Lofoten, Norway February 4-10, 2017

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A 7 day photo workshop (6 nights) February 4-10, 2017 for 6-10 participants on the beautiful Lofoten Islands in Norway. The Lofoten Islands in winter is known for the dramatic landscapes enhanced by dramatic light and weather. There are wonderful seascapes and mountains. Also there is a good chance to shoot the Nordic Lights known as Aurora Borealis. Notice that there is no optional day before this workshop. Please read the entire workshop description which include the schedule, pictures, pricing and recommendations for the participant in the workshop.

In addition to the morning and late afternoon shoots there be some class room sessions with photo critiques, presentations on optimal image quality, efficient shooting techniques and composition considerations. The amount of class room sessions will depend on weather, the amount of night shooting etc. There will not be a fixed program.

The workshop is aimed at giving the workshop participant the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful areas of Europe and get some great pictures. You can find examples of pictures taken at the locations and the time of year for the workshop. Scroll down to see the pictures. The instructor is Hans Kruse, owner of HansKrusePhotography. He is very experienced in landscape photography and in post processing techniques. More of Hans Kruse's landscape photography work can be found here or click here to see the pictures. To see photos shot in March on the Lofoten Islands and scroll down on this page and see the gallery of photos following the workshop description.

Schedule

For this workshop there will not be a fixed schedule. We will be shooting in the areas around Leknes and also the locations between Leknes and Reine. We will go by the light and visit the best locations several times in morning, evening and daylight as well as when the Aurora is working it's magic. We will be in the class room or other places where we can sit and discuss the pictures and techniques when the weather is not suitable for shooting. Usually the weather in this area is a mix between very nice and grey and overcast weather. Therefore the shooting options will be optimized.

Prerequisites

There are no specific expectations for the skill level of the participants to get full value from the workshop. You will likely have been interested in photography for some years and have acquired a digital SLR or equivalent mirrorless camera and a few lenses. However less experienced photographers are equally welcome. The workshop will be adapted for the individuals attending such that individuals who need more guidance in certain areas will have the attention of the instructor to get help with the settings of the camera. For landscape photography in this area the focal lengths from 24mm to 200mm in 35mm full frame terms will be adequate (approx. 15mm to 135mm on crop DSLR cameras). A wider lens can be useful and a longer lens also (14mm and 400mm in 35mm full frame terms). It is expected that you are familiar with your camera including the most typical functions, however any question about camera operation and features are welcomed. Bring a manual for your camera too. A solid and stable tripod is essential and a cable/remote release for your camera. It is advised that you have practiced using your camera on a tripod so that you quickly can setup the camera as sometimes the lighting conditions change rapidly. The language of the workshop is English.

The instructor uses Canon 5DSR and Nikon D810 cameras and have detailed knowledge of these cameras, however photographers with any camera are welcome. It is expected that you are familiar with the camera and menues since it is not possible for the instructor to know every variant of even Canon or Nikon cameras. For post processing the instructor will use and show Adobe Lightroom and with additional processing in Adobe Photoshop. For HDR Lightroom will be used to show this as well as a blending method in Photoshop when needed. It is highly recommended that the participants bring their own laptop for post processing. For critique sessions you will need a laptop to process your own images.

On location conditions

The temperature will often be around the freezing point at this time of year and can also be colder, so please bring warm clothes and good, comfortable footwear for the time we will spend outdoors. When the temperature fluctuates around the freezing point it can be really slippery and therefore crampons are needed. They can normally be purchased in a shop in Leknes also. This workshop is not recommended if your balance is not good or your walking ability is limited. There are only short walks planned along the roads. There is generally too much snow to walk anywhere else.

Pricing, accommodation and travel

The cost of the workshop is 1995 Euro which include hotel, breakfast and dinner and no alcoholic beverages (water and coffee is included). A single room for each participant. For a shared double room the price is 1745 Euro per participant. The price is based on the exchange rate between the Norwegian Kroner and Euro and Danish Kroner March 2016. If the exchange rate of the Norwegian Kroner changes significantly I reserve the right to increase the price for the workshop.

The price does not include transport. Arrival should be at Leknes airport and there is a connection from Bodø in Northern Norway. Leknes is served by a small aircraft. We will stay for the duration of the workshop in the Best Western hotel in Leknes which is close to the airport. The plan for transportation during the workshop is that I will have a rental car (and drive on every shoot) and that two of the workshop participants will volunteer to rent a car and then the cost of the 2 rental cars and fuel will be shared evenly between the workshop participants. If driving for every shoot is too much then a codriver can be arranged from another workshop participant. The rental cars have winter tires with spikes which are needed for safe driving on the winter icy roads on Lofoten. Driving is not really a problem since the speed limits are low and everybody drives carefully. The roads are also cleared for snow regularly.

The plan is that every day it is changed who is driving together in order to get the most value of discussions among the participants. The reason for not including transportation is that it would add substantial extra cost to the workshop to include this. If you would like to bring a spouse or friend to the workshop, then please indicate this in the registration e-mail. A spouse or friend cannot participate in any of the workshop activities, but are welcome to breakfasts and dinners. A GPS unit or navigation app on a smart phone is highly recommended and mobile phones to get reconnected, if getting lost. Some smartphone GPS appls like TomTom and Navigon do not require a data plan (maps are downloaded on the phone). The instructor will have a mobile phone operational at all times and walkie talkies in the cars.

Booking

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Please book space on the workshop by sending an e-mail to Hans Kruse at hans@hanskruse.com or if you would like to ask additional questions about the workshop. If you are not able to join this workshop or it is sold out, then please consult the workshop schedule or contact Hans Kruse. As the time of the workshop approaches (4 weeks in advance) you will get updates on the detailed schedule and meeting times and additional relevant information. You are welcome to divide the payment of the 1995 Euro into a deposit of 445 Euro at sign-up and payment of the 1550 Euro December 1st, 2016. In a shared double room the price is 1745 Euro per participant and the final payment is 1300 Euro. If the workshop need to be cancelled a full refund will be paid. If you need to cancel participation the 445 Euros will not be refunded unless a replacement is found. In case of cancelation after December 1st, 2016 a refund is only paid if a replacement is found.

Please see feedback from previous workshop participants.