• How to shoot professional-quality photographs - better than you ever thought possible
• How to achieve perfect focus every time
• How to shoot beautiful night photos without a flash
• How to achieve perfect composition
• How to create and market Photo Essays that will sell and re-sell for a lucrative income
• How to create dazzling PowerPoint presentations that will stun your friends and family
• How to create a need for your photos and thus double your photography income…

You'll do all of this in the setting of incredible natural beauty. Vancouver is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful cities on the entire North American continent. You'll photograph majestic mountain vistas, beautiful seascapes, the hustle & bustle of Vancouver's China Town, it's beaches and cityscapes and some of the spectatular parks and gardens around the city.

 

We'll be holding the workshop in the beautiful Sylvia Hotel, only steps away from spectacular sandy beaches, the sea wall and Vancouver's exciting shopping district.

The Sylvia Hotel is a designated heritage building, ideally located on English Bay, beside Stanley Park and just 5 minutes from downtown. Built in 1912, the Sylvia Hotel is a landmark and one of Vancouver’s greatest treasures. The location is a favorite for business travelers wanting to be out of the busy downtown, for families vacationing on the beach or for romantic getaways. The Sylvia Hotel is definitely one of Vancouver’s best kept secrets. The old fashioned character and friendly service gives travelers a home away from home. The Sylvia Hotel offers a fantastic location, great value, superb quality with a wonderful beachside dining experience! read more about the Sylvia

           

 

The Travel Photographery Workshop

September 6 - 10, 2006
Vancouver, British Columbia

 

If your goal is to become a published travel photographer or travel writer ; if you're looking for a sure-fire way to turn your hobby into a career; if you long for a sideline that will allow you to travel whenever and wherever you like, or even to live in one of those exotic locations where the sun sets over a glistening ocean, then this is, without doubt, the best place to learn how to do it.

This workshop is the only venue where you will be able to learn from professional freelance photojournalists exactly how they do what they do: the things they do to sell their work time and again to magazine, newspapers, book publishers and stock photo agencies around the world. Nowhere else can you get this type of one-on-one instruction by working professionals that are willing to share their secrets with you.Can you really learn how to shoot professional-quality photos in only four days? Absolutely. In fact, you will leave the workshop a better photographer than you ever thought possible. So, join us in Vancouver this September and spend four days exploring this magnificent city with professionals that are willing and able to share the real "tricks of the trade.".  

Day 1

Introductions: meet your instructors Blair Howard, Renate Siekmann and Melanie Rockett. Then you'll immediately get to work and learn some things about your camera that will enable you to head out and shoot better photographs than you every though possible. You'll quickly learn the three ingredients every photograph must have to make it into publication. You'll get to know your equipment - digital cameras only - and how to shoot incredible nighttime images without using a flash. After dinner we’ll head out for a night shoot of Vancouver's incredible skyline and put some of what you’ve learned to good use.

Day 2

You'll start at Stanley Park -- 1,000 acres of pristine forest, gardens, flowers, beaches and lakes surrounded on three sides by water, making it truly a walker’s paradise - right in the heart of the city and where, today, you'll find a mix of locals and tourists. Next, you'll cross the city for a photo shoot in the West End and on bustling Robson Street.  Finally, we'll go back to the classroom to learn how to create Photo Essays that will sell and re-sell many time to create a real income from your photography. We’ll round out the day as Blair critiques the photos you’ve taken so far.

Day 3

Today's photo shoots begin in China Town where East meets West in a lively and engaging fashion. From there we'll head over to Gastown, the birthplace of Vancouver. A highlight of the day will be a visit to the Storyeum, a live show where actors make British Columbia’s fascinating history come alive. Your goal will be to capture even more of the city’s distinctive atmosphere through your lens, with a view to building your photographs into a salable photo essay. You'll also learn about other markets for your photographs with a presentation on Stock photo agencies by Melanie Rocket of Proofpositive.com. Plus you'll benefit from yet another professional critique of the photos you took earlier in the day.

Day 4

Set your alarm clock and join us to capture the sunrise over the city.  Then it's off to Grandville Island Market where you’ll learn the techniques pros use to capture the rich colors and textures of people, foods and flowers on film. We'll head back to the classroom for more photo critiques and a presentation by Renate where you will turn some of the photographs you've taken into a stunning PowerPoint presentation: a presentation that will stun your friends and family.

Day 5

Time to reflect: what have you learned? How will you put it to good use? Time for questions and answers. Time to say goodbye as we wrap up by noon. That gives you plenty of time to head to the airport and home ... OR maybe you'll stay on for a few days and enjoy all that Vancouver has to offer, to its fullest!

