April 21-22, 2012

This Landscape Photography Class includes:

• 9 hours of classroom instruction
• 3 hour fieldtrip for Landscape Photography
• Lunch on all days consisting of a choice of main course, 2 salads, soup, side dishes and desert
• Certificate of completion
• Small group size, limited to 12 participants

Itinerary and Location of the Landscape Photography class

• Providence Renewal Centre • 3005 119 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
• Saturday, April 21sth 9:00am – 3:00pm: Classroom instruction and HDR field trip
• Sunday, April 22nd Sunrise – 9:00am: Field Trip
• Sunday, April 22nd 11:00am – 3:00pm Classroom instruction and image critique

Cost for the Landscape Photography class

• $250 Canadian Dollars (plus tax).
• Current currency exchange information between the Canadian dollar and your local currency is available here.

Policies and payment information are available here.For additional information about our Portrait Photography classes, please contact us at:
E-Mail: Contact us Electronically
Phone Toll-free: 1-877-778-1745

October 29 – November 4, 2012

About the Workshop

During the fall of each year, thousands of Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) congregate along the shores of Hudson’s Bay in Canada while they await the formation of sea ice.  They swam for shore the previous summer, when the sea ice finally melted.  The bears haven’t eaten since.  Now they’re patiently and not-so-patiently waiting along the shores of the bay for the ice to return so they can return and indulge in their favorite meal; seal.

The Burwell School of Photography is teaming up with a fantastic lodge, situated north of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, and its experienced guides, to offer you an unforgettable photo experience.  We’ll primarily focus on photographing Polar Bears, but there are also opportunities for capturing images of other animals like Caribou, Ptarmigan, Arctic Fox, Arctic Hares and even an occasional and elusive wolf.

Unlike many adventures to photograph Polar Bears, we won’t be photographing from the heights of a Tundra Buggy (approximately 12 – 14 feet (4 to 5 meters) above the ground). Instead, along with our guides; we’ll be down at ground-level with the bears, for some incredible eye-level photography with these mammoth carnivores.  Don’t worry, we’ll be completely safe.  Our guides have many years of experience working with all kinds of bears including Black, Brown, Grizzly and Polar Bears.  They’ve never had any safety incidents and have never had to fire a shot in anger from the rifles they carry.

Polar Bear resting along the shores of the Hudson Bay

The beginning of November is a perfect time of year to visit this part of Northern Canada.  The insects are long gone and there is a very good chance we’ll have some snow on the ground to photograph the Polar Bears against.  It should also be early enough in the fall that we don’t risk the chance of the bay freezing up early and the bears departing for their hunting grounds before we’re even there.  Traditionally, the bay freezes up around the third week of November.

Another photographic opportunity our guides watch for are the Northern Lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis).  This astonishing display of light and motion is a photographic opportunity not to be missed.  Guests who are interested in photographing the Aurora Borealis can expect a knock on their door at any time of the night alerting them of the display going on.  This gives them an opportunity to get dressed, get their gear in order and rush out into the fenced yard where you’re protected from the curious bears while free to photograph the spectacle playing out in the sky above you.

Churchill Wild guides looking for bears in the watch tower

You’ll be taken care of on this trip like few others.  Your guides are personable with years of experience getting photographers into the right positions to find and photograph wildlife.  The meals are out of this world.  You’ll start each day at the lodge with a hearty breakfast preparing you for a morning of hiking and photography.  Lunches can be taken ‘on the run’, or you can enjoy a sit-down lunch in the dining room before the afternoon’s hike and photography.  Dusk comes early this time of year and we’ll be back at the lodge by about 5:00 in the afternoon.  Cocktails and appetizers are generally served around 5:30 and dinner is served at 7:00.  The award winning food at the lodge is always healthy, home-made, delicious and plentiful.  After dinner you’re free to sit around the lodge and catch-up with your peers or catch a lecture or presentation.

Polar Bear sitting amongst some bushes

ITINERARY

Oct 29 – Arrive in Winnipeg for your overnight stay

Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel. You’ll need your rest for your early morning departure to Churchill.

