Breakout Sessions
Detailed Information About the 2024 Conference is Coming Soon.
Check out Past Events
Lightchasers is proud to work with some of the top brands in photography and will be featuring multiple Breakout Sessions with our partners.
BRAND EXPO
One of our core tenets for Lightchasers is to break down barriers to access and that includes interactions with your favourite brands. We are very fortunate to be supported by all of our incredible brand partners and our Brand Expo allows you to interact directly with representatives from Fujifilm, McBain, Kase Filters, Sony, Nikon, The Camera Store, Tamron and f-stop. From free sensor cleanings to new product demos, touch and try experiences, to opportunities to try out new gear in the field, and just asking questions and chatting with reps, our Brand Expo allows you opportunities to interact with our partners in ways you won’t find anywhere else.
Brand Expo Hours
Friday: 9-1030am, 1-3pm
Saturday: 9-11am, 1-3pm
Sunday: 9-11am, 1-2pm
Tech Talks
Join McBain Camera General Manager Rene Rodrigue for a series of 20 minute Tech Talks where he breaks down the fundamentals of certain photographic tools and techniques ranging from how to use aperture priority, to what tripod and head are best for you, what’s wrong with my camera and more!
Friday
1:20 PM - The Power of the Crop
2:00 PM - How Heavy is Your Kit? Finding the Right Tripod and Head For YOU
2:40 PM - Why is My Camera Misbehaving
Saturday
10:00 AM - Aperture Priority: Your Gateway to Getting Off Auto
10:40 AM - The Power of the Crop
1:20 PM - How Heavy is Your Kit? Finding the Right Tripod and Head For YOU
2:00 PM - Aperture Priority: Your Gateway to Getting Off Auto
2:40 PM - Why is My Camera Misbehaving
Sunday
9:20 AM - Why is My Camera Misbehaving
10:00 AM - How Heavy is Your Kit? Finding the Right Tripod and Head For YOU
Field Sessions
Our field sessions are designed around the fact that everyone experiences a location differently. Instead of putting you in a prescribed spot with a subject, theme or model where you mimic what an instructor tells you to do, our sessions are designed to let you explore an area and to engage with your own creativity and ability to see and respond to the landscape emotionally; to look deeper and to come away with images that are more personally satisfying than technically perfect or commercially appealing.
Presenters in attendance are there to help answer questions or provide insight to their methods but not to tell you what to shoot or how to see. In order to ensure ample opportunities for attendees to attend at least one, and possibly two field sessions, and in order to minimize impact on the areas where our sessions take place, we do have attendance caps in place. We also highly encourage people to carpool to our shooting locations to minimize parking impacts.
We also know that many attendees may be more inclined to explore the area on their own during these times and we welcome and encourage you to do so if group shooting scenarios aren’t your cup of tea! Waterton National Park, Castle Provincial Park, the Pass and the surrounding prairies provide many great photography opportunities for the solo explorer.
Whether you’re joining us for group sessions or exploring on your own, please practice leave no trace principles and pack out whatever you pack in.
All Field Session require you to sign up in advance to ensure we don't go over the allotted number of spaces for each.
SIGN UP FOR A FIELD SESSION (OR TWO!)
Bathing Lake Bathed in Morning Light
Presented by Fujifilm
Saturday May 27th from 7-9am
Bathing Lake was the site of our Late Night session last year but this wonderful little spot needs to be seen in the daylight to be truly appreciated. Small and pond-like, this lake features a stunning backdrop of snow-capped mountains and as it’s more sheltered from the wind, a greater chance of reflections. This spot is often good for birding as well.
Presenters in attendance: Alister Benn, Mark Jinks, Rebecca Simrose
Physical difficulty level: easy
Distance from Pincher Creek: 35km (30 mins)
Attendance cap: 40
Macro Morning at Butcher Lake
Presented by Fujifilm
Saturday May 27th from 7-9am
Butcher Lake is a beautiful location, especially when the winds are calm and the water flat. But across the road from Butcher Lake lies a field of wildflowers equally impressive in its splendor. Join Fujifilm and macro photographer Dara Ojo in exploring the world of macro photography shooting flowers and insects and delving deeper into a world of tiny beauty. This location is easily accessible to all though exploring close to the lake shore may be steep and does require caution.
