Unleash your photographic vision. See creatively, capture fresh perspectives, and develop a distinctive style in landscape imagery.
Share
Updates from Glacier, Yellowstone, and Oregon!
Published about 1 month ago • 9 min read
It's been an exciting and incredibly productive autumn travel season for us. Since wrapping up our first Yellowstone workshop, we've traveled over 5,000 miles, exploring new landscapes and chasing the elusive aurora. We've never covered this much ground in such a short time, and though exhaustion is catching up to us, we're grateful for everything we've witnessed and captured along the way.
Our Yellowstone small scenes workshop went exceptionally well, with dynamic weather creating endless opportunities for unique photography. We're excited to gather our students' amazing work into a commemorative book, including an e-book version for our website—a new offering we're considering for future workshops.
After a month in Yellowstone, we ventured west to Mount Rainier National Park. The volcano up close was breathtaking, with peak fall colors and lovely dynamic conditions. Four days of hiking and photographing were cut short by news of a strong aurora forecast—ironically, with the clearest skies back in Yellowstone. Little did we know, this would lead to an unexpected adventure.
We've just wrapped up a fantastic coastal workshop in Oregon, and now find ourselves in the desert, taking a much-needed break before two more workshops.
We're thrilled to share that nearly all of our workshops are currently sold out, thanks to your incredible support. For those who missed out, we've just had a spot open up in our popular Central Utah workshop!
Warmly, David Kingham and Jennifer Renwick
⬇️ More exciting updates and photos below! ⬇️
Jennifer's LensWork Featured Project
I'm bursting with pride to announce that Jennifer has achieved a remarkable milestone. Her mesmerizing "Anemone Choreography" project is featured in the September issue of LensWork, with one of her stunning images gracing the cover!
This 20-image portfolio, selected from a larger 40-image project, showcases Jennifer's unique ability to capture the delicate dance of sea anemones in tidepools. Having witnessed her dedication to this project, I can attest to the passion and artistry poured into every frame.
Jennifer's work beautifully embodies our shared love for nature and photography. Her recognition by LensWork is a testament to her skill and vision as a photographer.
Interested in seeing Jennifer's captivating underwater world for yourself? If you're not a LensWork subscriber, you can purchase this special issue by clicking the button below. Trust me, you won't want to miss this!
I'm humbled and excited to share some wonderful news with you all. This year's Natural Landscape Photography Awards brought some unexpected honors my way, and I'd love to share them with you.
Winner - Environmental Wildlife
The highlight for me was clinching the top spot in the Environmental Wildlife category. This winning image captures a truly magical moment from last winter in Yellowstone. A pack of wolves emerged into a thermal feature, set against a haunting backdrop of ghost trees. It's a scene that still gives me goosebumps, and I'm thrilled that it resonated with the judges too.
I'm also delighted to have been named runner-up in the Creative Icon category. This image, taken from Dante's View in Death Valley, showcases the dramatic aftermath of a clearing storm. It's a testament to nature's raw power and beauty.
Fourth Place - Photographer of the Year
Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was placing fourth for Photographer of the Year. With 1,134 talented entrants, this recognition is truly humbling.
Each of these images represents countless hours in the field, waiting for that perfect moment when light, landscape, and occasionally even wildlife align.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the NLPA judges and to all of you who have supported my journey. Your encouragement fuels my passion for capturing and sharing the beauty of our natural world.
Chasing the Aurora
Remember that strong aurora forecast we mentioned earlier? Well, it wasn't just any forecast—it was an alert of an X9 solar flare headed towards Earth, an excellent setup for incredible Aurora viewing. As we were enjoying Mt. Rainier, I (David) received this exciting news. Unfortunately, clouds were moving into the Pacific Northwest, and our relaxing plans of photographing and hiking were quickly dashed as we felt the irresistible draw to return to Yellowstone. We hoped to experience another powerful storm and capture a few more scenes for our future Yellowstone book in locations we hadn't photographed in May.
Driven by this rare opportunity, despite our usual reluctance to chase things, we embarked on a 14-hour drive back to Yellowstone. Unfortunately, the X-flare largely missed Earth, a disappointing but expected risk when pursuing such an unpredictable phenomenon. Thankfully, a minor flare hit, giving us a beautiful display that made the long journey worthwhile. We also met up with our friends Michael Frye and Claudia, who were in the area with the same hopes.
