Our Services
Porcupine's Photo Tour Details
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Why the Porci's
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Stunning Scenic Beauty: The Porcupine Mountains in Michigan boast breathtaking landscapes with dense forests, pristine lakes, and cascading waterfalls, offering a diverse range of subjects for photography.
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Wilderness and Wildlife: The area is a haven for wildlife, making it an excellent location for wildlife and nature photography. Visitors can capture images of deer, black bears, and various bird species.
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Varied Terrain: The Porcupine Mountains provide photographers with a range of terrain, including rocky outcrops, dense woodlands, and serene lakeshores, allowing for diverse compositions.
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Dramatic Seasons: The park's scenery changes dramatically throughout the year, with vibrant fall foliage, winter snowscapes, and lush spring and summer landscapes, offering year-round photographic opportunities.
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Starry Nights: The area is renowned for its dark skies, making it an ideal spot for astrophotography. The low light pollution ensures clear views of the Milky Way and starry constellations.
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Aurora Borealis: The Porcupine Mountains are occasionally treated to spectacular displays of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), making it a unique and captivating subject for night photography.
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Local Workshops: Local photography workshops and guides can provide valuable insights into the best shooting locations, lighting, and camera settings, enhancing the photography experience.
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State Park Amenities: The Porcupine Mountains State Park offers visitor centers, campgrounds, and hiking trails, providing convenience and access to picturesque locations for photography.
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Accessibility: Located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the Porcupine Mountains are relatively accessible, making it feasible for a day and night photography workshop.
Overall, the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan offer an ultimate setting for a day and night photography workshop due to their diverse natural beauty, excellent wildlife and wilderness opportunities, and the chance to witness the mesmerizing Aurora Borealis.
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June 7th, 8th, and 9th, check out Monday morning the 10th
In this 3 day 3 Night workshop we expect all participants to have a basic understanding of the functions of their own personal Camera. This Tour is for photographers of all levels and we Welcome the most experienced and beginner photographers.
Hikes will be be on the shorter side but up to 4 miles. A basic level of fitness is required for this workshop. The June season can be muddy and wet so please pack appropriate footwear and clothing for possible muddy conditions. In early June, bugs could be an annoyance. I will be providing bug spray and bug hats for attendees!
Hiking with camera gear can be more strenuous than you anticipate. I recommend bringing all of your gear with you on the trip and thinking carefully about what to bring while hiking.
The goal of this photo tour is to show you the beauty of the day and night of the Waterfalls and night sky of the UP. Instructor Justin Miller of JM Naturescapes will each be helping guests with there camera and camera setting as well as post processing the images after the hikes back at the Airbnb.
Down payment of $500 to reserve your spot.
the remaining $700 Due before May 7th.
invoices will be sent prior to the workshop
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Trails and Locations we will be visiting.
Lake of the Clouds Trail
The lake of the clouds lookout is easily drivable too and we will likely spend one day here and one night here. During the day we will explore the 2 mile trail that's rated as Moderate on the all trails app. The Hike is short but Is all down hill one way and all up hill back to the cars.
This will be our prime location for night photography and will be learning Milky way arch Panoramas.
Presque Isle River Waterfalls Loop Trailhead
Rated as an easy trail, this 3 mile loop covers some incredible waterfalls. the west side trail is very easy and the east side loop being a bit more challenging. Overall an easy trail.
Manabezho Falls and Manido Falls will be the main waterfalls to photograph at night if we return for night photography after exploring in the day.
Unless we decide to change plans and go to other waterfalls such as Bond Falls which is also incredible.
Bond Falls
Bond Falls is one of the Largest waterfalls in the UP. Its high volume of water and north facing direction makes it perfect to photograph the Milky way because you are facing the falls to the south!
Copper Peak
Copper peak is a Ski jump on a large hill we will have access to over night. Climb the massive tower for the best 360 degree view in Michigan!
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ITINERARY
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Friday we we all meet at the Airbnb around noon. The earlier we get together the more time we'll have to explore!
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We'll unpack and make sure we have our settings set up correctly for night photography and understand how to use our camera's.
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We'll go through a quick lecture on night photography explaining how to get the right settings for the photo you want.
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We'll then leave to explore the waterfalls near by and learn how to plan your night shots.
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We will then decided weather we want to go to Bond Falls or stay here for night photography
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Saturday we well wake up at least by 10 to edit the shots from the day before. We'll have lunch at the Airbnb and have a seminar on Milky way arch panoramic photography
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We will spend the remainder of the day at Lake of the clouds doing panoramic photography. Depending on the time we may break for an early dinner in Ontonagon and try to be back for sunset.
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Sunday will begin with a editing lessons on the panoramas from the day prior. we will either have lunch at the Airbnb and continue editing more to really grasp the editing workflow. We will then head to Copper Peak for sunset and finding our night compositions and stay over night.
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Monday is check out.
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What's Included
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An absolutley wonderful experience in Michigan's most stunning Nature areas.
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3 day/3 night stay at an Airbnb. The addresses will be provided once bookings are secured. We will meet at 12pm Friday 06/07 for our get together lunch.
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Those interested in additional lessons can arrive Thursday at 3pm for an additional fee of $250.
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Multiple preplanned group locations to photograph.
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Minimum 1 Night specifically focused on learning Milky Way Arch Panoramas.
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Presentations specifically focused on the how to and tips and tricks of night photography.
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Daily editing lessons.
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Some food and beverages are included. I will be bring some food for the week to share and others are encouraged to do the same.
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One meal per day at an unspecified location
What's Not Included
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Camera equipment
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Laptop or editing equipment
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Travel to the workshop
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Clothing appropriate for the terrain and or weather. Please pack appropriately
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Insurance on your photography equipment
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Food outside of the 1 meal per day. Bring food drinks and snack to the Airbnb.
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Transportation to and from the location we photograph. I do however encourage carpooling.
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Things to Bring or Consider bringing
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Camera body
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Camera lenses both wide and telephoto!
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Lenses for night photography, the wider the easier. For best results have a wide or ultra wide lens with an aperture of F2.8 or lower.
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lots of camera batteries and your chargers.
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Camera tripod with preferably a panoramic ball head mount. https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Professional-Low-Profile-Panoramic-Rotating/dp/B08DXFZB2Z/ref=sr_1_3?crid=143L0NTMSSK6V&keywords=tripod+ball+head&qid=1697820636&sprefix=tripod+ball+head%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-3
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Camera memory cards
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remote shutter or intervalometer
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camera strap to wear your camera while hiking.
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Laptop for editing installed with Lightroom Classic and Photoshop with charging cables.
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Back up memory in the form of a solid state or external hard drive.
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Clothing appropriate for wild temperatures swings. June can still be in the lower 40s in the late spring at night but can also be warm and very nice in the 70s during the day.
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Spring snowmelt can make for wet and muddy conditions. Good waterproof hiking boots and possibly water proof overalls might prove advantageous.
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Food and drinks. Minimal food and drinks with be provided such as sandwiches' and water.
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Bug spray, and other wildlife protection devices such as bear bell or bear spray. We will not be venturing off deep into the wilderness of night photography. We will stick to easy to access areas. Black bears are afraid of people and pose little threat.
Photos From Previous Workshops
Meet the Team
Meet the Instructor of the Porcupines Workshop
