Our programs are designed for photographers of all levels, but to make the most of your time, participants should be familiar with the basic operation of their camera (bring your camera's manual). For most classes, a single lens reflex (SLR) camera is recommended for speed of operation and versatility, but advanced compact cameras with manual controls for aperture, shutter speed and RAW capture mode are sufficient. For workshops focusing on digital imaging, some prior experience with Lightroom or Photoshop software may be required. Please read the specific workshop descriptions provided on the website for more detailed information.

The Ansel Adams Gallery classroom/restroom is ADA accessible to wheelchairs. Participants who are mobility-impaired can attend the classroom portions of the workshops with minor assistance entering and exiting the building, but ADA accessible transportation for field sessions will need to be arranged by the participant.

Each instructor sets his or her own schedule with most workshops starting at 9:00 am on the first morning. Start times on subsequent days depends on the type of workshop offered and the agenda of the instructor. Field sessions are typically scheduled early morning and late afternoon/evening to take advantage of the best light. Instructors often adjust the schedule to take advantage of changes in weather and may conduct additional/longer field sessions as conditions permit and inspire! The workshop typically ends around mid-afternoon on the last day.

Each workshop will have a specific itinerary, but The Ansel Adams Gallery workshop is known for being an intensive learning experience. It is common to be out photographing early in the morning, coming in for breakfast, having a classroom session or darkroom demonstration, lunch, field or classroom again after lunch, field in the late afternoon, dinner, and a critique / discussion until 10 or 11 at night. This is a model developed by Ansel, and one which most people find invigorating (sometimes tiring, never tiresome) and inspirational. Our goal is not just a great experience with us in Yosemite, but for you to be able to take what you learn and apply it wherever you go. With alternative process workshops, the goal is for you to have enough experience at the end of the workshop to be able to continue working with and developing that process at home.

Most classroom sessions will take place at The Ansel Adams Gallery in the heart of Yosemite Village, right next door to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Our classroom building is housed in what was Ansel's former studio/darkroom directly behind The Ansel Adams Gallery retail operations. Unless otherwise noted, all groups meet in the classroom on the first day of the workshop and for all subsequent indoor sessions. A workshop assistant or instructor will also be available to meet you on the Gallery front porch. In the event that a workshop meets in a location other than our classroom, you will be given specific directions in subsequent workshop materials and emails.

The classroom has an ADA compliant restroom. For field sessions, instructors can direct students to the nearest public restrooms.

While workshop schedules differ depending on the curriculum, instructors are alert and eager to take advantage of the best light and our unique location in what John Muir described as “Nature's Grandest Classroom” -- Yosemite Valley. Workshops that emphasize field sessions will spend roughly half the time outside the classroom.

The Ansel Adams Gallery is located in Yosemite Village next to the Exploration Center (“Old” Yosemite Valley Visitor Center) in the National Park Service (NPS) administrative area of Yosemite Valley Village. The closest  Shuttle bus stops are #5 or #9 (Exploration Center/”Old” Yosemite Valley Visitor Center).

There are three routes into Yosemite Valley:

• Highway 41 from Fresno and Oakhurst (driving time from Fresno Air Terminal is approximately 2-2:30)
• Highway 140 from Merced and Mariposa
• Highway 120 from San Francisco and Groveland (driving time from San Francisco International is approximately 4-4:40)

Of the three routes, Highway 140 through Mariposa is considered to be the “all year-highway” as it sees the least amount of seasonal weather. Since this road does not climb above 3,000 feet in elevation until it approaches the valley floor (which sits at 4,000 feet) there is less likelihood of hazardous conditions. Please be aware, while each approach is on a paved mountain roads, additional travel time should be allocated for traffic and the natural winding character of the highways. For up-to-date information on the current road conditions, you may call the National Park Service switchboard 209/372-0200. You will be prompted to press 1, and then 1 again to hear the roads report. Aside from the aforementioned routes into Yosemite Valley, some park roads are closed at certain times of year. These include:

