The recent workshop in Savannah was a lesson in flexibility and preparedness for photographers. We do not always have full control over the light, weather, or people but when we learn to adapt and be in the right place, we often are favored with great images.
We had chosen Savannah as one of our first urban workshops due to its rich history and beauty. Founded in 1783, it has survived the American Revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War. As a city both proud of its history and its beauty, Savannah offers photographers interesting architecture, natural beauty and unique features. It has the advantage of being a vibrant city, built on a river, with an Atlantic Ocean beach only 30 minutes away. Thus it has multiple options for photographers in collecting different scenes and telling a story of the city.
After two days of nearly constant rain in Savannah, the workshop started with a change in schedule. Instead of our scheduled trip out to the infamous Bonaventure Cemetery, which would be very wet and dark, we headed out to Forsyth Park Fountain, knowing that the wet sidewalks would add an interesting element with the opportunity to capture reflections. Often poor weather conditions can turn otherwise ordinary images into special ones. We returned the next morning hoping to capture the sunrise, but the clouds were too heavy. While we were not able to get the desired shot, we were patient and captured some lovely images with morning light after the sun broke through the clouds. Plus our early arrival allowed us to have the park nearly to ourselves and get this popular spot without crowds.
We were able to still make it to Bonaventure Cemetery later in the weekend for one of our favorite and unusual sessions. This historic cemetery is filled with lovely old trees, unique gravestones, and beautiful art pieces. Our delay brought an unexpected bonus to our after hours visit – the moon was nearly full which allowed us to capture the scene with nearly daylight conditions.
While our first sunrise was less than optimal, our beach sunrise was classically beautiful with good cloud coverage giving interest to the rising sunlight.
Personally, my favorite moments of these workshops is when a attendee discovers or clicks with a new tool or technique that helps him or her create better images. One such lesson on this trip was the use of the platy pod, a useful tool when a tripod is not an option to capture long exposures. We practiced using this in the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, which was very crowded with other sightseers. By allowing a longer exposure, the people passing the camera virtually disappear and give the photographer a super shot with interior light.
In addition to these great spots, we were able to visit many of the iconic squares, shops and areas of beautiful Savannah. It is a great time of year to visit Savannah as spring was starting to show its colors and brighten up an already lovely city. This city has a rich natural beauty and its many architecturally interesting buildings create wonderful options for a photographer.
We spent most of the rest of the workshop wandering the wonderful streets and squares in Savannah exploring my favorite spots.
Our last stop in the workshop was Tybee island which is about a 45-minute drive from Savannah. We wanted to shoot the sunrise so it was an early start! But, we were rewarded with a beautiful sunrise with some nice clouds and beautiful colors.
We are always interested in offering workshops that give you the chance to see part of our beautiful country, improve your photography skills, capture incredible images of your own and have fun. Please tell us if you are interested in joining us in Savannah in 2021 or one of our upcoming 2020 workshops. We look forward to shooting with you soon.
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