Oct 30:  An Arctic Arrival and Aerial Tour

Arrive in Churchill by air where one of our staff will meet you at the airport and will provide you with an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your “What to Bring” list as provided to you in your Adventure Album). You will then be transferred by helicopter or fixed wing aircraft to the lodge at approximately 11:30 a.m. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada’s most exclusive Polar Bear viewing locations. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolves and of course the great Polar (Ice) Bears.

Upon your arrival, your hosts, a true Churchillian family, will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on travel in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. This day includes a guided hike on our rugged and starkly beautiful coastline, an interpretive slide show featuring the wildlife of Hudson Bay, and hopefully a clear night for viewing the Aurora Borealis. All this will be topped off with a gourmet lunch and dinner where your hosts and guides will regale you with tales of life and adventures in Canada’s Arctic.

Oct 31 to Nov 2 – Tundra Trekking, Polar Bears and Priceless Photography

Polar Bear stalking through the snow and grass

The Lodge is wildly rugged and remote. This location is great for disconcerting photographers. We are able to dedicate longer hours in the field to get up close and personal with the arctic wildlife. Ground level photo opportunities are offered for arctic wildlife including polar bears in a pristine wilderness setting. We ARE in the heart of polar bear country! Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the seascapes and landscapes surrounding the Lodge. The shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on snow and ice. Polar bears are also known to saunter by our Lodge on a regular basis so you can often view them from the warmth and comfort of one of our lounges through the massive picture windows. We also have an exceptional number of clear nights for Northern Lights photography.

Lunches will be held at the Lodge each day with some time to relax. There will likely be wildlife around the lodge during this time that you can photograph at your leisure from the lodge or out the large viewing windows. We are back out in the field approximately by 2:30pm and usually return to the lodge by 5:00 pm for hot or cold drinks and appetizers. Your full course delectable dinners are served at 7:00 p.m. after which, the fireplace is almost always central. Award winning photo ops are the priority so expect many a meal to be interrupted. Your guide team will give informative lectures and beautiful slide presentations as well as initiate a discussion about the activities for the following day. Bedtime is at your leisure. The entire lodge area is patrolled for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so if you wish,  be prepared to have a nocturnal opportunity by one of the great Polar (Ice) Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).

Nov. 3 – Say Goodbye to the Lodge…But not to the bears!

After another hearty breakfast it’s time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say our good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you’ll arrive in Churchill. Your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine & dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend Nature 1^st Tours and Transportation (www.nature1sttours.ca/) should you prefer a guided tour of the area. Local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit are all of great interest. Dog sledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you’re so inclined. For dog sledding, contact Blue Sky Mushing at 204-675-2001 for details and Hudson Bay Helicopters can be reached at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576. You will have your choice of Churchill’s restaurants for dinner. After dinner you will meet up with our guide and you will be transferred to the airport in preparation for your flight back to Winnipeg.

Nov. 4 – Darn it!  Back to reality….

After a restful sleep at your Winnipeg hotel, you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home. You will also enjoy a complimentary breakfast at your hotel before your trip back to reality.

Arctic Hare waiting out a snowstorm by a boulder

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Included in the price of the trip:

• Lunch and Dinner on October 29^th
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner from October 30^th to November 2^nd
• Breakfast on November 3^rd
• Breakfast on November 4^th
• Shared hotel accommodations in Winnipeg and at the lodge
• Return flights from Winnipeg to Churchill and then from Churchill to the lodge
• Outstanding guide service
• Wholesome, delicious, and mostly-organic food while in the wilderness.
• An amazing opportunity to photograph Polar Bears from eye-level
  

  Sunset at the Seal River Lodge

Not included in the price of the trip:

• Transportation to and from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• Personal clothing and footwear rated for arctic conditions
• Camera Gear
• Gratuity for lodge staff and guides
  

  Willow Ptarmigan

WEATHER

Temperatures vary dramatically in the Arctic.  It could be warm, but it isn’t likely to be much above freezing.  Average temperatures for November hover between 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 12 degrees Fahrenheit (0 Celsius and -11 Celsius), but like all averages, those are composed of temperatures well above and below those ranges as the record high temperature for November is 52 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) and the record low is -33 Fahrenheit (-36 Celsius).  Snow and or sleet are also a possibility so you’ll want to consider bringing along some protection for your camera gear.

