NOVA SCOTIA FALL COLORS

Oct 15-19, 2024 - Sold Out

Oct 20-24, 2024 - Sold Out

Experience the dazzling array of autumn colors on our Nova Scotia Fall Colors Photo Workshop! This beautiful maritime province offers countless scenes of quaint fishing villages, stately lighthouses, rolling hills, and rugged coastal headlands all graced by the warm tones of the fall season. Be awed by the sweeping vistas of Cape Breton Highland National Park and the Cabot Trail - one of the most scenic drives in the world! Workshop includes all lodging and ground transportation.

Tuition

$2295
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Max Group Size

4 Students per Instructor
Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

Kevin McNeal
Shane McDermott

Physical Intensity

Highlights

Fall is an ideal time to enjoy the charms of Nova Scotia. Workshop dates are timed for peak Fall colors.
Experience the charm of Peggy’s Cove with it's world-famous lighthouse, fishing boats, and charming homes.
Step back in time to Old Town Lunenburg, a historic seaside village brimming with colorful buildings and ships.
Immerse yourself in the Cape Breton Highlands along the magnificent Cabot Trail - one of the world's most scenic highways! This route navigates the rolling hills and dramatic coastal cliffs with endless fall colors!
Visit Burntcoat Head Park where the world’s highest recorded tides occur. Stunning coastal and cave photography awaits!
Photograph everything from light houses and fishing villages to beautiful coastal caves. We might even see puffins, bald eagles, dolphins or whales!
Expect plenty of individual attention with a small group of 8 clients and 2 pro instructors.
Leave the stressful driving to us! All transportation and lodging are included during the workshop so you can focus on the photography.

Itinerary

Nova Scotia weather can be unpredictable. Changes to the itinerary may be made based on weather and current conditions to help maximize your photography.

Day 1: We pickup all participants at 1PM from the Halifax-Stanfield International Airport and drive to Peggy's Cove. After a short orientation session, we have our first sunset photo shoot. After dinner, we meet up for an image critique and post-processing session.
Day 2: We are out early for a sunrise shoot of Peggy's Cove and St John's Anglican Church. We return for an afternoon post-processing session to hone our skills. Next, we venture out to photograph golden hour and sunset in a historic seaside village filled with colorful homes and tall ships anchored in a serene bay.
Day 3: Today we capture sunrise at Mahone Bay with its famous three churches. After breakfast we check out of our hotel and embark on the Cabot Trail, considered one of the world's most scenic drives. Photographic opportunities abound around almost every corner! We arrive that evening in the Cape Breton Highlands. A little atmospheric fog adds a nice ambient quality to our photos as the sunset light begins to fade.
Day 4: We get up early this morning to capture sunrise at the Baddeck Lighthouse and Marina. This afternoon we explore the Ingonish Area of the Cape Breton Highlands. We arrive back into Peggy's Cove to capture a golden sunset.
Day 5: We are up early for one last sunrise shoot along the coast before packing up and heading back to Halifax, arriving no later than noon.

Logistics

Plan to arrive no later than noon on Day 1 for pickups at the Halifax-Stanfield International Airport (YHZ). You may want to arrive the evening before and spend an evening exploring Halifax. The workshop will conclude no later than noon on Day 5 with drop-offs at the Halifax Airport.
Lodging is in very short supply and rooms have been pre-paid for our group. At checkout, you will add an obligatory lodging package to your booking. Cost is $350 for double and $700 for single. We will spend 3 nights in Peggy's Cove and one night in the Cape Breton Highlands.
Expect a cumulative total of 1-2 miles of moderate hiking each day to reach the locations we will photograph.
You will need to be prepared for all types of weather. It can be cold this time of year. High coastal winds can make walking difficult. Please see the gear list below for our recommendations.
We highly recommend Trip Insurance to cover any non-refundable fees and travel costs you may have in connection with the workshop.
Since we will be traveling together as a group, luggage space is limited. Each participant is limited to one moderately-sized suitcase along with their camera gear.
Food, snacks, and beverages are not included in the workshop fee. Each day's itinerary will be clearly communicated so you can plan your food needs.
All participants are solely responsible for procuring proper documentation to enter Canada from their home country.

