Sure you have seen all the images of Bernie Sanders floating around the interwebs of him in his mittens enjoying the inauguration ceremony superimposed on various interesting backgrounds.

As we kickoff our winter workshop today I am reminded of our first winter workshop when temperatures were hovering around -14 degrees.  That seems almost impossible today as we sit at a balmy 26! :) I can tell you the landcruiser was toasty toasty as we gingerly made our way down the parkway, headed to a little sheltered spot on Boone Fork Creek.

As photographers, we find ourselves seeking out the best light and the most dramatic conditions. This often means going out in harsh weather. This can be very rewarding but also really challenging, and sometimes even downright dangerous. With a solid game plan and some planning, we can reduce the dangers and get better images. The end result being that we can have a safe and enjoyable experience in the backcountry while capturing some fantastic wonders of our world.

This year, we had an amazing time exploring the waters of the Western North Carolina mountains. Brevard was our cozy home base, just like during our unforgettable Spring Waterfalls adventure. We headed south and west, finding loads of stunning waterfalls with plenty of water and beautiful fall colors. It was so gorgeous that we almost couldn't take it all in! Looking back at the photos, we can't help but feel lucky to have experienced such a lovely place and to enjoy all the awesome gifts nature has to offer.

There isn’t much more spectacular than sunrise or sunset at the beach. Immense skies, crashing waves and golden sand can be fantastic elements in an incredible photograph. Unfortunately the sand, sea and salt are all detrimental to your camera gear.