Dates: April 26 - May 3, 2010
Leader: Moe Witschard
Location: Coyhaique, Chile
Cost: $5495
About the Workshop
Chilean Patagonia is one of the most spectacular and unspoiled landscapes in the world. When I first traveled to this region 20 years ago, I was floored by its pristine natural beauty and I knew that I would return again and again. I have since returned three times and each visit has been as eye opening as the last. Patagonia is truly one of the most exciting photographic destinations that you will ever visit and fall is the best time for a photographer to be there.
Our photo workshop will take place in central Patagonia, a land of incredible snow and ice clad mountains that rim the northern Patagonian cap. It is also a land of beautiful turquoise lakes, of mighty raging rivers like the Rio Baker, of gauchos on large working estancias (ranches), and of incredible beech forests that in the autumn look as though they have been lit on fire.
Though the Patagonian landscape is a wild, rugged one, we will not be roughing it. Teaming up with our Patagonian outfitter Salvaje Corazon, who specializes in photography tours, our small group (limited to eight participants) will be treated to wonderful local food and the finest local accommodations. We will travel in a comfortable small van with a full-time driver. Along with a Salvaje Corazon guide and myself, our small group will be looked after and guided by a dedicated team of professionals who are passionate about Patagonia.
Gallery
Included in the Workshop
Once in Patagonia, all accommodations, transportation, meals and other ground expenses are included (alcohol, however, is extra).
Your transportation to the Coyhaique (Balmaceda) airport is not included in the workshop price.
Needless to say, your fees include the professional instruction of a PAW leader. All workshops have leaders, however a PAW leader is an expert on the location and has proven skills as a workshop instructor. Our instructors are there to help you make better images and fill your portfolios, not theirs. PAW leaders don’t photograph on our workshops; they teach.
This workshop will allow a maximum of 8 participants. To make sure that everyone gets the help and attention they deserve, we include a qualified assistant on all full workshops. A minimum of 6 participants are required for this workshop.
PAW workshops: the best leaders, locations, and instruction.
Transportation and Lodging
The workshop starts and ends in Coyhaique, the “capitol” of central Patagonia. We will pick you up and drop you off at the Coyhaique (Balmaceda) airport. Please email Moe when you have your flight arrival information.
Participants are responsible for their flights from the U.S. to Chile and their connecting flight to Coyhaique (Balmaceda) airport, which has several flights daily from Santiago, Chile and Puerto Montt, Chile. Most people will fly from the U.S. to Santiago and then catch a Lan Chile flight from Santiago to Coyhaique.
Lodging is included in the price of this workshop.
Schedule
April 26: Arrive in Coyhaique. After being greeted at the Balmaceda airport we will take the 45-minute trip to the town of Coyhaique, considered by most to be the capital of Patagonia, and we’ll check into our hotel. An evening orientation and a welcome dinner will get us started on an unforgettable week.
April 27: Today we will make a circuit of the area surrounding Coyhaique, with several photography stops that highlight the incredible beauty and diverse geography of the region. We will spend a portion of the day at a local estancia with opportunities to shoot a day in the life of an active estancia and we will finish up with an asado, a traditional Patagonian meal where lamb is roasted over an open wood fire. Night in Coyhaique.
April 28: Depart for Lago General Carrera or Chelenko, as it is known by the indigenous people of the region, via the Carretera Austral. Our journey will take us from the edge of the famous Patagonian Steppe over peaks on the shoulders of Cerro Castillo, through the deep Valdivian rain forests along the Murta River valley and into the great basin of snow capped peaks and blue waters of Lago Chelenko, the second largest lake is South America. We will check into our hotel at the lakeside village of Tranquillo and then after lunch we will turn west with several photo stops along the Rio Exploradores and the northernmost reaches of the San Valentine massif and the northern ice fields. Night in Tranquillo.
April 29: Today we will head south along the Western shore of Lago Chelenko towards the Leones Valley, the eastern shoulders of San Valentin and the next quaint village of Guadal. Weather permitting we will take an early morning boat trip to the Marble Caverns, molded and carved for millennia by the waters of Lago Chelenko. In the evening we will head to El Maqui for photo opportunities of evening light, lake, and mountain landscapes and a fantastic asado set under the powerful stars of a light pollution free Patagonia. Overnight Guadal.
