Monthly Archives: December 2014

See you Monday, have a great Weekend!

                 LAST CHANCE TO SAVE 10%

 

Register for any workshop by January 15th (His Light )  January 1st ( Vinny Colucci or Jack Graham) and take a 10% Discount.  A $300. Deposit will hold your spot!

 

 

 

HIS LIGHT  Workflow & Image/Music Show Production Workshop

February 4-8, 2015  (Wednesday-Sunday)

Corbin, Kentucky  Limited to 10    $699.    Team:  Bill Fortney & Jim Begley

 

Learn a clear concise workflow system to post process your images quickly and effectively, HDR and One Stop HDR.  In the second half of the workshop you will learn how to produce image synch shows.  One night Bill will have the group as guests in his home for his “Famous Fortney Bar-B-Que!”

 

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

 

 

HIS LIGHT  Exotic Reptiles & Florida Birds Workshop

February 21-22, 2015  (Saturday – Sunday)

Fort Myers, Florida   Limited to 14    $895.    Team: Mike Matthews,  Bill Fortney & Jim Begley

 

Join Mike, Jim, and I for an incredible opportunity to photograph exotic animals that would require traveling to every continent on earth and even then you might not be able to find them.  At our workshop you will shoot  them under controlled conditions on the plants where you would find  them around the world.  Mike Matthews is a expert on these animals and you will learn a great deal about them!

 

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

 

 

 

Jack Graham Photo Workshops      jackgrahamphoto.co

 

 

 

 

Arches & Canyonlands   A Jack Graham Workshop         jackgrahamphoto.com

March 26-29, 2015  (Wednesday – Sunday)

Moab, UT    Limited to 12    $995.    Team: Jack Graham & Bill Fortney

 

Explore America’s premier Red Rock country parks, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.  From deep canyons to fantastic arches, and rock formations!  Let Jack and Bill open up a whole new world of landscape photography for you!  If this were not enough join Bill at one of very most favorite burger joints!  Milt’s Stop and Eat!

 

 

 

 

HIS LIGHT   The Old Car City Workshop

March  25-29, 2015  (Wednesday – Sunday)

Cartersville, GA    Limited to 12    $799.    Team:  Jim Begley & Snake Barrett

 

The top Americana site in the Eastern U.S. for Old Cars and trucks.  Old Car City has such a sterling reputation for shooting material that photographers fly from around the world to Atlanta (45 minutes South on I-75) to spend a few days shooting there!  Dean Lewis has over 34 acres, 4,000 cars and trucks just waiting to see how you can artistically capture them!  Learn HDR from the master, Jim Begley, and learn from many images critiques in class!

 

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

 

 

 

 

HIS LIGHT  The Great Smoky Mountains in Spring Workshop

April  15-19, 2015  (Wednesday – Sunday)

Townsend, TN    Limited to 12    $899.    Team: Bill Fortney, Jim Begley & Snake Barrett

 

There is almost no place like the Great Smokies in Spring, profuse with wildflowers, full streams of clear rushing water, and those delicate multi ranges of green in the mountains!  Opportunities for water photography, landscape both intimate and the grand landscape abound.  This is Bill’s home park!  Come and enjoy it with Jim and Snake!

 

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

 

 

 

 

A Bill Fortney Workshop

Americana and Trains in Roanoke, VA

April 29- May 3, 2015

Roanoke, VA

Price:  $899.   Limited to 12

Instructors:  Bill Fortney & Fred Sisson

To Register or for Info Contact:  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

 

Nestled in the foothills of Virginia is a perfect place to enjoy the beauty of Virginia and capture Americana Images.  The workshop will include a visit to the Winston O. Link Museum to see some of the most amazing steam engine train photography in existence.  A night-time flash excursion to capture a train in action!  We will have a shooting session in the Virginia Museum of Transportation.  We will also visit and photograph the D-Day Memorial!  It is my pleasure to do a workshop with Nikon School Legend Fred Sisson!

 

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

 

 

 

 

A His Light Workshop

Memory Lane *A complete 1950’s town!

May 13-17, 2015

Rogersville, TN

Price:  $899.   Limited to 12

Instructors:  Bill Fortney & Jim Begley

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

 

This incredible town right out of the 50’s with an authentic country store, movie theatre, aluminum sided diner, a garage full of beautifully restored cars of that era, gas station, junk yard with some classic old rusty trucks and cars, and much, much more, all completely accurate down to every detail.  This will be an Americana shooters dream come true, this is by special arrangement this is not normally open to the public!