Presenters in attendance: Dara Ojo, Anna Morgan, Alister Benn, Mark Jinks
Physical difficulty level: easy to moderate
Distance from Pincher Creek: 34km (27 mins)
Attendance cap: 40
Note: Butcher and Bathing Lakes are within 5 minutes of each other and session attendees are welcome to go between both.
Sunset on Limber Pine Ridge
Presented by Fujifilm
Saturday May 27th from 8-10pm
Not for the faint of heart, Sunset on Limber Pine Ridge is an exclusive opportunity to explore the majesty of a group of ancient limber pines located on private property that overlooks a scenic valley with the mountains in the background. This session involves a 2km hike through uneven fields and up a very steep embankment and is not recommended for those who aren’t experienced hikers or those with limited mobility. As this is located on private property, may involve potentially dangerous encounters with wildlife and a more difficult experience overall, participation in this session is limited and will be monitored with check ins and check outs.
Presenters in attendance: Alex Buisse, Anna Morgan, Rebecca Simrose
Physical difficulty level: hard to extreme
Distance from Pincher Creek: 11km (13 mins)
Attendance cap: 25
Sunset at Lundbreck Falls
Presented by Kase Filters
Saturday May 27th from 8-10pm
Lundbreck Falls is a stunning double waterfall located a mere 20 minute drive from Pincher Creek. The waterfalls can be photographed from a variety of angles and offer a chance for both grand scenic and more intimate shots. This beautiful spot also features a great old trestle bridge that makes for wonderful compositions as well. A variety of birds also frequent this location. This location is easily accessible by all but does feature some stairs down to the lower level that may not be suitable for those with mobility issues.
Presenters in attendance: Alister Benn, Jim Brompton
Physical difficulty level: easy to moderate
Distance from Pincher Creek: 26km (21 mins)
Attendance cap: 40
Trading Post by Moonlight at Sierra Cabins West
Presented by Fujifilm
Saturday May 27th from 11:30pm-1:30am
Picture this: a trading post from the old west standing alone in the prairie with a backdrop of stunning, snow-capped mountains. Now picture this scene illuminated by a waxing 60% moon and the stars shining overhead. Our friends at Sierra Cabins West have graciously allowed us access to their private property for this field session where you’ll learn about low-level lighting, focusing in the dark and how star trackers work. We may even have a telescope or two on site for deeper sky viewing.
Presenters in attendance: Alan Dyer, Alex Buisse, Monika Deviat, Shane Turgeon
Physical difficulty level: easy
Distance from Pincher Creek: 42km (30 mins)
Attendance cap: 40
Good Morning at Castle Falls
Presented by Nikon
Sunday May 28th from 7-9am
While the falls at Castle may not be as spectacular as their Lundbreck counterparts, this beautiful location features a great opportunity for not just capturing the larger scene but is also a small-scene photographer’s playground. Details in the smooth rock surfaces make for great intimate and abstract shots where photographers can lose themselves exploring it all. This location is also wonderful for early morning sightings of a variety of songbirds and even birds of prey.
Presenters in attendance: Viktoria Haack, Anna Morgan, Abbie Reilander, Mark Jinks, Joe DesJardins
Physical difficulty level: easy to moderate
Distance from Pincher Creek: 42km (34 mins)
Attendance cap: 40
Times of Note:
Sunrise 5:38am
Sunset 9:30pm
Astronomical dark: 12:40am
Portfolio Reviews
Feedback. It’s something we’re all hungry for when it comes to our photography. But finding opportunities for meaningful and constructive feedback is increasingly hard in a world of social media platitudes or positive comments from non-photographer friends and family members. To help you improve your images and your eye, some of our presenters have generously offered to review a selection of photos from our attendees each morning. Participants are to have their photos ready to show on a tablet, laptop or in print and each review is limited to a maximum of 10 minutes to help ensure everyone has an opportunity for feedback.
Saturday 9:00-10:30am
Alex Buisse , Anna Morgan, Viktoria Haack
Sunday 9:00-10:30am
Alister Benn, Alex Buisse
LOCATION:
The Lounge at the Heritage Inn
(Sessions are first come, first served)
find out times and more details on our schedule page
view schedule
I found the conference to be unique in that there were diverse landscape genre presenters supported by a number of appropriate companies with their products. Less a workshop and more facilitation.Jan Lyall
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