Colorado's Autumn Splendor

Ridgway, Colorado  •  September 27 - 30, 2012 • Tuition: $895

Workshop Leaders: Todd Caudle and Jerry Greer

There’s nothing quite like a stand of gold aspens set against Colorado’s impossibly blue autumn sky. Throw in a backdrop of some of the most dramatic mountains in the world and what you have is a photographer’s paradise! Join Jerry and Todd, two photographers who know the territory intimately, on this exciting and rewarding tour through Colorado’s legendary autumn landscapes. Capture the Sneffels Range rising beyond Dallas Divide, walk through the unending aspen forests below Owl Creek Pass, and photograph pyramid-shaped Wilson Peak framed in golden leaves and stark white aspen boles. Along the way you’ll learn how to build a better photograph, from the grand landscape to the intimate world at your feet.

Our days will start before sunrise and last beyond sunset, with plenty of opportunity during less favorable midday conditions to talk shop and recharge our batteries — both for our cameras and ourselves! During the day on Saturday, we’ll host a portfolio review in Telluride, so feel free to bring examples of your best work.

This workshop is perfect for those who already have a basic understanding of digital cameras and want to take their photography to the next level. During the field and evening sessions Jerry and Todd will be instructing on the basis of “controlling the technical aspect of nature photography, concentrating energies, and driving personal vision.”

Our group size will be limited to only 10 participants. Participants are responsible for transportation during the workshop, local accommodations, and meals. (Most meals will be group events, where we can continue discussions on photography and generally network and get to know our fellow attendees.) Carpooling for field sessions is encouraged. Once registered for the workshop, lodging information will be emailed so that accommodations can be secured.

While most of the locations we’ll be shooting are near the roads we’ll be traveling on, it’s a good idea to bring a pair of sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Weather in late-September can range from sunny and 75 degrees in the day to crisp and cold at night, so be prepared for a variety of conditions. Rain and/or snow is not unusual, and can add to the drama of the landscapes we’ll be photographing. Be prepared!

The workshop will begin at 3:00pm on Thursday, and end Sunday at 3:00pm. For participants requiring air transportation, Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJJ) in Grand Junction, CO has the best service to the region and is approximately 90 minutes from Ridgway.

A note about the Workshop Leaders:  Todd Caudle is an award-winning photographer who has been photographing Colorado's landscape for more than 30 years. He has been the principle photographer of six Colorado books and his photographs have graced the pages of a variety of Colorado calendars. His work has also been published in a variety of national and regional publications, including Sierra Club calendars, Backpacker, View Camera, Shutterbug, Travel & Leisure and Rolling Stone magazines. Todd resides in Colorado Springs and is the owner of Skyline Press.  Although Jerry spends most of his time photographing in the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado are what originally fueled his passion for nature photography.  Jerry lived in Colorado Springs for seven years, during the infancy of his photographic career. Todd and Jerry have traveled and photographed extensively throughout the Colorado Rockies, their combined knowledge of the region makes this the premiere autumn color workshop in Colorado.