Adirondack Fall Foliage Photography Workshop

September 27, 2028: Arrive at Albany, Transfer to Long Lake, Sunset at Bog River Falls

We will pick up anyone flying into Albany Airport – please arrive by 11:00 AM. If you are driving  your own car, you can go directly to meet at the hotel in Long Lake at 3:00 PM.

We will then head out to photograph late afternoon light and sunset around Bog River Falls as it flows into Tupper Lake. Nearby Lake Eaton provides excellent dark-sky photography after dinner if there are clear skies. 

September 28, 2028: Sunrise Lake Viewing, Waterfall Walk, Sunset and Night Views

We’ll be out before sunrise beside a quiet lake, watching for mist drifting across the water and the first light reaching the autumn trees. After breakfast at a local diner, a woodland walk takes us to a waterfall, where yellow birch leaves and cool water tones offer opportunities to explore color, contrast, and movement. We’ll work on choosing shutter speeds and using filters to shape the way water appears in your photographs.

Following a midday rest, we’ll spend the afternoon looking more closely at the forest: branching patterns, fallen leaves, mossy rocks, and streams winding through the trees. We’ll finish beside the water for sunset, with another opportunity for night photography if conditions allow.

September 29, 2028: Explore Adirondacks’ Bogs, Image Review, Woodlands Exploration

Our morning begins among the Adirondacks’ bogs and wetlands, where grasses, scattered trees, and reflections offer a different view of the autumn landscape. We’ll look for simple compositions within the wider scene, using the placement of trees and open water to bring order to the frame.

After breakfast and some downtime, we’ll gather for our first image review. This is a chance to share your work, ask questions, and discuss how composition, exposure, and processing support what you want your photographs to convey.

In the afternoon, we’ll explore woodland trails, lakeshores, and quiet stretches of river. You’ll have time to put the morning’s feedback into practice with personal guidance from your pros. After dinner, we’ll return to the hotel to rest, or head out for stars if the weather offers an opportunity we haven’t yet had.

September 30, 2028: Sunrise River Photography, Scenic Stops Toward Lake Placid

We’ll start with sunrise along the river, looking for autumn color reflected in the water and details along the banks. After breakfast, we’ll check out and make our way toward Lake Placid, turning the transfer into a relaxed photographic outing with stops at roadside wetlands and lakes.

Lunch brings a local favorite: a choice of sandwiches named for the Adirondacks’ 46 High Peaks. After checking in to our hotel and taking a break, we’ll head to the lakeshore to photograph mountain profiles rising beyond the water. We’ll explore how shoreline details, reflections, and changing afternoon light can give depth to a mountain scene before gathering for dinner.

October 1, 2028: Pond and River Scenes at Dawn, Lakeside Afternoon, Sunset Viewing

We’ll begin beside a pond where a mountain rises above the far shore, watching for still water and early light. Bring your muck boots for the wet shoreline. Nearby river scenes may offer another opportunity before breakfast, including the possibility of a fly fisherman backlit by the morning sun.

Back in town, we’ll make time for breakfast, rest, and an image review before lunch. We’ll build on what you’ve been practicing in the field, with attention to composition and processing choices that preserve the character of autumn light.

The afternoon takes us to lakes tucked between steep mountain slopes, followed by an elevated view across the valley for sunset. Here, we’ll work with overlapping ridgelines and broad stretches of forest, exploring both wide views and tighter compositions. After dinner, clear skies may allow us to photograph stars above a mountain lake.

October 2, 2028: Sunrise at Mountain Lake, Hiking, Evening Wetlands Photography

Our final full day begins with sunrise at a mountain lake, followed by morning light across open fields with views toward the High Peaks. After breakfast, we’ll hike to a peaceful pond to photograph autumn foliage reflected in the water. Nearby rocky shores and river gorges offer further opportunities to pair colorful leaves with stone and flowing water.

After lunch, we’ll gather for another image review, continuing our conversations about composition, technique, and post-processing. Bring the images you’re excited about as well as those you’re still working through.

For our evening outing, we’ll return to the wetlands, where standing dead trees, lily pads, and reflections offer subjects for quieter, more graphic photographs. We’ll explore how a longer lens can isolate patterns and simplify a busy scene as the light fades.

October 3, 2028: Sunrise Overlook Hike, Final Image Review, Departure Transfers

Our last morning begins with a short, steep hike before dawn to a rocky mountain overlook. From here, we’ll watch the light reach across the valley and surrounding peaks, with autumn forest spreading below. It’s an opportunity to bring together the skills you’ve practiced throughout the week, from choosing a strong foreground to finding balance in a wide landscape.

We’ll finish with breakfast and one final image review, sharing photographs and discussing ideas to carry into your next outing. We’ll wrap up by noon before the return transfer to Albany International Airport. Please schedule departing flights for after 5:00 PM.