Join National Geographic photographer Frans Lanting for one of his immersive photo workshops where he shares his skills and vision and helps unleash everyone’s creativity. Learn to express your personal vision with expert instruction from Frans and his team of professional assistants. Between field trips we return to our classroom for indoor sessions about technical and creative topics. Participants will be able to have images made during the workshop critiqued by Frans during group reviews.

“SEASCAPES” – MONTEREY

Saturday February 8 – Sunday February 9, 2025

California’s Central Coast has inspired photographers for generations. Frans will introduce participants to the styles and techniques of great photographers like Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and Wynn Bullock, as we explore the coast to come up with our own photographic interpretations. A special feature of this weekend will be a visit to Edward Weston’s original studio and darkroom in the Carmel Highlands.

“To photograph a rock, have it look like a rock, but be more than a rock.”
––Edward Weston

Limited to 10 participants

Requirements: A digital camera with interchangeable lenses and a laptop with Adobe Lightroom for classroom sessions.

Workshop fee:
$3000  Fee includes: Virtual orientation session before the workshop, field trips and instruction, final image review via Zoom. Participants will receive a complimentary copy of the Collector’s Edition of Bay of Life: From Wind to Whales.

“PERSONAL VISIONS” – VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

Saturday March 1 – Sunday March 2, 2025
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM PDT via Zoom

This virtual weekend workshop is open to participants from anywhere in the world. It is designed to help photographers refine a body of existing work via Zoom during one-on-one sessions with Frans and his team, and through presentations and group discussions. The emphasis will be on individual project development.

“This workshop changed the way I was looking at photography. It opened a new dimension around storytelling, narrative, and application. It is an absolute must. Frans’s ability to look through your work and pinpoint what is ‘personal’ to you is unparalleled.”
–– Guy Hadari

Limited to 12 participants

Workshop fee: $1250  Fee includes: An orientation session before the workshop weekend, and two full-day classroom sessions.

Requirements: A body of work organized in Adobe Lightroom and a good internet connection.

All sessions will take place via Zoom between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time.

“PLAYING WITH PLANTS” – CALIFORNIA

Wednesday April 23 – Friday April 25, 2025

California’s Carrizo Plain is a world unto itself. With sufficient winter rain, it becomes a botanical wonderland in the spring, with an intricate variety of native plants on the plain and surrounding hillsides. During this workshop, Frans and his team will share a variety of creative approaches and photographic techniques ranging from impressionistic soft focus to sharply detailed studio-style setups.

Limited to 10 participants

Workshop fee: $3000 Fee includes: Virtual orientation session; group dinner on April 22; field trips and instruction; final image review via Zoom.

Requirements: A digital camera with interchangeable lenses and a laptop with Adobe Lightroom for classroom sessions.

Schedule: Starts: Tuesday April 22 at 7:00 PM. Ends: Friday April 25 at 4:00 PM.

“BETWEEN THE TIDES” – SANTA CRUZ

Tuesday April 29 – Wednesday April 30, 2025

Monterey Bay features some of the most diverse tide pools along the California coast. They are full of life and photographic opportunities, but they are challenging to photograph unless you have the right gear and know how to apply it. We will apply a range of tools, techniques, and creative ideas to help you capture them in innovative ways. Our workshop dates coincide with low tides at sunrise, when otherwise hard-to-reach habitats will be accessible.

“It is advisable to look from the tide pool to the stars and then back to the tide pool again.”
—John Steinbeck

Limited to 12 participants

Requirements: A digital camera with interchangeable lenses and a laptop with Adobe Lightroom for classroom sessions.

Workshop fee:
$1850 Fee includes: Virtual orientation session before the workshop, field trips and instruction, daily classroom sessions during the workshop, image reviews. Participants will receive a complimentary copy of the Collector’s Edition of Bay of Life: From Wind to Whales.