Polar Bear holding a branch in its mouth

TRANSPORTATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS

Getting to Winnipeg

You’ll want to fly into Winnipeg International Airport (YWG). The airport is located close to the city centre and a short taxi ride will deliver you to your pre-trip lodging.

Seal River Lodge gathering area

EQUIPMENT

Upon reservation or request, we will send a Polar Bear Trip Equipment List

As far a photography gear, we recommend that you bring the following with you on our Polar Bear tour:

• Digital SLR with back up camera that will fit your lenses
• Lots of extra batteries in case it is very cold outside and you need to swap batteries to deal with the cold.
• More memory cards then you imagine you’ll need
• A device to download and store your images- Paul uses two Hyperdrive memory card backup drives. That way his images are always backed up on two drives.
  

  Getting prepared for afternoon drinks and appetizers at the lodge

Lenses

• A super-telephoto in the range of 300 to 500mm with teleconverters
• A wide-angle for the landscape shots
• A lens in the range of 70-200mm for those other opportunities
• Polarizing filter(s)
• Lens hoods for all lenses
• Lint-free cloth to clean lenses and air blower for dust
  

  Seal River Lodge

Other

• Tripod
• Cable release
• Small headlamp or flashlight
• Photo backpack or bag
• Camera manual
• Hand and toe warmers, not just for you but for your equipment too
  

  Polar Bear walking in early morning light

LEADER

Paul Burwell is an internationally renowned professional photographer, writer, educator and enthusiastic naturalist with over twenty years experience working with and educating adults. He has been a finalist in the international Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for 2009 and hosts photography workshops and tours throughout North America to rave reviews.

Paul’s foray into photography began during high school when he constructed a dark room in his bedroom clothes closet where developer spills stain the floor to this day. Once an adult, Paul chose to pursue a computer career professionally although he maintained his love and practice of wildlife photography.    Paul woke up some years ago to discover the Internet company he’d built from the ground up for 20 years had been sold and it was time to find something else to do with his life. While working on new business plans he investigated becoming a professional nature photographer and quickly discovered that it was almost impossible to make a living as one. Naturally, he immediately dropped his plans for internet dominance, sold his house and most of his earthly possessions and decided to dive in to become a full time nature photographer, and he’s never been happier.

Now Paul has built a career in the world of nature photography with a passion for wildlife. He is a contributing editor and regular columnist with Outdoor Photography Canada Magazine and a photography instructor at Metro Continuing College. In addition to his courses at Metro, Paul conducts a number of worldwide photography workshops and tours each year.

Paul currently resides with his wife and a spoiled cat in the beautiful prairie city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada which is nicely situated between the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains and the Boreal Forest.

View more of Paul’s work at www.PaulBurwell.com and check out his wildlife photography blog at www.WildShots.ca

Ice floating in the water of Hudson Bay at sunset

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This trip requires a minimum of 6 photographers in order to run.  If that minimum number cannot be realized the tour will be cancelled and any monies collected, including deposits, will be 100% refunded.

Polar Bear walking in the bright sun

TOUR COSTS

• $8,495 Canadian Dollars (Plus Tax)- Check out our currency converter located here.
• $1,750 supplement for travellers who are unwilling to share a room with a same sex traveller (or if none are available)
• $1,500 Deposit Required Upon Reservation
• Additional $1,500 Deposit Required by June 30, 2012
• Remainder of $5,495 due by August 31, 2012

Policies and payment information are available here.

Contact us Electronically
Phone Toll-free: 1-877-778-1745

Why Take?

Join Eric Fredine, a master of landscape composition and design, for our full featured Landscape Photography Classes.  Eric is a master of simplifying the Canadian Prairie and making stunning images of it. During this workshop, he will teach you the tools and techniques he uses to achieve his works of art.

Aspens silhouetted against a pre-dawn sky in deep winter.

