Welcome to HPW

THE HIGHLANDS PHOTO WORKSHOPS

                   HPW 2007 Students @ Work / Early Morning on Sunset Rocks; Highlands North Carolina / Photo: Mark W. Hutchison c.2007

Owner & Director, Photographer & Writer. Mark W. Hutchison  began the first Highlands Photo Workshop in 2003, in the beautiful mountain town of Highlands, North Carolina. That first workshop was known as, "The First Annual Highlands Autumn Spectacular Photo Workshop," and held each year since during the month of October, considered the most visually stunning season on the Highlands Plateau, (elev @ 4,118ft) of Western North Carolina. We are now simply known as The HPW, or The Highlands Photo Workshops. The workshops have slowly evolved over the last 7 years, including indoor class times structured around laptop & printed photograph critiques, & discussions centered on the class agenda, but our main focus and passion will always be for photographing the magnificent natural beauty found on the Highlands Plateau.

We added a second workshop this year in July, as well as continuing our partnership with The HighlandsCashiers Land Trust with the Elk Photo Tours. With that visual emphasis, we hope to help to bring about public awareness of,the need for it's continued nurturing and preservation.

In 2010 we will introduce for the first time a 3rd Highlands workshop, a NEW Spring Digital Photo Workshop, May 17th - 19th, to be held during the brilliant spring foliage season on the Highlands Plateau. We will also continue with our Summer Digital Photo Workshop, June 30th - July 2nd.

Also coming in 2010: A 3 Day Workshop on Jekyll Island, off the coast of Georgia; And a 3 Day North Georgia Workshop in the 2 best parks during the Fall season, Amicalola Falls State Park & Vogel State Park.

2010 will represent our 8th Fall Workshop in Highlands, as always usually during the 2nd week of the month, (usually considered best time for peaking colors) for 3 full days of hands-on, in-the-field digital photography instruction with the Autumn Spectacular Digital Photo Workshop *For detailed info on both workshops in 2009, please click on the 2009 Workshops page)

Mark Hutchison has been photographing on & writing about the Highlands Plateau since 1983, with his work seen in many magazines & publications, including a local favorite since 2001, VIEWS Magazine, as well as Blue Ridge Country, Laurel magazine, Pinnacle Living Mountain Homes, among others, where his photography of and writings about Western North Carolina is found, drawing national attention to the beauty of Highlands, and the need to help preserve it's incredible natural environment.

Mark had the honor of studying with the late Master of 20th Century color nature & environmental photography, Eliot Porter, who along with Ansel Adams was a top pioneer of seeking to help preserve our precious natural environment through photography.

Mark Hutchison's photography has been honored by Fuji Film USA, Inc., & the Eastman Kodak Co., exhibiting Internationally in over 80 exhibitions & galleries over the last 27 years. He was a Member of the Fuji Film ProTalent Team, comprised of 100 of the top photographers around the World from 2002 - 2008, until Fuji dissolved the Team.

HPW                "I hear the mountains calling and so I must go..." - John Muir

*To register for one of next year's workshops *Please click on the Contact page and fill out. *The cost for each workshop is the same, regardless of the season $395 for 3 full days. *(Note: this does not include food or lodging).

Continuing in 2010: Skyline Lodge, located just 3 miles outside town of Highlands has partnered with HPW again for 2010 to offer a great rate for workshop students, especially considering all three workshops will be during peak seasons in Highlands! *(For more info, click on the '2010 Workshops' Page.

                     HPW 2006 Student @ Sunrise "Early Will I Seek Thee" Sunset Rocks; Highlands, North Carolina / Photo: Mark W. Hutchison c.2006