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Come explore the frozen beauty of North Carolina’s High Country during Winter!
Winter in the Southern Appalachians doesn’t always require falling snow to deliver extraordinary photographic opportunities. What it does guarantee is cold temperatures—and where there’s cold, there’s rime ice, frozen waterfalls, icy stream edges, and dramatic winter textures that transform the mountains into a quiet, otherworldly landscape.
This winter photography experience offers an intimate and intentional look into the hidden seasonal gems of the Southern Appalachians, focusing on mood, atmosphere, and detail. We’ll embrace the stillness of winter while photographing frost-covered trees, ice formations clinging to rock faces, frozen cascades, and soft, muted light that only this season provides.
Our locations will be selected entirely based on weather conditions, allowing us to adapt and chase the best winter scenes available. From high-elevation environments rich with rime ice to lower elevations featuring frozen streams and lakes, this workshop is designed to maximize photographic potential regardless of snowfall.
We’ll explore elevations ranging from the Roan Highlands at over 6,200 feet—where extreme cold often creates surreal ice-coated forests—to sheltered mountain waterways that showcase winter’s quieter details. Expect a strong emphasis on winter landscape photography techniques, including working with cold light, managing contrast in icy scenes, composing with minimal color palettes, and capturing texture and depth in frozen environments.
Potential Locations
Weather and conditions will guide our route, but areas we may photograph include:
Blue Ridge Parkway – sweeping winter vistas, frozen overlooks, and fog-laced mountain layers
Roan Mountain – iconic rime ice, windswept spruce-fir forests, and alpine winter scenes
Mount Rogers – rugged winter terrain and ice-laden landscapes
Linville Gorge – frozen waterfalls, icy river bends, and dramatic winter geology
Grandfather Mountain – extreme weather, dramatic ice formations, and moody high-country conditions
This winter-focused adventure is ideal for photographers looking to deepen their understanding of cold-weather landscape photography, slow down, and see the Appalachian Mountains in a raw, rarely experienced state. If you’re drawn to icy textures, subtle light, and the quiet drama of winter, this is where the mountains truly come alive.
Overview
Winter High Country Photography Workshop Overview
Step into the breathtaking wintry world of North Carolina’s High Country, where golden sunrises, icy reflections, frozen waterfalls, and rime ice-covered landscapes create some of the most dramatic and photogenic scenes the Southern Appalachians have to offer.
This workshop is designed around the magic of winter light and frozen texture. We’ll begin our morning chasing cold, crisp sunrise conditions, capturing the warm glow of early light as it spills across snowy ridgelines, frosted forests, and reflective mountain waters. Winter in the mountains has a way of turning even familiar locations into something surreal, and we’ll take full advantage of those fleeting moments when the light and atmosphere align.
One of the signature highlights of this experience is rime ice photography. We’ll spend a large portion of the day near 6,200 feet in elevation, where rime ice thrives and transforms the landscape into a true winter wonderland. Trees become crystal sculptures, trails turn into frozen corridors, and every branch becomes a subject worth studying through the lens. This is one of the most unique winter phenomena in the Appalachians, and it offers endless opportunities for creative composition.
From there, we’ll dive into the frozen high-elevation forest, where soft golden light and lingering sun rays filter through the trees long after sunrise—creating stunning depth, contrast, and mood. These conditions are ideal for learning how to photograph winter light beams, atmospheric haze, and layered forest scenes.
After our morning shoot, we’ll warm up with a hearty breakfast at one of our favorite mountainside restaurants, taking time to review images, discuss technique, and prepare for the next phase of the day.
Following breakfast, we’ll head back into the backcountry to explore the quieter side of winter—photographing frozen creeks, icy cascades, and hidden waterfalls tucked deep into the forest. These locations are perfect for practicing long exposure waterfall photography, working with ND filters, and learning how to capture motion and texture in winter conditions.
Small Group Instruction (Limited to 4 Photographers)
Enrollment for this workshop is limited to just 4 participants, ensuring a highly personal and hands-on learning experience. My goal is to spend meaningful time with each photographer individually—understanding where you are in your photography journey and helping you bridge the gap to where you want to be.
Whether you're brand new to landscape photography or you’ve been shooting for years, you’ll leave with valuable skills and a stronger workflow. We’ll cover everything from foundational techniques to advanced approaches for composition, exposure, and creating impactful winter images.
Vehicle Recommendation
A 4WD or AWD vehicle is strongly recommended for this workshop. Roads are typically in good condition, but winter weather can change quickly, and secondary mountain roads may be snow-covered or icy depending on conditions.
Lodging for this Workshop will be at the Holiday Inn Express in Boone.
Holiday Inn Express - (828) 264-2451
1943 Blowing Rock Rd, Boone, NC 28607
Other Accommodations which are across the street are: Fairfield Inn and Suites and The Marriott
Important: Your safety is always our highest priority. Please make sure you are able to hike at least one mountain mile. The terrain here is uneven and can be steep to our shoot locations. An equipment list and Itinerary will be provided prior to the workshop.
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
Image Critique and Visual Experience
Post Processing and Digital Workflow in Lightroom and Photoshop, including third party softwares
What’s Included
Photography instruction with renowned Landscape Photographer Tommy White
Lightroom and Photoshop training
How to use 3rd party programs like TK Actions, Luminar, and Nik
2 Full days of Photography and field Instruction in the Winter Tundra near Boone
One on One field guidance in composition, camera settings, recording movement, and how to create depth and visual flow
GPS field guidance and how to use Apps and software to document our locations
Visual interpretation of the landscape. How to find and compose difficult scenes
Guidance and safety throughout the entire trip
What’s not included
Participants should plan to provide their own transportation. Carpooling will be available at your own discretion. 4wd is recommended.
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 after your registration.
Park and admission fees. We are fully permitted in State and National Parks, but occasionally there are other fees per individual.
Alcoholic beverages
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 one other 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.