Course content for our Landscape Photography Classes includes:

This is a 12 hour intensive class that covers all aspects of creating Landscape photography images including:

• Selection and use of equipment:
• tripod and heads;
•  filters;
• lenses: from ultra-wide to telephoto;
• transporting your gear.
• Focus and depth of field.
• Exposure control:
• graduated neutral density filters;
• digital dark room techniques;
• creative choices.
• Working with different kinds of light:
• directional lighting: side, back and front;
• sunrise and sunset;
• overcast days.
• Creating dynamic compositions.

The class also includes a field trip where the class goes on location.  Eric is there with the students to help you make sure you get the right shots, in camera.

Combine

Equipment required for our Landscape Photography Classes:

• a digital SLR or camera with fully adjustable manual controls
• a lens or lenses covering at least moderate wide angle to short telephoto focal lengths
• (recommended) a tripod capable of supporting the weight of your camera equipment
• (recommended) a shutter release cable or wireless shutter release
• (optional) a circular polarizing filter
  

  Cooking Lake

Prerequisites required for our Landscape Photography Classes

• students be familiar with their camera settings and how to use it in Aperture Priority and/or Manual mode
  

  Foggy Autumn Morning

About your instructor for the Landscape Photography Classes

Eric Fredine is a master Landscape Photographer with an amazing eye for composition. Eric is largely self taught. He made a serious commitment to the artistic refinement of his photographic work several years ago opting to give up his “day job” to spend about half of the last ten years as a full time artist.

His distinctive style started to emerge in the fall of 2002 while he was primarily focused on taking landscape photographs in Elk Island National Park and a few other locations. A summer of travelling and photographing in Europe further refined his visual sense. Eric’s landscapes are beautifully unique and contemporary.

His work has appeared in group and solo exhibitions in Canada, the U.S. and South Korea and is owned by private collectors around the world.

He has been seriously photographing Alberta landscapes for more than a decade.  He creates simple and distinctive views of scenes many might overlook.

These Landscape Photography Classes include:

• 9 hours of classroom instruction
• 3 hour Landscape photography field trip
• Hot lunch on all days consisting of a choice of main course, 2 salads, soup, side dishes and desert
• Certificate of completion
• Small group size, limited to 12 participants
  

  Cooking Lake

Costs for our Landscape Photography Classes

• $250 Canadian Dollars (plus tax).
• Current currency exchange information between the Canadian dollar and your local currency is available here.

Policies and payment information are available here.

For additional information, please contact us at:
E-Mail: Contact us Electronically
Phone Toll-free: 1-877-778-1745

June 16, June 23-24, 2012

This workshop includes:

• 18 hours of classroom instruction
• 3 hour fieldtrip for HDR Photography
• Lunch on all three days consisting of a choice of main course, 2 salads, soup, side dishes and desert
• Certificate of completion
• Small group size, limited to 12 participants

Itinerary and Location of the HDR Photography classes

• Providence Renewal Centre • 3005 119 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
• Saturday, June 16th 9:00am – 4:00pm: Classroom instruction and HDR field trip
• Saturday, June 23rd 9:00am – 4:00pm: Classroom instruction
• Sunday, June 24th 9:00am – 4:00pm: Classroom instruction

Cost for the HDR Photography classes

• $350 Canadian Dollars (plus tax).
• Current currency exchange information between the Canadian dollar and your local currency is available here.

Policies and payment information are available here.For additional information about our Portrait Photography classes, please contact us at:
E-Mail: Contact us Electronically
Phone Toll-free: 1-877-778-1745

Before and After HDR Processing

Join former Professional Photographers of Canada’s Photographic artist of the Year for Alberta, Darlene Hildebrandt for a photography class on HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography.  This course will teach you how to make photographs with an extended dynamic range beyond what today’s cameras can render by themselves.

HDR photography is used to capture a wider range of tones than a single image can do. In a scene that has extremes in both the highlights (light areas) and shadows (dark areas) our cameras cannot capture detail at both ends of that range. Normally we are forced to make a choice of where we want detail, we can’t have both. But, by using HDR techniques we can capture more of a range and reproduce one final image that holds incredible amounts of detail and one which can become quite painterly and/or artistic.

There are a lot of ways to make HDR images and there’s also a lot of poorly done HDR images out there on the net. This class will teach you how to do it the right way, and get stunning images like the ones shown here.