• Tioga Road (Highway 120 from Crane Flat to U.S. Highway 395) is closed from approximately November through late May or June. Temporary closures may also occur due to weather or natural phenomena (rocks slides, fire etc.) at any time of year. If you plan on traveling to Yosemite Valley over Tioga Road via U.S. 395 we encourage you to research an alternative route in the event Tioga Road is closed.
• Glacier Point Road is closed from approximately November through late May, conditions permitting. The first five miles of the road (to Badger Pass ski area) are open when the ski area is open (approximately middle of December through March).
• Mariposa Grove Road is closed from November or December until April, conditions permitting. When the road is closed, visitors may walk, ski, or snowshoe on the road (though it may be covered in snow or ice). Please note that at the time of this posting, the Mariposa Grove is currently closed for renovations.
• Hetch Hetchy Road is closed overnight. Hours vary by season, but the road is generally open during daylight hours.

We suggest that you park at one of the nearby public lots (Yosemite Valley Welcome Center Parking, Day Use Parking) and enjoy the five to ten minute walk to the The Ansel Adams Gallery.

The instructor may update you on parking protocol following the first day of the workshop. One ADA-compliant parking space is available and marked behind the workshop building. Please get in touch with our workshop coordinator via email at photoed@anseladams.com for directions.

Since parking in Yosemite is limited, we typically carpool during each field session. Carpooling will be organized by your instructor. ADA accessible transportation for field sessions will need to be arranged by the participant. Due to COVID-19, we are evaluating different transportation options to maintain the safety of our visitors.

The National Park Service places restrictions on vehicular access during the winter and spring as follows: R0 – no chain restrictions R1 – chains are required, vehicles with 4WD or snow tires exempted R2 – chains are required, vehicles with 4WD exempted R3 – all vehicles must have chains Please note that NPS requires all vehicles to carry chains between November and March. Including 4WD vehicles. During the winter and early spring, the chances are that the roads will be clear and dry for your entire workshop. However, 4 wheel drive vehicles are convenient in the event of a snowstorm. Car rental agencies do not provide tire chains as part of the car rental package. Therefore, if your travel includes a rental car, you may need to purchase a set of chains prior to arriving in the park. When purchasing, you will need to know the tire dimensions of your vehicle to get the proper size. The basic concept of supply and demand ensures that chains are less expensive the farther one is from where they are required. So acquiring a set as soon as possible will be easier on the pocket-book than trying to do so at the park entrance. Also, keep in mind that some rental car companies prohibit the use of chains on their vehicles. Please contact your rental car company about their specific policy on chains. Few businesses “rent” chains. It may be possible to purchase a set of chains, and return them to the merchant (especially larger retailers) if they go unused. Check with the vendor at the time of purchase for their policy. Furthermore, you may find independent contractors installing or selling chains alongside the highway during inclement weather. These operators will normally set up shop where chain restrictions are currently in place, but their activity/presence is not guaranteed. We advise caution.

Electronic cash machines are located in most of the business centers in the park including the hotel lobbies and many retail shops. 

Wifi is available in Yosemite Valley. Guests staying at a Yosemite Valley  hotel property will have access to wifi in a common room or in their hotel  room. Wifi is available at the Yosemite Village Library. As well, Wifi is also  available for a fee at Degnan’s Deli. Please note that service is slow in the park, and activities that require a lot of bandwidth may not be completed quickly or smoothly.

There is limited cell phone coverage in Yosemite. The strongest cellular signals tend to be found in the populated areas of the park, such as Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, Wawona, and Crane Flat. 

AT&T customers will find a cellular signal for the full length of Yosemite Valley on Northside Drive (Yosemite Village to Pohono Bridge), at Tunnel View, and some areas on Highway 120 that have a line of sight view to the cell tower located near Sentinel Dome.

Verizon customers can often receive a cellular signal in many areas of Yosemite Valley as well as Crane Flat and Wawona.