 

 

 

 

 

A Jack Graham Workshop

Grandfather Mountain & the Blue Ridge Parkway

May 27-31, 2015

Banner Elk, NC

Price:  $995.   Limited to 12

Instructors:  Jack Graham & Bill Fortney

Please contact Jack at 503-625-1430 or by email at info@jackgrahamphoto.com

 

 

Grandfather Mountain’s stone profile faces have long gazed out over the ancient Appalachians, earning the acclimation of explorers and botanists alike as the apex of the Blue Ridge in grandeur and ecological diversity.

 

Towering nearly a vertical mile over the Piedmont, Grandfather has been recognized for centuries as a sentinel summit. In 1794, the mountain’s dramatic views convinced the Botanist Andre Michaux that he’d climbed “the highest peak in all North America.”

 

From alpine-like vegetation and vistas on the highest peaks, to cascading streams far down in the foothills, more than a dozen distinct ecological zones stretch across the landscape. Seventy-plus species of rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals populate this rugged mountain, making it one of the East’s most significant peaks; a United Nations International Biosphere Reserve.

 

Nature lovers and hikers alike find Grandfather Mountain to be a special, indeed globally significant place to encounter the outdoors.

 

Visit Grandfather Mountain State Park for more info.

 

 

 

 

 

A Jack Graham Workshop

The Palouse Region of Washington State

June 10-14, 2015

Colfax, WA

Price:  $995.   Limited to 8  (?)

Instructors:  Jack Graham & Bill Fortney

Please contact Jack at 503-625-1430 or by email at info@jackgrahamphoto.com

 

 

One of my favorite locations is the Palouse region of eastern Washington. We will spend 5 days exploring many of the back roads that offer landscape found nowhere else in the United States. The Palouse is the richest wheat growing area in the U.S. due to location, rainfall and rich soil.

 

The Palouse country presents endless photographic opportunities. Bountiful, lush patterned-filled green hillsides are everywhere. Numerous old barns and classic scenes of rural America make up the landscape. This is not only one of the most beautiful areas in the world … it’s a photographer’s paradise.

 

June is the perfect month to be there as the rolling hills are deep green. The cloud patterns found in the springtime make it even better! From countless locations, you can literally look in every direction and see what may be described as a watercolor painting of different shades of green. The patterns of the hills, the old barns, fences and scenes of some of the small towns that dot the roadside serves as subject matter for our workshop.

 

We will be based in Colfax, Washington. This is a central location with easy access to the surrounding region. (See lodging and travel information below).

 

We will drive through towns like Colfax, Garfield, Teoka, Dusty, and Steptoe and of course Palouse itself and view the landscape from Steptoe Butte and Kamiak Butte.

 

I can guarantee that this workshop will be informative and will produce many great images. You will not believe how quick the days fly by photographing in this region.

 

 

 

 

 

A Jack Graham Workshop      jackgrahamphoto.com

Oregon Coast – Cannon Beach to Bandon

June 25-29, 2015

Tillamook, Newport, Florence and Coos Bay, Oregon!

Price:  $995.   Limited to 8

Instructors:  Jack Graham & Bill Fortney

Please contact Jack at 503-625-1430 or by email at info@jackgrahamphoto.com

 

 

lease consider coming to the beautiful Oregon Coast in late June. Experience everything from the magnificent cliffs, which drop hundreds of feet into the blue Pacific Ocean, to the small fishing villages with quaint buildings and a nautical feel, found only here on the Northwest Pacific coast.

 

We will combine lots of in the field, hands on instruction along with review and photographic development sessions that will take your photography to the next level, as well as produce some astounding images. Many of these locations are not on the tourist maps and have been selected after years of experience traveling up and down the Oregon Coast. I will share these photographic gems with you!

 

The Oregon coastline offers the photographer some of the most beautiful and famous marine views anywhere in the world. This diverse landscape ranges from sandy beaches with 500-600’ high cliffs dropping off on rocky beaches with crashing waves, to tide pools filled with marine life.

 

Many working lighthouses offer unique photographic experiences. Small fishing towns offer beautiful harbors with easy access to fishing boats to capture the essence of life on the Oregon Coast. We will be at the right place, at the right time to capture some amazing images, found only here, while honing our photographic skills.

 

The Oregon Coast workshops are fast becoming perhaps my most anticipated because of the beauty and variety of this unique area. With its remote beaches and tide pools, rocky coastline with majestic sea stacks and dramatic sunsets, these locations offer great and different photographical experiences at every turn.

