In the last couple of years,
I have been altering my photography to include teaching as a major focus. I have always enjoyed teaching and, so far,
my courses have seemed to be well received.
I have run classes on Introductory Digital Photography in a classroom
for Keene Community Education, and, around my dining room table, an intensive
course on Adobe Lightroom. Actually, in
addition to these formal programs, I have been teaching about photography in New
England for years through my weekly, “Getting it Right in the Digital Camera”
blog. The one thing I haven’t tried is a
workshop, that is until a couple of weeks ago.
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| Spofford Lake Gazebo |
In recent years, photography
workshops have become increasingly prevalent.
Just scan the ads in any photography magazine and you will find a long
list of workshops focused on special locations such as Iceland, Alaska, Africa
and the magnificent natural monuments of the southwest. Often very pricey, but, great places to
shoot, and a chance to learn from some of the most talented photographers in
the country. What, other than being dirt cheap, could I have to offer?
The answer seemed obvious, Monadnock
and our spectacular fall foliage. My
home base of the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire and southern Vermont is one
of the most beautiful and underappreciated corners of New England, and our
brief autumn explosion of riotous color is unquestionably magical. The decision was obvious, a Fall Foliage
Weekend, but then I had to figure out the when, where, the who.
When
I decided that my workshop
would be during one of the autumn weekends.
I planned to host the participants at my home on Friday evening for snacks
and a discussion about photography in general, and the specific opportunities
and challenges of foliage photography.
It would also be time to plan the shooting for all day Saturday and
Sunday morning, but which weekend would be best.
 |
| Christ Church, Guilford Vermont |
Where
The where had to be a bit
more fluid, based on the progression of the color from north to south. I spent much of the week prior to the
workshop traveling around the region to gauge the quality and the location of
the best color. There had been many dire
prediction about the damaging effects of the hot dry summer on the color, but I
was thrilled to find that this year’s foliage was spectacular. Perhaps most importantly we had not been hit
by our usual October wind and rain storms, which can often knock the leaves to
the ground. By the Saturday morning I had
a plan for our tour, but I was ready for changes as needed.
Who
 |
| At Pete's Stand, Walpole New Hampshire |
The Workshop
Friday evening was a lovely
time to get to meet the participants, many of whom were old friends. Most were from nearby, but one 
actually came
up from Concord Massachusetts. I had prepared a talk which started with many
of the important basics of digital photography and ended with a discussion of
what we might find as we chased the color.
I had already sent an email listing a few of the essential pieces of
equipment, including a tripod and, most importantly a polarizing filter. Apparently Monadnock Imaging, our local
camera store, did a nice business in the days prior to the workshop. YES! We actually have a camera store in Keene
New Hampshire. To keep everyone awake
there was also coffee, tea, and Susan’s
wonderful Apple cake. I sent everyone
home around nine to rest up for our early start.
actually came
up from Concord Massachusetts. I had prepared a talk which started with many
of the important basics of digital photography and ended with a discussion of
what we might find as we chased the color.
I had already sent an email listing a few of the essential pieces of
equipment, including a tripod and, most importantly a polarizing filter. Apparently Monadnock Imaging, our local
camera store, did a nice business in the days prior to the workshop. YES! We actually have a camera store in Keene
New Hampshire. To keep everyone awake
there was also coffee, tea, and Susan’s
wonderful Apple cake. I sent everyone
home around nine to rest up for our early start.
Saturday
Saturday morning dawned clear
and crisp, a perfect autumn day. Almost
everyone arrived in my driveway before our 7:30 start time
 |
| Roads End Road |
 |
| Green River Crossing |
My first job was to place the
group in beautiful locations and then help them get the most from the
opportunities. I captured some images
for myself while demonstrating technics, but I tried to keep the focus on the
students. My greatest frustration was
that I couldn’t be next to every student all of the time. After numerous stops, we finally made it to
Green River. With its white church, red
barns, wood crib waterfall and perfectly located covered bridge, there may be
no more classic example of a small New England village. We headed back to Brattleboro for a late
lunch, along the West River, at the Marina Restaurant.
Pete’s and a Harvest Moon
Fall is not only about
garishly colored leaves, and to illustrate the point I brought the group up the
Connecticut River to Walpole New Hampshire, and Pete’s Farm Stand. It was a great chance to shoot some beautiful
produce and to capture the necessary group photo. 
By this time my “kids” were getting tired,
but they were still able to rally for a shot at capturing the “Harvest” full
moon rising above Spofford Lake. Of
course, I planned the full moon for the enjoyment of my workshop participants. |
| Harvest Moon over Spofford Lake |
Dinner and Critique
A very long day ended with
pizza around my dining room table and a chance to review the results of the
day’s shooting. Everyone contributed to
the discussion, and I trust my critiques were gentle and constructive.
Sunday
Mercifully, Sunday’s shoot
started a bit later, and everyone showed up, even Brian who again traveled up
from Concord. We gathered in Keene at 8
am and headed for a tour down Route 124.
I have long contended that this road, as it runs southeast from Keene alongside
Mt Monadnock, provides the best views of the mountain. 
Along the way, Monadnock’s profile
continuously changes and we stopped at many of my favorite viewpoints. We ended at Jaffrey Center, another classic New
England village. In most places the
foliage was holding up well and the light varied from brilliant sun to soft
overcast.  |
| Mount Monadnock and the Perfect Cow |
Saying Goodbye
 |
| Jaffrey Meeting House |
I said goodbye to my group at
about noon. Brian had to get back to
Concord, Aaron had a big date and I had to get home for the Patriots games. I think everyone had a valuable and enjoyable
time. Comments included. Many expressed the desire to return for my
future workshops and class. I loved the
chance to communicate my excitement about photography and to share some of my
favorite nearby locations in the best time of year to see them. Most importantly, I was thrilled that I
managed to get through without any major disasters. I was incredibly lucky. We saw the rising harvest super moon and when
setting up to shoot Mount Monadnock from a hillside at East Hill Farm, a cow obligingly
settled into the perfect spot in the pasture. Sometime you just must depend on
luck.
I don’t know that I can ever hope
to repeat my good fortune, but hey, this is New England in the fall, and
anything can happen. I will definitely
be back and my list of potential future workshops is growing. How about a spring weekend for new foliage
and waterfalls, or a summer program to celebrate the night sky? Stay tuned.
Fall Foliage Workshop Gallery
Fall Foliage Workshop Gallery
Jeff Newcomer
partridgebrookreflections.com
603-363-8338
partridgebrookreflections.com
603-363-8338