Aurora over Porcelain Basin by David Kingham
The night before we were set to leave Yellowstone, a G4 storm watch was issued for a fast-moving CME. The forecast showed clouds over much of the area, including Yellowstone, but Glacier National Park, six hours to the north, promised clear skies. After discussing it with Michael and Claudia, who were also heading north, we decided to join them. Our friends Kristal Leonard, Bobby, and Brandi Burton also decided to make the drive, turning this into a collective adventure. Chasing the aurora is much like storm chasing—once you've witnessed something so awe-inspiring like we had in May, it ignites a fire that makes you willing to go wherever it takes you.
We arrived at Glacier around 5 p.m., parked at a campsite, and immediately headed up Going-to-the-Sun Road to scout locations with everyone. What followed was a night beyond words. We thought nothing could compare to the storm in May, but being further north, right under the auroral oval, brought an even more profound experience. The colors and flashes were visible to the naked eye. This storm had its own unique beauty and energy, and we were so thankful we made the trek.
Aurora over Saint Mary Lake by David Kingham
Photography often involves taking risks, and though they sometimes require long drives (we drove 3,200 miles in a week to chase) and sleepless nights, they're always worth it. After this night, we're more addicted to chasing auroras than ever. We spent eight hours under the sky with good friends, arriving back at camp at 5 a.m., exhausted but fulfilled. We set off for the Oregon coast the next day with memory cards and souls full of yet another life-changing experience.
As we're still in the process of curating and processing our images from this incredible aurora-chasing adventure, we're excited to share them with you soon. To ensure you don't miss out on these stunning photographs and the stories behind them, we encourage you to subscribe to our personal photography newsletters. Jennifer and I will be sharing our unique perspectives and experiences from this unforgettable journey.
In the meantime, our friend Michael Frye has already published some breathtaking images from our shared aurora experience on his blog. We highly recommend checking them out to get a taste of the magnificent spectacle we witnessed.
Upcoming Workshop Opportunities
Don’t miss out on these incredible opportunities to enhance your photography skills in stunning locations. Act fast – remaining spots are limited!
✅ Workshops with Open Spots
Central Utah May 12-16, 2025 (1 Spot Just Opened up!)
Is your display calibrated? If not, you're missing a crucial step in your photography workflow!
Why Calibration Matters:
Factory settings are often inaccurate, leading to inconsistent color representation.
Uncalibrated displays can show images too cool or warm, affecting your editing decisions.
Overly bright screens can cause you to process images too dark.
The Calibrite Display 123 Colorimeter is an excellent solution for most photographers:
Affordable and user-friendly
Provides accurate color and brightness calibration
Ensures your edited images look consistent across different devices
Don't let an uncalibrated display compromise your hard work. The Calibrite Display 123 offers professional-grade calibration without unnecessary complexity, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced photographers.
Invest in color accuracy today – your photos will thank you!
Note: This section contains affiliate links. Your support through these links helps us continue providing valuable content. Thank you!
Lifting All Lenses
We're excited to spotlight an inspiring new release from our photography community: Guy Tal's "Be Extraordinary: Philosophical Advice for Photographic and Other Artists."
This isn't just another photography book. Guy, a respected teacher and philosopher, offers a unique blend of artistic insight and philosophical wisdom. "Be Extraordinary" challenges readers to question common beliefs, find their own creative path, and create art that's truly meaningful to them.
We've had the chance to dive into this thought-provoking work, and we can confidently say it's a game-changer for any artist seeking deeper purpose in their craft. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just beginning your creative journey, this book promises to inspire, challenge, and transform your approach to art and life.
Josh emphasizes the importance of finding uniformity in chaotic scenes when taking photos. Instead of trying to capture everything, focus on consistent patterns and shapes to create simpler, clearer images. This technique helps highlight a specific aspect of the landscape and reduces visual clutter.
Michael discusses the importance of light and composition in photography. He emphasizes that understanding how light affects a photo's mood and how to arrange elements can greatly improve your work. Frye offers online workshops to help photographers deepen their skills in these essential areas.