 

This 5-day workshop will not only get you to one of the greatest scenic locations, but serve as an enjoyable instructional period. We’ll be photographing the vistas, tide pools, quaint fishing villages, lighthouses and coastal themes — along with some great sunsets! We’ll enjoy the cool, fresh and invigorating air of the Pacific Ocean. There’s nothing like the Oregon Coast!

 

We will begin our photography experience in Ecola State Park, where old growth rain forests abound. Views of the ocean and Tillamook Lighthouse make this area a must. From there we head down the coast to Cannon Beach, known for Haystack Rock and fabulous sunsets. The town of Tillamook is a bit further south (known for Tillamook Cheese!).

 

 

 

 

A His Light Workshop

Nashville Celebration with Ricky Skaggs

July 27-31, 2015  *(a rare 5 day Monday –Friday Workshop)

Nashville, TN

Price:  $899.   Limited to 14

Instructors:  Ricky Skaggs, Bill Fortney, Jim Begley & Nick Coury

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

Music City during Blue Grass Month!  Enjoy meeting and working side by side  with Country/Bluegrass music legend Ricky Skaggs and the entire His Light Team!  14 times Grammy Winner Ricky Skaggs is also a gifted photographer and a great guy to show us around Nashville!  Great shooting locations will include a live performance by Ricky and his band Kentucky Thunder in the Historic Ryman Theater, and yes you can shoot!  Canonsburg Village in Murfreesboro, TN, the night-time skyline of Nashville captured reflecting in the Cumberland River.  A visit to the Marathon Motor Works which will include an hour exclusive access to the Antique Archaeology Store of American Pickers fame! A special guitar shooting, and portrait session with Ricky at Dury’s studio with Nick Coury, great portrait lighting expert! Ricky will be with us 3 and half days!  Sign up early this will definitely sell out!  Ticket to Ryman Concert included!

 

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

 

 

 

 

A Jack Graham Workshop       jackgrahamphoto.com

Fuji X-System Shooters Workshop – Mount Rainier N.P.

August 27-30, 2015

Mount Rainier, WA

Price:  $995.   Limited to 12

Instructors:  Jack Graham & Bill Fortney

Please contact Jack at 503-625-1430 or by email at info@jackgrahamphoto.com

 

Take the class on your Fuji X camera from the guys that know it best!  Bill Fortney & Jack Graham were early adopters of this great new camera system and have several years of in-the-field- experience.  Learn how to get the most out of your cameras, lenses and accessories in a fantastic shooting location, Mount Rainier National “Park.  Stream shooting, wild flowers, reflections of the snow capped Mount Rainier, what could be better and in the company of fellow Fuji addicts!  Each participant gets a copy of Bill’s new best selling eBook, the Fuji X-System user’s Guide!

 

 

 

 

A His Light Workshop

Nova Scotia

October 5-11, 2015

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Price:  $995.   Limited to 12

Instructors:  Bill Fortney, Jim Begley & Snake Barrett

To Register or for Info Contact:  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

Fall color and fishing villages along the coast of Nova Scotia.  Trips to Peggy’s Cove, and numerous small authentic fishing villages.  Yarmouth, Digby, Lunenburg, and countless other beautiful locations.  If you are into boats, and rocky coasts, this one is for you!  More details soon!

 

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

 

 

 

 

A Jack Graham Workshop      jackgrahamphoto.com

N.E. Ohio Amish County  * Includes a day with the Amish

October 21-25, 2015

Fairlawn, Ohio

Price:  $895.   Limited to 12

Instructors:  Jack Graham & Bill Fortney

Please contact Jack at 503-625-1430 or by email at info@jackgrahamphoto.com

 

Jack knows the best spots and when to out there for the best light”…. Robert Hitchman. Photograph America Newsletter Cuyahoga National Park… edition 103

 

North Eastern Ohio is an amazing, diverse area especially in the fall.  Bill Fortney and Jack Graham are offering a 4-day photography workshop in many of the beautiful areas in this magnificent location in October 2015.

 

We will spend time in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, other locations and one day in the Amish Country of Ohio, all close to where Jack lived for some years and spent many days exploring and photographing.  We guarantee you’ll enjoy the information, presentations and interaction during our time together.

 

Presentations, demonstrations and discussions on your images made during the workshop will occur during the weekend as well. We will be based at the Holiday Inn / Fair Lawn Ohio. (See below)

 

During the fall in North Eastern Ohio, the hardwoods offer a display of color that rivals New England. Additionally, this is the ONLY photography workshop I know of that features an entire day in the Amish country, with full access to an Amish farm. We’ll be exploring the barns and fields of an Amish family, not from the roadside, but on the property of a wonderful Amish family, who have become good friends of Jack’s over the years. (The meal at the end of the day isn’t bad either!)

