Tri-County Photography

# #320 Fall Color – Waterfalls and Lighthouses in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula October 18-24, 2026

This photo safari will provide a wonderful photography experience; shooting waterfalls and lighthouses in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula. We will travel from Mackinaw City to Newberry to Ontenogan and all the great spots in between. Learn landscape composition techniques, Panorama Techniques, and Long Exposure Techniques to add blur to moving water (using a ten Stop Neutral Density Filter). Photograph majestic lighthouses with tilt/shift lenses to minimize distortion (Nikon, Canon and Sony only). We will spend time at the Wilderness State Park Dark Sky Park and weather permitting; to photograph the Milky Way. The Pictured Rocks National Seashore (Munising) are spectacular at any time of year, but truly exceptional during the fall color season with several easy to get to waterfalls. Join us for a real portfolio builder and educational week. We will also visit arguably the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Michigan; Bond Falls. We will spend one day in Porcupine State Park (Lake of the Clouds and on the way back home, stop off at Fayette State Park; the site of an early coke oven and Bessemer Steel making mill. Upon receipt of your deposit, we will email each student a very detailed syllabus and technical handout of each days expected shooting complete with addresses and phone numbers to make your room reservations; so sign up early and often. Transportation and lodging are not included, but with advanced notice we can arrange carpooling and room sharing. A couple of weeks after our return, MPW will have an image review night and some editing help for your images.

# #944 Photographing the Traditional Japanese Rope Bondage Shibari – A one Day Workshop starting Saturday October 31, 2026 12:00PM-4:00PM $150

This one-evening studio workshop provides basic instruction about shibari for photographers. Shibari is the traditional Japanese form of rope bondage used by the Ninjas who were the police in feudal Japan. The first part of the workshop will cover basic shibari techniques for photographers. Students will then photograph the model who will be bound in several different ways. Students are expected to bring their digital cameras to create portfolio grade images. Instruction will also include studio lighting techniques. Students are expected to bring: camera with ample media cards, wide angle and telephoto lenses, tripod and a lens hood for each lens. Just like you go to a restaurant, it is common and appropriate to give your waitress/waiter a tip or gratuity, such is the case here. You are welcome to provide a gratuity to your model at the end of a successful shoot. Suggested tip is 10% of the course fee for a Portrait/Fashion workshop, 15% of the course fee for a Lingerie/Boudoir workshop and up to 20% for a Nude/Figure workshop such as this is.

# #401 Basic Studio Lighting – A five week class starting Wednesday November 4, 2026 6:30PM-10:00PM $360

This is a five-session class that specializes in a small student-to-instructor ratio to provide personalized instruction leading to a thorough understanding of the science of lighting, lighting ratios and the use of a flash meter. MPW will provide models to demonstrate portrait lighting. The techniques learned in this class can ultimately apply to product advertising lighting or even architectural photography. During the photographing of our models, we will demonstrate posing tips and the virtues of the application of makeup to the model by bringing in a professional makeup artist. Learn how to diffuse and bounce light using reflectors, umbrellas, soft boxes, beauty dishes and what the difference between hard edge raw light and soft lighting. Learn posing techniques that will enhance and flatter your subject and increase sales from clients. Some of the lighting equipment to be demonstrated include the use of background lights, hair lights, snoots, go-bos, scrims. Learn different styles of lighting such as: Rembrandt Lighting, butterfly Lighting, single lighting, rim lighting and back lighting to achieve that high glamour look or perhaps the girl next door look. This class leads the student towards photographing the high school senior or your friends, family and loved ones but is not limited to that genre. How often have you wished you could take portraits like the pros do? Portraits can earn you money! Don’t envy others. Learn these techniques so that others envy your photos. Students will photograph four different professional models. During the third session, a professional make-up artist will demonstrate her talents. Students are expected to have mastered basic shutter speeds, f/stops, reading a histogram and composition techniques before enrolling in this class. Prerequisite(s): Fundamentals of Photography (#101) or permission from the instructor. Enrollment of this class is limited to 10 students.