May 18-22, 2026 | Monday noon through Friday afternoon at 2:00
limited to 10 participants w/ 2 instructors

COVID SAFETY: Please read our COVID-19 Information and Prep page.

BCPA is very excited to announce that in 2026, we are doing two, back-to-back workshops in the Pacific Northwest with fellow photographer, author, and workshop leader, Rod Barbee of (you guessed it) Rod Barbee Photo Workshops. In fact, all of the Olympic peninsula photographs you see on this page are copyrighted by Rod and obviously used with his permission

I have known Rod a long time through website design and The Turning Gate, and we bonded years ago through a love of photography and the sharing of a similar philosophy of this art form along with the teaching, mentoring, and critiquing of it. And an appreciation of red wine!

So, please join our special, fun, intensive, five-day photography workshop in the spectacular Olympic National Park that I have visited and photographed a couple of times, albeit some years ago in the days of transparencies/slides. 

Rod Barbee has led workshops in this national park for years. He writes:

"I live on the Olympic Peninsula. I love it here. Some of my best memories come from backpacking, exploring, and photographing in Olympic National Park. This May, in collaboration with Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures, we'll be running a photo workshop in one of the areas I know best. I've actually lost track of the number of times I've led Olympic National Park photo workshops..."

Mid to late May is traditionally the best time of the year for greens in the rain forest as well as good sunsets on the coast. For this reason, we'll spend our time based out of Forks and visiting the rain forests, coastal beaches, Lake Crescent and the Sol Duc area. It can also be a time of rain, so be prepared!

The forests in May exhibit new growth on the trees and lush ferns. Forest photography is challenging but also rewarding. We'll go to places where we can practice and hone forest photography skills. It always takes a little bit of time to "feel it" in the forest; there's a lot going on, and it can be chaotic and often overwhelming. We'll take the necessary time so that you can start "seeing" in the forest.

May is also prime time for waterfalls and streams. Sol Duc Falls is the gem, so we'll definitely go there at least once, but there are several others to visit, too.

Based in Forks, we’ll visit places like Rialto, Ruby, and Second Beach, the Hoh rain forest, Sol Duc Falls and the surrounding forest, Quinault, and Lake Crescent. Our itinerary will be somewhat weather dependent. With any luck, we'll get a bit of rain so that the rain forest will look like, well...a rain forest. Sunsets on the coast can be enhanced by clouds and unsettled weather, so we'll be hoping for a bit of both.

The weather is eclectic here, ranging from sun to fog and rain. It all makes for some wonderful images. Remember to check out Margo's video "Blue Skies, Who Needs-em".

We are in a mother lode of photographic opportunities, so we will not have to travel far to find plenty of variety to challenge us. This is also a great workshop for "spousal units," our affectionate term for husbands, wives, and significant others who often join us. 

Regardless of your level, you'll be able to celebrate your passion for photography, hone your seeing and imaging skills, and learn about the magic of light to make wonderful photographs. And don't forget our great and fun critique sessions that set us apart from many photography workshops!

When making your plans, it is critical that you plan on arriving for our first session on Monday. Because this is the first ever collaboration with Rod and Margo, we hope everyone will be there, even our seasoned alumni from either "camp." While Margo's and Rod are philosophically aligned, each has a slightly different message to impart to our participants.

We tend to stay over the night that the workshop ends, and for those who want to join us, we usually go out shooting and dine one last evening together.

So join us and and note that we are offering a twofer discount to those who also join us for Along the Oregon Coast.

Meanwhile, be sure to carefully read our FAQs, as well as the various links in the box above. They should hopefully answer almost any question you might have.

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Fees:  Standard $2,280/ | Alumni $1,940 | Association $2,052 — w/ twofer discount in combination with Along the Oregon Coast | Early-bird Special @ Association rate — both discounts only by check (see parameters)

Travel insurance is highly recommended to ensure protection against any unforeseeable events. We are a small company and cannot be held liable for those who choose not to buy trip insurance.  Sharon Erickson, our trusty travel agent, can help you with that. And, no, we do not get any credit for referring you to her, only a thank you!