2022 Winter in the Eastern Sierra Workshop FAQ’s

Bishop has much to offer in the way of food! From BBQ to sushi to fast food – this small town has it all. For the coffee connoisseur, Bishop has two excellent cafes for esspresso: The Looney Bean (Opens at 5:30am) and Black Sheep Coffee Roasters (Opens at 6:30am). And yes…there is a Starbucks (Opens at 5:00am).

Bishop’s elevation is at 4150′. In Winter, this can mean temperature’s from below freezing to perhaps 50 degrees.  Bishop can be without snow, while areas north can have a fair amount of snow.  The area occasionally has severe weather.  This can add to both your adventure and your photos!  Kirk lived in Yosemite for ten years and has much experience with these conditions.  Kerik has led workshops in Iceland, where the weather can be even more extreme!  Safety is paramount during the workshop and we will make decisions with this as a priority.

This is a winter workshop. Kerik and I recommend using a layered method of dressing. We recommend following the “Cold-weather Laryers” description in this REI article. Warm boots, like Sorels, are great in below-zero temperatures! Specific for photography, Kirk has used Freehands Gloves with removable fingertips, but any gloves and/or mittens will work – just make sure you have them!

This is a digitally-based workshop. Here’s our recommended gear to bring:

• At least one digital camera body. We recommend a full-frame sensor camera with great ISO capability for night photography.
• Minimum lenses: A wide-angle zoom (17-40mm or equivalent), telephoto zoom (70-200mm or equivalent). Recommend a decent night lens like a Rokinon 24mm, f/1.4 or something similar to easily capture photos at night.
• A tripod is a must. Recommend aluminum or carbon legs, with a height that is eye-level. A ball head is also recommended for quick work in the field.
• Filters: UV filters work well mostly to protect the front of your lens. A circular polarizer is a trusty filter that cuts out harsh reflections. All other filters, such as ND filters, are optional, but welcomed!
• Extra batteries for your camera body.
• Extra memory cards.
• Something to protect your camera and lens during stormy weather. We recommend the handy OP/TECH Rainsleeve, but any plastic bag can work.
• Headlamp for finding your way in the dark.
• Optional: Flashlight for light painting. It’s also a back-up if the headlamp stops working. Kirk uses an earlier version SureFire, with an incandescent bulb for warmer light output.
• Bring your computer for optimizing images for converting to digital negatives. Laptops are preferable, as the studio we’ll be working in has limited space. They’re also easier traveling with on airplanes and in cars. Lastly – The studio/venue is not responsible for computers sent via UPS/FEDEX or USPS. We appreciate your understanding.

Yes! We will have everything to make prints at the workshop venue. If you already do platinum/palladium printing and have your favorite paper or chemicals, you’re more-than welcome to bring them.

While we warmly welcome the use of film cameras for the workshop, know that we are focusing on digital techniques. We are not allocating any time for film processing and will not be discussing film techniques.

This is a two-part answer.

1. Bishop is a few hours from the nearest airport (Reno NV) and a full day’s drive from the major cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento, so driving a car is the easiest way to get there. We HIGHLY recommend an all-wheel/4-wheel drive vehicle as parts of Hwy. 395 most likely will have snow and/or ice on it during the workshop. A second option is a 2-wheel drive car with chains.
2. Once in Bishop, you’ll need a car again to drive the 10 minutes north on Hwy. 395 to get to the venue/studio where the workshop will be held. Once the workshop group gets aquainted on the first day, car pooling is highly encouraged!

Bishop, California. The workshop venue is about a 15-minute drive north of Bishop in Alta Vista.

The workshop begins at 10am, Thursday, February 3rd. and we highly recommend you arrive to Bishop the previous evening. You will be notified via email regarding the location venue and its address to plug into your GPS.

The workshop tuition only covers the cost of the workshop. There will be a materials fee that will be charged shortly before or at the workshop.  Palladium prices are rising as I write this, so we will charge a fee that’s appropriate to the cost of palladium, paper, and other minor materials, but plan for a fee around $100. 

Lodging and travel costs are separate and your responsibility.

If you are flying,  the Reno-Tahoe International Airport is the closest, with an additional 4-hour drive. Los Angeles is a 5-hour drive. Driving from the San Francisco/Bay Area can be 9-10 hours.

The answer to the second part of the question is…it depends. If you’re wanting smooth roads without snow, the southern route from Los Angeles or Bakersfield/Central Valley would be your best bet (Although a rare, cold storm can even lay down some snow on these roads. Again…rare). Coming from the Reno/ Lake Tahoe area might have some challenges due to snow and ice on Hwy. 395. If you are adept at driving in these conditions, then you’ll be just fine driving from the north down to Bishop.

If renting a vehicle, we recommend an AWB / 4WD vehicle like a Subaru. This will make driving in winter much better for you; mostly because you won’t have to install chains on your tires if driving in snowy conditions. Plus, these cars will make the beginner winter driver have a far better experience.

We recommend arriving in Bishop the night before the workshop (Wednesday, February 5th). That way, you’re rested and ready for the 10am start time on Thursday, February 6th.

Bishop has more than a dozen hotel/motels to choose from. We’ll be there during the off-season, so rates will be decent and getting rooms shouldn’t be difficult. Contact us if you are having difficulties.