Architectural Photo Safari at the Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, VA

This special event winds up our 25th anniversary year at Washington Photo Safari: an architectural jaunt through the oldest – and one of the most luxurious resort hotels in America, which was recently ranked by Time Magazine among the top 10 most beautiful places in the country; the Omni Homestead Resort at holiday time in Hot Springs, VA from December 8-10, 2024!

This resort was first established over 250 years ago in the Allegheny Mountains by a British captain as a small wooden cabin for wayfarers in 1766, 10 years before the United States became a country! Located near body-temperature thermal springs, it first attracted Native Americans who used the waters to rejuvenate themselves on their many excursions through the area.

It became increasingly popular during the 19th century and throughout the 20th century, it grew to the large institution it is today with 483 guest rooms, 28 meeting rooms, 2 grand ballrooms, 11 restaurants, bars and cafes, valet parking, and a wide variety of amenities for its guests such as golf, tennis, swimming, ice skating, skiing, fly fishing, hayrides, an equestrian center, mountain biking and hiking trails, Zipline and ebBke tours, carriage rides, a parking garage and, of course, a **spa and 15-mineral warm spring pools**. It has also hosted 23 Presidents, starting with Thomas Jefferson, and has just undergone a $156 million restoration!. It is located 210 miles from downtown Washington, DC. The closest regional airport is Roanoke, VA, 75 miles away.

True to our tradition of taking our clients to some of the best places to practice photography, we are being given exclusive access as photographers to capture the architectural beauty of this Resort and its many attractions. It is led by professional architectural photographer E. David Luria, founder and director of Washington Photo Safari, who will instruct our clients how to get professional looking images of this resort, teaching skills that will come in handy for their future travels to palaces, churches, resorts, museums, and other beautiful institutions around the world.

We have chosen to conduct this special safari in early December, when the hotel rates are lower and the Great Hall will be beautifully set with holiday decorations and a 23–ft. tall Christmas tree!

The marketing manager of the resort, Bruce Young, a personal friend of Mr. Luria, is himself a professional photographer who has consented to give our group his personal tips on where and how to get the best images.

Here are some samples of the images our clients will get at holiday time, several of them provided by Bruce himself:

Omni Homestead Resort

And here is a link to the resort’s own website

Architectural skills taught on this Safari (often in the early morning hours before the public spaces get crowded) will include:

• how to get the best exterior views in the golden hour and blue hour
• how to get the best interior views, using wide-angle lenses
• how to balance indoor and outdoor light on interior shots
• how to find original angles for interior and exterior architectural photography

Our safari is open to clients at any skill level, whether they are using DSLR or mirrorless cameras or even high-end smartphones. We have been given a special low group rate as low as $249 per night that can be used for clients wishing to stay on after the safari ends, depending upon the availability of rooms. In addition to the room rate, there is also a $39 per day Resort fee for the use of the amenities. There is also a 14.3% charge for state and local taxes, bringing total daily charges to $330.62, plus $35/day for valet parking. Reservations must be made by October 24, 2024 to qualify for the group rate. (In order for us to have this group rate, we must fill at least 10 rooms.) Our group rate which saves you $252 per day, is 48% cheaper than the individual rate of $583 charged when not part of a group. Upgraded rooms and suites are also available at higher fees.

The resort fee includes high-speed wireless internet access, afternoon Social Hour, shuttle service to all resort recreational activities and downtown Hot Springs, Fitness Center, indoor pool, Allegheny Spring pool complex, daily history tour, lawn games, bucket of golf balls, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails, and nightly movies.

Recommended equipment:

• DSR or mirrorless camera body, or late-model smartphone
• Wide (12-24, or 14mm), medium (18-105mm), long (100-300mm) lenses
• Sturdy tall tripod (optional, but recommended for nighttime and interiors)
• Circular polarizing filter (to enhance blue skies and puffy white clouds)
• Neutral density filter (to make moving people and cars disappear)
• Flashlight to see camera controls at night
• Bubble level (or bubble level app on phone)
• A loupe, such as a Hoodman, to see LCD screen images in bright sun
• Optional Bluetooth- enabled phone bracket holder, such as a ShiftCam.

Granted, this will clearly be an expensive venture for anybody who wishes to participate, but we hope that safarians will see it as a special treat to reward themselves and their families for the holidays. We also urge our clients to bring their spouses or partners and families to enjoy the resort while registered photographers are taking pictures. If two photographers come together, there is a tuition fee reduction for the second photographer. There is also a small service charge for non-photographer companions and for children.

The Tuition Fee (paid to Washington Photo Safari upon registration) covers 2 days and evenings of photography instruction.

Clients are responsible for all room and amenity and meal fees which are paid directly to the hotel. On September 20th, all registrants will receive instructions on how to make their reservations through a special customized  landing page organized by the hotel for our group, so please do not attempt to make your reservations through the hotel phone number before that time. The same rate is also available to you through Thursday of that week if you plan to stay longer. If you plan to come earlier, say, on the previous Friday, a higher daily rate will apply for Friday and Saturday nights.

Conclusion: There are times in the life of a photographer (for example, when we are buying costly camera equipment!) when we say to ourselves: “Hey, it’s expensive, but I’m worth it!” This is one of those times!

Arrive by 4 PM on Sunday, December 8, 2024 (Check-in time)
Depart after 3 PM on Tuesday, December 10. (Checkout time is 11:00 am)

The Initial orientation meeting will be Sunday, December 8, 7:30 pm, location TBA

Questions? Call us at 202-669-8468 or email us at info@washingtonphotosafari.com