Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Oregon - August 19-23 2025

April 9, 2025

I am super excited to share that Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Oregon will be doing a mini- celebration at their farm for my Dahlia Forever Stamps. I will be out there for the festivities and will be offering a photo workshop while I am there. They are offering my group exclusive time in the flower fields. In addition I will be doing photo walks on their celebration days right after my workshop!

A Creative Adventure ~ Swan Island Dahlia Farm Photography Workshop $1899.

August 19-23, 2025. Limit 10

Join award winning photographer Denise Ippolito at world renowned Swan Island Dahlia Farm in Canby Oregon (just south of Portland) for a great learning and photography experience. Swan Island features more than 40 acres with over 350 varieties of dahlias in a plethora of colors, shapes and sizes, making it one of the largest growers in the United States. Here we will have a slightly early and late access at peak time for the blooms. The dahlias at Swan Island have been featured on my Forever Stamp Collection with the USPS. This is where it all began for me. Swan Island is putting together a celebration of my stamps and offering garden walks and photo signings by yours truly. This will be right after the workshop and you are welcome to stay and join the fun.

Meet & Greet August 18th at 8pm in the hotel lobby. This will give some time to those flying in on the 18th to get situated.

We will enjoy five morning and four afternoon photography sessions with image sharing daily. While we will do most of our photography at the Swan Island Dahlia Farm, we will also visit the Portland Rose Garden on this workshop (Yay!). The in-the-field instruction will include seeing the situation, the use of selective focus, creative use of depth of field, histogram and exposure guidance, designing creative images, choosing your background, isolating your subject, lens options, and the use of reflectors and diffusers. In addition to in-the-field instruction, participants will share their photos daily during our working lunches. At that time, I will offer advice and guidance with each image as well as some Photoshop tips. I will also do “small break-out” Photoshop sessions with everyone so that it can be a more intense learning time focusing more on individual needs. Our field sessions will also include challenging photography assignments (with small prizes for the winners!) geared to get you out of your comfort zone. I hope that you can join me for a creative learning experience with some of the best flower photography to be had in North America.

Daily Photo Schedule:

Morning shoot 7:00am-10:00am -(we will arrive before the fields open and shoot on the outskirts with the sun at our back. Afterwards, we will park inside the gates and explore the flower fields!)

Morning break

Lunch @ noon with clients Image Review

Afternoon shoot 3:30pm-6:30pm (5:30-6:30-private time in the gardens with just our group, we will have access to areas that others do not!)

*Portland Rose Garden day will be an all day event with a lunch stop.

*All times are tentative and subject to change based on weather and local conditions.

Not Included: All meals, transportation and lodging. I will send a group email so that folks can ride-share or even room share once we get our group together. I’ll also send a detailed information sheet with gear and clothing suggestions.

Tanzania - April 5-15, 2026

April 3, 2025

Take $1000.00 off per person, limited time deal! 3 spots left!

Join award winning photographers Denise Ippolito and Paul McKenzie for an amazing safari adventure to the famed Serengeti and Ndutu area of Tanzania. Serengeti National Park is a World Heritage Site noted for it's great migration and vast plains. These plains are dotted with trees and kopjes where majestic lions with huge, dark manes hang out--literally in the trees, making for some spectacular images. We are bringing our expert guides/drivers with us from the Mara to Tanzania to insure the great sightings that our guests are accustomed to.

Ndutu is a wildlife-rich area that includes grasslands, woodlands, and lakes in northern Tanzania. This area attracts tons of wildlife. And is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation.

Tanzania - April 5-15, 2026

Cost-$14,500, we will be staying at upscale lodges during this photo safari.

We will use stretch Toyoto land cruisers with three rows per vehicle so that everyone gets their own row. Limit 9.

10 nights (including first night in Arusha) and 11 days.

Two males fighting for the right to mate.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrive Kilimanjaro International airport and transfer by vehicle to Arusha (around 30-40 mins). Overnight there.

Day 2 - Morning vehicle transfer to Arusha airport for domestic scheduled flight to Lake Ndutu. Transfer to Lodge. Afternoon game drive.