Pricing - 5 Days

$2295 USD Per Person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

4 night lodging package adds $350 for double occupancy or $700 for single occupancy.
Photography guiding and instruction throughout the trip.
Post-processing and image critique sessions.
All ground transportation and park entrance fees during the workshop.

Trip Does NOT Include:

Flights to/from Nova Scotia.
Meals, beverages, and snacks.
Any applicable passport and or visa fees.
Instructor Gratuities

When you register, you will be given the option to pay a 50% deposit or the full workshop fee. If you pay the deposit, the remaining balance will be payable via a payment link approx 120 days prior to the workshop.

Recommended Camera Gear

Sturdy tripod and ballhead
Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range. You can utilize an ultra-wide angle lens in the 11-15mm range on this trip. However, this wide of a lens is completely optional.
Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
Long telephoto lenses will come in handy for landscape compression and wildlife encounters. We recommend a 100-400mm for maximum flexibility. A 200mm telephoto will NOT be sufficient for wildlife shots.
Circular polarizer filters and ND filters for your lenses. If you like shooting with grads filters, bring them along.
Extra camera batteries, memory cards and cleaning supplies.
Laptop if you wish to backup your photos (optional).

Personal Gear List

Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants .
Outer shell jacket for rain/wind/snow protection.
Several warm layers since it can get cold in the mornings.
Headlamp.
Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Warm Hat & Gloves.
Refillable water bottle

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Kevin McNeal

Photography Instructor

Kevin McNeal is a Washington-State photographer who is passionate about photographing grand landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this to print is the ultimate goal. His images hold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture landscapes in fresh ways. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey. He has traveled all over North America, shooting diverse landscapes and finding remote places with the hope that we can convey to the public that this earth is worth caring for. His award winning images can be seen in galleries and showings across the United States. He was recently invited to the Art Wolfe Art Gallery for the Environmental Photography Invitational. Kevin was the grand winner of the Landscape category for the Natures Best Magazine and was selected for the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington D.C.. He is a regular contributor to publications like Outdoor Photographer.

Artist’s Statement

“I believe that the Earth shares secrets with us that only can be discovered by trying to understand our position on this planet. We are never fully intimate with the planet but are given brief moments that make our souls want more. These glimpses of nature’s power are fleeting and never the same twice. I also believe it is important to share with those who want it. The treasures that await us given the patience that is out there. What I try to do is bring some of that magic to my images to share with the rest of the world. Each of my images tells a story that everyone can relate to in some way whether it is success, fear, or challenging oneself to overcome obstacles

View Kevin's Portfolio.

Shane McDermott

Photography Instructor

Artist's Statement: Through all of my wanderings, photography has remained a constant, providing the creative link between my passion for adventure and the outdoors. I will never get enough of that “Wow!” feeling when I see a stunning image rendered on my camera’s LCD and helping guide others to that same experience is the bacon in the beans for me. I am excited to start working with Action Photo Tours. Everything about their instructors, locations, deep research, proficiency and stop-at-nothing vibe shows me that I have found the company where we can all grow and have countless “wow” moments together.

From the inseparable experience of unity, the camera is not something I “look at” the world through it is an opportunity to see something in myself. Photographs are no longer lost extractions of time; they become holographic reflections of the precious whole in every part. I love to guide those passionate about photography and those wanting to celebrate the extraordinary beauty of nature. If you seek a deeper connection with yourself and the astonishing beauty of our planet, I invite you to embark on this journey of creative discovery. I seamlessly weave together the technical and artistic dimensions of photography and help students learn to cultivate a greater level of presence, perception, and perspective. I have endless patience for those who genuinely seek to unlock their unique creative brilliance and transform their passion into pixels.

Photography has been a transformative experience of Self-discovery more than it has been about great image-making. The interior landscapes of my Soul have been the primary territory of my exploration. From a place within, the landscapes and creatures of our great planet have provided amazing opportunities to learn about myself and my connection to the world.