises is when you are capturing climbers at sunrise/sunset and the mountain is glowing with beautiful reds and oranges.  Your auto white balance will decide that there is a reddish color cast and correct for it.  AAAAGGGGGHHH!!.....Skillfully rendering your beautiful sunset WHITE.  The solution is simple.  Just set your automatic white balance mode to "daylight."  This is effectively the same as shooting with daylight balanced film.  You can leave your white balance set to daylight during the rest of the day too.  Just remember to switch out of "daylight white balance" for the celebratory beers in the tungsten lit bar after the climb!

Past Accolades for Kilimanjaro Climb and Safaris. Tanzania, East Africa.

"I wanted to let you know what a tremendous experience this was for us and how pleased we were with the whole IMG program from start to finish. From the initial contact with you (Eric Simonson) and Phil Ershler, through the whole trip planning process, to the expedition itself, everything was highly professional and first class in every respect. Your personal communications to me by email and rapid response to any questions or concerns in advance of the trip were greatly appreciated. The local arrangements through the Keys Hotel and the assistance of and experience with the African guides, cooks, and porters were beyond expectations. I also cannot speak highly enough about Adam Angel. Not only did he do a great job coaching us through our progressive trek into high altitude, but he also became a wonderful companion and friend, and undoubtedly greatly facilitated the camaraderie that quickly developed amongst the climbers.

I don't know when I may get another chance to climb, but when I do, you can be assured that if at all possible, it will be with IMG. It appears that you set the standard in guided mountaineering, and I thank you for making possible this once in a lifetime experience for my son and me."

—Michael B.

"We had an incredible experience on our trip. The climb was awesome! IMG had everything well organized from the excellent accommodations before and after the climb to the coordination of the porters and cooks on the climb. Adam was a pleasure to climb with. He took a personal interest in each person achieving their goals for the climb and did everything he could to help make that happen. He had a great sense for when he needed to provide specific direction to the group and when it was okay to let the group just experience the mountain. Hope we have the chance to climb with him again. We look forward to our next adventure with IMG."

—Rob & Julie L.

"What a fun trip. And all I have to say is who ever thought up the porter concept was brilliant. It's not bad strolling up and down a mountain when you don't have to schlep your own stuff. Seriously, Tanzania is an amazing country. Kili is a beautiful mountain and the safari was just the right length of time. I also very much enjoyed climbing with Adam Angel. He's a very nice guy and excellent tour guide. The group was lots of fun and got along very well. Just a wonderful trip all the way around."

—Monica R.

"I just wanted to send a short letter to thank you and Adam for a excellent trip to Kilimanjaro. Adam did a great job throughout the climb and I would definitely recommend IMG and Adam for anyone wanting to do a climb."

—John S.

"I think I should first speak of Adam, for without his expert guidance and leadership, our climb could have been quite different and not as successful... at least for me. Although I have done some climbing, I was perhaps the least experienced of the group. And although I had trained religiously for months, I was not prepared for many of the challenges that confronted us. Adam was there for me and everyone, for every step of the way.

Not a headache was to go by without him knowing about it. When they did occur, Diamox was not the preferred cure; rather going back to the basics of breathing and drinking. He talked about what we should wear each day and how often we should snack and drink water. He instructed us as to the use of our poles: how long or short they should be or if we needed one or both. And when I encountered some problematic spots on the Baranco Wall or wherever, he was there to get me safely to the next point. By the time we had reached Barafu Hut, he had laid the groundwork: he had instilled so much confidence in us of his abilities as a leader. Little did we know how important that confidence in him was for us to reach the summit.

I know that Adam spoke to you about the wind and the less than perfect conditions on summit night. Regardless, Adam was unbelievable. He was decisive. He shouted out instructions all along the way: to eat, to drink, to breathe, to rest step and for me to stand up straight. He was quick to have our packs taken off and carried by a Chagga, when we were being carried and thrown down by the wind. And he yelled encouraging words that we were doing so well and that our bodies could do it and not to let our minds tell us it couldn't!! And because of his leadership and good judgment, no one was hurt, and we reached the summit safely.

All in all, it was an experience of a lifetime. And I thank you for including me in the group."

—Susan G.

One-on-one Fine Art Printing.

Even with extensive knowledge of photography or Photoshop or printing, there are many opportunities to botch the whole thing during some part of the process.  A 6-day "digital basics" workshop might not fit into your schedule or maybe you just need that last part of the puzzle to make your images finally come together in a master fine art print.  That is where a one-on-one session can get you to the next level in very short order.  Maybe you just need a productive day of printing with some "hand-holding" to get you past some reoccurring obstacles, such as equipment, or improper techniques.  This is a chance to sit down with photographer, educator, and mentor Adam Angel and work on whatever you want.... Digital Capture.... Processing.... Printing.... Presentation.  This format will allow you to get the personal attention you need, working on your images, at your pace.  This can be an excellent follow-up to one of our "Field" intensive workshops in Tanzania.

