Photo Safaris - Columbia River Gorge

Digital Field Workshop


		Dates	Apr 21–27, 2007
		Leader	Stuart Westmorland
		Fee	$2,295 from Portland, Oregon
		Deposit	$300
		Limit	8
			Terms and Conditions

Dividing Oregon and Washington, the Columbia River bisects the Cascade Mountain Range as it snakes its 2,000-mile length from Canada to the Pacific. A 100-mile-long, 253,500-acre section of this beautiful riparian corridor was federally designated as the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in 1986. Our digital photo exploration of the Gorge will concentrate on the Oregon section and nearby environs.

The Gorge, known for its hanging waterfalls and mossy emerald rain forests, incorporates thirty state parks and parts of two national forests. Its breathtaking scenery includes river vistas, vertical basalt cliffs, windswept plateaus and a tapestry of wildflower fields on the semi-arid eastside lands in the Cascade Mountains rain shadow. The wind drops its moisture on the west end of the Gorge, becoming drier and warmer as it moves over the Cascade Crest to the eastern slopes. Verdant Douglas fir forests of the west give rise to the drier ponderosa pine and oak forests and floriferous grasslands to the east.

Mount Hood is visible on clear days, standing boldly above the apple, pear and cherry orchards that flourish in the Hood River Valley. The fruit tree bloom can be spectacular at the time of our visit.

When Lewis and Clark arrived at the Gorge and camped at The Dalles in 1805, they found a prosperous Native American population that had gathered for over 10,000 years to trade and fish. In 1805 the river was

a mighty, untamed force. Now, dammed and harnessed for power, the Columbia is subdued but still powerful. And one of its least spoiled, most accessible areas is, in fact, the Gorge.

When weather dictates, we will head west for a day trip to the northern part of Oregon’s coast. Ruggedly beautiful and photographically interesting, Oregon sports its own Haystack Rock, where pelagic cormorants, pigeon guillemots and western gulls nest. More easily spotted are piles of picturesque driftwood, wind-sculpted dunes and wave-battered shores with contorted trees. We should have many productive hours on the beaches and wooded hillsides of Oregon’s coast.

Join us for an intimate look at Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge and coastline. This digital workshop offers time for individual critiques as well as discussions on digital workflow and basic Photoshop techniques.

Day 1 (Apr 21)
We meet at the Portland airport to transfer as a group to our hotel in the heart of the Gorge. (D)

Days 2–4
We will concentrate on the central and eastern portions of the Columbia Gorge. (BLD)

Days 5–6
Moving to lodging at the western edge of the gorge will make it possible to spend a day at the northern Oregon beaches, weather permitting, and to be able to concentrate on the western end of the gorge. We should have a plethora of scenic and close-up subjects in both areas. (BLD)

Day 7 (Apr 27)
Participants depart for home.



	Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc. P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, Washington USA 98070 Phone: (206) 463-5383 Fax: (206) 463-5484 Email: info@photosafaris.com Copyright © 2008, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc.