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Overview
Join me on this Photo Tour for some of the most amazing Waterfalls and Wildflowers in the World!
Step into one of the most breathtaking landscapes in North America on this unforgettable Pacific Northwest waterfall photography adventure. During this workshop, we’ll explore some of the most majestic and photogenic waterfalls in the world, hidden deep within the lush forests of Washington and the legendary Columbia River Gorge.
The Pacific Northwest is famous for its dramatic scenery, and for good reason. These ancient temperate rainforests are bursting with life—towering evergreens draped in emerald moss, giant ferns carpeting the forest floor, and an incredible variety of plant life that thrives in the region’s constant moisture. This environment creates a dream setting for photographers, offering endless opportunities to capture rich textures, vibrant greens, and moody atmospheric light.
As we hike through these mossy forests, you’ll photograph towering waterfalls plunging through canyon walls, misty cascades tucked into hidden ravines, and powerful river systems that carve through the landscape. The sound of rushing water echoes through the trees, and every bend in the trail reveals another stunning composition waiting to be captured. These scenes are perfect for practicing long exposure waterfall photography, learning how to control shutter speed, and creating images that feel both dramatic and serene.
Beyond waterfalls, this workshop will also highlight the seasonal beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Depending on conditions, we’ll explore areas filled with wildflower fields, colorful blooms, and lush spring foliage, adding variety to your portfolio and providing opportunities for intimate landscape photography, close-up compositions, and creative storytelling through nature.
The diversity of this region is exactly what makes it one of the most sought-after destinations for landscape photographers around the world. In a single trip, you can capture misty rainforest scenes, cascading waterfalls, vibrant floral displays, and sweeping scenic vistas that define the Pacific Northwest.
Join us on this magical journey as we photograph the lesser-known waterfalls and wildflower landscapes of Washington and the Columbia River Gorge, discovering hidden gems, iconic viewpoints, and unforgettable natural beauty along the way.
Overview:
In this workshop, we will immerse ourselves in the legendary waterfall corridors of the Columbia River Gorge, the lush canyons of southern Washington, and select hidden gems tucked deep within Oregon’s stunning Willamette National Forest. These regions represent some of the most iconic waterfall environments on Earth—where ancient basalt cliffs, temperate rainforest ecosystems, and endless moving water combine to create a landscape that feels almost unreal.
Our mission is simple: to photograph the most majestic waterfalls we can find. Some will be recognizable classics, the kind of locations that have inspired landscape photographers for decades. Others will be far off the beaten path—quiet, rarely photographed sanctuaries where the scenery feels untouched and the creative possibilities are limitless. This is where the Pacific Northwest truly shines, and where your portfolio will begin to take on a new level of depth and distinction.
But this workshop is about far more than simply visiting beautiful locations. It is about learning how to create waterfall images with intention—images that are not only technically correct, but emotionally compelling. We will focus heavily on capturing water movement in a way that gives your photographs flow, structure, and visual purpose. You’ll learn how to photograph swirling currents, leading water patterns, and the subtle pathways that naturally guide the viewer through the frame. These are the details that separate a snapshot from a finished piece of art.
We will dive deep into the discipline of high-level composition, especially in complex environments where chaos is everywhere. Waterfall scenes can be visually overwhelming—busy backgrounds, distracting branches, harsh contrast, and cluttered rock patterns. I will teach you how to simplify these scenes, how to control the visual weight of the frame, and how to “see” with the mind of a photographer rather than simply reacting to what’s in front of you. We’ll work on developing your ability to find images within images—intimate details, abstract patterns, and close-up compositions that are often more powerful than the obvious grand scene. These tighter compositions pair beautifully with the sweeping wide-angle waterfall landscapes we’ll also capture, giving you a complete and professional body of work.
From a technical standpoint, you’ll learn how to master exposure in challenging rainforest conditions, including how to protect highlight detail in white water, how to manage dynamic range in dark canyon environments, and how to create depth and separation in flat forest light. We’ll cover the strategic use of polarizers and neutral density filters, along with shutter speed control to craft everything from silky long exposures to more natural, textured motion depending on the mood you want to convey. When the scene demands it, we’ll also work with advanced techniques such as focus stacking, refined foreground control, and precise framing to build stronger, cleaner compositions.
Beyond the Columbia River Gorge, we will venture into the spectacular Willamette National Forest, home to eight designated wilderness areas and some of the most awe-inspiring waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest. This is where Oregon becomes truly wild—deep green valleys, moss-covered canyon walls, and towering cascades hidden within ancient forests. Many photographers never make it this far, and yet this region holds some of the finest waterfall photography opportunities I have ever experienced.
We will be walking through hidden valleys and temperate rainforests where moss hangs from every branch and the forest floor feels like it belongs in another world. These are the places where the atmosphere is thick, the light is soft, and every step reveals a new composition waiting to be discovered.
As a final bonus, we’ve timed this workshop to coincide with a lesser-known seasonal bloom in the hills of the Columbia River Gorge. The variety of wildflowers and emerging spring foliage adds a striking layer of color and texture to the landscape, and we’ll take advantage of these conditions with several excursions to higher elevations. This will give you the opportunity to photograph not only waterfalls, but also intimate floral scenes, layered landscapes, and vibrant seasonal foregrounds that elevate your images into something truly special.
If you are looking for a workshop that combines world-class locations with high-level instruction—where every shoot is intentional and every scene is approached with purpose—this is it. Join us as we explore the hidden wonders of Oregon and Washington, and capture the raw beauty of the Pacific Northwest at its finest.
Itinerary
Day 1 (1/2 day)
Meet in Cascade Locks at the Best Western. Check in 3pm. We will have a short Orientation.
Day 2
We will wake up early to head over to Washington for a full day excersion of some amazing Waterfalls followed by an amazing dinner.
Day 3
Sunrise Waterfall shoot at Elowah Falls. Following Breakfast we will embark on a drive South to see one of my favorite waterfalls.
Day 4
Sunrise Waterfall Session. Following our morning excursion, we will have a Presentation on retouching, advanced composition, and creating dynamic angles. For Sunset we will be hiking up top to see the many Wildflowers that bloom over the Gorge.
Day 5
Sunrise Waterfall Session in the Willamette! We will be photographing several key waterfalls in the area. Sunset Session in the Columbia River Gorge.
Day 6 (1/2 day)
Sunrise Waterfall Session. Workshop Adjournment and Check Out at 11am
TERRAIN
Lush Woodland Forests, Trails, Rock, pavement. Hiking Boots, Trail Shoes, and Water Shoes are recommended.
ACTIVITY
Easy to Moderate trail walking up to 2 miles
EXPERIENCE
Aspiring to Advanced. Cell Phones are welcome
GROUP SIZE
6 Participants
TEMPERATURES
50-75 degrees. Waterproof/Breathable Outerwear is recommended. Zip off Trail pants work well
HUMIDITY
60-70%
NEAREST AIRPORT
Portland, OR
PACK LIST
Click HERE to view the Packlist
Topics we will cover
How to research potential shoot locations
How to read the weather
Learn how to create powerful compositions and bring your artistic vision to life
Visualizing your composition, capturing and guiding the viewer
The use of Neutral Density and ND Graduated filters to enhance and control light.
How to identify and control: Balance and visual flow
The use of filters to enhance and control light. How to “see” light
Histograms, how to read them, and why they play an important role
Focus Stacking for extreme front and back focus
How to use lens compression and when to use it.
How to blend focal lengths and exposures to maximize Dynamic Range
How to create beautiful Long Exposures to unveil a hidden visual world of intrigue and wonder
Photographing the night sky: Stars, Milky Way, Star Trails and Time Lapse Photography
Light Painting in the Twilight and night Landscape
Image Critique and Visual Experience
Post Processing and Digital Workflow in Lightroom and Photoshop, including third party softwares
What’s Included
Photography instruction with Landscape Photographer Tommy White
Lightroom and Photoshop training
3rd party programs like TK Actions, Luminar, and Nik
5 Full days of Photography and field Instruction on the coast of Oregon
One-on-one field guidance in framing, settings, visual flow, and “seeing” in the landscape.
GPS field guidance to track our shoot locations
Light Drinks and Snacks are provided during the Workshop
Identifying important subjects both near and far
Capturing textures, shapes and patterns
Visual interpretation of the landscape. How to “see” and use the light
Guidance and safety throughout the entire trip
Limited field equipment and accessories
What’s not included
Participants should plan to provide their own transportation. Carpooling will be available at your own discretion
Flight
Meals during the trip. I will always have drinks and snacks on hand but plan to travel with your own favorites as well.
Lodging - We will provide information for you on Lodging upon registration. As photography is all about the weather, we will plan to move about for the best conditions. We will have a secured place to stay on the night of our arrival and the night before our departure
Park and admission fees. We are fully permitted in State and National Parks, but occasionally there are other fees per individual.
Alcoholic beverages
Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended)
Personal Items
Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel your booking, the Deposit is nonrefundable on all Seasonal and Group Photography Workshops. If the cancellation is less than 90 days, you will receive a full refund minus the deposit and 15% admin fee, when your spot is filled. If the cancellation is more than 90 days, you will receive a full refund when your spot is filled, or, you may move to another available workshop (minus a 15% admin fee) in the current calendar year. The remaining balance on the new Workshop is due upon transfer.
If you are booked for a Private Workshop and you need to cancel, you may reschedule your workshop one time within the current calendar year during an available time.