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Brown County in February: a workshop debrief

Notes from our coldest field trip yet, what went right, what we will change, and ten frames worth seeing.

Published February 24, 2026 · by Gary Rutherford

February's Brown County workshop is now in the books. Eight students, two vans, sixteen degrees at the trailhead Saturday morning, and one of the best Sunday-night critiques we've had in a year.

What worked

Moving the breakfast briefing indoors at the Nashville Coffeehouse was the right call. We spent forty minutes on cold-weather battery management and frost-on-glass technique before anyone touched a tripod. By the time we got to the overlook at Hesitation Point, everyone had three spares warming in an inside pocket and no one was fighting condensation.

What we'll change

The Sunday morning slot at Strahl Lake should move thirty minutes earlier. By the time we'd parked and walked in, the mist had thinned. Next February: 6:45 AM call, not 7:15.

Ten frames

I'll let the gallery do the talking — the full set goes up Friday on Instagram. Standouts include Rachel's long-exposure of the frozen creek, David's overlook frame at first light, and Priya's intentional camera movement series through the bare trees that, to my taste, was the highlight of the weekend.

Next field workshop: April 18–19. Three seats left.


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