The Travel Photography Workshop
September 6 – 10, 2006
Vancouver, BC

 Price:  $1595 (Save $300 and pay just $1295 when you sign up on or before July 20, 2006.)

Includes:

• Four classroom sessions and three critique sessions
• Transportation to the best photo opportunities in and around Vancouver
• Special presentations by highly regarded photographers Blair Howard, Renate Siekmann and Melanie Rocket
• One working breakfast 
• One-on-one help and instruction throughout the workshop
• A workbook you'll take home that contains pictures, charts, instruction and examples of everything you'll learn
• Constant assistance throughout the program from our staff

 

Meet The Experts:

Blair Howard
– Professional Photographer & Journalist

Over the past 27 years, travel writer and professional photographer, Blair Howard, has sold more than 650 articles and in excess of 3,300 photographs to such prestigious publications as Petersen's PHOTOgraphic, Delta's Sky, TWA's Ambassador, Golf Illustrated, Tours & Resorts, Petersen's Hunting, Country Accents, Spur, The Chronicle of the Horse, British Heritage, The Boston Herald, The Mail on Sunday, The Indianapolis News, The Detroit Free-Press, The National Parks Service, Writer's Digest and many more.

He's also the author of 33 books - 15 travel guides, some going 3rd and 4th editions, and five how-to books - all filled with hundreds of his photographs. He is also the author of the best-selling "How to Sell Your Photographs: the Tricks of the Trade." He continues to publish a new book every year and, with his business partner, Renate Siekmann, is currently working on two  new travel guides: "The Pocket Adventure Guide to the Islands of the Bahama," and "The Pocket Adventure Guide to Bermuda."

Blair's photography is represented by three different stock photo agencies. Blair specializes in travel photography and as a professional photographer he's visited some of the world's most beautiful spots:  magnificent beaches, wild and remote mountain retreats, painted deserts, and most of the islands in the Caribbean.  Regarding the perks that go along with his profession, Blair sums it up like this:  "Would you believe I haven't paid for a single hotel stay anywhere in the world for more than 10 years?  It's true."  Blair is an expert teacher and photographer and has, for the past 18 months, been leading photographic workshops in some of the world's most exotic locations. His expertise and ability to share his knowledge in a down-to-earth way with photographers of all levels of skill make him the ideal workshop leader.

 

“I have taken numerous photography courses, but Blair’s experience as a photojournalist and his sharing of experiences, advice, and techniques was something I have never encountered in another photo class.” Robert Horacek, Weymouth

   

"I have been fortunate to have had two seminars where Blair Howard was featured and got the opportunity to personally interact with him on a professional level. His patience and teaching abilities are easy to understand on a very informal and informative level as he really shares his feelings and experiences with the students." Lynnia Allison, Miami, Florida

 

 

Renate Siekman
– Professional Photojournalist

Blair works in partnership with Renate Siekmann. She is an established and very talented freelance writer and photographer as well as a respected business leader. Her articles and photographs have been featured in newspapers throughout the United States .

Renate has published more than 85 articles covering a wide array of topics including gourmet foods and cooking, travel, recreational activities and classical music. She has also written extensively about the business of photography and has published more than 140 photographs. She has an easy, laid-back  way of presenting and sharing her expertise that makes it simple to understand the concepts that have made her so successful.

 

“Renate Siekmann has brought a high level of clarity and professionalism to her work and has made us all look better in the process.…..I know how many hours go into the kind of reporting, researching and writing Renate has done for us. I appreciate every paragraph!” Nancy Pickering - Bucks Group Executive Editor

 

 The  cost of the Workshop: $1,595.95

Book early, before July 20, and save $300 off the $1,595.95 cost of the workshop (you'll pay only $1,295.95) Pay the full amount when you book before July 20 and save an extra $100-total savings $400 (you'll pay only $1,195.95).So book now and save. For your convenience, you may use either PayPal or your credit card. If you use your credit card you can pay the full amount. If you decide to use PayPal, you can choose either to pay in full now - $1195.95 saving an extra $100 - or you can pay a deposit of $250 now and the balance by August 6 (you will still receive the $300 discount). Choose your option below.

 

Use PayPal (or your credit card) to make your deposit - $250 - here:

Use PayPal to pay your balance - $1,045.99 - here:

Use PayPal to pay in Full and save an extra $100 - Total $1,195.99 - here:

PS: Remember to book early.
Vancouver is one of the most popular destinations in the world, and the number of places available is limited.
Please book now to ensure your spot.

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