Peak Autumn in the Adirondacks workshop

Explore the stunning mountains, lakes, and streams of the Adirondacks High Peaks region during its peak Autumn color season!

Thursday, October 1st through Sunday, October 4th, 2026.

Come spend three days and three nights exploring and photographing peak Autumn foliage across the Adirondack High Peaks Region!

Our small group of four will be centrally located in Lake Placid out of a new, spacious luxury home right in the heart of Autumn!
Enjoy plenty of photographic exploration in amazing Fall scenery while honing your photography skills, learning some new techniques, all in the cohesive camaraderie of a small group!

Instructed and guided by James Rodewald.

Group Size…

Only 3 Fellow Photographers for a 1:3 ratio.
(this ideal and unique small group size gives us many opportunities for interaction and instruction!)

This workshop will provide you with experience in…

• Composition.

• How to photograph Autumn foliage.

• Panoramas. (wide scene and small scene)

• Intentional camera movement (ICM).

• Long exposure.

• Multiple exposure.

• Controlling your camera for expression.

• Understanding and using light.

• Using filters to control light.

• Post processing with both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.

• Image critiques.

Cost:

$1500 (All inclusive!**)

Included:

• 3 Nights (Single occupancy rooms, and not shared.)
  (Our lodging is in a new, spacious luxury home just outside Lake Placid.)

• Group transportation during the workshop.
  (During the workshop itself we will travel as a group in a spacious, comfortable SUV to
  reduce our impact and maintain our nimbleness in getting to locations.)

• Breakfasts and lunches.

• Beverages.
  (Except for what you order at dinner Friday and Saturday evening.)

• Photography educational materials.

• Charging station for batteries in our vehicle.

• Custom eBook of our favorite images from the workshop!

Not Included:

• **Dinners. (Except the first night which is included.)

• Camera equipment.

• Transportation to and from the workshop location.

• Flights to and from the workshop location.

• Rental cars to get you to the workshop location.

• Travel insurance.

Itinerary…

• Thursday, 10/1

  • Meet at our Lake Placid home around 2:00 PM and get settled in, have some time to get to know each other, enjoy some dinner together at the residence, and head out for our first Sunset photoshoot.

• Friday, 10/2 and Saturday, 10/3

  • Predawn & Morning photography.

  • Breakfast on the go, Mid-morning photography, instruction & discussion.

  • Lunch and rest Noon – 1 PM

  • Afternoon photography, instruction & discussion.

  • Dinner in Lake Placid.

  • Evening photography.

  • Night photography, if conditions permit.

  • Image critiques & Instruction.
    

• Sunday, 10/4

  • Predawn & Morning photography

  • Breakfast on the go, Mid-morning photography, instruction & discussion.

  • Lunch and rest Noon – 1 PM

  • The workshop ends after lunch at approximately 1 PM.

 Sunrise and Sunset will be at approximately 7:00 AM and 6:30 PM, respectively.

Site selection…

My years of experience photographing Autumn in the Adirondacks have shown that it’s surprisingly fickle. One location could be at peak while another may be about to peak while yet another area is post peak. Variations in altitude and microclimates can influence the Autumn colors significantly in the greater High Peaks region.  The general Autumn weather patterns often bring rain and fog, a pronounced shift from the months of August and September when the weather is often drier. Some years can also bring snow to the peaks while the lower elevations are in full color. This variability is actually advantageous for photography, so by being centrally located with a small group we can be nimble and easily get ourselves into these diverse conditions as the weather and other factors permit!

What to Expect…

The weather and foliage conditions will dictate our site selections, but we are a small nimble group which will allows us to get to the best photographic conditions available! Expect that we will be able to move to multiple site options throughout each day. In the evenings we will have an opportunity to have dinner together, chat about our experiences, and share some of our images in productive and supportive critiques. We will see a lot, photograph a lot, learn some new techniques, help you with your photography, and have as great a time as possible!

Lodging and Meals…

• We will be staying at a new, spacious luxury home in Lake Placid! Perfect for relaxing in after long days in the field!
  All participants will have their own private room. The house has multiple bathrooms. (Details provided after registration.)

