Photo Op Weekend

A big apology for not blogging during the rest of my wonderful vacation in Mexico.  I got so busy, then was too tired at night to take the time to post.  But I will catch up on some of those marvelous moments for  you.  In the meantime you can always find the photos on my Tango of Photography link.

But today I’m sharing about a great Island Photography Workshop.

I’m not a morning person. My mood was a bit off getting up at 4:30 a.m. last Saturday to catch a ferry to Lopez Island. I headed out with my friend Leslie for a San Juan Island photography workshop.  Seven Skagit Valley Camera Club http://www.skagitvalleycameraclub.org/ members and two instructors:

http://www.photomattbrown.com/

http://www.johnsedgwickphotography.com/

We actually believed the weather forecast for the weekend: nice, warm! Supposed to be in the high 60s.

First off, no coffee on the ferry (we were too early!) except a machine which we declined.  Bright spot was a hint of sunrise at the ferry dock,with some pinky glow near the mountain. Second on the agenda- breakfast at the brand new market/deli/fabulous general store and more at Lopez Village. http://www.lopezvillagemarket.com/

Island prices sometimes get a bad rap for being too high, but the decadent Raspberry Scones  I enjoyed could not be found here for the price! We set out for Center Church, the skeletons of some old reef net dories, then lunch with a great Asian Chicken Salad at Matt’s favorite watering hole- http://www.galleylopez.com/

The day’s haze and cool temps didn’t keep us from trying some shots.  Light is light, but sometimes we get too fussy! Here is my fave.

Sunday another early rise and cheap coffee($1) right at the Lopez Landing. Then breakfast at the Hungry Clam at Friday Harbor, and off to see the foxes. We heard about how easy it was to get a sighting, but  the National Park  issued the warning: “A Fed Fox is a Dead Fox.”  People have been feeding them and they then depend on that and in the winter when the tourists are gone they starve. The early bird (photographer) gets the….fox!  One student got a photo, but the rest of us missed out. American Camp was the place where a pig almost started a war! Here’s great history.

http://www.nps.gov/sajh/historyculture/american-camp/

Learned a lot, laughed a lot, and prayed for better light.  The best light was AFTER we got on the ferry to return to Anacortes.  With histograms, reflectors, polarizers and other tips of the trade in mind, we were tired, but happy. I have posted most of my shots on the Tango of Photography link included here. Look under Photo Workshop set.