A Classic Retreat

To set aside time and immerse yourself in the craft of photography amidst the serenity of the central Lake Country is, to us, the ultimate Adirondack photographic experience — and the essence of our signature Retreats.  API director John Radigan and staff instructor Mark Bowie guided participants on this week-long artists' retreat, where we explored in-depth the beauty and emotional allure of this special place.  Participants worked on daily assignments, which culminated in a presentation of their week's theme.  Viewing others' work through their eyes is an incredible way to enhance one's own photography.  To track our progress images were printed and posted daily and an e-book showcasing everyone's imagery and writing was produced.

The Woods Inn, in Inlet, was once again our home.  With gourmet food, fantastic hospitality and a waterfront location offering so many photographic possibilities, they are the perfect hosts.

The Retreat format is an unrivaled success and the heart of our offerings.  Watch for more of them as next year's schedule is announced.  And sign up as soon as possible; they fill quickly! 

Adirondack Fall Fantastic!

The northern Adirondacks were ablaze with fall color for API's 6th Annual Fall Photo workshop, led by Mark Bowie.  Based out of the Northwoods Inn in Lake Placid, Mark led field excursions to lakes, ponds, rivers and woods decorated with classic Adirondack fall foliage.  Morning mists lingered over the waters, softening the colors to pastels.  The area's great variety of hardwoods set amidst evergreens makes it unique in the Northeast.  The mountains were carpeted with multi-hued blankets.  The waters reflected them.  With the abundance of color, the great challenge lay in crafting unique autumn images that resonated with meaning.  Mark led the group in exploring many different field and post-processing techniques: creating panoramas, abstract images, layer masks, and multiple exposures for focus stacking and contrast control.  The possibilities for great imagery were as plentiful as the fall colors.  Both are what makes this region so special as an autumn destination.

Special thanks to the Northwoods Inn for their fabulous meals and for being such gracious hosts.  Watch for more fall events on next year's schedule, to be posted soon.

Announcing “Adirondacks: A Place to Dream”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Adirondack arts and cultural organizations host three-day extravaganza

Lake Placid, NY, August 20, 2012---Arts and cultural organizations from throughout the North Country have joined forces for a three-day event, September 7-9 in Lake Placid, designed to explore the power of place that, for more than a century-and-a-half, has drawn some of the world’s greatest artists, filmmakers, musicians, photographers and writers to the mountains of the Adirondacks to create. Dubbed “Adirondacks: A Place to Dream,” the multi-media program features the collective contributions of some of the most important voices in the Adirondack arts.

The event kicks off with a reception and lecture, Friday, September 7^th at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The program continues with lectures, presentations and displays on Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the High Peaks Resort. At 6 p.m. on Saturday, activities shift to the Palace Theater for an Adirondack silent film screening and then to the Northwoods Inn at 9:15 p.m. for an evening of Adirondack music and storytelling. The program will conclude on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Adirondack Community Church with a consideration of spirit featuring a Mohawk storyteller.

The event is chaired by Bob Bullock, president of the Albany-based NYS Archives Partnership Trust; Marianne Patinelli-Dubay, an environmental philosopher with the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Northern Forest Institute; and Gary Smith, owner of the Northwoods Inn in Lake Placid and board member of the Archives Partnership Trust and event co-sponsor, the Lake Placid Institute for the Humanities.

The program was developed through the collaborative efforts of the Adirondack Center for Writing, Adirondack Community Church, Adirondack Life Magazine, Adirondack Museum, Adirondack Photography Institute, Archives Partnership Trust, Lake Placid Film Forum, Lake Placid Institute, and the SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry’s Northern Forest Institute.

Other sponsors include High Peaks Resort, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Mountain Lake PBS, and North Country Public Radio. The program is supported by the New York Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities; a grant from Julia Cadbury in memory of her husband, the late Warder H. Cadbury, a passionate, lifelong devotee of the Adirondacks; and an anonymous donor.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, go to the program’s website at www.adirondacksaplacetodream.com or call the Lake Placid Institute at (518) 523-1312.

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The Wonder of the Night Landscape

Recent technological advancements in digital photography have opened a new frontier for photographers — photographing the landscape at night.  

API staff instructor, Mark Bowie, an expert on night photography, led an intensive 4-day and night workshop based in Old Forge.  He introduced students to the many possibilities for capturing details simultaneously in the landscape and sky — vibrant images full of color and atmosphere.  In classroom sessions he covered how to determine exposures, focusing in the dark, painting with light, and how to shoot diverse subjects – from wild landscapes to cityscapes to natural subjects lit by artificial lights, which the Adirondacks offer in abundance.  Students photographed Orion reflected in the Moose River, as a thunderstorm flashed in the distance.   They shot dark clouds streaming over Brown’s Tract Inlet, with the surrounding tamarack bog glowing green, lit by nearby streetlights.  They shot a dock and gazebo, their lights glowing warm beneath the Big Dipper set a rich blue sky.  At 11pm, they photographed spiders in their webs, backlit by the lights from a nearby restaurant.

The possibilities at night are limitless.  That we can capture the nocturnal beauty in images is amazing.  If you’d like to learn how, watch for our future night workshops and seminars.  And watch for the release of Mark’s second e-book on night photography, NIGHT EXAMPLES: Images, Concepts, Techniques, set for release this summer.

Red River Paper Joins Us

We are pleased to announce a new corporate partner, Red River Paper. We will be utilizing their fine products during our retreat programs, as well as making samples available at our workshops.

We look forward to working with Red River in the future!

Adirondack Arts: A Place To Dream

API is proud to take part in a first-of-its-kind event, Adirondack Arts: A Place To Dream. This three-day exploration of Adirondack cultural heritage takes place in Lake Placid September 7-9. Staff members Mark Bowie and John Radigan will be joined by emerging photo artist Shelby McGill in presenting an interactive look at the past, present and future of photography in the Park on Saturday at 11:00 AM.

Please consider attending this worthwhile event to help ensure its bright future!

For more information visit the event website at adirondacksaplacetodream.com/.

Fall Color With Johnathan Esper

We're very proud to have Adirondack Life contributor and international tour leader Johnathan Esper as a new addition to our staff! Johnathan's first foray into the field for us will be as leader of the Schroon Lake Fall Color Weekend tour program. This is also our first visit to that popular Adirondack area.

Johnathan is sure to infuse the weekend with his contagious enthusiasm. This is a weekend you won't want to miss!