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THE FINE ART OF FLOWERS

A UNIQUE WORKSHOP FOCUSING ON ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO FINE ART AND CREATIVE FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY

- Twice Daily field shoots in Butchart Gardens during non-public hours -

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APRIL 19 - 25, 2010

cost:  $2,695.00 pp.

(Limit: 6 participants)

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APRIL 18 - 24, 2011

cost:  $2,795.00 pp. double occupancy

(Limit: 6 participants)

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Included:

Lodging, breakfast and dinner for the duration of the workshop, ground transportation, and entry fees.

Daily mentored, field shoots and critiques, six days of field shoots before and after public hours in the Butchart Gardens, lectures with professional instruction.

All ground transportation from the Victoria International airport, Victoria, British Columbia.

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BUTCHART GARDENS, VICTORIA, BC

    Listed as a National Historic Site of Canada, the Butchart Gardens is know as one of the world's premier floral show gardens. From its humble beginnings in 1904 as a limestone quarry, the site has grown until today is covers 55 acres and consists of a sunken garden (the original quarry), a rose garden, a Japanese garden, and a formal Italian garden. From March through October over one million bedding plants of 700 different varieties are used to maintain the gardens in a state of continuous bloom.

VIEWS OF THE GARDENS

    For one week this historic treasure will be our home twice daily before and after public hours. These uninterrupted sessions will allow us to quality time (and light) to work and practice. This is NOT your run-of-the-mill garden or flower workshop. You will be introduced to techniques designed to enhance the artistry and visual creativity of your image making. Ranging from macro to intimate landscapes you will receive artistic instructions and techniques that will focus on alternative, non-standard approaches to flower photography emphasizing the creation of "artistic"  images based on flowers as well as images that, thanks to creative techniques, are just plain fun to make and view. Besides, camera, lens, and filters we will be using a variety of props ranging from treated glass, mylar, and shoot through materials.

Please note that this workshop does not encompass the abstract and impressionistic photography techniques taught in the "Flowers of Monet" workshops. Instead, this workshop focuses on alternative methods of artistic and creative expression.

    This is a lecture-based workshop that will introduce to a number of new photographic techniques that will change the way you visualize subjects and create new artistic definitions. Each day will feature two field trips into the gardens to complete assignments followed by a review and critique of you field work.

    As with all Mark's workshops, professionally-mentored field work is emphasized supported by lectures, critiques, tech talks and question and answer sessions. Almost every day is spent in the field to provide opportunities to work on your art. Plenty of one-on-one time with Mark is built in so that he can provide on-the-spot guidance via interpretive questions and personal experience as you work on finding and developing your personal vision. Participants must be familiar with all the operations of their cameras along with a good, working understanding of the principles of composition, basic image design and metering.

LODGING:

DASHWOOD MANOR B&B:

    Located on the very southern shore of Vancouver Island in the town of Victoria, Dashwood Manor B&B is an heritage inn with spectacular view of both the Jaun de Fuca Strait and the Olympic mountains and is nestled against Beacon Hill Park. Dashwood Manor will be our home for the workshop.  If you would care to view the accommodations the Inn's website is: http://www.dashwoodmanor.com/index.html

RESERVATION INFORMATION:      ON-LINE REGISTRATION

Workshop costs Include: Lodging, breakfast and dinner. Ground transportation service while in Victoria; applicable entrance fees; taxes and service charges.

Not Include: Activities not indicated on itinerary; travel/baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; gratuities; personal use items such as phone, laundry, etc.

Airfares: Air fare costs for flights from participants home city to Victoria, British Columbia are not included. Participant is responsible for making their own arrangements for a morning arrival in Victoria for the start of the workshop.

  A deposit of $500.00 is required at the time of registration with the balance due in full no later than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the start of the trip.

Reservations: Due to the popularity of this trip, making an early reservation is recommended. You can reserve a place by either registering on-line or by calling Wildlight Photography at (612) 804-7377 during the weekday office hours of 9:00 am-4:30 pm CST. We accept credit cards, or we will hold your reservation for seven days, while awaiting your personal check or money order. Make checks payable to "Mark Lissick/Wildlight Nature Photography". Payments can be mailed to Mark Lissick/Wildlight Nature Photography, 4501 Oak Drive, Edina, Minnesota 55424.

For international residents: Please contact Wildlight Nature Photography to discuss payment arrangements.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel 120 days or more prior to departure, a refund less a cancellation fee of 50% of your initial deposit will be made. Per person charges for cancellations received 120 days or less from the trip start date are as follows: 120-101 days - 35% of trip cost; 100-81 days - 50% of trip cost; 80-61 days - 65% of trip cost; 60 or fewer days prior to departure - 100% of trip cost. We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance as this policy is strongly adhered to. Note: In addition of cancellation fees, deposits required to guarantee hotel rooms or local air transportation may be nonrefundable. The purchase of travel insurance covering baggage, accident/life and trip cancellation is highly recommended. Wildlight Nature Photography reserves the right to cancel any group due to insufficient registration. In the even of such cancellation, those with reservations shall be notified as soon as possible and a full refund of trip payment will be given. Wildlight Nature Photography is not responsible for  additional expenses incurred in preparation for a trip.

    Payment of deposit represents an acceptance of the following terms and conditions:  Wildlight Nature Photography, its affiliates and all cooperating airlines and agencies act only in the capacity of agents in all matter of transportation and tour operation, and their liability is limited to the terms of the airline tickets, boat, and land accommodation contracts. They are not responsible for any delays, inconveniences, accidents, expense or mishap of any kind whatsoever resulting entirely, or in part, from the negligence of others or from causes beyond their control. They can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, riot, war, quarantine or other causes. All such losses or expenses must be born by the participants as program rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules, weather or naturally occurring geological events. Baggage is at owner's risk entirely. No refund can be made for unused hotel rooms, meals, sightseeing trips or tours unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. The right is reserved to decline to accept or to retain any person as a program member for any reason which affects the operation of the program or the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of the other program members, and refund or the recoverable land program services is the limit of the liability of Wildlight Nature Photography and its affiliates.