Day 3 - Morning and afternoon game drives in the Lake Ndutu area.

Day 4 - Morning and afternoon game drives in the Lake Ndutu area.

Day 5 - Morning game drive in the Lake Ndutu area. Transfer by vehicle to the Central Serengeti, Nabi gate. Afternoon game drive among the famous rock kopies. Overnight Nabi gate area.

Day 6 - Morning and afternoon game drives in the central Serengeti area among the kopies. Overnight Nabi gate.

Day 7 - Morning game drive in the central Serengeti area among the kopies. Transfer to Nameri Plains area. Afternoon game drive Nameri Plains.

Day 8 - Morning and afternoon game drives in the Namiri Plains area.

Day 9 - Morning and afternoon game drives in the Namiri Plains area.

Day 10 - Morning and afternoon game drives in the Namiri Plains area.

Day 11 - Morning game drive in the Namiri Plains area. Transfer to Seronera airport for late morning flight back to Arusha…Tour ends.

*A detailed information sheet will be sent upon sign up.

Deposit Information: A non-refundable deposit of $2,000 due now to hold your spot. Final payments are due May 15, 2025 via check or wire transfer only, fees on both ends are the responsibility of the participant. Credit cards will not be accepted for any payment other than deposit. Full payments are always welcomed via check or wire transfer . All checks made payable to: Denise Ippolito LLC. Please note that I will do my very best to secure you a room mate; if I am unable to secure you a room mate then you will be charged for a single supplement.

Please be sure to check your calendar carefully and to check out my Workshop Policy Page.

Note: Purchasing travel insurance is strongly recommended.

*A single supplement is available for $1400.00 additional-limited availability.

Guide/driver tips are $400.00 per participant.

Travel Insurance- I urge everyone to purchase travel insurance for a major trip like this.

Namibia -October 10-24, 2026

March 31, 2025

The 2026 Namibia ~ A Creative Adventure Photo-Safari: October 10-24, 2026 (14 nights): $9,999. dbl occupancy. Limit 8/ 3 spots left.

This will mark the 10th year since my first visit to Namibia in 2016. I have been to each and everyone of these locations and I have tailored this trip to make the most out of your time there. It is a 2 week trip and for the most part (no lunches included), it is all -inclusive. We will photograph the Ghost Town of Kolmanskop, visit the Quiver Tree Forest, See the towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei , visit the dried pan of Dead Vlei, have a chance to photograph wildlife, including the endangered Black Rhino. We will go to Swakopmund for the Flamingos, local bird life and even a chartered boat tour. We will be in an air-conditioned, extended 4x4 vehicle and every passenger will have a window view.

There will be optional helicopter rides for those interested.

To sign up CLICK HERE.

The Itinerary:

Fly into Windhoek (Hosea Kutako International Airport, airport code WDH at around 8:00am. We will be picked up and transported to our lodge at Quiver Tree Forest.

QuiverTree Forest, Keetmanshoop - Here we will be able to photograph the iconic Quiver Trees. Night photography instruction will be provided. In addition, we will let you know in advance what lenses and accessories you will need for Milky Way and night photography.

Kolmanskop (Ghost Town) here we will photograph the abandoned ghost town of Kolmanskop. This is a photographer’s dream come true with sand-filled doorways and light flowing in from broken windows, etc…

We will stay at either Sossus Dune Lodge, Sossusvlei Lodge or Dead Valley Lodge in Sossusvlei or a combo of the three. Both the Dune lodge and Dead Valley are the closest lodges to the entrance of Dead Vlei and we will be able to get out in the morning early morning to photograph the sunrise at the Vlei.

The distance from Kolmanskop to Sossusvlei is about 550km and the trip should take about 7 hours. We will make stops along the way to break it up. We will be visiting Deadvlei and Dune 45 and much more.

There is a fairly strenuous up-and-down hike to some of the best photo locations that should take anywhere from 20 -45 minutes, depending on how slow or fast you walk. It usually takes me about 30 minutes, it is not a race, and you can walk at your own speed. No need to carry a large backpack full of heavy gear, usually a couple of lenses and water are all you need.

