Glacier National Park ...Summer 2009
A 5-Day Landscape Photography Workshop in
Glacier National Park
Conducted by Steve Kossack
August 5-9, 2009
The magic of Many Glacier at dawn with its historic lodge
The world famous Going to the Sun Road, The Continental Divide, Many Glacier, Two Medicine, McDonald, and St. Mary lakes, and much much more!
Where is Glacier | Who is the trip for | Weather | Schedule | Cost
About the Workshop
This is a "door to door" experience. We pick you up at the airport, provide all transportation during the workshop and transport you back to the airport at the close of the workshop!
F/8 And Be There Workshops presents a 5-day workshop in the pristine wilderness that is Glacier National Park. From Wednesday August 5, thru Sunday August 9, 2009 we will be photographing and exploring some of the most beautiful country on earth! This is a unique opportunity to explore Glacier NP on foot and by car. We will be chasing color and light on both sides of the park from well before sun up until after dark. This is an adventure that you'll not want to miss! One of the most sought after photography locations, in one of the most isolated parts of the country - and all under a full moon. Come join us for an unforgettable experience!
Our workshop will be based in the beautiful rustic and historic Rising Sun Lodge. We will have accommodations inside the park and experience the best that this park setting has to offer! With it's breathtaking location situated on the Going to the Sun Road, our workshop will have the best of all worlds. We will experience rustic comfort at this historical landmark in the heart of paradise!
Southwest photographer Steve Kossack host of the DVD series, Photographing the Great American Landscape, will lead this workshop. It’s size and design will lend itself the flexibility to travel and photograph the available light and color of this exciting area during our 5-day shoot. This is a field landscape photography workshop. Days are long at this time of year and we will be out long before sunrise until well after sunset.
Where is Glacier National Park?
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| Glacial Lakes and wildflowers are constant compositions in the summer months at Glacier National Park. |
Glacier National Park is full of soaring mountains, deep blue lakes and windswept plains. Wildflowers grow in hidden meadows, mountain goats walk among the craggy rocks, and glaciers hang in the high, brilliantly lit valleys. Some have called this the “Crown Jewel” of the National Park System. Located along the border of Canada, this park combines roughly 1,800 square miles of rugged peaks, glacially carved valleys and splendid water falls. In addition to this, it is also home to the grizzly bear, mountain goat, big horn sheep, moose, wolves and many other species of mammals.
Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada (a.k.a. Waterton - Glacier International Peace Park) is perhaps the last vestige of pristine wilderness left among the national parks in the continental U.S. Un crowded and blessed with some of the world's most beautiful scenery, its 1.4 million acres of rugged landscape was sculpted eons ago by slow moving glaciers - 50 of which are active today. Wildlife abounds and the world's most scenic highway, The Going-To-The-Sun Road, cuts a swath through grand vistas.
"Another great adventure! (Glacier 2007) This was my second adventure with Steve and again I was thinking of the real estate motto: location, location, location. You can't put a value on getting away from it all and enjoying the great outdoors. It is difficult to describe one of Steve's trips, you just have to experience it for yourself. And I can't wait for the next one. Thanks Steve!" ... Brent Mardis
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| A unique gorge sets the scene for our workshop |
St. Mary Lake
St. Mary Lake is the large lake on the eastern end of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Incredible mountain views greet the traveler to this scenic roadway. You'll see why native tribes referred to this, and Lower St. Mary Lake just outside the park, as the "Walled in Lakes."
Lake McDonald
Largest of the park's lakes, Lake McDonald is 10 miles long and just under 400 feet deep. From the foot of the lake at Apgar, the Continental Divide cuts a jagged path along the distant skyline.
Going-to-the-Sun road
The park is traversed from east to west by Going-to-the-Sun Road. A spectacular drive! The Going-to-the-Sun Road is an experience to remember. Bisecting the heart of Glacier, this 50 mile long road follows the shores of the park's two largest lakes and hugs the cliffs below the Continental Divide as it traverses Logan Pass. The construction of the Going-to-the-Sun Road was a huge undertaking. The final section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, over Logan Pass, was completed in 1932 after 11 years of work. The road is considered an engineering feat and is a National Historic Landmark. It is one of the most scenic roads in North America! You'll not believe the photo opts here!
Glaciers
Once the mountains were in place, wind, water, and glaciers went to work on the raw landscape. Glaciers shaped and carved the land, cutting deep U-shaped valleys. Smaller tributary glaciers created hanging valleys. Today abundant waterfalls plunge these hanging valleys to lower elevations. While glaciers are no longer found in Waterton Lakes National Park, glaciers are still at work in the high country of Glacier National Park.
Wildlife
Big horn sheep, mountain goats, wapiti, (elk), black bear, and whitetail and mule deer are frequently seen. Grizzly bear, moose, wolves and mule deer also live here all year. Waterton Lakes National Park maintains an exhibit herd of bison in a paddock. Beaver, hoary marmot, river otter, marten, and pika make Waterton/Glacier their home. Locally prevalent birds include osprey, ptarmigan, golden eagle, Clark's nutcracker, and Harlequin duck. The endangered bald eagle also nests and fishes here.
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| Glacier ... | lakes | and vistas |
See past participant images.
Rising Sun Lodge in the park!
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| Rising Sun Lodge will be our rustic setting inside the park! |
Our workshop will be based inside the park! The inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 4, 1996. Built in 1940, Rising Sun Motor Inn sits adjacent to spectacular St. Mary Lake and is surrounded by soaring mountain peaks. In addition to 72 cottage and motor inn rooms, we will find a restaurant, camp store and gift shop at this centralized location. Since these will be long summer days we will most likely have some time to enjoy this magical setting.
Who Is This Trip For?
