I regularly work with the Golden Trout ("GT") workshop organization as a volunteer to help arrange both natural history and photo workshops. This web page has some of the photos I've taken while participating at these workshops, as well as some information about the camp for those who might be interested in participating with or supporting the GT organization.
The Camp is located in the Golden Trout Wilderness, from which it gets its name. (These are not fishing workshops, although some do enjoy that activity at the camp and nearby lakes.) The Camp is situated at the southern border of the John Muir Wilderness in California's Sierra Nevada range, and most of the hikes are in that Wilderness area. Lone Pine, California is the closest town. From Lone Pine, one drives up the Horseshoe Meadow road and then hikes 3 easy miles to the camp, which is at an elevation of 10,000 feet. This is a wilderness camp. You won't have to turn your cell phones off to avoid the outside world from disturbing your wilderness experience. (There is no reception at camp, though the first day we usually hike to an Owens Valley overlook that does have reception.)
For a small map of the area, click here. The hike in is highlighted in yellow, and the map scale is 1 inch = 1 mile. For those who want to see what I typically take in, see my pack list.
These workshops provide access to the High Sierra wilderness with significantly more comfort than backpacking provides. Sharing this experience with like-minded people who also have common interests in the workshop subjects, provides for a very enjoyable and stimulating week. At a price of only $495, this is a bargain.
The photographs below were taken in and around the Golden Trout Camp. While I print only B&W professionally, I also take color snapshots, a few of which are also shown.
Daily activities at the workshops include hikes to destinations that are usually 1 to 4 miles from camp. These locations provide a wide selection of natural beauty. All activities are, of course, optional. Some prefer to quietly enjoy the wilderness by spending time by Cottonwood Creek, which flows through the camp. In the photo session, at least one day -- and a number of evenings -- will be spent doing printing demonstrations at camp, where we do have a solar electric system.
While we have a fair amount of power at camp for re-charging camera batteries as well as running a printer, digital projector for educational programs, and a few laptop computers, we have found that we do not have enough power for everyone to have a laptop computers at camp. As such, we recommend an efficient backup device but discourage full laptops and Photoshop editing at camp.
As examples of the printing and evening programs that we present, in 2010 I went through a paper I also presented that outlined the inkset that was installed in the Epson 1400 printer at camp, as well as a related one in my Epson 7800, which is typical of the Eposn K3 class of printers. This inkset allows 100% carbon pigment printing, which makes the most stable digital prints possible -- far more lightfast than typical B&W inksets or OEM inksets. To get a PDF copy of the paper, please contact me. This presentation included my approach to using Roy Harrington's QuadToneRip for both making ICCs and full QTR profiles. Roy demostrated Lightroom 3 and how it can be used in a B&W workflow.
While Roy and I make presentations on areas of interest where we have expertise, most of the learning is probably from the constant interchange of knowledge among the participants, which regularly include professional and professional-quality photographers with varied backgrounds and areas of expertise. The sessions are always a learning experience for me.
Of course, in addition to the knowledge about photography, participants will learn a great deal about the High Sierra environment from the staff, volunteers and knowledgeable guests that participate in these workshops. It would be hard not to gain is substantial appreciation of this environment after spending a week in it.
In general, the sessions are geared to what the group (about 20 guests) wants.
To see larger versions of the photos shown in this index, click on the small thumbnail images.
For the Golden Tout Camp Workshops web page, click here, or, for e-mail inquiries, click here.
For a PDF version of the 2010 Brochure and registration form, click here.
The Big Dipper
Lakes 4 & 5
Sunrise at Lake 5
Foxtail Pines & Cirque Peak
Weather above GTC
High Lake
New Army Pass
South slope of Cirque Peak
Foxtail Pines at Windy Gap
Dawn, Golden Trout Camp
East Face, Mt. Langley
Cottonwood Basin Flora
Lake 5.9, Cottonwood Lakes Basin
Sunset at
Golden Trout Camp
Foxtail and Clouds, Cottonwood Lakes Basin
Lichens on Wooly Back
Roy Harrington and Greg Byers set up during the 2006 photo workshop.
A 2010 photo workshop participant sets up to take a digital panorama of the Cottonwood basin from above camp.
If you have any questions about the
workshops or want a brochure for camp information and registration, please
contact me -- Paul Roark.
For those who like black and white photography,
please visit my Black and White Gallery.
Much of the photography I've done is in the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness areas,
but
other favorite areas of the western U.S. are also represented.
Hope to see you at one of our workshops this summer.
Paul Roark