Rad A. Drew Photography: Sarasota: Paradise on the Gulf

Continental Divide at Dawn

Continental Divide at Dawn
Continental Divide at Dawn

Sarasota: Paradise on the Gulf

© Mark N. Murphy

Photography Tour with 
Mark N. Murphy and Rad A. Drew

Sarasota, Florida
April 3–8, 2016

For iPhone and Traditional Photographers


Being one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Sarasota, Florida, is well-deserving of its nickname, Paradise. 

From its rare crystal beaches, lush botanical gardens, historical architecture dating back to the early 1800's, and the unparalleled beauty of its sunrises/sunsets, Sarasota and surrounding area offer many opportunities for photographers!

Join photographers Mark N. Murphy and Rad A. Drew on this 5-day tour that will take you to many of the surrounding Keys. We'll visit pristine beaches with incredible trees and photogenic lifeguard shacks, harbors where you'll have the opportunity to capture beautiful sunrises and sunsets, photograph many varieties of birds, and make beautiful images of miles of shoreline dotted with pleasure craft and fishing boats alike.


© Mark N. Murphy
We'll also visit such human-made (or human-influenced) sites as the historic Ringling Brother's Museum, Downtown Sarasota featuring extraordinary architecture, and the world-class Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' center for research, education and conservation.


© Mark N. Murphy
Coaching

You'll benefit from the experience of photographers Mark N. Murphy and Rad A. Drew who will be there to support you in creating the best images possible given the prevailing conditions. Mark shoots with Canon and is a skilled iPhoneographer, currently using the iPhone 6+. Rad shoots with Nikon, Fuji, LUMIX infrared, and Samsung cameras, but is best known for his work with his iPhone. Mark and Rad will help you when you need it and stay out of your way when you're in the zone! Throughout the week, we'll have informal sessions covering capture and processing techniques, as well as a closing critique with processing suggestions, and show and tell of your images made during the week.


© Mark N. Murphy

More information about what equipment to bring, what iPhone apps and accessories you'll want to have, along with an agenda, will be provided upon registration.

© Mark N. Murphy
About the Leaders
Mark and Rad have been friends for a number of years and have spent many an hour photographing in the surrounding Indiana plains, as well as in the Palouse, Cape Cod, and sites in eastern Pennsylvania including Fonthill Castle, Eastern State Penitentiary, and Longwood Gardens. Though they have been photographers for many years with traditional cameras each has a special affection for the iPhone and its capability in creating remarkable images. Both, too, are experienced with the myriad iPhone processing apps and techniques that can allow for some highly artistic, creative work.


© Mark N. Murphy

Mark N. Murphy


Mark grew up seeing his mother's photos made with her Brownie camera, but when he got to college and saw the difference in quality produced by a 35 mm camera, he knew he had to have one. He purchased his first Pentax K 1000 35mm camera in 1977, and seeing the world through that lens, he was hooked! Over the years, many other cameras became part of his photo world and allowed him to capture vistas on his travels from coast to coast. Then came digital, and eventually, the iPhone, and Mark was hooked again! Today he has become more of an editing artist, using different filters and textures to make his photos works of art. Working with the iPhone has been a delight and is for him a tool that is not just a point-and-shoot device, but a total digital artist’s workplace. Today, he processes not only iPhone images, but also DSLR images, on his iPhone with extraordinary results.

Through the years, Mark’s images have been featured in international publications, as well as Life Magazine. He’s been recognized extensively in his home state of Indiana in various competitions, including first place in the Indianapolis Star’s Photographer’s Look at Indianapolis competition, where he also was awarded the Grand Prize, and his work took first place in the In Focus and Paper Chaser competitions. Most notably, Mark’s image, Hatteras, was chosen as one of the top 8 among 50,000 entries in the Fox Photo Contest. Mark makes his home near Muncie, Indiana, with his wife Julie. They have three married children and 3 and a half grandchildren.


Rad A. Drew
Rad A. Drew is a professional photographer who lives with his wife, metalsmith Nancy Lee, in historic Irvington, Indiana, on the east side of Indianapolis.

Although a traditional camera photographer much of his life, in recent years he's become an iPhone photography enthusiast. His creative iPhone images have received numerous awards and have made their way into galleries and juried international competitions showing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, New York, Toronto, Collingwood, Seattle, and Melbourne. He is author of the fine art books, In Good Light, Images of the Circle City and Rural Indiana, A Beauty all its Own, and is a contributor to today’s most comprehensive volume of iPhone instruction, The Art of iPhone Photography: Creating Great Photos and Art on Your iPhone.
He teaches mobile photography to individuals, art groups, corporations, and professional organizations. His destination tours are great ways to learn while photographing beautiful areas of the world. This year he is leading workshops to locations including  Cuba, France, Sarasota, Fonthill Castle, San Diego, and The Palouse. For more information contact Rad via email by clicking HERE, or visit his web site, www.RadDrewPhotography.com.

Trip Synopsis 

Sunday is a day for everyone to arrive. We'll kick things off with a meet and greet session at 5:00 PM at the Holiday Inn Lido Beach and proceed to the beach for a surprise and a sunset shoot! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, we'll spend our days photographing area sites, including:

  • Sunrise/Sunset shoots at Lido Beach
  • Selby Botanical Gardens
  • Ringing Brothers Circus Museum
  • Downtown Sarasota
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise
  • Myakka River State Park
  • Anna Marie pier at Longboat Key
  • Bradenton Beach 
  • Cortez Beach
  • Crosby Mansion
  • and more.


Our trip will conclude on Friday with a sunrise shoot followed by brunch. Additional information will be provided to each person upon registration. Note: all entry fees, boat tickets, park admission, and museum fees for the sites we'll visit are included in your registration.


© Mark N. Murphy


Accommodations and Ground Transportation

Each participant is responsible for their meals, hotel, and air transportation. Ground transportation from the hotel to the sites we'll visit is provided. You'll have no need to rent a car if you don't wish to. We'll stay at the Holiday Inn Lido Beach in Sarasota at the discounted rate of $219.00 (plus tax) for a single room. Rooms may be shared. More information about hotel reservations will be provided after registration, and the participant list will be shared (if authorized) so that participants can discuss ride and/or room sharing.

Fees and Registration

The cost of this photo tour is $1,150 per person. A $500 deposit via Paypal will hold your spot, with the balance due 30 days before the event. Register via the PayPal button below.