Eureka Springs is a unique Victorian resort village in Carroll County,  Arkansas which has its own culture and lifestyle. The city has steep winding streets filled with Victorian-style cottages and manors. The old commercial section of the city has an alpine character, with an extensive streetscape of well-preserved Victorian buildings. The buildings are primarily constructed of local stone and lie along streets that curve around the hills and rise and fall with the topography in a five-mile long loop.

 

Ripley’s Believe It or Not has noted numerous details about the city: The Basin Park Hotel is built on a hill, so that people can enter from ground level at all eight stories. The Palace Bath House has the first neon sign west of the Mississippi River. Penn Memorial Baptist Church connects to three different streets at three different levels and has three addresses. St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church is the only church that is entered through the bell tower. The town’s winding, hilly, curved streets form 16 “S’s”, a large “O”, and numerous “U’s” and “V’s,” yet the town has no perpendicular street crossings.

Workshop Itinerary

Dates:

September 8-9, 2012

Saturday:

Meet at Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railroad depot Saturday morning at  9:00 where we will photograph the historic train depot and the collection of vintage rolling stock which is one of the Ozarks’ largest.  All the authentic railroad memorabilia is here to re-create the turn-of-the-century era and give modern visitors a taste of how it was when rail service brought the first visitors to Eureka Springs in 1883.  Exhibits, include a restored turntable, a handcar, vintage locomotives and rolling stock galore, and even an automobile outfitted to run on the rails.

We will visit the historic Crescent Hotel was built in 1886 and was at that time America’s most luxurious Hotel.  The hotel seamlessly retains its 19th-century character, from the Victorian-Style Crystal Dining Room to the bold colors and antique furnishings in all guest rooms. The resort boasts 15 acre of meticulously cared for gardens, walking trails and unsurpassed mountain views.

Adjacent to the Crescent Hotel is Saint Elizabeth’s Church which has become a landmark in Eureka Springs and is listed on the National Historic Register.  The Church’s unique unattached Bell Tower, which serves as the entrance, has welcomed thousands of visitors each year from all over the world.

We will make a trip to Thorncrown Chapel just west of Eureka springs.  Thorncrown was the dream of retired school teacher, Jim Reed. In 1978 Jim enlisted the help of renowned architect E. Fay Jones to design a place of worship for the visitors to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The chapel rises 48 feet into the sky with over 6,000 square feet of glass and 425 windows. Its dimensions are 24 feet by 60 feet. The chapel is made with all organic materials to fit its natural setting. The only steel in the structure forms a diamond shaped pattern in its wooden trusses. The building has a native flagstone floor surrounded with a rock wall which gives the feeling that the chapel is part of its Ozark hillside.

Saturday evening we will  do a night photo shoot in downtown Eureka Springs.

Sunday:

We will spend Sunday morning  Photographing downtown Eureka Springs.

Blocks and blocks of history, Victorian architecture, shops, art galleries, hotels, homes and cottages, and charming atmosphere. The entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in America.  In the Spring of 2001, Eureka Springs was named one of 12 DISTINCTIVE DESTINATIONS by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

No trip to Eureka would be complete without a visit to the Christ of the Ozarks statue. The 7-story tall, 2 million pound, white concrete statue of Jesus known as Christ of the Ozarks, erected privately in 1966 as part of a planned religious theme park. The statue sits across the valley from the downtown area and is visible from many points in the immediate area.

After lunch we will head southwest to War Eagle Mill and the recently renovated Historic War Eagle Bridge.  War Eagle Mill is a true working water powered mill stands proudly as the premier Ozark-based producer of whole grain organic stone ground meals, flours and mixes.

The workshop will end at the Mill.

Location

Eureka Springs Arkansas

Cost

The workshop fee per session will $249.00 per participant.

The workshop fee includes all lectures, fieldwork and critiques of your images during our  sessions.  This is a photography workshop, not just a photo tour, my goal is provide as much personal hands on help as possible.  I will check with each participant to see how you are doing and if you need help,  if you wish for assistance let me know, if not just let me know, and you will be free to shoot on your own.  I will be more than willing to look through your viewfinder or at your LCD to check your images.

Workshop Policies and Information

About the Workshop

Our workshops are based on digital photography, the assistance that I can provide and the immediate feedback of digital make “in the field” workshops one of the most effective teaching formats available.  Whether finding the correct exposure, looking through the viewfinder for the perfect composition, or learning how to use the equipment, you can’t beat real world experience.  Classes are kept small, it’s all about personal, individual attention.

Digital offers a number of benefits for learning photography including:

1. Immediate feedback on exposure and composition
2. Immediate critique from the instructor an other participants
3. Ability to do reviews and projection
4. Automatically capturing all shooting information (Meta Data)
5. Ability to manage work flow while still on location

Group Size

We keep our group size small, this provides for a high degree of personal attention and a great amount of flexibility in making the workshop the best possible experience for the participants.

