PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR OVERVIEW:  Strong graphic compositions complimented by blazes of color will be a prominent feature of this trip. We’ll make the best of the early and late light at the best spots, and take in area highlights during the day. ‘Tulipomania’ was a term given to the craze over Tulips in Holland during the period from 1634-37. We now invite you to invest in your own colorful ‘Tulipomania’ via some striking and graphically strong photography of the Tulip fields that light up the Skagit Valley, Washington each April. In addition to the Tulip bonanza you’ll have the opportunity to photograph Whidbey Island and the Seattle skyline at dusk.

INCREASING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS: There isn’t a straightforward way to describe everything you will learn on one of our photography tours in just a few words, but I'll give it a try . . . I instruct, encourage, nurture, coach, nudge, help and guide clients etcetera, all day and every day.  This includes one-on-ones and 'collective instruction', i.e. advice given to the whole group at each photo stop. Subjects and techniques discussed and demonstrated are composition strength, shutter speeds, exposure compensation, how aperture choice influences depth of field, lens choice, filter use, long exposure effects, deliberate blur, macro and so on. I also encourage you to 'see' an image when the opportunity presents itself, i.e. to be on the lookout for those less obvious shots that are no less stunning. Lastly, I conduct image critiques both on location - digital camera screens are ideal for this - and via the use of laptops. PhotoShop sessions are also included as time permits. For more details regarding what you'll learn go here.

TRAVEL TO THE GATEWAY AIRPORT
o It is recommended that clients arrive a day early to be fresh for the trip, and to also counteract possible flight delays.
o Early arrival also enables you to explore the gateway city should you wish to do so.
o When booking flights, add a day for overnight travel or two days if also crossing the Pacific Ocean/International Dateline.
o The last day of the trip is the date you should arrange your flight home unless you plan to stay on. Thank you!

DAY 1  |  To WASHINGTON STATE
Your midday flight into Seattle, Washington will be met by John, and on-route to La Connor, we’ll detour into Seattle for a photo-walk around the Pike Street Market which was featured in the movie ‘Sleepless in Seattle’. On north for our first look at the vibrant swaths of color beyond the Skagit River.
FIDALGO ISLAND, 3 nights

DAYS 2 and 3  |  TULIP FESTIVAL
During the next two days we'll explore the many Skagit valley lanes for those striking images with good ‘compositional strength’.  Besides the Tulips . . . Daffodils and hopefully Iris’s will be present, though please note that all the blooms will be at the mercy of creation’s timetable. We’ll obviously pursue plenty of macro images, but for landscapes you’ll be able to include various old barns, and the Cascade mountain range to the east in your viewfinders.  We’ll also be on the look-out for workers out in the fields, who will afford us some ‘human interest’ perspectives as we add to our array of impressions of the region. We'll also spend time in the tulip fields of Tulip town and Roozengaarde, the region's largest tulip growers. Added to this, we’ll break away to photograph Anacortes and Whidbey island, the latter including Deception Pass State Park. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is the photographer’s limitless palette of color, and you’re sure to return home with images beyond your expectations . . . guaranteed.

DAY 4  |  The TULIP FESTIVAL and SEATTLE
We’ll ‘mop-up’ our photography at the Tulip Festival this morning with a last early start for the warm light as it falls upon the dormant sentinels of a million flowers. You’d have to go to Holland to match the array in Skagit Valley. After breakfast we’ll set off south down Whidbey Island for photography at Fort Casey where the Admiralty Head lighthouse stands. Then to quaint Langley prior to a ferry ride to Mukilteo, and on south to Seattle. We’ll check into our hotel, take a short break then shoot Seattle’s skyline at twilight.
SEATTLE, 1 night

DAY 5  |  Flights home
Mid to late morning flights are recommended from Sea-Tac airport. Free transport is available to the next scheduled photography tour. [California Central Coast]