BlueHour Photo Ventures

Its definitely feeling like Spring 🌺 there is a lot in store for workshops these next couple of months. Next up, please join .demarco_ri for a sunrise workshop focused on coastal wildlife on May 4. Dave has a way of capturing the action 🌊 

On May 5, is hosting his workshop focused on the Lilac bloom. Learn the many different techniques and ways to capture spring flowers at his favorite location: the Arnold Arboretum. 

And on May 25, join for a really special workshop focused on one of nature's awe-inspiring events: the Horseshoe crab spawning. You didn't know you wanted to see thousands of horseshoe crabs and migrating birds-- but you totally do now ;)🦀

🌎 Happy Earth Day! 🌎

& National Park week too!

We are taking this moment to announce that we are now proud partners with ! We thought that for our 10th year in business, this would be a good cause to get behind.
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National Parks and natural areas continually report record-high visitation, and with that come record problems. Throughout the post-Covid period, we’ve thought about our role as a business as it pertains to our world around us. As a tourism business, and specifically as photographers who inspire others to visit natural places, we want to help reduce this impact. We want to be responsible business owners, teachers, visitors and humans. As leaders in this field, we think it necessary to take a stance and make preservation a part of our mission. So that our favorite photo locations will still be there for us for many years to come.

You can read a little more about this decision on our blog 🌺 we'd love for you to join us in this venture of taking better care of our planet.

Friendly reminder that ALL sites under management of the system will have free entry on April 20! There will be special events too all week for National Park Week ✌️ where will you be going?! 🏔️🏜️⛺🌎

🌑 What a day!! ✨

Our Eclipse group was fantastic and I think it's safe to say we all learned something (or, a lot of things) over the course of this workshop, led by . Many oohs, ahhs, laughs and lightbulb moments. We are so glad to have been able to do this with you all and special thank you to Lisa & her sister for hosting at their home.

Reminder for registrants that tonight is our zoom meeting to go over editing and processing techniques for your images.

You've got this 🌑

If you joined our presentation with you might be feeling overwhelmed or anxious or nervous that you don't "have the skills" to properly capture this event. Nonsense!! You can do it. Relax, adequately prepare to experience the eclipse safely, and get to where you're going. We believe in you!! 🤞

🌌 Just under a week and a half until our photo tour of Joshua Tree & Anza Borrego 🌌 Stay tuned in our stories starting April 15.

will lead a small group through the desert; let's hope they are rewarded with lots of spring desert blooms 🌸 For those who don't know, Paul is making the transition this week to a fully mobile lifestyle, where he can be more fully immersed in nature. We can't wait to see what that will mean for BlueHour's west coast offerings ✌️

💎 Join & in the land of Ice & Fire this September 🔥

We have put together an incredible trip across the Southern Coast for our small group. Together, Allie & Hope have visited Iceland well over a dozen times and have extensive knowledge of where to be and when. Don't worry about a thing and focus only on making incredible images, meeting like-minded photographers, and taking it all in. We are so excited to return!

📷 please email us with questions or check out our website for details & registration information.

Join us Tuesday for all things Eclipse!! This will be recorded and distributed to those who can't attend the 7PM EST time.

The presentation is now ready for registration on our website. Join us April 2 via zoom to learn how you need to prepare for Solar Eclipse experience behind the camera 📷

Do not think you can just show up and make all those amazing shots. There are lots of things to consider for this once-in-a-lifetime event, but you can alleviate some of the stress on the day of by following our recommendations. ☀️🕶️ Prepare now so you can spend less time making mistakes when the Earth goes dark 🌑 on April 8.

Register here:
https://bluehourusa.com/eclipse2024-zoom

Here's a 'hot topic' that's highly debated: AI & Photography. We aren't sure how we feel about it all yet. AI as a tool certainly helps us edit our images and carry out our true vision, but where's the line? This image here is actually not AI at all and was produced by the artist () over one hour - capturing the Earth's rotation via the stars. As AI becomes more popular, fewer people even believe what we produce is naturally-occurring. What's your take?? 🤔

The presentation is now ready for registration on our website. Join us April 2 via zoom to learn how you need to prepare for Solar Eclipse experience behind the camera 📷

Do not think you can just show up and make all those amazing shots. There are lots of things to consider for this once-in-a-lifetime event, but you can alleviate some of the stress on the day of by following our recommendations. ☀️🕶️ Prepare now so you can spend less time making mistakes when the Earth goes dark 🌑 on April 8.

Register here:
https://bluehourusa.com/eclipse2024-zoom

We're often asked if we offer "Beginner's Only" workshops. The answer is - Yes! .demarco_ri is our Beginner Bootcamp instructor and has a session scheduled for June 15. If you've never picked up a 'real' camera before, this workshop is especially for you! 😊

Details here: https://buff.ly/3P8sQxy

Ok! We're real excited for this one. You may not know this, but every Spring, with calm weather, high tides and a full moon - horseshoe crabs make their way up the beach in the hundreds of thousands to lay eggs. This event coincides with important bird migrations. New England is much devoid of the horseshoe crabs we remember so dearly to various factors, but the largest sanctuary for them is actually in nearby New Jersey and Delaware.

is hosting a workshop for this event this year. If everything goes to plan, this is one of the coolest nature events you can witness on the East coast, and presents some really unique photographic opportunities. If you're looking for something really unique to do - this is it - May 25!

