Fall colors launched early in the Colorado Rockies. Even better than catching them before the leaves drop is capturing them forever with a camera lens. There’s a unique opportunity to do exactly that every autumn at Beaver Creek, when The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch hosts its Fall Photography Workshop.
Led by long-time National Geographic photojournalist Jad Davenport, this fall’s three-day workshop takes place Sept. 25-27 and is open to every level of photographer, including amateurs with nothing more than a phone camera.
When the landscape on the slopes is covered with swaths of yellows, oranges and reds, it’s not difficult to take a pretty photo, but there’s more to it than simply a snapshot.
“The goal for a photo is great color and composition, yes, but you want to capture a moment,” Davenport says. “You want the photo to tell a story.”
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The workshop begins with an introduction to visual storytelling, starring a select sample from Davenport’s impressive body of work.
The professional photographer also covers the nuances of various types of photos – not just beautiful trees with colorful leaves, nature and landscape, but how to take long exposures (even on an iPhone), photograph people in certain light, and structure a series of photos to tell a complete story.
The hands-on part of the workshop begins on day No. 2, beginning with a walk around Beaver Creek Village taking photos and absorbing Davenport’s thoughtful tips, building a personal portfolio. In the evening, the workshop moves to the historic Anderson’s Cabin on the slopes, where attendees learn the magic of “blue light” photography, capturing scenes during the vibrant window of sky after the sun sets. This part of the workshop includes gourmet snacks, cocktails and s’mores over the fire – all of which make ideal photo subjects.
The final day of the workshop comes with a hike on the mountain, enveloping oneself in the aspen groves of lime green, yellow and flame-colored leaves, practicing angles, close-ups, light play and scene manipulation.
Having accumulated a collection of images throughout the weekend, photographers put together their best shots for a personal portfolio review with Davenport and the rest of the group.
“It’s about developing an eye for it,” Davenport says. “You start to notice the potential of a bright yellow leaf on the ground with a drop of dew, how a tight shot of the antlers on the wall captures the ambiance of place, how natural light plays off treetops. You start seeing things the way a viewer would.”
The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch is offering a Fall Photography Package, in which the three-day workshop is included for guests who book a two-night stay with the workshop available to additional guests for $200. The three-day workshop is also available without lodging for $250 per person.
The workshop welcomes all levels of photographers. Participants use their own camera gear or smartphone.
