A full three days of adventure and shooting including both sunrise and sunset golden hour locations. We will meet Thursday the 21st for introductions and pre-instruction, followed by a relaxing evening shoot at a local favorite. We will start during the golden hours of the morning and as the light changes, we will introduce other techniques needed to help you continue to photograph.   We will explore the use of filters to improve upon your waterfall imagery and show you how to achieve both the soft, milky water look, and some good some energy in the water that produces beautiful lines, texture and shapes. Water movement is one of the keys to photographing streams and waterfalls. We will be exploring this topic in depth to ensure you’re able to achieve beautiful lead lines in your composition.

A little about the area

When envisioning the transition from the high mountains of North Carolina to the rolling piedmont of South Carolina one might imagine a gentle and graceful shift of geography. In reality, however, the transition along the southeastern face of the Blue Ridge Mountains—an area known as the Blue Ridge Escarpment or, for short, the Blue Wall, by the Cherokee Indians--is abrupt and dramatic: sheer cliff faces, deep gorges, and beautiful headwater rivers with names like Chattooga, Whitewater, Thompson, Horsepasture, Toxaway, Eastatoe, and Saluda. Fun fact: two of only four Wild and Scenic Rivers in the southeastern United States are in this area (the Chattooga and the Horsepasture). It is fair to say that an over-abundance of nearby natural riches—including Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway—dominate the attention and focus of outdoors enthusiasts. However, the Blue Ridge Escarpment in Upstate South Carolina is a wilderness area of national significance and we’re excited to share a small portion with you through this waterfall workshop! We’ll be setting up base camp at Oconee State Park located in the northwestern corner of Upstate South Carolina. Here, situated within Sumter National Forest, we’ll have nearby access to the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River where numerous tributary streams cascade, tumble, and crash on their way to join up. The Chattooga River watershed and corridor along the state borders of South Carolina and Georgia will be our primary focus throughout the workshop. Some of the waterfalls we’ll be working around could include Issaqueena Falls, Yellow Branch Falls, Spoonauger Falls, King Creek Falls, Riley Moore Falls, Opossum Creek Falls, and Long Creek Falls. Several areas of the Chattooga River itself form interesting waterfalls and cascades, including the infamous Bull Sluice cascade, as well as Woodall Shoals and the Chattooga Potholes. Should the weather and schedule permit, we’ll also have the opportunity to hop on nearby Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (SC-11) to travel along the base of the Blue Wall through a series of public and private conservation lands, including the Table Rock Watershed, the Mountain Bridge Wilderness and a large swath of property owned by Duke Energy (where Lake Jocassee is located). Waterfalls here include Twin Falls, Oconee Station Falls, and Lee Falls to name a few. We’re both excited to introduce this particular wilderness area—an exciting transitional zone rich with beautiful water--to fellow waterfall and landscape lovers!

Important:  Hikes can vary in difficulty levels and can reach up to 2-3 miles round trip.  We do take our time, so that no one feels rushed and we always want everyone to arrive safe. No one knows your condition and fitness level better than you.  If there any doubts, you may contact us at any time to discuss it in more detail.  Your safety is always our highest priority..  Helping us by being prepared will ensure you have a safe and productive trip.  If there is any question, check out our individualized sessions, custom designed specifically for you.

Enrollment is limited to 6, so you will receive ample individual attention. You’ll quickly learn through direct hands-on instruction and be able to achieve the techniques using your own equipment.  This is the best way to learn and remember it for your next outing.

You will be responsible for your food, lodging and transportation. Admission Fees will also be your responsibility.

We will be staying at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Seneca, SC. A bloom of rooms will be listing soon. Contact Tommy White for details: 828-773-0369

Cancellation Policy:  If you need to cancel your booking, the Deposit is non refundable on all Seasonal and Group Photography Workshops.  If the cancellation is less than 90 days, you will receive a full refund minus the deposit and 15% admin fee, when your spot is filled. If the cancellation is more than 90 days, you will receive a full refund when your spot is filled, or, you may move to another available workshop (minus a 15% admin fee) in the current calendar year. The remaining balance on the new Workshop is due upon transfer.

If you are booked for a Private Workshop and you need to cancel, you may reschedule your workshop one time within the current calendar year during an available time.