Michael Mariant is a travel & documentary visual journalist based in California, while his travels have taken him around the world. Following several years as a newspaper photojournalist and desk editor, Michael moved away from local and regional coverage and up to wire service photography.

For over a decade now, Michael has been a contract photojournalist for The Associated Press, responsible for coverage of the Central Coast of California along with sports and entertainment assignments in Los Angeles, notably anchoring the agency’s coverage of the Michael Jackson trial from 2003 to 2005. Coupled with his domestic photojournalism, Michael spends nearly a third of the year abroad shooting travel/documentary stock imagery along with lecturing on the topics of Cultural Sensitivity and Immersion in Travel Photography.

Michael is also the consultant and multimedia coordinator for the Semester at Sea study abroad program, providing lectures and instructions to the college students while shaping the direction of the programs multimedia efforts in video, still photography and podcasts through social media.

While still taking on editorial and Associated Press assignments, Michael has shifted his focus to DSLR cinematography projects, as well as educational travel photography workshops for Nikonians Academy and High Sierra Workshops, as well as university and industry lecture engagements so as to instruct others on the analytical, cultural and visual approaches to travel photography and cinematography.

  Aaron Lambert is the Director of New Media and a workshop instructor for High Sierra Workshops.

As a former photographer and videographer for the State of California Chamber of Commerce, Aaron wore two hats simultaneously: photographing presidents, dignitaries and governors while editing video from the California State Senate and Assembly.

Previously, Aaron spent 12 years as a photojournalist for several newspapers and magazines in California and Texas. His images have been published in newspapers and magazines around the world, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Times of London, The Washington Post, USA Today, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Dallas Morning News and the San Francisco Chronicle.

This workshop is always limited to only 15 participants with two instructors, to ensure the one-on-one educational environment.

No, there is not a deadline to sign up for the workshop. However, space is limited. And it does sell-out, as it is Yosemite National Park in the beauty of winter: a high-demand location for photographers! We inevitably receive emails from those who waited until it was too late, inquiring if more spots can be added. Unfortunately, to keep the small group size and to ensure the critical one-on-one educational environment between the instructor and student, we do not add additional seats.

Yes.

Of course, some perspective is needed. If you live out here on the mild West Coast, it will be chilly. If you are from back East, you might find it downright balmy!

The best recommendation I can give is to check the weather numbers specifically for Yosemite Valley (as recorded at the National Park Service weather station). On the weather page, select the link in the bottom right corner that says: “Daily YYV Data”. The daily temperatures are updated … daily. So keep monitoring it as we get closer to the workshop start date. And also monitor the weather forecast for Yosemite Valley, specifically for right in Yosemite Valley.

Again, this will be based on your personal perspective, but obviously winter clothing is necessary.
I recommend a good winter jacket, but no need for a down jacket as the temperatures in Yosemite Valley rarely get below 25 degrees during the day. Most winter days in Yosemite Valley the temperature is around 30 degrees, and that is a “warm” 30 degrees. We don’t have the bitter cold winters in Yosemite, especially at the 4000-foot elevation of Yosemite Valley.

A simple winter jacket to keep the snow off, and similar pants, snow boots, gloves and a hat are a must. Gaitors would be at your discretion. The snow in February in Yosemite can range from just a few inches to several feet. And if a cold storm blows through, the snow can get deep in the valley.

No need for snowshoes (as in the traditional sense), as we won’t be trekking anywhere like that. As the weather can be unpredictable, I would recommend wearing snow boots (such as Sorel or similar style) in case there is a snowstorm or fresh snow. The use of gaitors would be at your discretion. Plus, the snow boots will keep you warm.

As for anti-skid footwear, such as crampons, if the route is that slippery, where someone could slip and fall and possibly injure themselves or their camera gear, we won’t go there. Safety always comes first. If you have a fondness for trekking poles/hiking sticks that have snow baskets, you will find them VERY handy, but certainly not necessary.