Get the details here: https://buff.ly/3V9rZ3w

I think we're all 'Thinking Spring' by now. Celebrate with your camera among the Lilacs with in the gorgeous Arnold Arboretum for the spring bloom. Erik knows all the ins-and-outs of this location and photographs this event every year.

Details here: https://buff.ly/48G6DxH

We really believe 's tulip workshop is one of the best opportunities to push your creativity. There are infinite possibilities in the mega tulip fields in RI! Especially if you opt to bring an external flash or little spray bottle! Learn all the tricks during the early morning VIP timeslot for the best lighting on April 13.

Details here: https://buff.ly/4c9cUF5

If you're looking to join us in March - there's 2 spots open for workshop "Plum Island Abstracts" that was rescheduled to March 24. Some great potential for photography on this one with the rising full moon! 🌕

Details here: https://buff.ly/3Tr3k9m

Tune in this week to our stories to follow along with our group in Charleston & Savannah! & will be having a blast in the lowcountry.

So much is going on this year. We're always working hard at hosting great programs!
One we're excited about is taking a group to Acadia National Park in June. Rick is a Maine resident and knows all the best locations to photograph in the best light. Join him for an immersive experience in Downeast Maine this June 5-9.

Get the details at: https://buff.ly/3Iq2006

📸 we are so excited to return to one of our favorite spring destinations - Charleston & Savannah - this week!! & will be leading a small group of photographers to all their favorite spots. Can't wait to see what you all make!!

Our Birds of the Ocean State workshop is being moved from Saturday to Sunday due to weather; if you can make the new date please join us!! https://bluehourusa.com/birds-of-the-ocean-state

2 spots remaining for "Birds of the Ocean State" with & on March 2!! The previous version of this workshop had great feedback last year so if you're interested in birding, make sure to attend!!

📸 Photograph the blue hour, sunrise & golden hour with .demarco_ri in Rhode Island Feb 24! Yes we know it's cold -- get off your butt and get those muscles moving again! You won't regret it!! Workshop details can be found on our website under "Workshops."

There are just a few spots remaining for our Birds of the Ocean State workshop on March 2. This workshop is a collaboration between & - don't miss it!!

📢 Our next 6 workshops with spots still open for sign up 📢
There's something for everyone on our lineup this year!

🌊 Feb 24: Sunrise at Pt. Judith Lighthouse
🐥 March 2: Birds of the Ocean State
🌕 March 24: Plum Island Abstracts (1 spot)
🦋 April 6: Shutterbugs & Butterflies
💐 April 13: Tulips by the Ton
🌤️ May 5: Sunrise Wildlife by the Seashore

Find details about each one on our website!

🌿 JUNE 5-9: Springtime in Acadia with 🌊

Join Rick in downeast Maine! From the towering granite cliffs high above the Atlantic Ocean, to more tranquil woodland settings, Acadia has a lot to offer landscape photographers.

This workshop is currently at half capacity and expected to fill, so reserve your spot soon!

More information here:
https://bluehourusa.com/spring-acadia

It's been awhile since we've been active here, but we'll be making more of an effort to stay connected on all our channels this year. These images are from - who is hosting a photo tour in the southern French Alps this June. Just a couple of spots left; 🏔️🏔️🏔️

Thibaut is a master of depth & light; make sure to check out his blog about creating Depth & Dimensionality on the BlueHour blog!
https://bluehourusa.com/blog/creating-depth-and-dimensionality-in-landscape-photography

📢 Final Call for our Charleston & Savannah photo tour in 6 weeks!

🌺 Join & in the beautiful low country for warmer weather, flower blooms, towering oaks, history & culture with your camera 📷

This is one of our more popular trips and has something for everyone. A perfect 4 day getaway - whether you enjoy moody landscapes, wildlife & birds, macro -- you'll definitely learn something new. Get the details on our site and reach out to us if you'd like to join ✈️

Just a few spots remaining for our workshop "Christmas in Newport" with on December 16. This is a fun and holiday-filled tour of the historic Newport area and includes admission to Marble House 🎄📸

We give thanks for all our instructors 💕 We wouldn't be BlueHour without them! They put in so much hard work through the whole year. Please say hello, and if you haven't yet, consider joining one of their workshops or tours to get to know them better! They are the best in the business. In no specific order; Please meet

1. Kris Simard; Tour Leader & Instructor. Join him in Newport for the holidays, or on tour in Charleston, SC or Watkins Glen NY.

2. Hope Pashos; Tour Leader & Instructor. Join her to shoot the Eclipse!

3. Dave DeMarco; Instructor. Join him in Rhode Island, especially if you're a beginner on his beginner bootcamps.

4. Thibaut Pawlas; Tour Leader, Master of Black & White & The abstract. Thibaut is our only instructor located full-time in another country: France! Join him on tour exploring the French Alps in June for a focused and French experience.

5. Gavin Wild; Instructor, Filmmaker. Our newest addition to the team, located near the Jersey Shore. Gavin's workshops bring you out into nature.

6. Erik Gehring; Instructor. Our Arboretum extraordinaire and Plum Island aficionado.

7. David Long; Instructor, and everyone's favorite ebook author. Expert on all things iconic New England.

8. Rick Berk; Instructor, adventurer and expert of all things Maine. Join him for an adventure in Acadia next Spring.

9. Michael Belinski; Instructor, video & drone pro. Join him in various locations across New England in 2024.

10. Paul Nguyen & Allie Richards; Tour Leaders, Co-Owners. Supporting the work of everyone else and taking you to incredible destinations ✌️