Winter Waves and Seascapes 2024

February 7th-12th

If already sold out, email me at NickPagePhotography@gmail.com to be added to the waiting list

A season of storms and angry swells

There are many reason I love the Pacific Coast in the wintertime. First of all the temperatures are mild. Often times when it is well below freezing at home, it is still ranging around 50f along the coast, thanks to the stabilizing nature of the Pacific Ocean. The second, and most important to this workshop, are the dramatic weather and frequent storms that make the winter months exciting along the coast. Offshore storms means big surf, and big surf means dramatic photography. I should say that it is impossible to predict weather and surf conditions this far into the future unless you are Nostradamus, but by putting this trip in late February we are setting ourselves up to very likely have medium to very large surf conditions. This workshop will be all about going where the surf and tide conditions give us the best chance for interesting dramatic photographic options. My job as your leader will be to tap into my knowledge of the area, the tide and swell conditions and what works during which set of conditions and put us in a place we can make the best images possible.

Itinerary

6 Days of Wave chasing

The third thing I love about the coast during this time of year, the tourists have all gone home, and we will have the freedom to make last minute plans based on weather and conditions, without the fear of no lodging being available. For that reason we will be building our itinerary off of the weather rather than booking lodging in advance, and hoping for the best. As the Date gets closer, I will have a better idea of the logical starting point and will communicate it with the group to help with flight and drive planning. This workshop will likely include the following locations, but all locations will be based weather and surf conditions and are very much subject to change and improvisation.

North Coast

Cape Disappointment
Peter Iredale shipwreck
Cannon Beach
Cape Kiwanda

Central Coast

Seal Rock

Cape Perpetua
Newport area Beaches
Sweet Creek Falls

Southern Coast

Bandon
Shore Acres
Samuel H Boardman
Pistol River Beach

Important note: To make the most of this workshop we will be closely monitoring and evaluating weather patterns. The weather will likely play a role in our locations for each sunrise and sunset. The Itinerary is a tentative schedule and subject to change.

Group Size - 7

I used to run workshops with as many as 10 people in one group, but I am now limiting my groups to only 7 participants. This gives everyone more help when the want it, it keeps our groups close knit and more enjoyable, and it keep our group fast and nimble when carpooling to locations.

Price - $2199

The cost of this workshop includes your guiding fees only (All prices in US Dollars. Reserve your spot at this link.) payment of $599 is a non-refundable initial payment toward the total of $2199. The payment is to reserve your spot in the workshop. The balance is due 60 days prior to the first day of the workshop. If you need to cancel your attendance to the workshop, we may advertise the opening to others. If someone else signs up to fill your spot, we may refund you your deposit, but only if the spot sells to another participant.

What is included:

Guiding to locations, local knowledge of weather patterns, favorable tides and surf, and best locations based on those conditions
One on one instruction Help with composition, technical issues when shooting seascapes, and shooting with post processing in mind
Post processing sessions. Each workshop is different, sometimes we have time during the trip for post processing session, other times we have none. Post processing session will either happen during the trip, or after via videos or Zoom sessions.
Drinks and snacks while we are on location (snacks will be simple, but are a nice energy boost when we are out shooting at odd hours)

What is NOT included:

Lodging: To remain as flexible as possible, we are not recommending booking rooms in advance. We need to follow the weather, so we may move to a different area of coast depending on weather patterns. We will provide suggestions for hotels in the proximity of areas we are staying.
Transportation: Transportation will not be provided. I will help connect participants after sign-ups and you may choose to coordinate with other participants for sharing rooms and vehicles.
Meals: Besides light snacks, meals are the responsibility of the participant.
Travel to and from the Oregon Coast.

Group size - 7

What the trip is like

Before the workshop begins, we’ll start a new Facebook group just for attendees. You’ll meet everyone in the group (virtually) before we leave and be able to ask questions and prepare. This will be where you can find someone to split a car/room with, etc.

This is not a lazy vacation. This is serious, sleep-when-you’re-dead style photography. Expect the alarm clock to go off early. We’ll grab a bite to eat together (if something is open yet) and then we’ll head off for sunrise

Each day is different. If we have good clouds during the day, we can sometimes stay out almost all day shooting. Other days, the clouds clear out, and a clear day spoils the photography, so we may only shoot morning and evening and night. We’ll do our best to give you a plan of what each day will bring the night before, but everything depends on weather.

We’ll stay together for the trip. We’ll pick restaurants so we can all group up and enjoy each other’s company and review photos. Since we’re all purchasing our own accommodations, you’re certainly welcome to venture off on your own a bit if that’s what you prefer.

Physical abilities/Skill Level/Equipment

From a physical standpoint, if you feel comfortable walking 1 or 2 miles on uneven terrain, you should be in fine shape for this trip. The rocky ground along the coast can be uneven in some places, but we won’t need to go on any prolonged hikes over 2 miles. There will be some fairly decent hikes along the southern coast where the trail descends around 250-300 feet down to beach level, and for this reason those with heart issues will have a difficult time with this hike back up. If any location is out of your comfort zone, you’re more than welcome to shoot another location, stay at the hotel and rest, or wait until we get to another more comfortable location for you. We will do our best to group photographers of the same physical abilities together.

From a photography skill level point of view, everyone is welcome. There is no need to be an advanced photographer by any means. We usually have a good mix of mostly intermediate photographers, a few advanced, and a few beginners.

Important Legal Information

By attending this workshop, you agree to hold Nick Page of Nick Page Photography harmless for all personal injury or loss that may occur during or in connection with this trip You are responsible for your safety Oregon Coast. Do not push your physical abilities past what you are healthy enough to do.

Should the Instructor (Nick Page) become ill, injured, or otherwise unable to perform his duties at the workshop, a replacement will brought into to lead the workshop, the trip will be rescheduled, or the tuitions will be applied to a future workshop

Travel insurance as well as insurance for your photo gear are both highly recommended. All it takes is one rouge wave to ruin your day or even trip, so insurance while shooting the coast is highly recommended.

Nick Page of Nick Page Photography's role in this workshop is to teach photography along the Oregon Coast and guide you to great locations. You are responsible for your safety as you travel. Nick Page Photography makes no effort to vet the other attendees of the trip and you need to make sure you are safe in their companionship.

In the event of extraordinary events, governmental instability, extreme weather, pandemic or other condition, Nick Page of Nick Page Photography reserves the right to cancel this trip and apply paid fees to a future workshop, or reschedule the trip.

Cancellation Policy:

Should the attendee need to back out of the workshop, all payments made minus a $100 processing fee will be refunded if:

More than 60 days notice before the date of the workshop is given
If we are able to fill the spot with a new attendee

If less than 60 days notice is given, 75% of payments received will be refunded if the spot can be filled

Payments due:

Final balance payments are due 60 days before the start of the workshop