INTO RICKETTS GLEN WE GO
Waterfall Adventure: A Fall Photography Workshop through Ricketts Glenn State Park, PA
Into Ricketts Glen We Go
When: October 21-24, 2025
(plus two Zoom sessions; one prior to the workshop and one after the workshop)
Price: $1400
This is Rain or Shine.
Spots: 6 people
Falling in Love with Fall Waterfalls
Join us this fall for an immersive 2.5-day women’s photography workshop set in one of the most scenic areas in Pennsylvania, at Ricketts Glenn State Park, a National Natural Landmark.
This remarkable park features 22 breathtaking waterfalls, and we’ll explore 14 of these natural wonders. Spring offers an unforgettable experience, while the vibrant fall colors will promise a stunning display.
Our focus is to work in harmony with whatever nature offers us—be it soft, overcast light or bright, sunlit conditions. Each waterfall will present its own distinct character and creative possibilities. While it’s essential to appreciate and capture the natural beauty of each scene, the real challenge—and reward—lies in pushing ourselves to see beyond the obvious and explore new creative perspectives.
We will be using long exposure techniques, which will allow us to capture the essence of movement, translating the flow of water into a visual experience that’s often surreal and ethereal. By experimenting with this method, we’ll explore how light, patterns, and tones interact in dynamic and unexpected ways. While our primary focus will be on the waterfalls themselves, we’ll also delve into creating abstract images using water as our subject, encouraging fresh ways of seeing and expressing the landscape.
Imagine these landscapes dressed up in fall colors!
Link to some fall photos taken at the park,
Registration is open!
CALLING ALL CREATIVE SOULS
Who is this for?
This photography retreat is perfect for anyone with a love for travel, a sense of adventure, and a creative soul. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned photographer, this retreat is designed to help you improve your skills and capture stunning images in some of the world’s most beautiful locations. It’s also a great opportunity for women who are looking to connect with like-minded individuals and explore new places in a supportive and inspiring environment. So if you’re ready to take your photography to the next level and embark on an unforgettable journey, this retreat is for you!
What will I learn?
Sculpting Water
Mastering Long Exposure Techniques and Your Camera
We will be working in manual mode.
How to use slow shutter speeds to create silky, flowing water effects.
How to control exposure using ND (neutral density) filters.
Understanding the impact of different shutter speeds on water movement.
Composition on River Landscapes
Leading lines, foreground interest, and framing for dynamic waterfall shots.
Exploring the elements within the falls and along the river.
Incorporating the surrounding landscape for storytelling.
Mastering Light and Creating Mood
Shooting in different lighting conditions: sunny, overcast, or misty weather.
How light affects water texture and creates different moods.
Managing exposure in high-contrast scenes.
Creative Techniques
Capturing motion vs. freezing action with different shutter speeds.
Using tight crops, examining the details.
Looking for textures and patterns created in water.
Exploring abstracts in water, experimenting with ICM.
Post-Processing Skills
Editing for contrast, clarity, and color in Lightroom or Photoshop.
Enhancing water texture while maintaining natural tones.
Removing distractions and improving composition in post.
Converting images to Black & White.
With personalized guidance, hands-on practice, and plenty of inspiration, you will leave this trip with improved skills, confidence, and an incredible collection of photos!
Itinerary
Day 1
Check-in at the lodging between 4-5:30 – Vista Lodge, Stillwater, PA
Meet and greet Dinner at a local restaurant in Benton, PA, at 6 pm
Evening to relax and talk about all things photo, getting prepared for the next day’s adventure.
Day 2
7:30 Arrival at Lake Rose Trailhead Parking Lot, shortly after sunrise to beat the morning sun.
0.4 miles to the first falls. 1.0 miles through the 10 Waterfalls along the Gongola Glen section to Waters Meet, where we will eat lunch. (Bring Lunch)
Then we will hike back up and make any stops along the way as the light changes.
We will be there until about 3-4 pm.
