2 0 2 5 F I N G E R L A K E S I N A U T U M N
FALL COLORS | WATERFALLS | VINEYARDS | MILKY WAY
OCTOBER 17th - 20th, 2025 (3 Nights)
CLASS LIMIT: 4 OF 7 SPOTS REMAINING
INVESTMENT: $1,5250.00 / $1,250.00 (ALUMNI)
ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP
This workshop will focus on waterfalls, fall colors, and long exposures during the day, and of course we will have night sky shoots as well. We will chase the fall colors through vineyards and surrounding backroads including areas around Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake. Locations such as Watkins Glen State Park, and Taughannock Falls are on the list. We will have a special use permit to photograph here after hours to capture a waterfall with the milky way. We will work on composition, exposures, camera settings, techniques, and the use of filters to enhance your images.
Autumn signifies a beginning of the end with an explosion of vibrant colors across the landscape. This beauty doesn't last long, and that makes me love it even more. This region has wide open views, rolling hills, lakes, old barns, waterfalls, and tons of vineyards with stunning sunset views along Seneca Lake. And yes, the wine is great here!
There will be a couple perks during this workshop such as, milky way / night sky shoots with fall colors and waterfalls, we will also be on the lookout for auroras. Although aren't a guarantee, we are at Solar Max, and I have seen them here a few times in the past. We will start the afternoon of the 17th for our meet and greet and possible night shoot (weather permitting), and end after our morning shoot on October 20th, 2025!
DESTINATION 1 | WATKINS GLENN STATE PARK
One of the days we will spend about 4 - 6 hours at Watkins Glen capturing the fall colors and waterfalls that run through this beautiful gorge. Here, we will visit 19 waterfalls while working on improving composition, eliminating distractions in the frame, camera technique, and in-camera settings. This hike is about 1 mile, and ascends up, the way back will be all down. There isn't a rush here, and it isn't difficult, but we can move at our own pace while enjoying beautiful view in the gorge while searching for those ultimate shots!
RAINBOW FALLS | WATKINS GLEN, NY
| REMAINING DESTINATIONS |
SENECA LAKE, LOCAL VINEYARDS, AND TAUGHANNOCK FALLS
One of the other days, we will have access to a local winery to explore the changing of the seasons in their vineyard with lake views of Seneca Lake in the background. Taughannock Falls State Park is also on the list for sunrise, sunset, and night sky photo ops. I will treat our group to dinner (two nights) at a favorite brewery of mine that has amazing pizza, meatballs, pasta, etc. After Dinner we will head out for our sunset and night sky shoots. Weather permitting, we will attempt Night Sky / Milky Way photo ops with a waterfall amongst the changing colors. The Moon phase will be near the "new" phase giving us dark skies to enjoy, and photograph Taughannock Falls at night with a special use permit. Other night sky photo ops are possible with Seneca Lake, Old Barns and in some Vineyards. The northern lights have also popped out here a few times in the past! We are at Solar Max and my fingers are crossed! Are yours!?
AUTUMN BARN | FINGER LAKES, NY
ABANDONED HOME | SENECA LAKE, NY
We will be based out of Watkins Glen, NY. You can find any hotel or Air BnB in that area. I have an Airbnb in Hector, NY which is just south of Lodi, NY. It is about 20 minutes from Watkins Glen on the east side of Seneca Lake. I suggest an Airbnb on the east side of Watkins Glen, and not much further north than Lodi, NY. We won't be on the west side of the lake at this point in time. See below for more info!
GLOWING TREE | FINGER LAKES, NY
WORKSHOP INCLUDES / WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Permit Fees
- Meet and Greet / Wine and apps included!
- (2) Two Dinners at local restaurant's, Breweries, or Wineries!
- Multiple shooting locations
- How to create compelling compositions
- Lake Views / Dozens of waterfalls
- Fall Colors and Night Sky/ Milky Way Photo Ops!
- Night Sky Photography at Taughannock Falls State Park
- Northern Lights Photography (if the auroras are active during our stay)
- Understanding shutter speed, f/stop, ISO, white balance and other custom settings
- Learn about the phases of the moon, planets, constellations, eclipses and more!
- Use of filters to enhance your landscape photography and long exposures!
- FREE Online Video Tutorials for processing your photographs, panoramas, star trails, timelapses and more!
MILKY WAY AND NIGHT SKY PHOTO SHOOTS
We will have opportunities to photograph the night sky each night that the weather is in our favor. Locations for our night shoots will be at Taughannock Falls State Park and around Seneca Lake.
LODGING
We will be based off of the eastern lakeshore of Seneca Lake, NY. You can look for a location between Watkins Glen, NY and Lodi, NY for a place to call home for a few nights. If you have any questions, please reach out! Airbnb has some nice deals in the area. I will also send out motel recommendations to the photographers who sign up.
CAMERA GEAR
A full list of camera gear will be supplied to upon registering, the basics are a DSLR camera , wide/fast angle lens, a tripod and a cable release for your long exposures. Most gear that is used can be found on the workshop overview page found here!
DEPOSIT
A non-refundable payment is due to reserve your spot on the trip. If you are a JBP Alumni, you receive 20% OFF admission to this workshop. If you need to cancel for any reason, you will receive workshop credit to a future workshop, minus any transaction fees / Cancellation fees. If your spot can be filled after cancelling, a full refund or workshop credit will be issued, your choice.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Jeff Berkes Photography reserves the right to make changes to the schedule, dates if need be. We are not responsible for bad weather, delays or cancellations. We are also not responsible for lost or stolen items, injuries, sickness, death or damages to personal equipment and loss of personal travel expense. Failure to comply to park rules, regulations and will result in you being ejected from the workshop.
This workshop does not include travel to, from and during the workshop or overnight sleeping arrangements. Carpooling is encouraged but not required. Upon our meeting and greet the photographers can discuss carpooling within the group.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
We will be hiking Watkins Glen and Taughannock Falls during this trip. Watkins Glen has a slow and steady increase in elevation. Even with the moderate increase, we are going slow, taking lots of stops to take pictures. We will move at our own pace. Taughannock Falls has two viewpoints, one of which requires less than a 1 mile walk on a level and flat trail. The activity level for this workshop is place from easy to moderate, moderate because of steps and an incline at times in Watkins Glen. There is no rush here, we will move at our own pace on the up and own trails. Watkins Glen usually has wet areas along the stone trail, please wear sturdy hiking boots. We will be walking directly under a waterfall at one point!
RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY!
| 2025 FINGER LAKES IN AUTUMN |
For more information or to register please contacts us here at [email protected]
Carefully read our Terms and Conditions before signing up for an adventure.
WORKSHOP ALUMNI: Receive 20% OFF the price listed above