• Breakfasts and lunches for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be provided.

• Dinner on Thursday night will be provided.

• Dinner on Friday and Saturday night is not provided. There are multiple options in Lake Placid and we can easily travel as a group for enjoyable dinner experiences!

Recommended Supplies…

• Camera and Lenses.

• Camera manual. (if you have one)

• Memory cards.

• Tripod.

• Extra batteries and chargers for your camera batteries.  (Chargers are camera specific so please bring yours.)

• Rain gear.

• Comfortable shoes / boots.

• Headlamp / flashlight.

• Hat. (for cold temps)

• Light gloves.

• Layers (light long underwear / fleece / shell)

• Sunglasses.

• Waterproof boots. (if you are interested in stepping into streams and or lakeshores.)

• Laptop computer for processing your photographs. (if you use a laptop for that.)

• Notebook.

The weather in the Adirondacks at the beginning of October can be quite variable. It could be Sunny and mid 70s during the day to low 30s in the morning. Rain and wind are always possible, too. A diversity of clothing options are recommended, including extra dry clothes.

Workshop eBook…

After the closing of the workshop you will have the opportunity to submit some of your favorite images from the workshop to be assembled into a custom group eBook for you to enjoy and share with your family and friends! It’s a great way to enjoy each other’s work and continue to learn well after our time together!

Deposit…

A deposit of 50% ($750) is required to secure your spot with the final balance due on Friday, September 1.

Cancellation Policy…

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. If a cancellation does occur, participants will receive a full refund. We are not responsible for travel expenses incurred by you and therefore strongly recommend getting travel insurance to cover such costs.

Participants who cancel prior to September 1, 2026 will receive a full refund. Any cancellations on September 1, 2026 or after cannot be refunded under any circumstances. That said, if we fill the vacancy with another workshop participant then you will receive a full refund. This policy is necessary due to the competitive nature of securing our accommodations during prized foliage season and the property’s cancellation policies.

If a true emergency arises on your end at the last minute we will do our best to work with you granting a partial credit towards a future workshop. We regret this cannot be guaranteed, but we will work with you to the best of our abilities.
  

Travel Insurance…

If you are traveling a significant distance to attend this workshop and wish to protect your investment in travel expenses in the event of a cancellation, I recommend travel insurance through Squaremouth at https://www.squaremouth.comor through Ripcord at https://ripcordrescue.com.

Physical Difficulty…

The majority of our locations will be near or within a short walking distance of our vehicle. We may approach one mile from our vehicle at some times. Any trails we use will not be technical in nature, but they could be steep in spots and are most often uneven. We will most likely be on the go most of the day with rest for lunch midday.

Ability levels…

This workshop is open to all photography ability levels. I am fully experienced with working with a wide range of abilities. If you are just beginning your photographic journey I would be happy to chat about the workshop, your interests, and your skill level ahead of time in case you have some specific questions.

Airport Access…

If you are flying to this workshop it is recommended to Albany, NY (ALB) which is approximately 2.5 hours from our lodging. Syracuse (SYR) is also an option, but it is approximately 3.5 hours away. Both airports have rental car options.

Alternatively, the Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) is nearby our lodging, but the flights are limited. There are rental car options at SLK.

Our workshop will be starting in the afternoon of Thursday, October 1 and ending midday on Sunday, October 4..

Cell phone communication…

Please be aware that signal strength is spotty across the Adirondacks, so there are times during the day when we are on the go that cell signal may be lost. There is a strong cell signal in Lake Placid which is just minutes away from the house. The house most likely has a signal, too, given its proximity to town. The house does have free WIFI.

Lodging Restrictions…

The house we are renting is a smoke free house.

No pets are allowed at the house, including service animals.

final thoughts

Spaces are very limited for this unique, all-inclusive photography workshop in the heart of the Adirondack Autumn! Please reserve your spot promptly as spaces will not last long. It is an honor to offer this workshop to you. I look forward to meeting each of you and sharing this special time with you and helping you with your photographic journey! Please reach out if you have any questions, happy to answer them for you! Email works perfectly fine, but also feel free to text me at 518-424-0930.