April 30: This morning will find us shooting the early morning sunrise from El Maqui or similar spots along the lake where we will have an expansive view of the lake and the many mountain peaks, including Cerro San Valentine, an incredible peak. We then have a hearty breakfast at the lodge before continuing our journey South deeper into the wild heart of Patagonia. Along the way we will encounter the Baker River flowing from its origins, Lago Bertrand and Lago Chelenko. From a distance we will see the confluence of the Rio Neff and mighty Baker where the Baker takes it first significant step down through the Baker Canyon before dumping out into Valle Grande on its way south towards the Pacific. After some shots here and in the Canyon we will move on to Valley Chacabuco and our next spectacular destination. Overnight: Valle Chacabuco
May 1: Today we will be spending the entire day in Valle Chacabuco enjoying time at the many maulins (wetlands) where waterfowl and guanaco congregate. In the valley we should find ample opportunities to catch the famed Andean Condor soaring among the cliffs to the South and for those of us who have extra patience we will go to the local viscacha (similar to a rabbit) community to shoot these elusive rock dwellers. Valle Chacabuco was once one the largest sheep farms in Chilean Patagonia and is now undergoing an environmental rehabilitation. Under support from Doug Tompkins and many other generous philanthropic groups including Patagonia clothing and Conservacion Patagonica, the entire ranch some, 400,000 hectares, is in the process of being transformed into one of the most beautiful regions of Patagonia, freeing it from fences and invasive species. The dream is to one day turn it into a national park. Overnight Valle Chacabuco.
May 2: On our final day of shooting on this workshop, we will wake up early again to catch light and then drive north to return to Coyhaique. This will be a long day in the vehicles with many stops along the way to catch some of the photos we might not have been able to take on the way down. Once in Coyhaique we will check into our hotel and settle in for a delicious final dinner.
May 3: Fly Home. We will have a little time to spend in town for those last minute items and then head out to Balmaceda to catch our flights back to Santiago and home.
Extensions are available through Salvaje Corazon to many other regions of Chile and Argentina.
Equipment and Gear
We recommend that you bring the following gear with you on our Patagonia workshop:
Camera
- Digital SLR with back up camera that will fit your lenses
- Battery charger
- A few extra batteries
- Memory cards (bring plenty!!!)
- Sensor cleaning supplies
Lenses
- 12-24mm (for the 1.5x sensor size cameras)
- or 17-35mm (full frame)
- 28-105mm lens or similar
- 70-200mm , 100-400 or similar
- Polarizing filter(s)
- Lens hoods for all lenses
- Lint-free cloth to clean lenses and air blower for dust
- Lensbaby if you have one or else you can try mine!
Computer / Digital Accessories
- Laptop with charger and photo editing software (Photoshop or Lightroom preferred)
- Portable hard drive as backup.
- Card Reader
- Small jump drive (thumb drive) for transferring images for critique.
- All cables for drives, computer, card readers, storage devices, etc.
Other
- Tripod
- Cable release
- Small headlamp or flashlight
- Photo backpack or bag
- Camera manual
Other Accessories & Clothing
- Hiking Shoes/Comfortable walking shoes
- Sun hat/Baseball cap
- Warm layers, jacket, hat, and gloves. Some fall mornings can get very chilly.
The Leader
Moe Witschard is a commercial and editorial photographer specializing in adventure/outdoor lifestyle, travel, and landscape images. His adventure and travel images celebrate people living in, traveling through, and recreating in beautiful and inspiring places. Landscape photography was the magnet that drew him to this field and it continues to form the core of his fine art work. Moe’s photographic travels have taken him all over western North America from Baja to Alaska, to the Canadian Arctic, Patagonia, Ecuador, East Africa, Thailand, and most recently to the Himalayan country of Bhutan. Most recently, he was hired by the National Geographic Society to shoot a story on Yellowstone’s Grizzlies.
Moe loves teaching and working with groups. Prior to his career in photography, a 20 year career in outdoor education gave Moe extensive experience working with enthusiastic learners of all ages. In addition to doing private photography instruction, Moe has instructed photography workshops in Death Valley, Alaska, the Tetons, Glacier National Park, the Smokies, and several other locations.
Contact:
Moe Witchard
Email:
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Website: www.moephotography.com
Skype: paworkshops
General Info: 877.384.PAWS(7297)
Cell Phone: 406.570.3505
Final Thoughts
Patagonia is quite simply one of the most visually stimulating places on the planet. The mountains, the forests, and the incredible people all contribute to make this a premier destination for photographers. Join our small group as we explore the heart of Chilean Patagonia.
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