Fall Color Reflections © 2011 Patty HankinsOne of the highlights of October for me this year was a week photographing at Acadia National Park in Maine. I was there for a workshop on the Contemplative Landscape taught by George DeWolfe & Lydia Goetze.
Visiting Acadia National Park in the second week of October was amazing. I haven’t seen fall color like this in a very long time – probably since I was in high school. What I quickly realized was that in New England some of leaves of the Sugar Maple trees turn a magnificent shade of red that we just don’t see here in the Mid-Atlantic area. My guess is that I’ll be heading back to Maine for more fall color photography in the coming years.
Kelp on the Rocks © 2011 Patty HankinsAs wonderful as the scenery and colors were in Acadia – the best part of the trip was the Contemplative Landscape Workshop. During the workshop, I was challenged to think about my photography in ways I’ve never thought about it before. Really starting to consider – what am I trying to say with my photographs? What emotions and feelings am I trying to convey?
In addition to taking us to some incredible places to photograph, the instructors, George DeWolfe and Lydia Goetze, talked about how both Western and Eastern landscape painting traditions can influence how we compose our photographs. We also discussed how practicing mindfulness can help our photography.
It was a fantastic workshop – so good in fact – that I’m seriously considering heading to Death Valley to repeat the workshop in February!
