Join Charles for four unforgettable days of arresting beauty in two premier Pennsylvania botanical gardens: Longwood Gardens and Chanticleer Gardens.

Nestled in the historic and picturesque Brandywine Valley, Longwood Gardens is filled with elegance and rich tradition. This 1,077-acre garden features 20 indoor and 26 dazzling outdoor garden displays and is a living expression of all that its founder, Pierre S. du Pont, found inspiring, meaningful and beautiful.

From its intricate fountain systems to the meticulous gardens with an ever-changing palette of colors, to the architectural grandeur, awe-inspiring discoveries await your lenses at every turn at Longwood.

Chanticleer Garden, on the other hand, is a more intimate, colorful contemporary garden located within an historic setting, about 45 minutes from Longwood.  It has been called the most romantic, imaginative and exciting public garden in America.  Intimate scenes and additional macro photography opportunities abound in this 35-acre garden.

We’ll spend three full days photographing at Longwood and one day photographing at Chanticleer.  You’ll have the opportunity to hone your macro skills, intimate garden landscape skills, and in-camera Impressionistic photography skills with a wide palette of blooming flowers, such as Rudbeckia, Tiger Lilies, Echinacea (purple cone flowers), Water Lilies, Anemone, Garden Phlox, Allium, Bromeliad, Anthurium, Camellia, and a wide variety of exotic orchids.

This workshop includes classroom lectures, stimulating assignments and supportive image evaluations.  Field instruction emphasizes creative macro, Impressionistic, multiple-exposure and artistic smartphone floral photography.

Throughout the week, you’ll receive lots of 1-on-1 personalized instruction from Charles both in the field and classroom, and there will be plenty of lectures sprinkled in and supportive image evaluations.

All skill levels and camera formats welcome, including smartphone cameras.  Participants should also have basic proficiency in post-capture image editing software, such as Lightroom, Photoshop or Snapseed.

INCLUDES

Daily entrance into Longwood Gardens, one-day entry ticket to Chanticleer Garden, and five days of photography instruction in both the classroom and in the field — including field demos, classroom lectures, stimulating assignments and supportive group image evaluations.  (Note: Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a partial refund if you already have a membership pass to Longwood and/or Chanticleer.)

DOES NOT INCLUDE

Airfare, airport transfers, transportation, lodging, meals, optional trip insurance, and other incidentals such as laundry, phone calls, tips & gratuities.

LODGING

A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at a hotel in Kennett Square, PA (close to Longwood Gardens) at a discounted rate of $169/night, plus tax.  Please reserve your room before July 1, 2023 to guarantee this rate and hotel availability.  (Hotel name with reservation link will be provided upon registration.)

GETTING THERE

Kennett Square, PA is about an hour and a half drive from the Baltimore area and about a 2 1/2 to 3-hour drive from the Washington D.C. area.

If you’re coming from farther away, daily flights are available into Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), a 40-minute drive from the hotel and Longwood Gardens.  Ground transportation is not included in this workshop, so you may wish to rent a car if you’ll be flying in from out of town.

ITINERARY

• Tuesday, August 8

Meet & greet starting at 7 pm.  Inspirational slide show.  Camera equipment overview.

• Wednesday, August 9

Morning entry into Longwood Gardens.  Photograph all morning.  Field demos.  Lots of 1-on-1 instruction.  Lunch in the gardens.  Afternoon lectures.

• Thursday, August 10

Morning entry into Chanticleer Gardens.  Photograph all morning.  Lunch nearby on your own.  Return to photograph at Chanticleer after lunch (optional).  Return to hotel.  Work on images.

• Friday, August 11

Morning entry into Longwood Gardens.  Photograph all morning.  Field demos.  Continued 1-on-1 instruction.  Possibly stay on to photograph the Festival of Fountains at Longwood.

• Saturday, August 12

Morning entry into Longwood Gardens.  Photograph all morning.  Field demos.  Continued 1-on-1 instruction.  Break.  Afternoon supervised classroom “lab” time.  Post-processing tips.

• Sunday, August 13

9 am to 12 noon.  Supportive group image evaluations.  Workshop concludes at 12 noon.

PROFICIENCY LEVEL

All skill levels and camera formats welcome, including smartphone cameras.  Students should also have a basic understanding of exposure and proficiency in post-capture image editing software, such as Lightroom, Photoshop or Snapseed.

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY

No strenuous activity will be involved during the workshop; however, having a modest level of health and fitness will greatly enhance your experience.  You should be able to walk at least a quarter mile each day carrying your camera equipment and tripod on uneven terrain, some hills and some flat ground at a reasonable pace unassisted.