Topics might include:

• Color Management
• All stages of Image Processing
• Black and White Conversions
• Soft Proofing
• Printing for Color and/or Black and White
• Sharpening
• Paper Options
• Presentation

Sessions take place at the studio in Morton, 204 National Park Highway, Morton, WA.  98356.

Equipment available to you during the session:

• 27" iMac 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
• Eizo ColorEdge Premium Edition Display CG241W
• 23" Apple Cinema Display
• 44" Epson 9890 Printer
• 17" Epson 3880 Printer
• Eye-One Photo Spectrophotometer
• Photoshop CS5 with Bridge
• Pixel Genius Image Sharpening
• i1Profiler
• Plus the whole studio will be at your disposal!

Sessions are 8 hours and include as many large format prints as we have time for.  The fee is $895.  A typical session goes from 9:00 to 6:00 with an hour for lunch.  Please contact me to discuss your options or to schedule.  Adam@AdamAngel.com

Photoluck (like a potluck but with photos)

Friends of Adam Angel Photography and the Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography.  Starting every Wednesday night on October 15th....Breathe....Learn from others....Set goals....Reflect....Recharge....explore creativity.....share your intent....Grow with your photography and have a good time.

Come share your images at our weekly Photoluck Dinner.  Bring a digital file of your favorite picture and your dinner/beverage of choice (just your own), we'll do the rest.  Bring your spouse (they have to bring a photo too) and pass this on.

5:30 PM,  204 National Park Highway (that's 2nd street to you locals), Morton, WA.  98356.

Adam

Photoshop CS4 for October 08 Workshop Participants

Well Folks:

The Photoshop gods have decided to release a Photoshop update pretty much during the workshop.  The upgrade is from CS3 to CS4.  That's either good or bad timing depending on how you view glasses half full of water.  I am excited about the upgrade and know that CS4 will GREATLY enhance, improve, and speed our digital workflow.  I've been looking carefully at the updates and they are very exciting.  Lot's of WOW factor!  It's a whole new world.  Again, this is a significant upgrade that will shake up and improve the way we work on images.

So, here is the plan.  If CS4 is available by the time the workshop starts, I will teach the new CS4 tools and techniques.  So no matter what version of Photoshop you currently have, either plan on upgrading to CS4 if it is available, OR simply download the 30 day free trial and install it just in time for the workshop, so that you can follow along during the workshop with your 30 day free trial.

Remember if you are only planning on using the trial,  Do not install until the workshop begins, so that you can make sure to have access to it during every weekend of the workshop.

I would think that it will be ready by the workshop, but in the event that it isn't, you will need CS3.  Note that they have disabled the CS3 free trial!

Here is the link to the webpage where you can be notified when the new version and trial becomes available.

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=cs4_notify&loc=en_us

I will be shooting in the Tetons from Sept. 24 to October 5th, so I might be hard to reach......

Adam

Commercial Use Authorizations, Mt. Rainier National Park.

Mount Rainier National Park Mission Statement

"Together we preserve, for future generations, the natural and cultural resources in Mount Rainier National Park.  Through a variety of high quality park experiences, we promote park values, personal connections, and responsibility for the environment in our local and global communities.  With integrity, teamwork, pride, and motivation, we demonstrate environmental leadership and deepen our understanding of the park’s ecosystems.  We value our diverse range of individual contributions by showing respect and concern for each other and the park.  The Mountain inspires stewardship.  Its protection and preservation is our legacy."

Mt Rainier National Park is truly a unique and special place.  It is an island of ecosystems and climates, with many scientific, experiential, and creative treasures.  In putting together the Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography's application for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) in the park, I came across the park's mission statement.  It was such a relief to read it and to know that the park is in such good hands.  Part of Mt. Rainier National Park's General Management Plan is the Commercial Services Plan, which includes administering concessions and commercial use authorizations within the park.  By administering all commercial services within the park, the resource that Mt. Rainier National Park is can be protected.  Both Concessions and CUA holders are held to the highest standards when operating in MRNP.  By using a service that is operated under a Commercial Use Authorization and administered by the National Park Service, you are not only getting the very best in business practices, you are helping to protect the resource.  There are several companies operating photography workshops in Mt. Rainier National Park without Commercial Use Authorizations, and in addition to operating illegally are not operating within the scope of good environmental practice.  They and their clients may be subject to disciplinary action from the National Park Service.  CUAs are available to these companies and I hope that you will hold them to this standard.  As you investigate the available options please keep this in mind.

Adam

Mt. Rainier Photography at VisitRainier.com

The Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography is now listed in the workshops section of VisitRainier.com.  Visit Rainier is THE online visit you need to make before visiting the Mt. Rainier National Park Area.  The content is so thorough, accurate and entertaining that even the locals use it as a resource.