There is a weak signal for cell phone services in The Ahwahnee Hotel (most likely due to the steel under-structure). The possibilities of cell service may be improved by standing inside at the southwest-facing window or outside on the southwest side of the hotel behind the dining room. 

In the high country outside of Yosemite Valley, there may be a strong signal at the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge and a sliver of a signal at the west end of the Olmsted Point parking lot and the Lembert Dome parking lot.

In all instances, voice and text are more reliable than cellular internet. All park visitors are on the same small pipe to the outside world. Internet is more reliable in the Gallery’s classroom, but also subject to park-wide demand related slowdowns.

Navigate to the workshop you are interested on our website via the “Photography Education” heading, add the desired workshop to the cart via the “Add to Cart” button, and check out through the shopping cart. You will receive an order confirmation email and will be contacted by our workshop coordinator with additional materials.

Our workshop coordinator will send you an email confirming your reservation for a particular workshop. That email will also provide instructions for making your room reservation and a special group code. You must make your reservation31 daysbefore the workshop starts to secure your room. See the accommodations section for additional information.

We will send you a confirmation email with a 5-digit order confirmation number. Within a few days you will receive another email containing the general workshop information packet, including park information, a list of accommodations inside and outside the park, camping information, and a list of items to bring. Detailed information about the workshop itself will come directly from the instructor 2-4 weeks prior to the start date of the workshop.

If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your spam folder to make sure it did not get accidentally intercepted. If you still cannot locate it, please emailphotoed@anseladams.comand the workshop coordinator will resend the confirmation.

Your instructor will send an email approximately 2 to 4 weeks prior to the workshop. This email will provide details on everything you need to know to get the most from your workshop experience, including what you should bring, weather conditions, and where and when to meet on the first day.

Multi-day Photography Workshop Cancellation Policy: We rely on your confirmed attendance to make important arrangements for the workshop. If you need to cancel, please let us know no fewer than 45 days prior to the first day of your workshop for a refund of your tuition, less a 10% non-refundable charge. Refunds cannot be made for cancellations initiated within 45 days of the first day of the scheduled workshop, or for no-shows, for any reason. If you are concerned with this possibility, please consider purchasing travel insurance. Workshop registration is NOT transferable.

In the extremely rare event that The Ansel Adams Gallery needs to cancel a workshop, we will let you know at least 14 days prior to the first day of the scheduled workshop, and immediately refund your full tuition. However, we will not be responsible for non-refundable airline tickets or lodging reservations. (Lodging reservations made through Yosemite Hospitality, Aramark are fully refundable 14 days in advance).

It is recommended not to purchase airline tickets or make non-refundable deposits on lodging that cannot be canceled 14 days prior to the initiation of the event. The Ansel Adams Gallery highly recommends travel insurance to help with an unfortunate travel event.

Professionals know that it is difficult to concentrate on creating photographs when they are not comfortable. Proper clothing goes a long way in allowing photography to be a pleasant experience. Depending on your elevation and the time of year, weather in Yosemite can run the gamut. Since the lowest regions of the park are at an elevation of 3,000 feet and the Tioga Road climbs to nearly 10,000 feet, it is possible to experience three seasons in the same day. Most of our workshops are held in Yosemite Valley where extreme weather shifts (exciting!) are possible, especially in the shoulder months of autumn and spring. In the winter, sunny days in the seventies (Fahrenheit) can be followed by six inches of snow, only to have it melt in a couple of hours when the sun returns. It can be cold. It can be sloppy. But take heart! Some of the finest photographs are made when conditions are challenging. Come prepared for a full spectrum of experiences and increase your chances for capturing that “special image.” Given the variable nature of Sierra weather, mountain residents, photographers and backpackers have a lot in common. They all embrace the strategy of “layering” clothing. As temperatures increase or decrease, a layer is shed or added to maintain comfort. Mornings can be chilly, often with frost, so a warm hat, gloves (fingerless or finger-mitts are an advantage) and comfortable waterproof pants and footwear can be the difference between happiness and misery, success and failure. The conditions should not distract or inhibit your creativity. They should excite you! 