This is a unique workshop:
- It’s a traditional photography workshop.
- It’s a photography workshop and also a chance to make new friends.
- It’s for single photographers as well as couples and most importantly, people that love to f-8 and be there!
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| The glacier lakes provide beautiful photographic opportunity. |
It’s for you if:
- You like working in the field from sunrise to sunset.
- You Want to learn about landscape location and light.
- You want to learn about equipment and strategies used in landscape photography.
- You like traveling with like minded people, and making images and new friends.
This Workshop
This workshop is small by design. We will explore as much of this magnificent national park on foot or vehicle as possible. You can do as much or a little as you like. Sunrise and sunset opportunity will be a part of each day. Our days will be spent photographing in all parts of this vast area. It will allow for ALL levels of photographic experience. There will be no lectures or product endorsements. Personal instruction will be available at all times. The opportunity to photograph with the group will always be present.
Steve Kossack will lead this small workshop.
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| Lake St. Mary at dawn |
Read more on the magic of a workshop in Glacier National Park
Weather, Equipment, Etc.
Glacier's summer weather is as varied as its landscape. The western valleys generally receive the most rainfall, but daytime temperatures can exceed 90 degrees F. It is frequently 10 to 15 degrees cooler at higher elevations, like Logan Pass. Strong winds and sunny days often predominate on the east side of the park.
Overnight lows throughout the park can drop to near 20 degrees F, and snow can fall anytime. Prepare for a variety of weather conditions and pack accordingly. You may start the day in a T- shirt and shorts, and need a sweater or parka by evening. Dress in layers. Always bring rain gear! Tips on what to bring will be provided before our workshop.
July-Aug: Average Rainfall 1.74” Avg Hi Temp 79 °F Avg Low 47 °F
You can do this trip with any format or type of gear. Digital or film and at any level of experience. A tripod is of course a must. Tips on gear will be available before the workshop.
The Schedule
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| A goat watches sunset with our workshop |
You will need 5 days; 2 of them are weekend days:
Wednesday August 5, 2009
Arrive Great Falls Montana by mid day. Transportation to all locations, including the return to Great Falls is provided. A sunset shoot if travel times permit.
Thursday Aug 6th - Saturday Aug 8th
Our trip will begin with our arrival inside the park at the Rising Sun Lodge. Its comfortable feel combined with some of the world's most spectacular scenery, makes this lodge a truly unique base camp.
From our home base at the lodge, we will travel to different points within the park to take opportunity of the early morning light as it breaks over the tops of the 9,500 foot peaks. Each day after our full morning of shooting we will embark on hikes to get the full experience of the natural wonders held within the park boundaries. These hikes will consist of easy gentle grades that will take us past some of the parks wonderful landscapes. We will hike each day. Most of the hikes will be of 8 miles or less in length round trip and consume between 4 to 5 hours of our day. Most of the terrain is easy and gentle with slight elevation gain and loss. We will be hiking the valleys and along the lakes. Trails for the most part are easy, well marked and dry in normal conditions. We will be driving to our sunrise shoots as well as our sunset locations. We will hike some spectacular trails in-between.
We will be exploring and photographing the well traveled as well as some great remote locations. The opportunity to share with the group and it's instructors will always be present. A print discussion will be a part of our workshop as well.
In addition to this spectacular location this trip will coincide with the full moon as it breaks over the eastern horizon and sets as the sun rises. This will provide us with the opportunity to capture some unique images of this lunar event with the grand Glacier Park as our backdrop.
At the end of each great day , a complete description of the following day’s events will be provided. On most of the hikes, we will be taking a sack lunch to eat at our leisure while gazing at the high country. Questions about equipment and provisions will be answered each evening.
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| See Glacier N.P. from the heavens .. | to the earth! |
Sunday Aug 9th, 2009
A sunrise shoot (dependant on departure times) and our return trip to the Great Falls airport.
"The Glacier Park Workshop was one of the best experiences I have had with F8 and Be There. This was my seventh workshop with you! To gain and hold repeat business speaks volumes that you are doing many things very well! The lodge you chose was both nostalgic and modern for any visitor. It represents the last frontiers of the great lodges and is within a world not ruled by electronics of our modern age. Over the past four years, I have seen my photography improve and become increasing appreciated by others. This encourages me to do more, not less. These trips are my safety value from the day-to-day challenges from my business and home life...I look forward to the next one." ... Greg Hohner
Please Remember
Our workshops are different! Our days will begin long before sunrise and we will be out photographing this special place until well after sunset. Summer days are long and we will have adequate time for photography, food and fun. This workshop will take place regardless of weather conditions, weather is what we hope to photograph! A clothing and gear suggestion list will be available prior to our workshop.
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| Goats are a staple of the park. |
The cost of this trip is U.S. $2195. This includes all transportation to and from all shooting locations as well as pick up and drop off at The Great Falls Montana airport. You are responsible for your own travel arrangements to and from Great Falls. Your Lodge accommodations are included. All Rooms are shared (2 participants to a room) Private rooms on a limited basis are $525 additional if available.
Although we will most likely eat our meals together, sometimes a break is nice. Therefore, you will be responsible for the cost of your own meals.
Our workshops are a "door to door" experience from arrival to departure. Bring film and /or bytes & food money and we'll take care of the rest. The workshop fee of $2195 will be required when you register. If you need to cancel, a full refund (less $200) will be available, but only if a replacement for you can be found in time.
If we have to cancel the trip for any reason you will receive a full refund.
With very limited availability, this workshop is bound to fill quickly.
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| Photograph the parks hidden treasures .. | as well as its icons. |
Register for this workshop today!
For more info or questions please e-mail Steve Kossack or telephone us at 1-928-634-8071