Emberlight’s Pathways in Photography series brings photographers together for hands-on workshops and creative explorations designed to inspire new ways of seeing the world around us.
Set throughout the landscapes of the Western Upper Peninsula, these sessions invite participants to engage with photography as both an artistic practice and a way of connecting more deeply with nature, light, place, and story. Led by featured photographers and artists, workshops throughout the season explore topics ranging from composition and editing to wildlife, landscape, and night sky photography.
Accessible to photographers of all experience levels — from curious beginners to seasoned image-makers — Pathways in Photography celebrates creativity, observation, and the beauty of the Northwoods through the art of the camera.
The 2026 classes include A Nature Photography Walk (June 27), Beyond the Snapshot: Artfully Editing Your Images (June 27), and Superior at Night: Capturing the Skies of the Big Lake (July 15).
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- Open to all experience levels
- DSLR, mirrorless, film, and smartphone cameras welcome
- Outdoor locations and walking conditions vary by session
- Participants are encouraged to dress for changing weather conditions
- A Nature Photography Walk and Superior at Night require advance registration
2026 PATHWAYS IN PHOTOGRAPHY
UNDER THE MILKY WAY, THE LAKE CHANGES EVERYTHING.
When the sun disappears behind Lake Superior, the landscape transforms.
Join photographers Ken Wiele and Ted Stevens for an unforgettable nighttime photography workshop along the shores of the Big Lake, where twilight, water, stars, and movement collide in one of the most visually stunning environments in the Midwest.
Designed for photographers of all experience levels, Superior at Night explores the techniques and creative possibilities of photographing Lake Superior after dark. Participants will learn practical camera settings and workflows for phones, DSLR cameras, and mirrorless systems while experimenting with long exposures, low-light photography, and atmospheric nighttime compositions.
Throughout the evening, Ken and Ted will guide participants through techniques for:
- Photographing the Milky Way and night skies
- Creating dramatic star trails (weather permitting)
- Capturing the movement and energy of water after dark
- Using Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) to create abstract and expressive images
Working with exposure, focus, and composition in low-light conditions
More than a technical workshop, the evening invites participants to experience Lake Superior as photographers: a place of shifting light, immense scale, silence, texture, and wonder.