Darlene Hildebrandt - HDR Photography Technique

Course content for our HDR Photography Classes includes:

This is an 18 hour intensive class that covers all aspects of creating HDR photography including:

• equipment for HDR photography
• how to shoot and expose for HDR photography
• how to process and tone map HDR images
• software options and advantages and disadvantages of some of them
• how to avoid “bad HDR”
• post processing images after tone mapping
• removing ghosting in HDR images
• advanced retouching
• noise reduction techniques

The class also includes a field trip where the class goes on location.  Darlene is there with the students to help you make sure you get the right shots, in camera, so that you can effectively create your HDR images back in the classroom the following week.

There is lots of instructional time, practice time on your own, and in-class computer lab time to work on images and get one on one help from Darlene.

Darlene Hildebrandt - HDR Photography Technique

Equipment required for our HDR Photography Classes:

• a digital SLR or camera capable of bracketed exposures or shooting in Manual mode and one capable of shooting RAW files
• a tripod capable of supporting the weight of your camera equipment
  

  Darlene Hildebrandt - HDR Photography Technique

Prerequisites required for our HDR Photography Classes

• not mandatory but highly recommended that students be comfortable shooting and processing RAW camera format
• students must have some proficiency and comfort level using either Adobe Photoshop (NOT Elements) and/or Adobe Lightroom
• students be familiar with their camera settings and how to use Manual mode

About your instructor for the HDR Photography Classes

Darlene brings more than 24 years experience as a professional photographer to Burwell School of Photography. She is a graduate of the Nait Photography program and was a highly honoured and awarded member of the PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada) for 18 years, winning Photographic Artist of the Year in Alberta in 2006. She has worked professionally in the areas of commercial photography (product photography, food photography, editorial portraits, and event coverage); portrait and wedding photography (running her own studio for 11 years); and most recently travel and fine art photography.

Her work proudly hangs in many people’s homes and has been featured in several magazines including: Good Sam’s “Highways”; Night of Artists annual; Art Trends; the Notebook; Photo District News; as well as at various local festivals and events; and currently at Daffodil Gallery in Edmonton.

Darlene is a seasoned traveler having spent time in Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, Peru, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Spain, and 6 months in the US on an extended RV trip. Darlene loves exotic locales, exotic food and experiencing different countries directly through the local people and the cultural arts. She enjoys helping others and she also teaches classes with McBain Camera, Metro Continuing Education and her own Travel Photo Tours. Her goal is to bring her passion to photographer to others, and help new photographers improve their images and have fun.

Darlene currently teaches the courses Available Light Photography, Night Photography and HDR Photography at the Burwell School of Photography.

Darlene Hildebrandt - HDR Photography Technique

This workshop includes:

• 15 hours of classroom instruction
• 3 hour HDR photography field trip
• Hot lunch on all days consisting of a choice of main course, 2 salads, soup, side dishes and desert
• Certificate of completion
• Small group size, limited to 12 participants

Workshop Costs

• $350 Canadian Dollars (plus tax).
• Current currency exchange information between the Canadian dollar and your local currency is available here.

Policies and payment information are available here.

For additional information, please contact us at:
E-Mail: Contact us Electronically
Phone Toll-free: 1-877-778-1745

April 28-29, 2012

This workshop includes:

• 8 hours of classroom instruction
• 3 hour fieldtrip for Night Photography
• Lunch on Sunday consisting of a choice of main course, 2 salads, soup, side dishes and desert
• Certificate of completion
• Small group size, limited to 12 participants

Itinerary and Location of the Night Photography classes

• Providence Renewal Centre • 3005 119 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
• Saturday, April 28th 3:00pm – 6:00pm: Classroom instruction
• Saturday, April 28th 7:00pm – 10:00pm: Night Photography Field Trip
• Sunday, April 29th 10:00am – 3:00pm: Classroom instruction

Cost for the Night Photography classes

• $225 Canadian Dollars (plus tax).
• Current currency exchange information between the Canadian dollar and your local currency is available here.

Policies and payment information are available here.For additional information about our Portrait Photography classes, please contact us at:
E-Mail: Contact us Electronically
Phone Toll-free: 1-877-778-1745

Join former Professional Photographers of Canada’s Photographic artist of the Year for Alberta, Darlene Hildebrandt for a photography class on Night Photography.  This course will teach you to make compelling images during the time of day most people don’t try to photograph; night time.

