Scouting Techniques for National Parks with Chris Nicholson

One of the reasons I bought and watched the class was because I wanted to hear his point of view about the first thing that's mentioned under the Class Description: National Park rules and regulations- when to get a permit and how to obtain one. Sadly, in none of the episodes this is addressed unless I somehow managed to skip an episode which doesn't appear to be the case. Why is this the first item listed when it is not included in any of the episodes? Yes there are definitely good tips, but this doesn't seem right to me...

This was never meant to be strictly about photography...its about all the non-photography issues that help you get the shot. I found this most useful...

If you understand the purpose of this class, you will get a great deal of benefit from it. It is NOT a photography class in the sense of teaching technique, gear, or artistic considerations. It is a class on scouting and preparing for landscape photography - particularly night photography. While the instructor works heavily in the national parks, his techniques would be valuable anywhere. I especially benefited from the section on various resources. He mentions several books and gives specific insights into apps designed for photographers. Most of which I was familiar with, but he even covers their basic use and function. Those not accustomed to spending time on trails or in the back country will also appreciate the very practical advice that he offers on safety, clothing, and general considerations. A nice concise package that covers a lot of ground.

I picked up some good tips about planning photo shoots, being safe and protecting my gear. Thank you!

This class was bundled in the Night Photography Week courses. The title of the course is Scouting and that's what this course is. It is about scouting and photographing deep in the National Parks. This is not about driving up to a parking lot getting out and figuring out the best place to snap a picture. This is about getting out there and getting dirty. If you are new to the idea of hiking and exploring farther then the paved interpretative trail and have little hiking and scouting experience in a variety of terrain this class is full of information that is essential for a safe and successful experience.

This class was a tremendous help. It is definitely a "tool kit" class and not a "how to" class. With that said, it is worth every penny just for the amazing scouting tips, safety tips, and national park app suggestion. I downloaded one of the recommended apps from this class for a trip I'm taking next month and was thrilled with the information. There are definitely a lot of great tools discussed in this class.

This class was incredible because I wouldn't have gottent this info anywhere else. It's basically a lesson in common and not-so-common sense while shooting at night. No, you're not going to get a whole lot of techniques for working your camera, but you will get strategies for making sure you're actually able to shoot once you're ready. With night photography, there are many unknows that can ruin your chances of getting good shots. Without this class, I never would have thought about how to make the most of daylight hours to plan and prepare a night shoot. And, I wouldn't have known much about how to be as safe and prepared while shooting in the wilderness. I found this course to be very interesting and helpful in the grand scheme of understanding how to get the best from your efforts while shooting at night-time in a park, or secluded area.