Sarah encourages photographers to keep nearly all their photo files for future use, as they may reveal new creative directions or become valuable for future projects. Many photos that seem unimportant now could fit well in collections or illustrate lessons later on. Organizing files effectively can help manage a large collection and reduce the urge to delete potentially valuable images.
Recent Workshop Highlights
Yellowstone Intimate Landscapes
After our last newsletter, we led an unforgettable journey through Yellowstone National Park, focusing on the art of intimate landscape photography. Our workshop celebrated nature's intricate beauty, from small-scale wonders to captivating details often overlooked in grand vistas.
We're thrilled to share below a selection of images created by our incredibly talented participants during the workshop, accompanied by their testimonials. These photographs showcase the beauty and complexity of Yellowstone's intimate landscapes, revealing a side of the park that many visitors overlook.
Image by Bonnie Lampley
Image by Bonnie Lampley
"Once again, David and Jennifer provided us an educational and artistic experience in Yellowstone. Even though the weather was less than perfect, they know the Park so well, they were able to guide us to places that worked well with the weather we had. In addition to knowing the appropriate locations for various conditions and times, David and Jennifer provided both technical and artistic inputs to participants, in the field and classroom.This was my third workshop with David and Jennifer. I highly recommend their workshops if you'd like to experience interesting places, learn new skills, and expand your photographic artistry under expert guidance." —Bonnie
Image by DJ Leland
Image by DJ Leland
"I am heaping praise on Jennifer and David’s Yellowstone Intimate Landscapes workshop. Their love for the park was contagious, and they provided ample opportunities for in field and classroom learning.
In the field, David and Jennifer pointed out photographic opportunities to consider and then gave us the opportunity to discover what engaged us visually and emotionally. If requested, they provided composition suggestions and instruction on techniques ranging from photo stacking to exposure blending.
Each afternoon participants shared images created during the workshop, with one of those sessions devoted to insightful but friendly image critique. Afternoon sessions also featured lectures on a range of topics, including black and white photo processing and contemplative photography.
In addition to these ample learning opportunities, participants enjoyed the breathtaking beauty of the park and a collegial environment with a group of fun and talented photographers. This was an all-around fantastic photography workshop experience." —DJ
Image by David Luery
Image by David Luery
I have just come home from a wonderful week of photography with David and Jennifer -- and 7 very nice and talented participants -- in Yellowstone. David and Jennifer are excellent leaders, knowledgeable and helpful but low key, letting each of the participants photograph their vision, which is so important.
I learned a lot, had fun, and had the opportunity to photograph some amazing landscapes. This was flat out the most fun week of photography I have ever had. Thank you David and Jennifer for an amazing week.
P.S., I will be attending other workshops run by David and Jennifer!! —David
Image by Rick Wautier
Image by Rick Wautier
Image by Cody Schultz
Image by Cody Schultz
Update Your Email Preferences
We value your inbox and want to ensure you’re receiving the content that matters most to you. Here are your options:
Greetings from Yellowstone! We're currently between workshops, having just concluded our Yellowstone Night and Day workshop last week with a wonderful group. It was thrilling to introduce night photography to our participants while also showcasing Yellowstone's daytime beauty during mornings and evenings - a unique aspect of this workshop. We had nearly perfect weather, and although we encountered some smoky skies, the wind fortunately kept most of it at bay during our night sessions. The...
Hello Reader, Greetings from Colorado! The first part of July found us teaching a wildflowers workshop in one of our favorite Colorado mountain towns, Crested Butte. We had a wonderful group, and we enjoyed jeeping around the high alpine country, photographing the wildflowers and a few waterfalls. The flowers were beautiful, and we had perfect weather. We were able to share some of our favorite high-alpine locations with the group, and you can see a few of the photographs our attendees...
Hello Reader, We hope your summer is off to a spectacular start! Just a day after sending our last newsletter, we embarked on an impromptu adventure to Yellowstone National Park. Our mission? To capture the biggest solar storm of our lifetime - the breathtaking Aurora Borealis that likely flooded your social media feeds in May. This spontaneous journey led to some of the most incredible images we've ever created. Keep reading for the full story and to see a few of the images! June took us to...