Nature Photography Weekend

This popular shutterbug weekend includes presentations from top nature photographers, hands-on field courses, a friendly contest and the rare opportunity to photograph the mountain’s spectacular scenery before and after regular business hours.

This revamped version of the popular weekend will include changes to better welcome all levels of photographers, making it more fun and engaging for all – while better connecting participants with the wonders and unique ecology of Grandfather Mountain. This year, more than ever, we hope to not only help participants learn about photography, but to also inspire them to preserve the natural world. Activities begin Friday evening and conclude Sunday midday.

Confirmed speakers and field course leaders for 2024: Andre Daugherty, Leslie Restivo, Michele Sons and Luke Sutton.

Event Ticket Costs
Participant Pass (includes contest) – Pass includes three-day admission to the park, entry into the weekend’s contest, the opportunity to camp at Woods Walk, the Friday social, the Saturday dinner, speaker presentations and sunrise/sunset access: $140/person. Contest Rules & Requirements here. 
Attendee Pass (does not include contest) – Pass includes three-day admission to the park, the opportunity to camp at Woods Walk, the Friday social, the Saturday dinner, speaker presentations and sunrise/sunset access: $115/person

Registered NPW participants and attendees have access to purchase the following items for their guests. Guest passes are for individuals who are on the mountain the weekend of NPW with a registered participant or attendee but not attending or participating in the event themselves. These passes provide a discounted three-day admission pass, as well as the opportunity to attend the Friday social and/or Saturday dinner. Guest passes do not include any of the speaker presentations or field courses.
Guest Adult Pass (three-day admission to Grandfather) – $60
Guest Child (ages 4-12) Pass (three-day admission to Grandfather) – $25
Guest Pass to Friday Social – $10
Guest Pass to Saturday Dinner – $15

Tickets for this event are no longer available. 

Field Course Tickets 2024 UPDATED
Field courses offered by the NPW speakers are special add-on opportunities. These are more hands-on workshops that allow participants and attendees one-on-one instruction from a speaker. Group sizes are usually limited to 10-15 people. Field course spots are limited, and attendance is not included in your event registration. There will be an additional cost of $10 to attend a field course.

In the spirit of fairness, we have changed the registration process for field courses. 2024 field courses will be announced Thursday, May 16 via email. At that time, registered 2024 participants and attendees will be able to submit their field course interest (look for details on how to do this in the May 16 email) by end of day Sunday, May 26. Please note: May 26 is a hard deadline to submit your interest.

Field course spots will then be randomly drawn, and “winners” will be able to purchase their “spot” before the actual event. (More details to come!) An effort will be made to get all interested folks into at least one field course.

2024 Event Schedule (a printed version will be shared at the event)
Friday, June 7
8 a.m. | Grandfather Mountain gates open for event attendees and participants. Timeframe for the weekend contest begins.
12 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Berrie Smith Camera Cleaning (outside the Classroom in the Clouds in the Wilson Center) (additional cost)
2 – 5 p.m. | Check-in at MacRae Meadows (located just outside the gates of Grandfather Mountain, off US 221)
2:50 p.m. | Classroom in the Clouds (in the Wilson Center) opens to event attendees and participants.
3 – 4 p.m. | Beginner’s Guide Presentation with Kyle Cook and Melissa Southern (Classroom in the Clouds)
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | Welcome Presentation (Classroom in the Clouds)
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Luke Sutton Presentation: “Beyond the Visible: Capturing the Hidden World of the Night Sky”
6:30 – 7:45 p.m. | Friday Night Social at Williams Outdoor Learning Space (light bites and refreshments)
7:45 – 9:15 p.m. | Field Course: Leslie Restivo: “Dynamic Duos: Integrating a Human Element into Your Landscape” (registered field course attendees only)
8 p.m. | Access to the Wilson Center closes.
8:43 p.m. | Official sunset time
10 – 11:30 p.m. | Field Course: Luke Sutton: “Capturing the Cosmos” (registered field course attendees only)
12 a.m. | Event attendees/participants must be off the mountain if not camping.

Saturday, June 8
5 a.m. | Grandfather Mountain gates open for event attendees and participants.
5:45 – 7:15 a.m. | Field Course: Michele Sons: “Creative Approaches to the Appalachian Landscape” (registered field course attendees only)
6:10 a.m. | Official sunrise time
7:30 – 9 a.m. | Field Course: Leslie Restivo: “Creative Compositions: Let’s Break the Rules” (registered field course attendees only)
8 – 9 a.m. | Late event check-in (outside Classroom in the Clouds)
8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Classroom open to participants. TEAM members on hand for contest submission questions.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Berrie Smith Camera Cleaning (outside the Classroom in the Clouds in the Wilson Center) (additional cost)
4 p.m. | Contest Turn-in Deadline (outside the Classroom in the Clouds)
4:15 p.m. | Saturday Welcome Presentation (Classroom in the Clouds)
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | Michele Sons Presentation: “The Art of Fog”
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Saturday Night Dinner Buffet
6:40 – 7:40 p.m. | Andre Daugherty Presentation: “Capturing the Magic: Sunrises and Sunsets on Grandfather Mountain”
8 – 9:30 p.m. | Field Course: Andre Daugherty: “Sunset Photography at the Mile High Swinging Bridge” (registered field course attendees only)
8:43 p.m. | Official sunset time
10 – 11:30 p.m. | Field Course: Luke Sutton: “Capturing the Cosmos” (registered field course attendees only)
12 a.m. | Event attendees/participants must be off the mountain if not camping.

Sunday, June 9
5 a.m. | Grandfather Mountain gates open for event attendees and participants.
5:15 – 6:45 a.m. | Field Course: Andre Daugherty: “Sunrise Photography at the Mile High Swinging Bridge” (registered field course attendees only)
5:45 – 7:15 a.m. | Field Course: Michele Sons: “Creative Approaches to the Appalachian Landscape” (registered field course attendees only)
6:10 a.m. | Official sunrise time
8 – 11 a.m. | Berrie Smith Camera Cleaning (outside the Classroom in the Clouds in the Wilson Center) (additional cost)
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Optional Buffet Breakfast (Mildred’s Grill) (additional cost)
10 a.m. | Sunday Welcome Presentation (Classroom in the Clouds)
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. | Leslie Restivo Presentation: “Breaking the Rules: Capturing Nature’s Natural Wonders”
11:30 a.m. | Contest Award Presentation
12 p.m. | Event programming for the weekend ends.
3 p.m. | All tents need to be out of the Woods Walk Picnic Area.

Don Nelson Award – Image Submissions Due Tuesday, June 4 at 5 p.m. Read more!

Camping at Woods Walk
The opportunity to camp at the Woods Walk Picnic Area the Friday and Saturday nights of the event is extended to event participants, attendees and registered guests. There is no additional cost for this. Tent and vehicle camping allowed, only. A very (VERY) small bathroom is available in this area with toilets and water fountains. Other than some grills and fresh mountain air, there are no other amenities. There are wild bears on the mountain, and proper food storage protocol for camping must be practiced.

Refunds/Cancellations
The majority of Grandfather Mountain events generally sell out and have a waiting list. If you cannot attend the event that you registered for, please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration, please call 828-733-2013, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

See winners from 2023 and read more about this popular annual event.

Registered participants & attendees may also purchase guest passes. Registration opens April 15, 10 AM.