At Sossusvlei two desert systems come together: the beautiful red dunes of the Kalahari Desert and the breathtakingly stark Namib Desert. The desert experience is a surreal and truly unique. Deadvlei, with its ancient camel thorn trees in the now dried up lake, is a photographers dream. So many photo opps here. Along with the spectacular landscapes we should get to photograph some wildlife as well, with chances for Oryx and Springbok among others against or on the dunes.

From Sossusvlei we head off to Swakopmund to spend 3 nights at Swakopmund. This bustling coastal town is filled with bird life, beaches, restaurants, and sand dunes. We will spend most of our time photographing the amazing bird life in and around the Walvisbay area. The Salt Mine and bay area is especially productive with a huge selection of waders and other waterfowl along with large numbers of flamingoes. We will also have a chartered boat tour for dolphin, seal and marine life viewing.

At Okuakuejo Camp, Etosha or Ongava Lodge we will have our photo safari’s. Here we should see and photograph many species including and especially the endangered Black Rhino. There will be game drives during the day, and we will likely see Lion, Giraffe, Elephant, etc...

*We will be driving in comfort in an air-conditioned, oversized 4x4 Land Cruiser that is spacious with large windows and a pop-up roof to ensure you don’t miss a thing. Every participant will have a window seat.

*Itinerary subject to change

This tour includes:
- All accommodation
- All transfers & travels in Namibia
- Breakfast & Dinners included everywhere -except in Swakopmund which will only include breakfast.
- Bottled water in the vehicles
- All park fees
- Ghost Town early entry photo permits
- Catamaran Charters Marine Dolphin & Seal Cruise

This tour excludes:
- All alcohol and drinks
- Excursions other than in the itinerary such as optional helicopter flights
- Gratuities for our guide/drivers
- Expenses of a personal nature including laundry.

Deposit Information:

I will need a $2000 non-refundable deposit by pushing the “Deposit button” in order to hold your spot. a second deposit of $3,000.due October, 2025 and the final payment is due on Feb. 1, 2026. All payments except for the deposit must be paid via check only, made out to “Denise Ippolito LLC”. Overseas folks can pay their balances via wire transfer; the registrant is responsible for the fees on both ends. Sorry, there are no discounts given to non-photographer spouses for this trip.

Travel Insurance- I urge everyone to purchase travel insurance for a major trip like this.

Please be sure to check your calendar carefully and to check out my Workshop Policy Page.

Note: Purchasing travel insurance is strongly recommended.

*A single supplement is available and is $1250.00 additional.

*A detailed information sheet will be sent upon sign up. This trip needs a minimum of 8, please don’t purchase your airfare until I let you know we are good to go.

*One of the best times to visit Namibia is from July to October, when the temperatures are just above 70°F and the chance of rain is low. This is also the best time for wildlife viewing, making it peak travel season

I cloned out an lamppost and a bit of concrete on the one side.

Charleston Trip Report

March 24, 2025

I just finished up with most of my workshops in Charleston this March. I have one more private and one zoom session to go before I head for home. I have met up with old friends, made some new ones and overall had a great time in and around the Charleston area. I included a tight shot of the pineapple fountain in downtown Charleston as I will be hanging a small frame of this shot it in my laundry room (in Charleston) for a pop of unexpected color. Thank to Linda Caden who reminded me that pops of color are good!!! The pineapple represents hospitality and is a universal sign for welcome.

Following up with color, we had an extraordinary sunset shoot at the Ravenel bridge. The sky lit up beyond our hopes and when the lights on the bridge came on, the color was peak! Everyone was thrilled. This is my favorite of my bridge shots so far.

We also visited “Avenue of the Oaks” during my regular workshop and I am glad we did. We had some early side light that added to the image IMHO. We had the place to ourselves while we photographed these magnificent live oaks. The canopy there is outstanding, I like the squiggly branches, the hanging moss and the lines on the path to complete the feel of the image.

Following up with more side light, we had some beautiful warm side light for our Old Sheldon Church Ruins photo session. The golden light stopped us in our tracks, so we all got the shot seen below the “Avenue of the Oaks” photo.

