Photography Workshops and Photoshop Editing Classes

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I am very happy yo to now be offering both Photography Classes and Photoshop Editing Classes now in La Conner. The classes will be help at the Andy Porter Gallery, 306 Morris Street, La Conner, WA 98257

There are 3 Basic Photography Classes, here is a link with detailed descriptions of each class as well as dates/times and registration.

Photoshop Editing Classes

There are 2 Photoshop editing Classes.

The first class, Introduction to Photoshop, is all about editing your images. How to get your images to look like the scene you actually saw with your eyes. The Class takes two sessions or class periods.

I am offering a second Photoshop class as well, a 3 session class where we will do a series of creative assignments where you will learn advanced Photoshop Skills while having fun.

Details for each class, dates, times and registration are all on this link, click here!

Important Note:

To attend the Photoshop Classes you MUST

  • Bring your own laptop computer
  • Have a current subscription to Adobe Photoshop

Andy Porter Gallery in La Conner

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I am very happy to announce the opening of the Andy Porter Photography Gallery! It is located in La Conner, Washington, near the mouth of the Skagit River.

The Gallery has Aluminum Prints, Magnets, Greeting and Post Cards as well as really cool Night Lights for sale! Winter Gallery Hours are from 11am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday.

I will be teaching Photography and Photo Editing Classes at the Gallery as well. You can see Class Descriptions, dates and times and register for classes here.

La Conner has a long and interesting history as a center for art. Fish Town was home to an Artists Colony for 20 years. The Northwest Museum of Art is here as well as a host of galleries and shops.

The town is named after Louisa Ann Conner. The Skagit Valley Daffodil and Tulip Festival arrive every spring, March/April, and the valley comes alive with color.

Please stop in and say Hello the next time you’re in town!

The Andy Porter Photography Gallery is located at 306 Morris Street, La Conner Washington, 98257

2024 Washington State Scenic Calendar

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The Andy Porter Photography 2024 Washington State Scenic Calendar is here!

12 gorgeous images of Washington State, with Northern Lights, Bioluminesence and the Milky Way Galaxy!

Each Calendar is printed on a 100lb bond glossy sheet, each sheet is 8″ x 12″. No cropping and no borders! Calendars are ring bound and shrink wrapped!

Click Here to Order Your Copy Today!

$25 each, plus $8 shipping anywhere in the US.

January, Point of the Arches
February – Northern Lights at Artist Point
March – North Fork Sauk River
April – Lime Kiln Lighthouse
Methow Valley Wildflowers
May – Methow Wildflowers
June – Red Mountain and Spider Gap
July – Sahale Arm
August – Milky Way over Stehekin
September Bioluminesence at Cape Flattery
October – Amphitheater Mountain
November – Blue Lake
December – Liberty Bell and North Cascades Highway

Pacific Crest Trail, Pasayten Wilderness

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The Pacific Crest Trail is 2,650 miles long and ends at the Northern Terminus monument about two feet south of Boundary Monument 78 on the US/Canada border.

The northernmost section of the PCT passes through the Pasayten Wilderness, in Washington State. Its one of most magnificent sections of the trail.

One place to access the trail is at Slate Peak. This is the highest place, elevation-wise, that you drive a passenger car in State of Washington topping out at about 7,600 ft. Check the road conditions first, its a white-knuckler for sure.

Starting a hike at its highest point is always a bit strange, but it sure make the first days hiking easy, all down hill! On the first day we hiked from Slate peak and the parking area down to Holman Pass and then started back up.

Heading North from the Slate Peak parking area

Here the trail passes through a glorious section on its way up to Rock Pass. The area is called the Parade Grounds, is a huge area, wide open meadows covered with flowers, interspersed with trees. There is a spring nearby and dispersed camping, and a short way off small Goat Lake.

The crest of Rock Pass is truly stunning. The view below is looking north from Rock Pass. That’s Lakeview Ridge on the left. The PCT makes its way through Woody Pass (snow filled gap, left) crosses to the west side of Lakeview Ridge and continues north.

The PCT in past days traversed along the very top of the ridge here, from Rock Pass over to Woody Pass. But now the trail steeply switch backs down from Rock Pass, makes a creek crossing and then climbs laboriously back up to Woody Pass.

Pacific Crest Trail between Rock Pass and Woody Pass

From Woody Pass the PCT swings along the west side of the Cascade Crest as it makes its way north.

The ridge the trail follows is called Lakeview Ridge, and it offers some of the best views anywhere.

At the northern end of the ridge the trail descends the Devils Staircase to Hopkins Lake and then its only a few short, flat miles to Castle Pass and the Three Fools trail junction. The Canada Border lies just beyond.

Castle Pass
Devils Staircase
Hopkins Lake

Summer Photography Classes

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Interested in learning about photography this summer?

Classes are held through Burlington Parks and Rec. The class location is the Maiben House at 219 S. Skagit Street, Burlington.

Here is the link to register for the classes. And here is the phone number for Burlington Parks and Rec: 360-755-9649

These classes are for anyone with a DSLR Camera who would like to learn how to use it to take awesome images.

There are TWO classes offered, the first class is the Basic DSLR Class, and then there is an Intermediate Class. 

Basic DSLR Class

In the Basic DSLR class we’ll cover aperture, shutter speed and ISO and show you how to change them on your camera. Next we’ll discuss how to use these manual settings to create the images you want. We’ll practice the use bracketing your exposure to ensure you get the right shot, and more!  We will also cover the use of polarizers and capturing images in the RAW format.

I will teach the Basic DSLR class TWO times.

  • Thursday, July 13, 6pm to 8pm
  • Thursday, August 10th, 6pm to 8pm

Intermediate Class

In the Intermediate Class we will discuss different lenses, focal lengths and what they do; we’ll delve deeper into depth of field and how to master control over how much of what’s in front of you is in focus. Then we’ll cover the use of different shutter speeds to create stunning, unique images.

Next will be 2 advanced techniques to obtain a sharp focus throughout your entire image: Focus & Recompose and Hyperfocal Distance Focusing.

We will cover in detail how to capture Night Sky images of the stars and Milky Way. We will go over all the equipment needed, exact camera settings, locations for night sky imaging and more!

I will teach the Intermediate Class :

  • Tuesday, August 22, 6pm to 8pm

Sahale Arm and Sahale Camp, North Cascades

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The North Cascades are located in the northwestern part of Washington State, along the border with Canada.

Sahale Camp is the highest (7,600 ft.) official camp site in the North Cascades National Park.

The route follows the Cascade River and ascends to Cascade Pass, then swings onto Sahale Arm, a giant curving slope carpeted in grasses and wildflowers. The overall elevation gain is 4,000 feet.

The camp sits atop 3 mounds of glacial rubble, at the base of Sahale Peak.  

To spend the night there is sublime. Over 12 years I was lucky enough to spend 15 nights there at the camp.

Here are some pictures from the trail.

Wildflowers. Sahale Arm is truly upholstered in bright, crazy colorful wildflowers.

In the fall the Arm comes alive again with color.

There are many magical moments to be had, there at the camp.

2023 Washington State Scenic Calendar

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The images for the 2023 Calendar have been chosen and printing is happening. Calendars will ship soon!

A limited number of calendars printed this year, so orders your today! 

Printed on a 100lb bond glossy sheet, each sheet is 8″ x 12″. No cropping and no borders! Calendars are ring bound and shrink wrapped!

Order your copy today!

$25 each, plus $8 shipping anywhere in the US.

Here is the link to buy your own copy!

These are the 12 images for the 2023 Washington State Scenic Calendar

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December