This workshop is limited to a maximum or 8 participants.

Changes to the Itinerary

In order to offer the best experience possible for the workshop participants we reserve the right to alter the itinerary when our judgment warrants it.  This could be due to unforeseen circumstances, closures, weather or other conditions beyond our control.  We may also alter due to new or unexpected photographic opportunities that may arise.

What is Included

Your workshop fees include full instruction and location guiding.

The workshop fee includes all lectures, fieldwork and critiques of your images during our  sessions.  This is a photography workshop, not just a photo tour, my goal is provide as much personal hands on help as possible.  I will check with each participant to see how you are doing and if you need help,  if you wish for assistance let me know, if not just let me know, and you will be free to shoot on your own.  I will be more than willing to look through your viewfinder or at your LCD to check your images.

What is Not Included

Transportation to and from the workshop, lodging, meals, incidental expenses and items of a personal nature.

My philosophy on lodging and meals is that by not including them in the workshop each participant is free to choose their own level of accommodation and choice of meals.  I have some participants stay in high end motels, while others prefer camping or RV’s.  If these items were included in the workshop fee, it would simply be increased to cover the expenses plus a margin to be sure I did not loose money.

Health and Physical Considerations

All participants should be in generally good health, walking and moderate climbing may be necessary in outdoor workshops and you will be responsible for carrying of your own equipment on location shoots.  If you are taking any medications be sure to bring a supply sufficient for the duration of the workshop.

If you have any concern about your ability to participate in a workshop please contact us before registering.

Equipment Needed

To get the most from the workshop you should have a Digital Single Lens Reflex  (DSLR) camera, tripod and an assortment of lenses.  That being said, it is the photographer not the camera that makes the photo.

 

Transportation During Workshop

We do not provide Transportation on field trips, carpooling will be done among participants for these workshops.  If you do not have a car let us know and we will be sure there are  enough seats with other members during the workshop.

Lodging

Lodging is not provided, you will need to make your own reservations, we will be meeting in Eureka Springs AR, and be eating most meals there.  Eureka Springs has several motels and there are cabins all around. Click here for area information.

Meals

Meals, drinks, and snacks are not provided, and are the responsibility of the participant.  I some cases we may need to pack a lunch for the day and at other times we will stop when and where convenient for the group.  Breakfast and dinner may be at a predetermined location or as available based upon where we are and our photography schedule.  For this workshop there are over 75 restaurants in Eureka springs, so we will not have any problems finding food whenever we are ready to eat.

Registration, Payment, and Refund Policy

You can register any way you like, just so I get your information, you can use the online registration, the contact form, email,  postal mail, or call me on the phone (479-414-6889) either to register or just ask a question.  Registration is done on a first come basis, so register early to secure your space.   A deposit of 20% is required to reserve your space, and full payment is due 30 days prior to the workshop. Enrollment is limited in our workshops, so once you have been accepted your participation is important to us – we are counting on you to attend.

If you must withdraw from a course, we must receive written notice of your cancellation, and then apply the following refund policy:   We do not make refunds on workshop fees. We do not make partial refunds for unused portions or services of a workshop for any reason whatsoever. If we are able to fill your space in the workshop we will give full credit towards another workshop. If we are not able to fill your space we will issue 50% credit towards a future workshop.

Non Photographer (Spouse, significant other, or friend)

We welcome spouses to join you on the workshop experience however “workshop activities” are limited to registered, paid attendees.  You may have a non photographer accompany you to all activities but they must pay for the workshop.  If they wish to accompany you on the trip but not attend the workshop activities, but stay with you, finding other activities during the day,  and  meet for meals and social type events that is perfectly acceptable.

Cancellation Policy

In the unlikely event that we need to cancel a workshop we will refund all monies paid, in full. Notification of our cancellation will be made via either a telephone call or an e-mail to you at least 14 days prior to the beginning of a workshop. We cannot be responsible for phone messages and e-mails not being received in a timely matter due to your service providers. We cannot be responsible for non-refundable airline tickets unused or other travel arrangements because of a workshop cancellation.

Liability Waiver

All participants will be required to sigh a liability waiver before beginning a workshop.  We will not be liable for injury, accident or theft resulting from participation in our workshop program.

Weather

The more the better, at least as far as the photography goes.  Workshops will not be canceled and no refunds will be made due to weather, we will not be responsible for any additional costs that may be incurred by weather delays or cancellations due to weather, flight delays, or other. Participants should come to the workshop prepared for all weather conditions. We will generally update everyone within a few days of the workshop so that they know what type of weather to expect.

Trip Extensions

We may be able to extend your trip in the area, if you would like more time and personal instruction.  Please contact us for more information and rates before the workshop.

Smoking

We prefer that you do not smoke, however if you must please abide by the following guidelines.  Smoking is not allowed in or near vehicles, during instructional sessions, during group meals, or at other times when in close quarters with other workshop participants.