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Fairy Lake
Adam Gibbs & Alister Benn
Join Alister Benn and Adam Gibbs for a taste of big trees and wild coastlines on Vancouver Island.
Port Renfrew, Vancouver Island - 4 Days
May 06/10/ 2025, 8 Participants Total
USD 1995
Port Renfrew is becoming recognized as the BIG tree capital of Canada, and for a good reason. Some of the last remaining temperate old-growth forests in western Canada are not far from this small coastal town. Not only does Port Renfrew have large trees, but it has a stunning coastline. To the south is the 45km Juan de Fuca trail, and to the north is the infamous 75km west coast trail.
Important! Please note, In the event of a cancellation there is limited refund. Photography Booking Policy, please read.
Mossome Grove
We'll stay at the Big Fish Lodge for this workshop, which overlooks the beautiful San Juan Bay. During this weekend retreat, we'll explore several locations, including Botanical Beach, well-known for its fabulous tide pools. Sombrio Beach for its waterfalls and the Avatar grove that has two of the "gnarliest" red cedars on the coast.
Late Monday afternoon, we meet at the Big Fish Lodge. Get acquainted, and have an early group meal at the local pub.
Each day we’ll spend roughly six to eight hours in the field. We’ll also cover several subjects at the lodge, including a couple of presentations about composition, creating mood in your images, post-processing and an invaluable critique session.
On the fourth day, we’ll head out for a morning field session and say our goodbyes at noon.
What’s Included:
Four-night accommodation.
Photography instruction by Adam Gibbs and Alister Benn
What’s not Included:
Meals
Transportation to Port Renfrew
Accommodations before and after the workshop
Medical and travel insurance
More Information….
Where is Port Renfrew?
Port Renfrew lies on the west coast of Vancouver Island, overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, roughly 110km north of Victoria. The drive from Victoria takes about 1.5 - 2hrs.
How hard will the hiking be? PLEASE READ, IMPORTANT!
Hiking? who said anything about hiking? Yes, we will be walking to all locations, the distances are typically no more than a couple of kilometres return. Mystic Beach is roughly 4km return. However, all locations will require a walk including steep hills. If you do have mobility problems this is probably not the trip for you.
What camera gear should I bring?
The following are some recommendations. Generally, we will be focusing primarily on landscape photography but may encounter some wildlife shooting opportunities. Ideally, since we will be hiking throughout the day and carrying our own gear, equipment should be kept to a minimum. Here is a list of what we typically carry in the field. A more detailed "what to bring" list will be sent to you prior to the workshop. If you do shoot wildlife and own or use a very large lens you are welcome to bring it.
Camera Equipment:
Lightweight tripod w/ball head
Camera backpack
DSLR camera body
14-24mm lens
24-120mm lens
70-200mm lens
Various ND filters/polarizers/holders for all lenses
2 extra batteries
Lens pen/lens cloth
lens shade
Other items that should make your day more comfortable on the coast. Either worn or put in your pack for the day.
Rubber boots or waterproof hiking boots
Long pants
Brimmed hat
Warm jacket
Rain jacket
Snack bars/lunch/something to dr
Headlamp/flashlight
Sunglasses
Optional items:
Laptop computer
Umbrella