PACIFIC NORTHWEST SPRING
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
April 24-28, 2025

The Pacific Northwest is a scenic wonderland known for its abundance of breathtaking wildflower fields and waterfalls. From the majestic cascades of the Columbia River Gorge to hidden gems nestled within lush forests, the state boasts a diverse array of captivating waterfalls that attract nature enthusiasts and photographers alike.
With your leader, Monish Mansharamani, there to help guide you, we will work on capturing the true essence of the Pacific Northwest. This is a rewarding photographic experience you will not want to miss.
**I do hope you can join me for this unique experience.**

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

We will be based out of gorgeous Columbia River Gorge in the town of Cascade Locks which grants us central access to the surrounding region in all directions.
The nearest airport is Portland International Airport (PDX) which is a 45 minute drive away.
Please arrive at the hotel prior to 1PM for a mandatory orientation session.
We will be carpooling as much as possible. A standard rental vehicle will suffice for this workshop.

CASCADE LOCKS
We have reserved a group of rooms at the Best Western Plus Columbia River Inn. When calling to make your reservations, 541-374-8777, please inform them you are with Aventura Workshops LLC. This will ensure a guaranteed room for your photography adventure. You can pay for your room once you arrive at the hotel to check in.

WORKSHOP INCLUDES

5-Day intensive photo workshop in one of the most unique and visually compelling locations
Pre-workshop virtual meeting: Before the workshop begins, we’ll start a new WhatsApp group just for our participants. You’ll meet everyone in the group and be able to ask questions and prepare
Post-processing and image review sessions with screen recordings which the participants can keep
Small group size of 6 or less with one guide who knows the area
Breakfast
Beverages and snacks while on location
All park entrance fees (If applicable)

NOT INCLUDED

Anything else specifically not listed as included
Items of a personal nature
Lunch, Dinner and Alcoholic beverages
Accommodation
Transportation during the workshop (Although we will be carpooling as much as possible)
Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (Mandatory)

WEATHER

The sun rises at approximately 5:40am and sets at 8:15pm during this time of the year. Add in driving time to and from locations and this will make for very early mornings and late nights. Temperatures typically range from the 40’s to 60’s but can be colder, windy and rainy. Prepare for variable weather.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Everyone on this trip should be in reasonably good physical condition. You must be able to hike on possibly slippery and uneven trails, up to 1.5 miles each way, with total of 3-5 miles a day. Steep ascents will be encountered and some of the best shots require standing in moving water or along rocky creek shores.

ENVIRONMENT

Columbia River Gorge in Pacific Northwest is a delicate ecosystem, so be sure to follow Leave No Trace principles and be mindful of your impact on the environment while you're taking photos.

ITINERARY

The itinerary for our workshop is subject to change at the discretion of our Photo Guides depending on the weather, which can be highly unpredictable. We will check the forecast, road conditions and plan our day to optimize shooting conditions.

Your workshop includes 5 days exploring amazing Columbia River Gorge wilderness. You will get to know this landscape intimately as you spend your time exploring the many photographic opportunities. This workshop offers an excellent mix of location photography, image review sessions, learning about techniques for capturing the best lighting and composition, as well as post-processing techniques in one of the most unique and visually compelling locations in the Pacific Northwest. Our goal is to broaden your technical skills and unleash the artist in you.

Day 1: We begin with a meet-and-greet early afternoon at the hotel to discuss plans, goals and objectives for the upcoming week. We will then head out for dinner followed by a sunset shoot.

Day 2 and 3: We will spend the entire day photographing waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge with sunset at Columbia Hills State Park for Wildflower Photography.

Day 4: We will photograph waterfalls and nearby overlooks for the sunrise and midday session. Later in the evening we will focus on Post-processing and image critique session followed by dinner.

Day 5: For a grand finale, We'll leave early to explore a little known waterfall with only a fraction of the visitors, located in the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. This will be one of the most challenging hike to this waterfall.