• Clothing for cool and warm weather conditions.
• Rain Gear. Rain coats or ponchos, rain paints (even if it isn't raining, you'll often find yourself kneeling down in the cold damp stuff), towels and plastic bags for your camera.
• Comfortable walking shoes for clear weather conditions. Waterproof shoes may still be helpful since the edges of some meadows and trails can be damp.
• Warm, calf-high boots such as Sorels with leather uppers and rubber bottoms are helpful in “sloppy” conditions like fresh snowfall.
• A water bottle to help you stay properly hydrated.
• Energy/snack bars to keep you fueled between meals.

• warm hat/headband
• extra socks (in case one pair gets wet)
• thermal tights
• long-sleeved thermal turtleneck zip up
• base layer pants
• base layer top
• fleece outer jacket
• gloves (finger-mitts are handy for photography)
• rain jacket
• rain pants (useful for kneeling and strolling through wet and frosty environments)
• hat (shade your eyes or your lens)
• hiking boots (for field sessions, waterproof snow boots November into April)
• camp shoes (to give your feet a break after a long day)
• hip or daypack
• bandana
• flashlight (help you see the trail and your camera settings in low light)
• sunscreen
• lip balm
• miniature binoculars for wildlife observation and scouting
• empty Ziploc bags (for garbage and to cover cameras in wet conditions)
• water bottles/water bladders (keep your energy up by staying properly hydrated)
• alarm (for early photo sessions and afternoon naps)
• aspirin
• moleskin or second skin (for hot spots and blisters)

35 mm and medium format film and digital cameras are welcome. Please consider that if the workshop is not specifically geared for view cameras, the pace at which most groups move is not ideal for larger formats. We suggest in this case that you enjoy the larger format camera before and after the workshop since it may prove unwieldy during normal field sessions. Also note that certain workshops’ emphasis is towards the utilization of digital cameras.

Due to the continuous updating of computer hardware and software, we require that you bring a computer to the workshop if there will be any processing or viewing of your images.. We also believe one of the best ways to learn and retain the valuable information provided for digital darkroom and/or printing is by using the computer you’ll be using at home. Laptops will be more than adequate, don’t take up much room for travel, and will allow for more space at your workshop station. 

Please contact us if you cannot bring a computer and we will do our best to provide one. 

Most of our instructors favor the use of a tripod as a stable platform for your camera.

With so many makes and models available, the bottom line is to find the balance between a tripod that provides stability for your camera coupled with your longest lens, but does not weigh so much that it inhibits your desire to photograph. One way to ensure stability is to select a tripod that places your camera at eye level without extending the center column. Equally helpful is a tripod which has legs that spread out to permit quick work at ground level.A tripod with a ball head is favored over a pan/tilt head or the video style head found on many inexpensive models. Carbon fiber tripods, though more expensive, are lighter. And the final feature to debate is the choice of twist lock legs vs. cam lock legs.

The Ansel Adams Gallery has a limited supply of tripods for rent should you choose to travel light en route to the park. Please check in advance for availability and the determination that the offered tripods meet you needs.

For black and white photography, a full filter set will be useful. For color photography, the typical filter pack includes three or four filters, Many professionals are opting for the style of filters that slide in and out of a filter holder on the front of the lens. Advances in digital imaging software have reduced the demand for some filters, but these are still useful:

• Polarizer filter
• Graduated Neutral Density filters: 1-Stop (.3) Graduated Neutral Density, 2-Stop (.6) Graduated Neutral Density, the two previous filters may be combined to create a 3-Stop (.9) Graduated Neutral Density, and 4-Stop (1.2) Graduated Neutral Density
• Simple or Variable Neutral Density filters for lengthening exposures as much as 10-stops
• 81A or 81B “Warming” filters for color film applications