 

Because of its location, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park may not be as popular as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Grand Tetons. However, the CVNP and adjacent locations offers some of the greatest fall color anywhere. We’ll be working on many aspects of photography in these locations as well as some hidden gems in the area during our time in the field.

 

 

 

 

 

A Vinny Colucci Workshop

The South West Tour  (Bryce Canyon N.P. , Zion N.P.,

Lower Antelope Slot Canyon and The Paria Wilderness area)

November 4-8, 2015

Starts and ends in Page, AZ

Price:  $995.   Limited to 12

Instructors:  Vinny Colucci & Bill Fortney

To Register or for Info Contact Vinny Colucci at:

www.escapetonaturephotography

 

Or call (252)-349-1121

 

A magical tour of the Golden Circle with two veteran Landscape artists!  The Tour will start in Page Arizona, with a shoot at Horse Shoe Bend, and then a trip into Lower Antelope Slot Canyon, on to Bryce Canon N.P. and then a trip into Zion National Park.  On the return to Page a shoot at Paria Canyon and our outrageous Bar –B-Q dinner at the famous Paria Outpost!  Killer shooting location at the perfect time of year, in the best company!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A His Light Workshop

Christmas in the Smokies

December 2-6, 2015

Townsend, TN

Price:  $799.   Limited to 12

Instructors:  Bill Fortney & Jim Begley

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

Start your Christmas season with Jim and Bill in the beautiful Cades Cove area in the quiet season.  Deer will be in the rut, and their coats and racks beautiful, lots of fellowship around the fireplace and a great way to get your Christmas celebration started!  Great fellowship, worship, celebration of our Saviors birth and photography what could be better!

 

To Register or for Info Contact  Bill Fortney @  (606)-528-6119  or billfortney@earthlink.net

 

Personal Note:  I will be doing Workshops under Three separate companies this year:

His Light Workshops

Jack Graham Workshops

Vinny Colucci Workshops

I may add more under my own name later  Bill Fortney

 

A Printable list of Photographic Events for 2015:

 

February 4-8     Workflow/Slide Show Production – Corbin, KY   HIS LIGHT

 

March 12-15     Peoria Camera Club Event  – Peoria IL    PERSONAL 

 

March 20-21     Nelson Ghost Town/Neon Museum  Las Vegas NV  J. GRAHAM

 

March 25-29     Arches/Canyonlands   Moab, UT    J. GRAHAM

 

March 25-29      Old Car City  Cartersville, GA      HIS LIGHT

 

April 15-19       Great Smoky Mountains  Townsend, TN    HIS LIGHT

 

April 29 – May 3     Roanoke Transportation   Roanoke, VA     PERSONAL

 

May 13-17       Memory Lane Americana   Rogersville, TN     HIS LIGHT

 

May 27-31      Grandfather Mountain/Blueridge   Banner Elk, NC     J. GRAHAM

 

June 8-15      The Palouse   Colfax WA       J. GRAHAM

 

June 25-29      Oregon Coast     Bandon       J. GRAHAM

 

July  27-31    Nashville Ricky Skaggs     HIS LIGHT

 

August 10-14    Photoshop World   Las Vegas NV    PERSONAL

 

August 26-30    Fuji Workshop @ Mount Rainier WA    J. GRAHAM

 

September 9-13   Cass Railway and Night Shoot    HIS LIGHT  ***  Details Soon!

 

October 5-11       Nova Scotia  Halifax, NS      HIS LIGHT

 

October 21-25     Amish Country NE Ohio      J. GRAHAM

 

November 4-8     Southwest Tour  with Vinny Colucci    PERSONAL

 

December 2-6     Christmas in the Smokies     HIS LIGHT

 

 

 

 

2014 was a high water mark for new photography products!  Here are five that I think were game changers!

 

1.  Nikon’s new D750.  Nikon has produced some fantastic full frame cameras, but for me the D750 makes the most sense.  A solid body, great features, and a more than enough, 24 mega pixel  sensor.  Few need a D810 or as D4s, but the D750 can do it all and is reasonably priced!  This is the  the real deal.

 

2.  The Fuji X-T1.  This is the camera that changed it all for me.  I was very pleased with the Fuji X-System but when the X-T1 arrived, and it is such a great camera, for me, that was it!  I have a pair and use them for everything!  If you want to save weight and have great old world controls, this is the ticket!