Night photography using Painting with Light technique

Course content for our Night Photography Classes includes:

These are some of the things we will cover in this night photography workshop:

• how to photograph at night using long exposures
• what equipment you need for night photography
• the technique of painting with light
• using alternative sources of light to your advantage
• using a small flash(es)
• do’s and don’ts
• look at sample images using all these techniques
• what problems you might encounter and how to solve them
• a field trip to give you hands-on experience with Night Photography
  

  Night photography techniques used for a kitty cat portrait

Equipment required for our Night Photography Classes:

• Camera which allows manual control of shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings
• A tripod capable of supporting the weight of your camera equipment for extended periods of time
• A cable release or wireless shutter release
  

  Odell Station on Route 66

About your instructor for the Available Light Photography Classes

Darlene brings more than 24 years experience as a professional photographer to Burwell School of Photography. She is a graduate of the Nait Photography program and was a highly honoured and awarded member of the PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada) for 18 years, winning Photographic Artist of the Year in Alberta in 2006. She has worked professionally in the areas of commercial photography (product photography, food photography, editorial portraits, and event coverage); portrait and wedding photography (running her own studio for 11 years); and most recently travel and fine art photography.

Her work proudly hangs in many people’s homes and has been featured in several magazines including: Good Sam’s “Highways”; Night of Artists annual; Art Trends; the Notebook; Photo District News; as well as at various local festivals and events; and currently at Daffodil Gallery in Edmonton.

Darlene is a seasoned traveler having spent time in Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, Peru, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Spain, and 6 months in the US on an extended RV trip. Darlene loves exotic locales, exotic food and experiencing different countries directly through the local people and the cultural arts. She enjoys helping others and she also teaches classes with McBain Camera, Metro Continuing Education and her own Travel Photo Tours. Her goal is to bring her passion to photographer to others, and help new photographers improve their images and have fun.

Darlene currently teaches the courses Available Light Photography, Night Photography and HDR Photography at the Burwell School of Photography.

Canada Day Firweworks in Edmonton

This workshop includes:

• 8 hours of classroom instruction
• 3 hour night photography field trip
• Hot lunch on Sunday consisting of a choice of main course, 2 salads, soup, side dishes and desert
• Certificate of completion
• Small group size, limited to 12 participants
  

  Night photography using Painting with Light technique

Workshop Costs

• $225 Canadian Dollars (plus tax).
• Current currency exchange information between the Canadian dollar and your local currency is available here.

Policies and payment information are available here.

For additional information, please contact us at:
E-Mail: Contact us Electronically
Phone Toll-free: 1-877-778-1745

May 12-13, 2012

This workshop includes:

• 12 hours of classroom instruction
• Lunch on both days consisting of a choice of main course, 2 salads, soup, side dishes and desert
• Certificate of completion
• Small group size, limited to 12 participants

Itinerary and Location of the Available Light Photography classes

• Providence Renewal Centre • 3005 119 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
• Saturday, May 12th 9:00am – 4:00pm: Classroom instruction
• Sunday, May 13th 9:00am – 4:00om: Classroom instruction

Cost for the Available Light Photography classes

• $250 Canadian Dollars (plus tax).
• Current currency exchange information between the Canadian dollar and your local currency is available here.

Policies and payment information are available here.For additional information about our Portrait Photography classes, please contact us at:
E-Mail: Contact us Electronically
Phone Toll-free: 1-877-778-1745

Join former Professional Photographers of Canada’s Photographic artist of the Year for Alberta, Darlene Hildebrandt for a photography class on Available Light Photography that will touch on some of the basics of using available lighting (window light and reflectors) along with small flash as fill-light for portraits. These techniques are great for child portraits or pet photography, done in your own home.

Infant lit with available light from window

“I’d like to thank Darlene Hildebrandt for her “Available Lighting” course. I drove from Calgary to Edmonton to take this course not sure what to expect, and I must say that I was not disappointed! Darlene provided excellent training and has given me the confidence and knowledge I need to take my photography to the next level! I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to improve their photography skills and take their picture creation to the next level. Thank you Darlene, I look forward to attending more of your classes.” – Tim A., Calgary AB

Available light photography example - Darlene H.