The Ansel Adams Gallery carries a selection of memory card types. If you have a camera with hard to find memory cards, we suggest that you stock up before the workshop or call The Ansel Adams Gallery prior to your arrival and verify inventory availability. We are often asked “How much digital media do I need?” This depends on the pace at which you make images, the size of your image sensor, and your available back up options. Most instructors take breaks during the day that permit workshop attendees to charge batteries and offload digital media to redundant storage devices and laptops. As a ballpark recommendation, it seems that 8 to 32 GBs is a good amount of temporary storage to serve most workshop attendees during a field session with no worry of reaching maximum capacity. In the end, more memory is always better than less.

The Ansel Adams Gallery stocks universal standard battery sizes. Unfortunately, the variety of proprietary camera batteries on the market today is beyond what we are reasonably able to inventory. Therefore, we encourage you to bring spare batteries for your camera.

Yes! Due to the vast offering of cameras on the market these days, keeping up with the subtle difference in each brand's operating menus can be a challenge. You do not want to miss out on a special photo because you and your instructor are working to unlock the secret setting for capturing a unicorn in low light or the camera is flashing some strange error message. We've seen a lot, but each workshop always brings us something new. So, just in case, bring your camera's manual! 

Some of the settings we will access frequently during digital workshops include: 

1. Histogram
2. ISO
3. Auto Exposure Bracketing
4. Exposure Compensation
5. Continuous Mode
6. Noise Reduction

The classroom is equipped with power strips so that you may charge your equipment between daytime field sessions. Since groups often meet at locations other than the classroom for sunrise sessions, overnight charging of equipment is best accomplished in your overnight accommodation. Remember to bring your battery charger!

Due to the high volume of accommodation reservations in Yosemite, The Ansel Adams Gallery has pre-reserved rooms with two hotel accommodations in Yosemite Valley. Upon confirmed booking of a workshop, a pre-reserved room block code will be supplied that will allow you to arrange accommodations at the Yosemite Valley Lodge or the Ahwahnee Hotel (Very Limited Amount That Are Filled Quickly). The accommodation reservations are made privately by you and the Yosemite Hospitality company. You will privately be responsible to the Yosemite Hospitality company for the accommodation reservations.

Pre-reserved room blocks have been arranged for checking in the day before the first day of the workshop and checking out the day after the workshop ends. You will privately be responsible for any arrangements outside of the pre-reserved accommodation dates.

Yes! Please follow the link provided. http://www.travelyosemite.com/lodging/yosemite-lodging-experience/

It's always nice to share! You are welcome to share your room with whomever you choose.

Most of the workshop programs have full days with little free time. Therefore, a great amount of your visit will not be in the hotel room. You may consider sharing expenses with a roommate. We will be happy to notify other workshop participants and put you in touch with any that are interested in sharing a room.

Yes, but we do encourage you to stay in Yosemite Valley. One of the greatest advantages to our programs is that our classroom is in the middle of Yosemite Valley, just steps away from some of Ansel's favorite photo spots. That proximity is critical when moments make the difference between a memorable image and a missed opportunity. By staying in Yosemite Valley, you minimize travel time to and from the classroom/field sessions and place yourself already on site during the best light. In short, acquiring accommodations in Yosemite Valley will maximize your time photographing.

Certainly, though we have no affiliation with the campgrounds, so you will need to book your campsite reservation through the same system that the general public uses. In peak season, this will be a challenge.

Meals are not included in the cost of tuition. You may choose to supply your own meals. However, to maximize time in the field and classroom, most participants will take advantage of the local food services. Instructors tend to favor a large mid-day meal with lighter breakfast and dinner. This permits students to be out early morning and late afternoon when restaurant services and prime photography hours conflict.

Most workshop eating schedules quickly settle into a rhythm that is satisfactory to everyone.

Organized dinners may be arranged as the workshop progresses. Traveling companions are usually welcomed.