GALLERY

TECHNIQUES COVERED IN THIS WORKSHOP

IN THE FIELD:

Understanding the light and choosing the best exposure
Composition: Balance and harmony, leading lines and creating depth.
Lens choice: From the wide-angle vista to shooting landscape abstracts with a telephoto lens
Shooting multiple image panoramas
Controlling light in scenes with a wide dynamic range using graduated filters and/or multiple exposures
Shooting stars and night photography (Depending on weather conditions)

PROCESSING:

Using Adobe Camera RAW
Using local adjustments to shape and sculpt the light
Using Photoshop layers to build up image adjustments
Using luminosity masks in Photoshop
Hyper realistic AI RAW editing in Photoshop
Different techniques for blending multiple exposures of the same image
Stitching multiple panoramas together
Sharpening images for web

WHAT TO BRING

A DSLR OR MIRRORLESS CAMERA

The criteria for the kind of work we’ll be doing is a camera that can be operated completely manually to ensure we get the best exposure

WIDE ANGLE TO TELEPHOTO LENS

For some of the locations, particularly the lakes, a wide angle lens really is essential if you want to get those epic landscapes

Sturdy TRIPOD

We’ll often be shooting in low light so a tripod is an absolutely essential piece of equipment. A lightweight carbon fibre model

LANDSCAPE FILTER SYSTEM

A neutral density filter of at least 3 stops will help slow down the exposure to blur clouds and remove ripples from the lake’s surface

A CABLE RELEASE

This allows us to trip the camera shutter without touching the camera, avoiding movement blur during longer exposures

Warm clothes

While you don’t want to overpack, it’s always good to assume that it will be colder, windier, and wetter than you expect

WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTS AND CHEST WADER

We’ll certainly be walking over rocky and uneven ground and we’ll also often find ourselves wading in moving water

CAMERA BACKPACK

When moving your camera gear for any length of time a backpack can really save your back. A good backpack, one with sturdy hip straps

Laptop with Adobe Camera RAW and PHOTOSHOP

We’ll be shooting RAW, and as part of each day will be dedicated to post processing images a good RAW converter like Adobe

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR & GUIDES

Monish Mansharamani | Founder + Pro Photographer

Monish Mansharamani is a professional landscape and travel photographer based in Oregon. He is completely self-taught and has years of experience in medium format shooting, guiding photo tours, and teaching digital post-processing techniques. His specialization lies in capturing stunning panoramic photographs of fine art landscapes from the United States and beyond.

The majority of his photographs are taken with a superior medium format digital camera, which allows for incredible detail to be captured. His approach to photography is a "slow photography" technique, where he takes his time to carefully observe the scene and capture only a few or a dozen exposures in a span of two hours. This process enables him to truly perceive the essence of the scene and let it reveal itself. Each photograph he captures is unique, and he dedicates a significant amount of effort to ensure that the final image is a true work of art by meticulously processing the image.

As a landscape photographer, his goal is to present views of the natural world in a fresh and unique way. He achieves this through careful composition, attention to detail, and the creative use of beautiful light.

Currently, he fulfills his lifelong dream by leading Adventure Photography workshops all over the world through his company Aventura Workshops LLC.

PAYMENT TERMS

$495 deposit is required to secure your spot.
Balance is due no later than 90 days before the Workshop start date.
Flexible payment option available, just ask!
All other Aventura Workshops Terms and Conditions apply.

WITHDRAWAL & REFUND POLICY

We strongly recommend you to get Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance after booking your trip. If you withdraw and your place is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $250 cancelation fee. If you withdraw and your place on the Workshop does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Workshop:

90 days or more: Full refund minus a $250 cancelation fee.
60 - 89 days: 50% refund.
60 days or less: No refund.

Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.

DISCLAIMER

We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic medical insurance and private health plan will not cover you whilst you are overseas. The workshops will always dependent on weather, as the weather can be highly unpredictable.