Catskill Intro to Panorama Weekend
Are you pano-curious? Perhaps frustrated by your previous attempts? This weekend workshop in the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York and the Catskill Mountains is a great way to build a solid starting foundation in the planning and capture of panoramic photos, day or night.
Workshop Details
May 14-17, 2027
This is a 2-night, 3-day workshop. Your adventure begins on the morning of Friday, May 14, and ends mid-afternoon on Sunday, May 16.
$1,895 + applicable taxes. Register below.
Skill level
Intermediate and above. Participants should have a firm grasp of the basic principles of photography and of their cameras, and have a comfortable understanding of night photography fundamentals.
Group size
8 with 2 instructors — 4:1 ratio
Workshop Leaders
Registration
| • Deposit of $800 is required to reserve your spot. |
| • Balance of $1,095 is due on January 14, 2027. → Pay balance here. |
| • You may choose the “Pay in Full” ticket if you desire to pay all at once. |
| • Last day for a cancellation request is January 13, 2027. (see cancellation and refund policy) |
| • The workshop fee does not include food (outside of two group meals); airfare; New York State Park entrance fees; or transportation to Catskill, New York, or to our nightly shoot locations. |
| • The workshop fee includes professional instruction in panoramic planning and techniques, and hands-on time with pano gear to test and use. |
The Catskill Intro to Panorama Weekend Experience
In a small group, we will explore how to get the most out of the gear you own. And we will also have some pano gear on-hand to use so that you can get a feel for what you may consider for future rentals or purchases. There is no need to buy anything new for this workshop, as we can help you make the best of what you already own to make successful, reliable panos anytime.
Most, but not all, sessions will be held in Matt’s studio and gallery space. You will experience a comfortable, relaxed learning atmosphere in the tranquil and quaint surroundings of the Hudson River Valley and Catskill Mountains.
We’ll also have night access to pano-worthy places nearby to explore your new-found techniques.
The night photography part of this workshop will be led, not taught. If asked, settings can be provided to everyone so you can focus on being present. We will also help you set up your tripods and focus if desired. (If you are already adept at night photography, of course you are welcome to make your own technical decisions.) The goal is not teaching night photography, but rather to provide a framework for the craft of panoramic planning and capture.
In the studio/classroom, we will discuss basic stitching software and techniques. There will also be lab time wherein you can work on your own images with our assistance.
Who is this workshop for:
anyone with a desire to understand how to make consistently stitchable panoramas
people who dig panoramas and want to learn about all the ways to make them
anyone frustrated by previous attempts make panos that did not work out
What You Should Know
This workshop caters to knowledgeable photographers with an intermediate or higher skill set. Participants should have a firm grasp of the basic principles of photography and of their cameras, and have a comfortable understanding of night photography fundamentals. We will be happy to offer advice and answer questions about both day and night photography, but the focus of the formal education will be panorama photography.
If you would like to attend this workshop but are unsure whether you have adequate night photography skills, we can offer pre-workshop tutoring to get you ready for your adventure with us. Alternatively or additionally, a few of us have written books that may be productive pre-workshop reads.
What You Will Learn
Fundamental panoramic planning and capture techniques, plus some processing instruction.
TOPICS COVERED WILL INCLUDE:
single- and multi-row panoramas
vertoramas
planning a panorama
finding your no parallax point
stitching panoramas in Lightroom and Photoshop
introduction to PTGUI
and more …
Night Conditions
Logistics & General Info
Travel
You are responsible for arranging and paying for your own transportation.
Nearby Airports
Albany, New York (ALB) — 45 minutes from Catskill
New York Stewart (SWF) — 1 hour
Newark (EWR) — 2 hours
Hartford (BDL) — 2 hours
Rental Car
You will need a rental car.
There is no need for four-wheel-drive.
If you are interested in carpooling or sharing a rental car, let us know and we will try to connect you with another attendee looking for the same.
Lodging & Food
You are responsible for arranging and paying for your own meals and accommodations.
Lodging
There is no official workshop lodging, but a list of local hotels will be supplied upon registration.
If you are interested in sharing a room, let us know and we will try to connect you with someone like-minded in the group.
Food
Two group dinners are included in the workshop fee.
Catskill and nearby Athens and Hudson have dozens of food options.
We encourage eating two meals per day—a good breakfast and a great late lunch.
When on the night shoots, you may wish to bring snack food or a sandwich and water.
Weather
Expect daytime highs in the 50s F, nighttime lows in the 30s.
Recommended Attire
Comfortable clothes for relaxing, plus hiking pants and long-sleeved shirts for daytime, warmer pants and long-sleeved shirts for night.
A sweatshirt, medium-weight jacket, hat and gloves will likely be useful, and a base layer would not be a waste of packing space. Layers are good.
Comfortable and protective shoes are recommended for getting around. There won’t be long hikes, but we will be on trails, so quality trails shoes or hiking boots would be optimal.
Thick, warm, comfy socks or slippers for the indoor stretching.
Exertion Level
The exertion level of this workshop is Easy. (See more about our classifications.)
No truly vigorous activity will be required during the workshop, but please consider your physical abilities prior to registering. There won’t be any long hikes, but there will be easy hiking trails involved, and you should be comfortable carrying your own equipment over uneven ground in the dark.
Considerations
IMPORTANT: We encourage reading our FAQs section for more information about skill and gear requirements, and other information that pertains to all our workshops.
If you have questions, please contact us—we're happy to talk it over with you.
Let's expand our field of view …
“I started to see scenes in a new way—through the possibility of the techniques”
I remember when I started making panoramas. I was like, “This is easy–just swing your camera and take overlapping photos.”
Boy was I wrong about that. Some of panos had mysterious ghosts. Some lines didn’t match up. Skies had strange areas of darkness that didn’t look right. Clouds were messy and weird. It was frustrating.
Once I started to really sit down and ask why those things happen, and how to avoid and/or fix them, I started to get really excited. The proper process was not only making sense, but also was giving me a new sense of excitement. It was potential.
Then I started to see scenes in a new way—through the possibility of the techniques. And then everything got better. Still, to gain that confidence I had needed I had to develop a solid foundation in best practices.
That is what we want to share with you—that deep confidence that it is possible. You can do it. And you can add a valuable tool set to your photographic tool belt.