Some of the waterfalls provide more shooting opportunities than others, and we will take our time moving along this trail as it can be steep in areas.
Afternoon to relax. A dinner option is pizza and sandwich delivery. Vista Lodge has an outdoor pavilion where you can sit and enjoy the nice weather.
The evening is dedicated to editing and processing images.
Day 3
Arrival at 7:30 at the Rt 118 Trailhead Parking, the bottom of the Falls Natural Trail. We will be exploring three waterfalls this day. A 1.2 miles walk (30mins) through the beautiful woods along Kitchen Creek, the last 10mins will be a slight incline to the first falls. There are stone staircases to take us to the others. We will spend about 4-5 hrs here and look for interesting things along the creek on the way back down.
Article covering these falls
Bring Lunch/snack
We will then spend the afternoon working on editing and post-processing images.
*There are a number of other things to photograph nearby. There is a local farm stand with some abandoned cars and a couple of covered bridges we can check out. Participants are free to roam the back roads. It is a beautiful rural countryside.
Dinner out at one of the local restaurants.
(Participants are welcome to prepare their own meals in their lodges)
Day 4
Pack up the cars and checkout.
Arrive at 8 AM at the Evergreen Trail Parking Lot to explore Adams Falls.
We officially finish at 11 AM.
What is Included in the price?
Photography Instruction, in the field and classroom. 2 Zoom Sessions, 3 nights lodging (everyone has their own room)
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
Airfare, transportation to the workshop (we will carpool during), travel insurance, all meals.
🍁 Fall Color Disclaimer
Please note that while we plan our events during typical peak foliage times, fall colors are never guaranteed. Weather patterns, temperature, and rainfall can all impact timing and vibrancy. No matter the foliage, we promise a beautiful experience full of adventure and inspiration!
How Do I Get there?
Ricketts Glen State Park is located in Benton, PA. Wilkes-Barre is 45 minutes East. Bloomsburg, Pa is 40 minutes south.
Closest Airports: Scranton/Wilkes Barre (AVP) (1hr dr), Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), (2hrs drive) Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) (2- 3 hour drive), Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) (2hr drive)
Vista Lodges is located 20 minutes (12 miles) south in Stillwater, PA, towards Bloomsburg.
Lodging
Vista Lodge is a motel set in “tiny house” fashion in Stillwater, PA in the Northern part of Columbia County. Each lodge has all the modern amenities in a rustic design. Each has a bedroom with a queen-size bed, a full bath, a living space, and a small kitchenette with a microwave, toaster, mini-refrigerator, coffee pot, single stove top, and all utensils.
Lodging is included in the price.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions.
What gear do I need?
Please view Danielle’s recommended gear list here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QaWpWY1tkyvVVpqPeGUL-zYR_lZatF6E3BHOw0UKtq8/edit?usp=sharing
What is your cancellation policy?
You can view all my Terms and Conditions here: https://intothewildwego.photography/terms-and-conditions/
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Danielle Austen has been an award-winning professional photographer for over 25 years. Her career has spanned from graphic designer to photojournalist to her current role as a fine art photographer. Her work has been featured in various local, regional, and national publications and have been showcased in over four dozen national and international juried exhibitions, as well as numerous group and solo exhibitions. She was a finalist recipient for the 2025 Individual Artist Award from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Danielle joined the Women’s Circle Group in 2023 and presented her talk on her experiences as an Artist-in-Residence within multiple National Parks, which included Shenandoah, Rocky Mountain, Great Smoky Mountains, twice at Acadia, and the Everglades, She was also a Full Fellowship recipient at the Vermont Studio Center.
Her teachings revolve around the “Art of Seeing,” a way of looking that challenges us to move past the surface, stretch our creative vision, and discover the deeper layers within a scene that reveal the subtle beauty that often goes unnoticed.
“Photography feeds our souls. I believe one of the greatest gifts of being a photographer is that we get to see more of the world, because we never stop looking.”
