Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lot of experience or expensive gear to take this workshop?

• No! You can make great images right away with simple equipment, and that’s what this workshops aim to teach you. If you are just starting out and have a new camera you want to learn, this is for you. If you have photographed before and aim to update yourself on the latest techniques in digital photography, this is definitely for you. If you are a seasoned veteran who doesn’t need much help, just wants to go to great locations and have fun with like-minded individuals, well, this is for you, as well!

What does the itinerary look like?

• The workshop will kick off on Monday October 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM at the Bar Harbor Hotel – The Bluenose with a short reception and slideshow and then it’s into the field we go to make images. There is no “set” daily schedule, rather we keep things flexible in order to best respond to the weather and available light for making images.  Typically, we’ll be out for sunrise, shoot until mid morning and then take a break for a meal and brief rest.  We’ll convene in the conference room for instruction, post processing and critique during the mid-day hours when the light is typically less conducive to photography.  We’ll then head back out into the field in the late afternoon and evening, ending our session after sunset.  We’ll end our time together after our last sunrise shoot of the workshop on Friday October 17, with plenty of time to return to the hotel for a normal checkout and departure.

• Possible Locations include but are not limited to: Jesup Path, Ocean Drive Locations, The Tarn, Jordan Pond, Jordan Stream, Hemlock and Hadlock Brook Carriage Road Bridges and Eagle Lake.

What are the fitness requirements?

• A basic level of fitness is necessary for participation in this workshop. Higher levels of fitness will greatly increase your enjoyment of the experience. Stability is an important consideration on this workshop because of the terrain. There will be some short hikes of two miles or less, but generally we stay close to the cars.

What equipment do you recommend I bring?

• DSLR or mirrorless camera

• Lenses to cover 16-200mm on a full frame sensor are recommended, 10-150mm on a crop sensor.

• A sturdy tripod and head

• Circular polarizing filter

• Waterproof camera bag (a shoulder bag is not recommended)

• Waterproof covering for your camera and lens or a packable umbrella

• Laptop Computer with editing software

• Card Reader if your computer doesn’t have one

• Extra Batteries

• Extra Memory Cards

What about transportation?

• Participants are responsible for their own transportation, but we do encourage carpooling on workshop days. If you are flying, we recommend flying into Bangor (BGR) or Portland, Maine (PWM).

What about lodging?

• A block of rooms has been reserved at the Bar Harbor Hotel – The Bluenose,  90 Eden St. Bar Harbor, ME  1-800-445-4077 or 207-288-3348  www.barharborhotel.com  Please reference Green Mountain Photographic Workshops or Kurt Budliger Photography when making your reservation.

What should I wear?

• Temperatures range from below freezing on some mornings to sometimes very warm days near 80 degrees. We’ve seen it all in the last few years! For that reason we recommend bringing a range of clothing from shorts and short sleeves to long pants and long sleeve shirts along with sweaters and a light jacket. We’re usually good for some rain, as well, so full rain gear is recommended.

• Hiking Shoes and Sneakers

• Tall Waterproof Boots - for wading in shallow water

• Waterproof and Windproof Shell

• Rain Pants

• Insulating Hat and Gloves

• Headlamp

• Bug repellent

What happens if the weather doesn’t cooperate?

• Bad weather is good weather to landscape photographers. If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes. There are many idioms that apply to the weather, and if you don’t already know, being out in all weather usually leads to great photo opportunities! Safety will remain a top priority. We won’t drive, nor ask you to drive, in hazardous conditions. With the right preparation, we can survive and even thrive in what most people would call adverse conditions. Please keep an open mind when it comes to your expectations about what ‘good’ conditions are. We want to teach you how to shoot in all conditions!

What does my tuition cover?

• The price of the workshop includes all fieldwork, group instruction, and classroom time. Some snacks will be provided by the instructors. We will also stock emergency first aid kits. It does not include travel insurance, meals, transportation, and lodging.

What am I responsible for?

• Your own transportation, though we do encourage carpooling during the workshop

• Hotel Accommodations

• Park Entry Fees - Passes can now be purchased online HERE.

• A $500 deposit is due at the time of booking to hold your spot, the full payment is due 60 days ahead of the workshop start date.

• Cancelations: Cancelations made 60 days in advance will receive a full refund. Cancelations less than 60 days before the start of the workshop will receive no refund. If a canceled spot is able to be filled before the start date of the workshop a full refund will be given, including the deposit.

Questions? Contact us HERE