Landscape photography is amazing, and nature provides us plenty of opportunities to photograph various wonders throughout the United States, and our workshops make the most of a lot of those places. What if we could combine the wonder of landscape photography with the lore of rich history, and other unique cultural experiences? Well, we're always looking for new ways to provide our guests with not only amazing photographic options, and photography education, but also an amazing experience. We're sure you're going to LOVE our latest offering.

The south has an allure all its own, and culturally there are not many places better to visit than Charleston South Carolina. Charleston is a seaside city with enough charm and history to fuel an entire workshop. Join us as we explore the rich history and photographic opportunities in the city of Charleston and its surroundings.

We'll explore historical plantations and photograph the beautiful foliage and gardens that surround them. The iconic oak tree-lined driveways are amazing. These ancient trees have no doubt stood their ground for periods of incredibly diverse history. The textures in the bark and moss that have grown over them for decades, gives the image we create here a special feeling, and when photographed in the right light...one can find beauty in areas that have been through less than beautiful periods of American history.

We'll spend time in the famous Outer Banks, looking at the various piers and bridges that help give this stretch of coastline its distinct personality. This stretch of the coastline boasts some of the best in photography options with places like the iconic Folly Beach Pier and in contrast, the barren and remote feeling of the coastal skeleton trees of Botany Bay. There's so much diversity to see in this region.

We'll also explore the wondrously beautiful Magnolia Gardens, where our cameras will look at grand architectural design, as well as the minute details found in the tiniest of plants. In addition, we'll explore many of the other historical properties in this area, the preserved, and the abandoned. The old Sheldon Church ruins are some of the most fascinating in the south, and our cameras will be on scene to capture images that tell the story of a time and place.

While summer in the south can be hot and muggy, we'll make our trip during the spring when the weather is more mild, and we're able to enjoy our time exploring. During our downtime, we'll get to feast on one of the south's richest traditions... FOOD. Charleston has no shortage of amazing food options, and we'll make sure our group meals are partaking in some of its best and most delicious options.

What are you going to do with all these images you're going to create? Our Instructors will take time on one of the days to help the group make the most of processing those images so that they look their best and are just waiting for you to return home to be printed!

Won't y'all come explore the wonders of the south with us as we open up a whole new photographic adventure!

Day 1: Our first morning will be spent exploring the Outer Banks. We'll start our morning photographing the beautiful Folly Beach Pier. We'll get your cameras dialed in for long exposures, and help you to make the most out of this shoot. From time to time the beach in this are reveals the relicts of other old piers, and there's always a variety of different images one can create.

The rest of our day will be spent exploring some of the south's oldest and most photogenic plantations. These historical symbols of the south have great oak lined driveways filled with textures of old moss and trees lined one after the other. Each plantation offers its own unique take on this idea, and we'll fill our memory cards up with all the mossy goodness you can handle!

Day 2: We'll spend our day on Edisto Island. Our morning shoot will look over some of the craziest trees in the world. These old skeleton trees grow out of the sand and are battered by the surf. Botany Bay is a great place for landscape photography and we'll start our morning off right exploring this little slice of photographic heaven. We'll explore some of the architecture and ruins of the area after sunrise and during the early part of the afternoon. After lunch and a break we'll spend our evening photographing the iconic Arthur Ravenel Bridge, a huge span that helps connect the crazy waterways around Charleston. After our evening shoot we'll retire and enjoy some much deserved southern hospitality at one of Charleston's great restaurants.

Day 3: Another day of exploration as we spend the morning at the Magnolia Plantation looking at the rich history of the architecture and exploring the wondrously lush grounds that surround it. Our evening will be returning to Edisto island for a sunset shoot, and if mother nature cooperates, we'll stick around and do a little night shooting as well.

Day 4: After a big southern breakfast we'll settle in to looking over all those amazing images you've gathered during our time together. Whether Lightroom or Photoshop is your preferred method of processing images, We'll help you with some little tips and tricks to help make the most of them. After our processing session our time together will conclude. You have the rest of the day to explore Charleston on your own, or catch a late afternoon flight back home. Whatever you choose, you'll have a camera full of images, and a heart full of southern charm to take with you.

We will be staying at La Quinta By Wyndam.

Meet our master instructors and learn what qualifies them to give you a great experience during your workshops! While you're joining us, you will receive comprehensive digital photography instruction and tutoring by our team of award-winning photographers.

Stephen W. Oachs is an award-winning photographer, successful entrepreneur and technology veteran, who began his journey in photography the moment he picked up his first camera.

Completely self-taught, Stephen's unique and distinctive style has earned him recognition as one of today's finest nature photographers. He was recognized in 2007 as wildlife photographer of the year by the National Wildlife Federation and was awarded best nature photographer in 2008 by National Geographic.

Stephen has received many other awards and achievements. His work has graced the pages of such notable publications such as National Geographic, Popular Photography, Outdoor Photographer, National Wildlife Magazine and many others.

In 2009 Stephen founded The Aperture Academy, a unique combination of fine art photography gallery in conjunction with classroom and workshop instruction. Students of the Aperture Academy receive hands-on instruction designed for their individual skill levels, which includes everything from learning to shoot in the field to digital post-processing techniques.

Whether trekking through the wilds of Alaska, enduring the raw challenges of nature or experiencing the thrill of life on the edge, Stephen captures rare and breathtaking moments of light and time. His exceptional eye is filtered only by his passion for life, deep affinity with nature and love of adventure.

Brian Rueb has been photographing for the better part of 21 years. Combining a degree in photography and a degree in art, he has worked the two together to create powerful and dynamic landscape images. His love and passion for photography is evident in each and every image he shoots. In addition to his passion for art,Brian has a passion for education and has spent almost 21 years teaching art and photography in the public high school system. During that time he has developed an art and photography program that has seen numerous students win awards and go on to major in the profession. His goal is not only to be great himself, but to instill that knowledge and passion into his students.

In addition to being an internationally recognized photographer, Brian also writes for several websites sharing his interesting often comical adventures into the wilderness in search of new images, and has released a book depicting his two month adventure around the country of Iceland titled Me, Myself, and Iceland. Brian is a volunteer in Lassen Volcanic National Park and working on a five year project compiling images for a book on the park and its changes throughout the seasons.

Rueb's work has appeared in numerous magazines including Shutterbug and Photographers Forum. His work has won numerous awards and merit at the Local, State, National, and International levels.

Brian currently resides in Northern California with his wife, two boys, and two dogs.

The workshop fee is $1,695. Due to the exclusivity of this trip, and the limited number of seats available, refunds are as follows:

• 100% refundable: 180 days prior to workshop start date
• No refund within 180 days or less of the start date
• Seats are transferrable

The workshop/tour price includes:

• Professional photography instruction
• Post-processing session

The workshop/tour price DOES NOT include:

• Transportation
• Food
• Alcoholic beverages
• Instructor gratuities
• Travel insurance
• Lodging

Behind the Scenes:

• 4-Day South Carolina Workshop - Mar. 2023
• 4-Day South Carolina Workshop - Mar. 2022
• 4-Day South Carolina Workshop - Apr. 2019