Escape to the cool mountain plateaus of West Virginia’s Dolly Sods Wilderness and Canaan Valley during early summer, when mountain laurel blooms along trails, wildflowers dot the meadows, and lush greens glow under long days of highland light. This weekend workshop is a perfect balance of big-sky landscapes, quiet woodland scenes, and hands-on instruction designed to strengthen both your creative vision and technical skills.

Workshop Highlights

• Sunrise and sunset from sweeping overlooks above the Allegheny Front.

• Explore mountain meadows, laurel thickets, and red-spruce forests.

• Waterfalls and streams in Canaan Valley State Park.

• Classroom session on post-processing and critique.

• Small group size for personalized, in-field guidance.

Friday, June 5: 2:00 PM meet & greet at Canaan Valley Resort, opening classroom session, then evening shoot in Canaan Valley. Classroom session focuses on essential field techniques.

Saturday, June 6: Sunrise in Dolly Sods, morning field session at Elekala Falls, mid-day classroom for editing & critique, sunset at Lindy Point overlooking Blackwater Canyon.

Sunday, June 7: Final sunrise shoot at a highland overlook, closing critique session & print preperation techniques, wrap by late morning.

We’ll reach out after registration with details about the group room block at the Canaan Valley Resort & Conference Center, where all classroom sessions will take place.

The workshop fee covers instruction only. All other costs—such as transportation, lodging, meals, and National Park entry fees—are the responsibility of each participant.

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to reserve your spot. The remaining balance is due 90 days prior to the workshop start date.

If you need to cancel within 90 days of the workshop, a partial or full refund may be possible only if we are able to fill your spot, minus the $500 administrative fee. We understand that emergencies happen—please contact us, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your situation.

• All field instruction and guiding by Joseph Rossbach.

• Sunrise and sunset field sessions daily.

• Classroom instruction: editing workflow and image critiques.

Not Included: Lodging, meals, transportation, or park entry fees. A discounted room block will be available at Canaan Valley Resort.

This workshop is open to photographers of all levels. Walking distances are generally short (1 mile) with some uneven terrain. Good balance and moderate physical health is required to hike down to the waterfall and over the uneven terrain at Dolly Sods.

Private Editing & Review Session (2 hours, $300) — scheduled after the workshop for in-depth one-on-one feedback.