Course content for our Available Light Photography Classes includes:

• what equipment to use –  camera, light meter, reflector kit, speedlights, light modifiers (minimal), light stands, tripod
• can be done with Point and Shoot style cameras except for the fill flash techniques
• how to set up for images lit by window light
• why the angle of lighting is this important and how to create and control it
• what is lighting ratio along with how to measure and control it
• things to watch out for that could ruin your portrait and how to correct for them
• camera shake, subject movement, harsh lighting, poor direction of lighting, spotting light
• how to choose when to use a white, silver, gold, transparent or even a black reflector and why
• how to balance fill flash with available or ambient light in the room or outdoors
• how to use bounce flash indoors as fill light
• adding an interesting element to the portrait (backgrounds, foregrounds, props)

“I thoroughly enjoyed the course – I have attended a coupleof seminars at a competing photography store, and have been disappointed with the level and presentation of the instruction. This course was fabulous and was filled with information, much of which was new to me and I felt challenged. When I left the course I was very happy that I had learned so much new information and techniques that I could go away and follow up on and practise. (I’m a kinesthetic learner!) I also enjoyed your sharing of tips throughout the day, and have already been able to impress a friend with the leaning forward pose to lose the double chin!” – Anna E., Edmonton

Available light photography example 2 - Darlene H

About your instructor for the Available Light Photography Classes

Darlene brings more than 24 years experience as a professional photographer to Burwell School of Photography. She is a graduate of the Nait Photography program and was a highly honoured and awarded member of the PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada) for 18 years, winning Photographic Artist of the Year in Alberta in 2006. She has worked professionally in the areas of commercial photography (product photography, food photography, editorial portraits, and event coverage); portrait and wedding photography (running her own studio for 11 years); and most recently travel and fine art photography.

Her work proudly hangs in many people’s homes and has been featured in several magazines including: Good Sam’s “Highways”; Night of Artists annual; Art Trends; the Notebook; Photo District News; as well as at various local festivals and events; and currently at Daffodil Gallery in Edmonton.

Darlene is a seasoned traveler having spent time in Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, Peru, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Spain, and 6 months in the US on an extended RV trip. Darlene loves exotic locales, exotic food and experiencing different countries directly through the local people and the cultural arts. She enjoys helping others and she also teaches classes with McBain Camera, Metro Continuing Education and her own Travel Photo Tours. Her goal is to bring her passion to photographer to others, and help new photographers improve their images and have fun.

Darlene currently teaches the courses Available Light Photography, Night Photography and HDR Photography at the Burwell School of Photography.

Available Light photography example 3 - Darlene H

This workshop includes:

• 12 hours of classroom instruction
• Hot lunch on both days consisting of a choice of main course, 2 salads, soup, side dishes and desert
• Certificate of completion
• Small group size, limited to 12 participants

Itinerary and Location

• Providence Renewal Centre • 3005 119 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
• Saturday, May 12th 9:00am – 4:00pm: Classroom instruction
• Sunday, May 13h 9:00am – 4:00om: Classroom instruction

Workshop Costs

• $250 Canadian Dollars (plus tax).
• Current currency exchange information between the Canadian dollar and your local currency is available here.

Policies and payment information are available here.

For additional information, please contact us at:
E-Mail: Contact us Electronically
Phone Toll-free: 1-877-778-1745

December 8-9, 2012

This workshop includes:

• 12 hours of classroom instruction
• Lunch on both days consisting of a choice of main course, 2 salads, soup, side dishes and desert
• Certificate of completion
• Small group size, limited to 12 participants

Itinerary and Location of the Portrait Photography classes

• Providence Renewal Centre • 3005 119 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
• Saturday, December 8th 9:00am – 4:00pm: Classroom instruction
• Sunday, December 9th 9:00am – 4:00om: Classroom instruction

Cost for the Portrait Photography classes

• $250 Canadian Dollars (plus tax).
• Current currency exchange information between the Canadian dollar and your local currency is available here.