One thing to keep in mind is that the valley floor is at 4,200′ feet in elevation, so the weather can change from snow to rain quite easily. Also, snow in the Sierras is a heavy, wet snow… often referred to as Sierra Cement (or Cascade Concrete for you Pacific Northwest folks!). It is very rare to see light, fluffy, powdery snow.

And one last thing on clothing, remember that you will be carrying camera gear that will be heavy. You will get hot quickly as we go from location to location. Dressing in layers is highly recommended! One thing you might consider is an umbrella. Very handy to hold over you and the camera if it is snowing!

A tripod is required. As for filters, you might find a gradated ND filter helpful, but far from necessary. A polarizer would be helpful … if we see blue sky!
There is absolutely no requirement on which camera you bring. All cameras will work within the workshop curriculum.

As for lenses, I am not one to recommend a specific lens or set of lens for the workshop, as that is always dictated by one’s own personal preferences and budget.

I will say that you will need a wide angle to medium to long lens for the workshop. How you choose to fulfill that is at your discretion. Would an 18-200 work? Absolutely. Would all prime lenses work? Absolutely. Do I need a 400/2.8 with a 2x tele-convertor? Not really, unless you like carrying that hunk of glass around AND have an idea for a shot you want to accomplish.

We will be shooting the legendary “Firefall” at Horsetail Falls if Mother Nature cooperates, and you will need at the very least a 200mm lens to capture the scene. IF you have a 1/4TC, it won’t hurt to bring it. But that doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy one.

The equipment you bring with you is the tools in your bag that you will use. And we will make great pictures from your tools. No worries.

The workshop start time is scheduled for Noon on Thursday, but is a little fluid and can be dependent on the arrival times of all the workshop participants. The workshop meeting location and exact start time will be emailed to all workshop participants as the workshop start date nears.

Those who would like to travel in a group to Yosemite Valley from Fresno, there is a coordinated meeting at the Fresno airport at 9am Thursday morning, at the Starbucks coffee stand in the airport arrivals lobby. (See next question for related details.)

The workshop will conclude after our final group farewell lunch on Sunday, to allow time for everyone to travel to their evening lodging or airport in the daylight hours.

Yes, if workshop participants are willing to participate, we will facilitate discussion to organize carpools to depart from the Fresno Airport at 9am on Thursday morning to head into Yosemite Valley for the workshop start. An email will be sent to all registered workshop participants inquiring about those arriving/meeting at the airport, who would like to carpool, and who can volunteer to be designated drivers and/or rent vehicles (if necessary).

Any unused vehicles driven to Fresno can be parked in the airport’s long-term parking and all participants can split the gas and cost of the rental cars, if any are rented.

There is a Holiday Inn and a Picadilly Inn directly across the street from the Fresno International Airport, less than a 5 minute walk from the terminal. Plan on meeting at the airport lobby Starbucks stand at 9am the next morning.

We will be doing very little to no hiking, in the traditional sense of the word ‘hiking’. While we will have to walk to all of our shooting locations, for the most part it will be on level ground. With snow and ice, we don’t want to try and tackle any trails or rocky terrain.

We do venture out into meadows, and if there is fresh snow, it can be deep. In situations like this, the hiking/trekking poles with snow baskets can be very helpful. And we will only drive to a location if the park’s free Shuttle Bus system can’t take us to the location.

In order to accommodate a variety of dietary and meal-time needs, we will take the time each day for a sit-down breakfast, lunch and dinner. The itinerary schedule (which you will receive during the orientation) will detail the meal times and locations.

The best cost estimation I can provide for food is to plan on between $30-45 a day for all three meals combined. This can vary, of course, by individual selection of menu items.

There is a very well-stocked, full grocery store in Yosemite Village where you can supplement your food needs, if necessary, as well as a sport shop and clothing. We will make time to stop on the first day at Yosemite Village for anyone that needs to supplement their provisions, be it food or clothing.