The Masters Program
Photography Workshops
(formerly Wandering Around Outdoors Photography Workshops)

During the past decade, Wandering Around Outdoors Photography Workshops have grown in popularity in numerous western locations including: The Santa Monica Mountains NRA, Sequoia NP, Death Valley NP and Mesa Verde NP. Two professional instructors, Tom Gamache of Wandering Around Outdoors and Van Webster of Webster Communications, bring a vast combined wealth of experience to every workshop program.

Joe Forman - Agoura Hills, CA- "I got so much out of the first weekend, I had to come back. I have to say that I'm really starting to "get it". I am seeing much more than I ever imagined, and I'm shooting a wider variety of subjects with vastly improved results. Exactly what I was hoping for! It is evident that these guys really love to teach."

What is the Masters Program workshop?

The Masters Program is a concise, easy to follow proprietary workshop developed by Tom Gamache and Van Webster that will show you how to use your digital camera (or any camera) to capture both the beauty and complexity of landscape photography. Workshop days are divided between classroom and in-the-field instruction. Through the study of Masters art, the well-organized Masters Program investigates and explains the consequences of many of the Master’s theories and discoveries as translated into today’s digital photography language.  During the workshop you will be presented with challenging field assignments derived directly from classroom demonstrations. We also decipher and demystify the Master’s understanding and use of their many effect-creating devices including: light quality, color and temperature, point of view, subject matter and color, shadow, shape, focus, sharpness and more. The Program will help you develop a better understanding of the creative element of outdoor photographic art by demonstrating and explaining in easy to understand terms, the central concerns of Landscape Photography.

1. How light falls
2. How space is organized
3. The Recognition Factor, The many different ways of looking at nature

Ron Williams, Santa Barbara, CA

Many thanks for your most inspiring and professional presentations in the "Master's Program” last weekend. Your presentations were informative, inspirational, very well integrated, and complemented the field sessions. Your enthusiasm and dedication to the art of landscape photography was contagious. So Much so, that I have already enrolled in your Mesa Verde workshop in September.

 I have been shooting for more than twenty years. I have never taken an art course. Can the Masters Program help me make better photographic art? 

Even with many years of shooting ”experience”, you probably sometimes find yourself, as we did a few Years back, gambling that “Lady Luck” will be on your side each time you release the shutter. Back Then we knew our equipment well enough to get technically perfect exposures every time but us Didn’t really grasp what made an artful image of nature. What could it be that the great landscape Painters and photographers understood that we had yet to uncover? We discovered that there is no Reason why anyone who wants to can’t be making artistically balanced, attention getting, classically Composed and professionally informed landscape images. Now after almost a decade of our own research And testing we are able to offer a reliable means by which your image making can dramatically Improve even after your first “Masters Program” workshop.

Cindy Pitou Burton - Ojai, Ca - "I'll add my raves - for the workshop and its rich content, our amazing instructors and the good-natured atmosphere they created. All of you really added to the fun and to my understanding of many technological puzzles, including my own digital camera!"

Daily workshops include lots of 'wandering around outdoors' including detailed observation and analyzation of the ever-changing environment, image visualization theory and practice. You will explore how to select a scene to work on, and how to capture it using a range of disciplines and techniques including: digital and film 3D to 2D image arrangement (composition), contrast, color, shadow, art and design theories and technical how-to's with scheduled intervals to experiment.

Working closely with the instructors both independently and in groups, you are guaranteed an enjoyable and stimulating hands-on photographic learning experience. You will leave with new insights, including many disciplines that will help you more fully realize your photographic ideas and goals.

Lillian Darling Holt - Hidden Hills, CA - "I wish I knew the words to express the wonderful, incredible, fantastic, amazing time I had. Getting to meet Tom and Van was an experience that will stay with me for a very long time. I have never been with such an amazing group, who are willing to share their photo knowledge."

Tom's presentation of the history of landscape art is a rich source of artistic inspiration. The visualization devices used by these artists to observe and capture nature are described in detail in the classroom as well as demonstrated in the field. Many artistic compositional techniques and professional photography secrets are shared during the workshop.

Barbara Huebel, Assistant to the Director of the UCSB Sedgwick Reserve - "For some reason the photo workshop experience affects people unlike anything else we do here. It attracts some very interesting people who all share their love for photography and connection with the land. Tom and Van's experience and enthusiasm work towards bonding everyone. In the end, people are hesitant to leave, exhausted and enlightened."

Photography by necessity uses tools. Mastering the capabilities of the tools increases a photographer's ability to realize their vision. Digital photographic acquisition, the effects of digital image manipulation and display are all changing the world of photographic expression. Digital photographic techniques are illustrated in a formal presentation and demonstrated during field exercises. They are compared and contrasted with photochemical methodologies highlighting the creative expression opportunities for photographic artists using all types of cameras - digital as well as film - 35mm to large format.

John Perreault - Santa Barbara, CA - "I really enjoyed the class with Tom and Van (boy, were they great!!!) they really made the class extra special. with each of their extra wisdom and experiences, it really rounded out a fun and educational weekend."

For information regarding workshops, dates, schedules and other details please contact the individual workshop sponsors listed under Workshop Registration Information.

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