One of my favorite trees at Magnolia Gardens, I shot this in infrared and created a B&W pano look from the capture.

One of my favorite shots was this old basket with cotton. I title this one “Bread Basket”, there is a hidden meaning in the name.

We had lots of blooms to play around with during the workshops. I shot poppies, azaleas, camellias, wisteria and an assortment of other blooms. Below are a few of my faves.

I had a day of photo walks with the Garden Club of America and we had such fun creating interesting images. We had beautiful blooms of azaleas and I wanted to include this grab shot where I was showing one of the ladies where I would focus. I love soft and pretty flowers with natural bloom backgrounds.

A special thanks to John (aka Jack) Kotz for lending me his tripod for the workshops. I could not have gotten the bridge or pineapple shot without it. I shot everything here with my Olympus gear. I handheld most of it but not the early morning scenics.

Overall the weather cooperated with us. It was cooler than usual but since I am not fond of the heat, it was a blessing. I have had a lot of requests to do another one of my “Recharging Your Creativity” workshops in Charleston. I will most likely be doing this in early November if anyone is interested, let me know.

I will also be conducting another March workshop for 2026 once I get the dates set, I will let you know. I do have one listed for 2026, but it is a private group. If you are interested in a one-day mentoring photo shoot with a Photoshop session included, please get in touch. If you have a group interested in booking me for a few days or even an entire workshop, please get in touch.

Safe travels home to all my firends….

A Short Story From Japan in 2014

March 1, 2025

I wanted to share a short story from one of the days during my first visit to Japan in 2014 with Paul McKenzie. Here is my newly edited version of the day…

It was my third day in Hokkaido, I was already impressed with Japan, but the northern area felt even more special to me. The guides, the lodge, the anticipation of the cranes, it was all too much to take in at once. I needed to settle down and wait. The only issue, I wasn’t completely sure of exactly what I was waiting for. From conversations and photos that I had been shown I was expecting magic. The cranes appeared to be angels falling from the sky and their bows and dances electrified something deep inside of me. It was on that third morning I awoke to an enormous snowstorm, more like a blizzard with near white-out conditions. It was happening, everything was coming together for the great ballet. We already had three feet of snow on the ground before heading out the door and the snow was still falling and falling harder by the minute.

Photography was going to be tough, but as I put on my boots, a joy came over me and I couldn’t help but have a huge smile on my face. I was super excited to get to the crane sanctuary to see the show. The show of which I had only dreamt of.

Lucky for us, our lodge was in walking distance as the snowplows could not work fast enough to open the roads to the sanctuary. It turned out that our group had the sanctuary to ourselves. Paul had mentioned earlier on the tour that we needed to get snow in order to have clean backgrounds for our photos and in my opinion, snow adds significantly to almost every winter scene.

As the snow continued to fall, the cranes began to arrive and the thrill of being there at that moment took over. I was setting up and chanting whoo-hoo over and over again…but was it a whoo-hoo moment. It was more like an oh sh*t moment as focusing on the flying and even standing cranes was next to impossible. Oh no, how could this be, was my euphoric moment over before it truly began? Was this going to be a big disaster? I recomposed myself and starting chanting you can do this, you’ve got this…as I gathered my thoughts and composure, I realized that I needed to use manual focus. I know what you’re thinking, manual focus for flying birds…ugh, that sounds crazy, but I managed to focus on an old Hokkaido Oak (shown above). The tree was at the same distance as the cranes. Using manual focus allowed me to see the birds and lock in on them. It’s similar to trying to focus on a leaf that is behind a bunch of branches—auto focus just hunts. As I became accustomed to their flight patterns and was able to acquire focus on them, I reverted back to auto-focus.

The Red-crowned cranes were very active that morning. They were flying and jumping like I had not seen on previous days. Their courtship dancing was magnificent, even better than I had hoped for. The cranes kicked up snow and bowed tirelessly to each other. The snow swirled as the wind hit the hill on which they stood, this created a snowy-fog look. The ballet did not disappoint!

I will never forget that day, the cranes performed for us in a way that has never been repeated. Perhaps it is like a first love, that feeling, though still strong, is never quite as intense as your first.