CDPhotog Photography Workshop | Burns Oregon

Photography Workshop

I have followed Chris Dickinson Photography for many years and I have always loved his teaching style. I got to do a photo critique and learned so much and he helped me really figure out an editing style that was a lot more me.  He is always willing to answer questions and help out anyway.  When my friend Jess from Branded In Ink reached out about having Chris come to Oregon and host a photography workshop on the ranch where her husband works I was totally down!

So in January I packed up my bags, flew across the country (after a few delayed flights and my first time being away from Lyza overnight) to Oregon.  I landed in Boise, ID because it is one of the closest airports to the ranch.  It was three hours away! Jess picked me up about 730pm (Pacific time which is 10:30PM eastern time).  I traveled almost 24 hours by the time I got into bed.  I didn’t get to see much of eastern Oregon on the drive in but when we got up the next morning it was breathtaking.

First Photoshoot

The first photoshoot that we got to do with Chris was at the Central Point Hotel in Burns, OR.  It was the coolest little hotel in downtown that they had fixed it.  In the basement of the hotel was a whisky room with these really cool red lights.  Chris took us downstairs to walk around the whisky room and in the floor you could actually see the foot prints of the workers when they poured the footing in the 1920s. Chris set up some of his lights and his wife modeled for us.  It was really cool to get to play with some of his lighting and enhance the red lighting that was already down there.

Second Photoshoot

The second photoshoot took place mid morning with Chase.  Chase was super cool and laid back and was willing to do what ever crazy idea we through his way.  He got to wear a “Big Shirt” and Jacket that was provided by Outback Trading Company.  I have fallen in love with their clothing and now own several pieces!

Chase was riding one of his younger horses so he took a few minutes to warm up after he got saddled.  We took the time and photographed him as he was unloading and getting ready.  To me some of those shots are my favorite because it captures the moments where he is just doing what he normally does.  Once he was saddled and warmed up we went out to a huge field with the gorgeous mountains as the background and started photographing him.

Third Photoshoot

The last photoshoot of the workshop took place at sunset.  Dereck was provided some cool head gear by Crown Cap.  They call it their Elmer Fudd hat and that is exactly what it looks like! Dereck was hilarious to say the least and kept us entertained the entire time.  When you first meet him he has this mustache and looks very serious but as soon as he opens up his mouth and starts talking you will never stop laughing. His wife was there and was also a model for us and it was fun to have a western couple to shoot against the beautiful Oregon mountains. Then we took off to chase sunsets, climbed up the side of a mountain through sagebrush and lots of rocks but it was totally worth it to get the silhouette shots!

This workshop was not long enough. Jess was an amazing host, Chris did an awesome job of teaching, Chase and Dereck were amazing models, Whitney was so amazing to meet as another attendee and Chris’s wife Joe was the best!