 

3.  Canon hit a major home run for their users with the release of the Canon 7D II.  This is one terrific APS-C size sensor camera.  While I don’t shoot Canon, a number of my friends have the camera an they are all raving about it’s performance and image quality.  For sports shooters this is a tremendous camera!  10 frames per second!

 

4.  The Fuji 50-140 f 2.8 OIS telephoto zoom is with out question the finest lens I’ve ever shot.  Not only is it beyond tack, tack sharp, the Optical Images Stabilization really does give you sharp images  over a 5 stop range.  I have images at 140mm (210mm equiv.) shot at 1/8th of a second that are tack sharp!!!!!!  Proof?  Check the image below of a small Christmas ornament about 1 inch across!

 

5.  The Fuji X100T is the third generation X100 from Fuji.  From the opening gate this had been a major hit.  Not for everyone, but definitely for those that love rangefinder type cameras!  You can’t touch this kind of build and image quality without spend multiples of thousands more.  When Zack Arias called it the greatest camera ever made, he just might have been right!!!!

 

If you are a Nikon shooter, a Canon shooter, or a Fuji shooter, you’ve got some great new products to image with in 2015!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

1/8th of second at 140mm (210) Equiv.  “HAND HELD”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.   I was sure I would revert to my Nikon full frame D700 for about 20% of my work.

 

Nope, sorry, but I used the Nikon 0% of the time.  Guess the switch is for real!

 

2.  I kept my Fuji X-E2 thinking even though I had two X-T1s I would still use it some.

 

Nope, zero use.  I love the X-T1s and have become very attached to them.  I’ll hold on the the X-E2 a little longer, I never learn!

 

3.  I thought my chronic back problems were leading to eventually having to give up field work!

 

Nope, My terrific son and killer physical therapist, Scott, has worked with me all week of Christmas and with exercises by back is improving daily!!!!!

 

4.  I worried the past summer that our His Light Faithful Friends outing might not be as spectacular as I had hoped.

 

Nope, should not have worried, this the greatest group of photography friends in the world, they have a great time everywhere they go and make sure everyone else does too!!!

 

5.  I was sure that I had settled on a couple of camera bags, backpacks and a single rolling bag!

 

Nope, still playing musical bags.  I just have so much fun repacking them, guess it’s a full blown syndrome!

 

6.  I was sure I couldn’t fall any deeper in love with Sherelene that I already was!

 

Nope, every single day this woman shows me why I respect and admire her so much, and yes my love for her  keeps growing deeper!

 

7.  I though my great experiences of taping KelbyOne classes couldn’t get any better.

 

Nope,  Brandon and Juan made the Nelson Ghost Town shoot something very special!  Thanks guys!

 

8.  I didn’t think I could top the last batch of Fortney’s Famous Bar-B-Q!

 

Nope, the two batches I made over Christmas week were the best yet!

 

9.  I was afraid I might not make the cut for Photoshop World 2015!

 

Nope,  just got my invitation to return again, I love that event.  Miracles of Miracles!  Thanks you for having me back!

 

10.  I didn’t think my thankfulness and commitment to the Lord could  grow any deeper!
I was wrong, every single day He reveals more reasons why I am so thankful for His love, compassion, grace, and the joy of walking with Him!!!  I owe it all to Him!

 

 

Five Things I Did Get Right!

 

1.   I said yes when my dear friend Jack Graham asked me to join him for a half dozen more workshops in 2015.  Not only is Jack a great friend, it is a real pleasure to teach with him.  I think our groups have a great time, and we really enjoy working together!  I’m really looking forward to those 2015 workshops with him!

 

2.  I renewed another year of His Light Workshops with Jim and Snake!  His Light workshops have been such a blessing to Jim, Snake, and I, and our attendees.  Lots of great spiritual things happened over the past year, and I love the schedule we have for this coming year.  Jim is one of the finest men I know, and just hanging out with him is such a pleasure.  Lots of great times are ahead!

 

3.  I started my long hoped for dream of creating eBooks and getting all I wanted to share down in a accessible form!  I didn’t know if there would be much interest, I certainly hoped there would be! The eBook store went live in mid October and as of today we’ve sold over 1,600 books!!!!!  500 hundred more have been downloaded for free!  I’m already at work on a number of new titles for the new year!

 

4.  I bought a Fuji X100T and absolutely love it!!!  Thanks Zack Arias for steering me to this camera, once again your advise was spot on!  The rave reviews it gets are more than deserved!

 

5.  I am committed more deeply than ever to keep the Pilgrim’s Chronicles rolling, I love interacting with you guys, just wish more of you would  email me or post a comment, I love hearing from you!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim