Pennsylvania Flower and Garden Photography Mini Workshop Regional Event (April 16-19, 2024)

Leader | Travel & lodging | What to expect | Preliminary itinerary

Registration is now open

Event Overview

Join Mary Louise Ravese for a flower/garden mini-workshop based in the greater Philadelphia area-America’s Garden Capital. We’ll visit the area’s crown jewel – Longwood Gardens during the prime time for their spring bulbs display which features 200,000 bulbs and more than 80 varieties of tulips. This extensive garden on the former DuPont estate offers a wide variety of flower and plant subjects in both formal outdoor gardens and a large indoor conservatory. Next, we’ll have a “straight out of Holland” experience at a nearby tulip farm. Acres of tulip rows of different colors offer a variety of photo possibilities from macro closeups, to shoot throughs, and intentional camera movement. Rounding things out, we’ll visit another area garden that offers a forest woodland setting with an abundance of spring ephemeral wildflowers including more than 5 different varieties of trillium, as well as flowering bushes and trees. If the weather permits, we’ll also visit a botanical garden on a large estate that offers a variety of romantic and whimsical garden rooms along a meandering path through softly rolling hills. Part of the fun is the broad diversity of flower and garden photo opportunities that Mary Louise has curated for this event.

Cost:
Early Bird Rate: $845 NANPA & ASMP Members/$1045 Non-members by March 25, 2024

After March 25, 2024: $945 NANPA & ASMP Members/$1145 Non-members

Maximum number of attendees: 9

Last Date to Register: April 5, 2024

Dates:
Preparatory Webinar for participants Wednesday March 13, 7 pm (ET)
Tuesday April 16, 2024 at 4:30 pm to Friday April 19, 2024 at 2 pm
Post event Image Sharing and Feedback Webinar for participants Tuesday May 10, 7pm (ET)

©Mary Louise Ravese

Leader

Mary Louise Ravese –

Mary Louise Ravese specializes in fine art nature, travel and creative photography from locations across the world. Professionally trained in the use of both 4×5 and 35 mm cameras, today Mary Louise shoots with full-frame mirrorless cameras, producing award-winning imagery in color and black and white. Her photographs are in private, university & corporate collections in over 40 states, and are exhibited nationally. She has published images in calendars, magazines, books and websites, including special projects for National Geographic Maps and The Nature Conservancy. She is a member of the North American Nature Photography Association and the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association. In 2021 her image was given the NANPA Showcase Judges’ Choice Award in Macro/Micro/All Other.

Mary Louise is an accomplished photography educator and a regular speaker and competition judge for photography clubs around the country. Through her company, Bella Vista Photography, Mary Louise enjoys teaching both the technical and aesthetic aspects of photography. Based in North Carolina, she leads monthly photo walks at NC State University’s JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh as well as classes and photo workshops at a variety of locations across the US and abroad.

You can learn more about Mary Louise, her photography and the classes she offers by visiting her website at shop.bellavistaphotography.com

Travel and lodging

NANPA is holding a block of hotel rooms for event participants for the rate of $99 per night + tax at a hotel in Glen Mills, PA. Hotel details will be shared with registered participants.

The last date to book a room in the NANPA room block is March 25, 2024.

NEAREST AIRPORT:

PHL Philadelphia International Airport is about 20 miles from the hotel

• Transportation to and from the hotel and during the event is not included and is the attendees’ responsibility.
• Car Rental: A regular rental car will be fine; we will not be driving on roads that require extra clearance or 4×4

EVENT TRANSPORTATION:

Transportation to and from the hotel and during the event is not included and is the attendees’ responsibility.

All our planned photo shoots are within a 45 min drive of the event hotel.

RIDE SHARING:  We will be starting each day from the workshop hotel in Glen Mills, PA. Ridesharing is encouraged to reduce the size of our vehicle presence and improve the traveling/following experience. You are welcome to either drive or ride with someone. This is also a great way to meet people and make new friends during the event!

Note that NANPA does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among the participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

MEALS:

All meals except Friday group lunch are on your own.  The location of the Friday Group Lunch, which is included in the event registration fee, will be shared at the Meet and Greet. Attendees are encouraged to eat together with their group as part of the overall experience.

©Mary Louise Ravese

What to expect

Photography Locations:

Some of the locations that we will most likely photograph include:

• Formal gardens and indoor garden conservatory
• Historic estate with natural woodland trails featuring spring ephemeral flowers and flowering trees
• Historic estate with multiple whimsical outdoor garden “rooms”
• Tulip flower farm

What may be in bloom during the event (depending on the weather):

Tulips, daffodils, allium, hyacinth, azalea, forsythia, wisteria, trillium, shooting star, foam flower, rue-anemone, lilac, bleeding heart, columbine, iris, Dutchman’s breeches, trout lily, saucer magnolia trees, dogwood trees, cherry trees, redbud trees, to name a few.

The event fee includes garden and farm entrance fees.

Your leader will have visited the areas prior to the event and the field trip locations will be based on what’s most photogenic at the time, weather conditions, etc.  These will be announced on Tuesday evening during the Registration/Orientation.

HEALTH AND FITNESS:

Photo locations are relatively flat with a few small hills. Some paths are dirt/mulch and on uneven ground, while others are paved. Several gardens are quite large, so those with good mobility can explore a wide network of trails, while those with limited mobility can find interesting subjects without extensive walking. Participants can walk at their own pace, most gardens have benches available to rest if needed. Scooters are available for rent at Longwood Gardens, one of the larger gardens.

WEATHER & CLOTHING:

The average daytime temperatures at this time of year are between the low 50s to low 60s. Overnight temperatures can drop to low 40s. Dressing in layers is recommended. A light rain jacket and rain pants are also a good idea. Closed toed walking shoes or hiking boots are recommended. 

CAMERA GEAR:

• A DSLR or mirrorless camera
• Tripod (optional, but recommended)
• Tripod Head: Ball Head for most situations, Gimbal Head (e.g. Wimberly SideKick, optional but helpful for ICM shots)
• Lenses for flower and garden photography. No specific lenses are required to participate, but the following are recommended:
  • a mid-range zoom lens
  • a telephoto lens up to 400 or 500 mm
  • a macro lens (e.g. 90mm, 100 mm, 105mm, 180 mm) (or macro lens alternatives like extension tubes and/or close-up filters/diopters)
  • specialty lenses like Lensbaby Velvet (optional)
• Circular polarizing filter
• ND filter (s) (optional – helpful for trying intentional camera movement technique)
• Collapsible Reflector (preferably soft gold up to ~ 24”) (optional)
• Collapsible Diffuser (preferably ~24”) (optional)
  

OTHER RECOMMENDED GEAR:

• A rain cover for your camera and camera bag
• Knee pads or small cushioned pad for kneeling (optional)
• Insulated lunch bag/box (we can pick up lunch fixings nearby to take with us and enjoy a picnic lunch which is permitted at some of the gardens)

GENERAL:

We will be based in Glen Mills, PA during this regional event.

Please keep in mind that this NANPA Regional Event is designed to be a mini photo workshop. Don’t be shy about asking Mary Louise for help if you need it. This tour is open for 9 participants to give each plenty of time with the leader and to retain flexibility based on weather and the best opportunities.

This event is designed for all levels of photographers – amateur, intermediate, advanced, and professional – interested in improving their photography skills or looking for location guidance to capture images of flowers and gardens.  If you are new to photography, Mary Louise will be available to answer questions, teach new techniques and help you improve your photographic skills.  If you already have plenty of photography experience, Mary Louise will ensure that you’re in the best locations for those perfect shots. Other participants are also great about sharing techniques, tips, and ideas. Please know your camera before you arrive and bring your manual just in case, we need to look up something.

Attendance and participation at NANPA Regional Events is limited to registered attendees only.  Anyone wishing to participate in any portion of, or travel with a registered attendee during the group event must contact the NANPA office and pay the full registration fee.

©Mary Louise Ravese

Preliminary itinerary

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:

Please note schedules provided in advance are always preliminary, the final schedule may be different due to weather conditions, and other variables.

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

• Arrival and check into hotel.
• 4:30 pm “meet and greet” in the hotel meeting room followed by a presentation introducing participants to the area and discussing some of the techniques for photographing in each setting.
• Dinner on your own

Since we are visiting gardens during this event, our start and end times revolve around the gardens’ opening / closing times. Our photography will typically start at 10 am and conclude by 5 or 6 pm. The gardens are not accessible at dawn / dusk, so there will not be any planned sunrise or sunset shoots. The precise day we will visit each garden / farm is entirely dependent on the weather and wind and cannot be planned with precision in advance.

Since we can’t access the gardens and farm first thing in the morning, Mary Louise will show how to use light modifiers like reflectors and diffusers to achieve ideal images. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore more artistic techniques like intentional camera movement.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 and Thursday April 18, 2024

• Instructional presentation, the timing (morning, afternoon or evening) will depend on weather forecast
• Depart hotel for morning shooting session
• Lunch – break for mid-day.
• Afternoon shooting session
• Return to hotel, dinner on your own

Friday April 19, 2024

• Depart hotel for morning shooting session
• Group lunch (included in the event fee)
• The event wraps up after lunch at approximately 2 pm.

This mini workshop will serve as an introduction to the gardens of this area, but participants may wish to extend their stay through the weekend to explore on their own either these gardens in more detail or visit some of the other 30+ gardens in the area.  Mary Louise can offer recommendations.

Regional Event Cancellation and No Refund Policy:  

NANPA will not offer any refunds for registrations for this event regardless of when the cancellation is made or the reason for the cancellation. NANPA reserves the right to cancel any event or activity due to insufficient registration or any unforeseen circumstances. NANPA will offer refunds if NANPA has to cancel the event. It also has the right to substitute presenters if those originally scheduled cannot attend. Registrants may purchase event insurance as part of the registration process through NANPA’s partner, Allianz. More information on this option will be shown during the checkout process for the event registration.

NOTE:  If you do not purchase event insurance at the time that you pay for your registration, you will NOT be able to go back and purchase it with Allianz later.

If you choose to purchase travel insurance separately, you can do so with your own insurance carrier, or NANPA members can receive a special travel insurance rate through USI Affinity/Travel Insurance Services