Discover the art of digital photography in an unparalleled natural setting, surrounded by the stunning beauty of the Cocora Valley. This intensive workshop will help you refine your photo editing skills in Lightroom and Photoshop, inspired by breathtaking landscapes and the unique atmosphere of this privileged region.
Over two days, you’ll learn everything from the basics of photo editing to advanced retouching and professional export techniques. Explore tools to organize, edit, and transform your images into true works of art, with a focus on enhancing the details and colors that make nature photography so captivating. Hands-on practice sessions are designed to bring your learning to life.
With expert instructors and an environment that fuels creativity, this workshop offers an immersive experience for photographers seeking to expand their artistic vision. The location provides a perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded enthusiasts and learn in a setting that inspires capturing the essence of nature at its finest.
LIGHTROOM EXERCISES
Image Organization and Selection
Exercise: Import and organize a catalog with category tags. Use flags and star ratings to classify the best images based on their potential.
Basic Editing
Exercise: Adjust a photograph by correcting exposure, contrast, and colors, focusing on enhancing details and the blurred background.
Editing with Filters and Local Adjustment Tools
Exercise: Use filters to highlight or illuminate specific parts of the image you want to emphasize.
Exporting to Photoshop
Exercise: Prepare an edited image in Lightroom and export it optimized for advanced retouching in Photoshop.
PHOTOSHOP EXERCISES
Exercise: Use layers to make separate adjustments to a photo, highlighting patterns and colors without affecting the background.
Exercise: Clean up the scene in a photograph by removing unwanted elements like crossing branches or shadows that distract from the main subject.
Exercise: Apply advanced sharpening techniques to enhance details or textures.
Exercise: Use Dodge & Burn to emphasize details in an animal’s fur or add depth to the petals of a flower in close-up shots.
To make the most of this workshop, we recommend that participants have the following equipment and software:
Laptop or Desktop Computer
Computer Charger. Essential to bring the charger and ensure the battery is functioning correctly.
Mouse. Ideal for greater precision when using editing tools in Lightroom and Photoshop.
High-Capacity External Hard Drive
USB Flash Drive
Installed and Functional Software
Personal RAW Files
Optional, but Recommended
Note: If any participant does not have their own RAW files, example images will be provided during the workshop for practice.
Biologist, Herpetologist and Nature Photographer
One of the best photographers of amphibians, reptiles and wildlife in Colombia. He leads workshops and photography tours. He is a biologist and macro photography expert, full-time nature photographer and leading Colombia tour guide.
He has published 14 scientific articles that contribute to the knowledge and conservation of different species in Colombia. His photographic work has taken him to explore all corners of the Colombian territory. His photographs have been published in magazines such as Enfoque Visual, RowZine, Catalog of Amphibians and Reptiles of Colombia among others. He has won the environmental complaint category in the Agenda del Mar photography contest (2022). He uses photography and biology as tools to promote conservation through different initiatives, which allow him to make a contribution to the understanding of the behaviors and interactions of species with ecosystems. These two passions have allowed him to take a different look at the unknown and hidden scenery that exists under the mysterious landscapes of the mountains and plains, in order to create a bridge between memory and nature.
Day 1: Lightroom Workflow
Morning (9:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
Welcome and Camp Introduction (9:00 – 9:30 AM)
Image Organization and Selection in Lightroom (9:30 – 10:30 AM)
Basic Editing in Lightroom (10:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
Lunch Break (12:30 PM – 1:30 PM)
Afternoon (1:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
Editing Techniques in Lightroom for Nature Photography (1:30 – 3:00 PM)
Selective Editing and Local Adjustments (3:00 – 4:00 PM)
Exporting and Preparing for Photoshop (4:00 – 5:00 PM)
Day 2: Advanced Retouching in Photoshop
Morning (9:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
Introduction to Photoshop for Nature Photographers (9:00 – 10:30 AM)
Editing with Layers and Masks (10:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
Lunch Break (12:30 PM – 1:30 PM)
Afternoon (1:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
Retouching and Composition Techniques in Nature Photography (1:30 – 3:00 PM)
Advanced Sharpening and Detail Techniques (3:00 – 4:00 PM)
Final Export and Optimization (4:00 – 5:00 PM)
Closing and Evaluation (5:00 – 5:30 PM)
OUR WORKSHOP INCLUDES:
OUR WORKSHOP DOES NOT INCLUDE:
RECOMMENDATIONS DURING THE WORKSHOP:
We will begin an immersive photographic adventure in nature where you will discover and tell your version of your story through your photographs. We have some recommendations that will be very useful when choosing your equipment depending on the approach you want to explore. We want to travel comfortably and protect our equipment. We’ll give you some tips on what to keep in mind.
Follow instructions: Above all others, the most important rule to live by while exploring is to observe and follow all oral instructions given by the tour leader, or lodge or station staff.
Protect yourself from the sun at all times: During the explorations we will be exposed to high, low temperatures or humid tropical climates, it is recommended to bring all the elements that protect from the sun such as hats or caps, collars, sunscreen and long sleeve shirts.
Basics: You should know and handle the basics of manual photography (aperture, speeds, ISO, focal range). If you do not know these concepts, we recommend you take our basic photography course where you will receive an Introduction to Photography before the photographic tour.
Protect your equipment from humidity: Reduce the impact of temperature changes, try to keep the battery out of the camera, this can reduce electronic damage and prolong your charge. Carry dry bags that allow you to keep your equipment isolated from the weather conditions. It is always advisable to carry silica gel, these absorb moisture. After working days you can put your equipment in the dry bag and add plenty of silica gel to absorb the moisture retained by your camera.
Take care of your belongings: All our favorite destinations are safe to travel to. You should always be vigilant and take care of your valuable items whenever you find yourself in crowded bus stations, busy city streets and bustling markets.
The Hotel Sazagua, located in the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Cultural Landscape, is the perfect setting for our Digital Development Workshop – Living Photography. This haven blends luxury and nature, offering an exclusive environment that inspires creativity and a deep connection to the surrounding beauty. Nestled near the majestic Cocora Valley, with its towering wax palms and mist-covered landscapes, the hotel becomes a place where photography and nature come together seamlessly. Its lush gardens, architectural design combining rustic charm and modern elegance, and comfortable interiors provide the ideal atmosphere to refine your digital development skills while drawing inspiration from the breathtaking scenery.
Moreover, the hotel delivers a comprehensive experience that enhances every aspect of your stay. From its proximity to unique biodiversity—boasting over 450 bird species to explore—to its exquisite culinary offerings that blend the best of Coffee Region traditions with a contemporary touch, every detail is designed for a transformative adventure. Here, the tranquility of its spaces, the connection to the surrounding landscape, and immersive experiences make mastering the art of digital development a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rediscover your creativity and deeply connect with the essentials. Hotel Sazagua is not just a place; it’s the perfect backdrop to create images that inspire, tell stories, and capture the essence of nature.
Internal transportation
Lodging and accommodations
Complete Feeding
Photographic Assistance
Observation Tours
Travel Insurance
$ 3.418.921
We will be happy to talk to you and clarify all your doubts about your next photographic experience, select one of our customer service lines, we will answer you as soon as possible.
Keeping Nature Tours is a tour operator that promotes photography, nature tourism, and wildlife observation with the goal of helping to conserve the most threatened ecosystems, which are affected by deforestation, lack of awareness about species, or cultural beliefs.
Through photography and nature tourism, we can showcase the most beautiful side of Colombia, creating new opportunities for the remote communities in our country.
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