Please contact us for further details and an application for the workshop!
We are Andi Harmon and Rene Westbrook. Combined, we have decades of photography experience under our belts! We cover everything from wildlife to ranch life to portraits to landscapes and so very much more!
Hello, I am Rene’ and I am a photographer. It took me a long time before I felt that I could say
that. A real photographer.
I had always had an interest in photography, but didn’t start developing it until 2013. This led to
looking at things so differently. I will say that for a long time I struggled. So much to learn. No
one to ask questions to. So for a long time I was self taught. I did a lot of trial and error, mostly
error.
My wonderful husband and I would drive out in the country looking for eagles. I figured if I
could photograph an eagle fully in flight and get it sharp and in focus I could handle my
camera. That took a long time. Eventually I was able to do just that. I was able to pan across
the sky changing the settings as I moved from one light source to another while getting this
beautiful eagle flying. I could now take a picture! I still was not a photographer.
I finally started meeting other photographers. The circle of friends let me ask questions. From
there I took off!
Photography is a constant state of learning. In that learning I am able to help others. I teach so
those who feel that spark like I did, have someone to ask the same questions I had. I have
been doing this for over 16 years now. I have had to practice and practice some more, I have
learned so much.
I love shooting pretty much everything. I have models and we have the best time. They make
me look good! The group theme shoots are always a blast. Different themes from Alice in
Wonderland, to Sister Witches. Driving across the country gives so much to photograph.
Landscapes, mountains, oceans, to the animals. I love photographing horses! Wild and tame
as well. My husband being a country boy, has taught me the love of Rodeo. Nothing like it!!!!!
I always go to a shoot with the intent of having fun. I never take things so serious that we
cannot have fun. I include my models, or/and clients in the “we”. Even shooting a wedding can
really be fun. It is what you make it to be. When you enjoy what you are doing the images turn
out amazing!
I have been published. Several online magazines that my models have been published in over
the years. I also have been published in a national magazine. That is when I photographed
country singer Trace Adkins.
This is when I started to look at myself as a real photographer.
The only thing left for me is to continue to learn more every day. I love my circle of photographer friends and that circle is always open for more!
I’ve had a camera in my hand ever since I can remember, at least 55 years. Fortunes were spent on film and developing before digital; I should own stock in Kodak and Fuji! For film, my last camera was a Canon AE-1; for digital, I have gone Nikon all the way. I shoot with a Nikon D4S now, having upgraded many times over the last 10 years.
The bulk of my knowledge with digital has been self-taught, trial and error. I joined some groups on Facebook that were "Photo a Day" challenges that really pushed my limits and sent me to Google and YouTube for "how-to" info. A fellow wild horse photographer, John Wheland, once told me, "It's all about the light!" and I really took that to heart! I really didn't have anyone local to give me direction and focus until I made friends with my mentor Mary Williams Hyde. She opened up a whole world of possibilities and gave me valuable advice on editing.
Western life: wildlife, ranching, rodeo is where my roots lie but I am so much more than that now. I am a photographic journalist, a preserver of the time, if you will. I do a lot of family shoots and senior pictures in addition to all my ranching and rodeo stuff. I love doing scenery and landscapes, sunrises and sunsets and try to find time to work it all in.
I've been published in various magazines, from Cattle Mag to Nevada Rancher to APHA Journal and Chrome, all horse related publications. I've covered several concerts, including Adrian Brannan, Sammy Kershaw, Joe Diffie and Collin Raye. While I do a number of "posed" type photoshoots, getting candid shots is my goal!
I’ve lived in eastern Oregon for over 25 years and spent many summers and falls here as a kid in the 60’s and 70’s. I like the simpler lifestyle of living “out” and being around ranching and nature. I am a retired IT Tech, most recently from the local Burns Paiute Tribe where I still do some contract work. I’ve been a BLM volunteer in the wild horse program for over 20 years and have adopted, fostered, sponsored, bought and sold countless Mustangs over the years. I currently have 1 BLM branded pony mare, 1 QH gelding and 2 over 30 BLM burros. I live on a small place of just 40 acres but it is enough for me and my ever growing food and flower garden and my old “props” of the western lifestyle.
We use professional-grade cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment to ensure the highest quality images. Rene is a Canon user and Andi is a Nikon user. Between us, we can help you bring more use to your equipment and enhance your editing skills.
Our workshop will take you to remote locations to photograph wild horses, ranch life, stunning scenery and even a "portrait" session. We have flexibility on where we go and what we do. We will help with lighting, capturing action shots and spectacular scenery. We will be based on the Steens Mountain where we will stay in cabins/rooms and travel from there to our spots for the day. We will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner, either home cooked or restaurant meals and all transportation from Burns to our photo shoots. You just need to get to Burns and we will do the rest!
The basic itinerary will be as follows:
Friday, May 31st 2024: Arrive in Burns, Oregon by 3 PM. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Burns. We can provide a safe place to park your vehicles and we will travel to the Steens in our vehicles. We will eat dinner and do a sunset shoot in and around Frenchglen.
Saturday, June 1st 2024: After breakfast, we will do an early morning tour of the refuge and then head to a local ranch for a ranching experience. It may include branding, working horses, moving cows or other such activities. In the afternoon we will do some scenic tours which may include the Pete French Round Barn, Kiger horse viewing and the P Ranch. Dinner at the cabins, discussion and editing, then sunset photos for those interested.
Sunday, June 2nd, 2024: After breakfast, we will pack sack lunches and go up on the Steens for wild horses! In the afternoon we will do a scenic tour of Catlow Valley, the Alvord Desert and surrounding areas. Bring a swimsuit for a soak in the Hot Springs! We'll have dinner in Fields and then sunset with wild horses.
Monday, June 3rd, 2024: After breakfast, we will pack up and leave the cabins and do portrait sessions of each other in a location of participant choosing. We even have an option to visit a local Longhorn cattle ranch and do photos of and with the Longhorns!
* Transportation from Burns to the resort and back and to all the photoshoot locations. You may bring your own vehicle to the resort, if you wish, or we will provide a secure location for your vehicle while in the workshop. You will not be allowed to take your personal vehicle to the photoshoot locations.
* Lodging in private cabins
* Breakfast, lunch and dinner plus snacks throughout the day
* A photography workshop unlike any you have ever attended!
WHAT TO BRING:
* Clothing for assorted weather conditions: warm coat, light coat, etc. Shorts or swim suit in case of going into the hot springs. Open toe shoes, flip flops, sandals at your own risk when we are in the field on our photoshoots. Comfortable footwear for all terrains is preferred. Hats are recommended and it wouldn’t hurt to have gloves and scarves. Weather can change quickly here!
* All your camera gear! If you have zoom lenses and wide angle lenses, bring them! Tripods and monopods could be useful too.
* Bug spray, lotion, chap stick!
* We will provide water and snacks as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you have special food or drinks you want, it will be up to you to provide them. If you have special dietary needs please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them within reason.
OK, so what is this all going to cost?
For 4 days and 3 nights, lodging and meals as well as transportation to exceptional photography experiences is only $2800 per person!
We will require of you:
* $1000 non-refundable deposit at time of booking
* Balance of $1800 to be paid by May 1st2024
* A signed liability waiver, contract and model release
Yes! We accept Venmo, PayPal, Facebook pay.
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