Phil Schermeister - Yosemite Photographer

Yosemite Explorer Masters Photography Workshops with National Geographic Photographer Phil Schermeister are open to Individuals and Groups of all experience levels at all times throughout the year. We guarantee smaller group sizes for a more personalized experience.

Call or email us today:
(800) 886-8009
tours@yexplore.com

Phil Schermeister grew up on the Great Plains where the simplicity of the landscape and the directness of the people still influence his work. His interest in nature photography was kindled when he started working for the National Geographic Society on an assignment in the Flint Hills of Kansas. In the 20 years since that first assignment, he has traveled to all fifty states and several countries while successfully completing more than 30 major assignments for various national Geographic Society publications. Some of his assignments have included Mexico’s Copper Canyon, Canada’s Icefields Parkway, and the Cherokee Indian Trail of Tears. He has worked on natural history projects for the Society in dozens of National Parks, Seashores, Recreation Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Wildlife Refuges. Schermeister has also completed several single-photographer books for the National Geographic including “America’s Western Edge”, “America’s National Parks”, and “Dakotas: Where the West Began”.

Closer to home, his coverage of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains was featured in a National Geographic book entitled “The Range of Light: California’s Sierra Nevada”. After 20 years of photographing in Yosemite, he continues to work for the National Geographic and was featured in a 2005 article titled: "Beyond the Valley of Wonders". Phil works for other clients and makes his home in Sonora, CA.

Photo Gallery of
Phil Schermeister

Daily Sessions with Phil are offered throughout the year. Please call for his availability.

Private Photo Session with Phil Schermeister:
Price: $600 per person

2012 Yosemite’s Eastside Masters 1 Day Photographic Workshop
With
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHER
PHIL SCHERMEISTER

Limited to 9 Students
All Skill Levels Welcome

Beyond Yosemite Valley, the Eastern edge of Yosemite holds many wonders of its own including glacier- scoured peaks, vast meadows, pristine lakes and twisted jeffrey pines perched on giant slabs of granite. We’ll be exploring some of the best of these features during this 6 hour workshop as you learn composition, color balance, use of color and form, bracketing, depth of field and the use of various filters. On and off camera flash as well as other artificial lighting techniques will also be discussed. We’ll also learn how to work with weather to produce the most dramatic pictures in any given situation. We’ll visit several of Eastern Yosemite’s most photogenic spots including: Olmsted Point with its many dramatic glacial erratics and spectacular views of Half Dome; Tenaya Lake, one of Yosemite’s most beautiful lakes and Lembert Dome which soars 800 feet above Tuolumne Meadows. This workshop is designed to help beginners get started and intermediate or advanced students sharpen their vision and expand their creative thinking. Phil will discuss some of the important intangible skills needed for consistently good photography including your own ‘personal vision” and how to “break the rules” to create unique images. The small class size allows Phil to give maximum individual attention to each student.

Price $275 per student

Workshop Dates:

June 1 2pm-8pm
July 27 2pm-8pm
September 27 noon-6pm
October 5 noon-6pm
October 12 noon-6pm
October 19 noon-6pm

Mono Lake Tufa Towers by Phil Schermiester

2012 Mono Lake All Digital Masters 2 Day Photographic Workshops
With
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHER
PHIL SCHERMEISTER

Limited to 9 Students
All Skill Levels Welcome

The Mono Lake Master Photographic Workshops are designed to help beginners get started and intermediate or advanced students to sharpen their vision and expand their
creative thinking. Some of the skills you'll master include understanding and adjusting camera settings for optimum results, bracketing, depth of field, correct exposure in all conditions, correct color temperature, use of various filters, composition and use of color and form. On and off camera flash as well as other artificial lighting techniques will be discussed. Beyond equipment, Phil will discuss and teach important intangible skills needed for consistently good photography including how to identify your own "personal vision" and how to "break the rules" to create unique images. We will be photographing sunrises, sunsets, sweeping vistas, clouds, water reflections and more. Phil will give students exercises to put into practice the techniques they learn. He will review students work in the field as they photograph and discuss digital workflow and the processing of digital pictures. You'll leave with great pictures and most importantly, the skills to see and create better pictures well beyond the workshop.

Price $395 per student

Workshop Dates:

June 2 and 3 *full moon
July 28 and 29
Sept 28and 29 *full moon
Oct 6 and 7
Oct 13 and 14
Oct 20 and 21

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS:

YOSEMITE EXPLORER WINTER MASTERS PHOTO WORKSHOP
with PHIL SCHERMEISTER

Beginner/Intermediate Photo Classes

Dates: December-April

Photograph Yosemite Valley in Winter

Join National Geographic Photographer Phil Schermeister to explore and photograph the many and varied winter scenes in Yosemite Valley. Winter is the most dramatic season in Yosemite when new-fallen snow transforms the Valley into a wonderland of dramatic light and fanciful shapes. Join us as we travel along the Wild and Scenic Merced River and photograph the ever-changing panorama of waterfalls and sheer rock formations that make Yosemite Valley a natural wonder. We will learn the correct techniques for photographing snow and ice as well as work with macro lenses, winter abstract subjects and explore various ways of shooting waterfalls. We will capture all the icons of Yosemite Valley including Half Dome, El Capitan, and the Merced River and the many spectacular waterfalls that make Yosemite Valley unique.

Type of tour: Yosemite Explorer Masters Photo Workshop
Price: $300
Difficulty of hiking: Easy

Miles: under 3 miles hiking roundtrip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
All levels of experience are welcome.

*Class Sizes will be limited and are subject to a 2 person minimum.

CHANGING SEASONS: YOSEMITE EXPLORER MASTERS PHOTO WORKSHOP with PHIL SCHERMEISTER

Beginner/Intermediate Photo Classes

Dates: November-April

Photograph Yosemite’s Landscapes as well as Abstracts and Color in Nature

Working with Yosemite's spectacular geography and distinctive setting, we will explore a variety of photographic techniques as we work with light, color, form, and motion to create our own works of photographic art. National Geographic photographer Phil Schermeister will help you create visually unique images of many of Yosemite's outstanding features and teach you how to work with water and other natural features of the park. Artificial light sources will also be discussed and utilized. Seminars will take place in Yosemite Valley and other areas of the park. Participants should bring basic camera equipment, a photographic flash, tripod, and your imagination.

Type of tour: Yosemite Explorer Masters Photo Workshop
Price: $300
Difficulty of hiking: Easy

Miles: under 3 miles hiking roundtrip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
All levels of experience are welcome.

*Class Sizes will be limited and are subject to a 2 person minimum.

In the Field with Phil Schermeister

YOSEMITE VALLEY WATERFALLS MASTERS PHOTO WORKSHOP
with PHIL SCHERMEISTER

Beginner/Intermediate Photo Classes

Dates: April-June

Explore and discover the many diverse waterfalls of Yosemite Valley. Learn basic and advanced techniques of shooting waterfalls in this most spectacular setting during peak waterfall season. We will photograph the thundering falls that make Yosemite famous this time of year. Yosemite Falls at 2425' is the Valley's most recognizable. We will also visit others such as Bridalveil, Cascade, and other waterfalls that make Yosemite Valley unique.

Type of tour: Yosemite Explorer Masters Photo Workshop
Price: $300
Difficulty of hiking: Easy
Elevation Gain: None
Miles: under 2 miles hiking roundtrip

All levels of experience are welcome.