Sea Stacks at Ruby Beach

A Scouting Trip to the Olympic Peninsula, Washington

Profundo Journeys Photography Workshop to be held

September 7-17, 2017

Part One

For six months, I have been relying on the superb planning work by John and Rita Abromowski, transplanted New Englanders now residing in Kingston Washington. John and I had worked at Color Lab in Providence together back in the early 1990's. I saw him at a 47/6 meeting of local Providence photographers two years ago, and he said if I ever wanted to teach a workshop in the Olympic National Park, he would be delighted to help with the planning. There it began. 

It is hard to describe with enthusiasm places one has never experienced. It was time for me to see the places John had selected. Last week, Capt. John and I traveled to coastal Washington. We covered over 800 miles in the two full days of my visit! The workshop itinerary is varied, from coastal fishing villages and small towns to mountains, rain forests and wilderness coastal beaches.  Being a scouting trip, we spent very little time in very many places. There was not time for 'serious, contemplative' photography (however, this is what the workshop will be all about!), only an overview, and back in the car.

The image above is from the destination that made a lasting impression on me, Ruby Beach, in the land of the Quileute Tribe. The weather in March typically is rain, mist and chill; we were not disappointed. But the atmospheric nature of the light led to mood of drama and the power of nature, as the surf pounded the beach. In the season of the workshop, the weather is predictably favorable with blue skies and fair winds.The tall mounds are known as sea stacks; the largest at low tide can be walked around! Note the few people walking on the beach for purposes of scale. Fellow travelers left the only traces permissible in the National Park...cairns.

Rock Cairns, Ruby Beach

After seeing the Olympic Peninsula with my own eyes, I am so impressed and inspired by her beauty. In the workshop, ample time will be given at each stop, so that the images can be carefully considered in the process of immersion. There is variety of subjects and genres, from street photography in Seattle to the small town flavor of Port Townsend, to the drop dead gorgeous landscapes of the National Park.  Lessons appropriate to each location will be given, as well as nightly critique and discussion of the places and events of the day.

The workshop will take place September 7-17, 2017. A full itinerary is available at www.profundojourneys.com