G. Little Green Lanterns of Summer. Cedar Rapids, Iowa June 28th-July 2nd, 2027

Itinerary

Day 1 (June 28)

Participants arrive throughout the day at Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids. Group transportation will be provided to the hotel as needed. After everyone has settled in, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner where we’ll get to know one another, review the week’s itinerary, and discuss the incredible experience that awaits. The evening is yours to relax after your travels and prepare for the first night of photography.

Day 2 (June 29)

Following breakfast, we’ll meet for an in-depth workshop covering camera setup, recommended equipment, focusing techniques, exposure settings, composition, and the unique challenges of photographing fireflies. We’ll also discuss clothing, insect protection, and everything you’ll need to be comfortable during our evenings in the field. The afternoon is free to rest or join an optional outing to photograph birds, dragonflies, butterflies, wildflowers, or other wildlife around Cedar Rapids. After dinner, we’ll head into the field for our first evening photographing the Little Green Lanterns of Summer.

Day 3 (June 30)

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll review and post-process the previous evening’s photographs together. You’ll learn techniques for enhancing your firefly images while maintaining a natural appearance, along with tips for organizing and evaluating your photographs. The afternoon is free to relax or enjoy another optional wildlife photography outing before returning to the field after dinner for another magical evening beneath the summer sky.

Day 4 (July 1)

This morning is intentionally flexible and tailored to the group’s needs. We’ll spend time answering questions, helping with image editing, refining camera settings, reviewing techniques, or covering any photography topics participants would like to explore. There will also be free time to relax, explore Cedar Rapids, or simply enjoy a slower pace before our final evening photographing fireflies. We’ll conclude the workshop with a farewell dinner and celebrate the images and memories we’ve created together.

Day 5 (July 2)

After breakfast, participants will check out of the hotel. Group transportation will be provided to Eastern Iowa Airport for departing flights. We hope you’ll leave with a portfolio of memorable photographs, new friendships, and a deeper appreciation for one of nature’s most enchanting summer spectacles.

Summer evenings in Iowa provide ideal conditions for observing and photographing fireflies, but they also come with the realities of spending time outdoors after dark. Participants should be comfortable walking short distances on relatively level trails, grassy meadows, and woodland paths while carrying their camera equipment. Iowa summers are often warm and humid, and mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, and other insects are a natural part of the environment. Lightweight long-sleeved shirts, lightweight pants, sturdy closed-toe footwear, and a quality insect repellent are strongly recommended to ensure a comfortable experience. Although our walks are generally easy and unhurried, participants should be prepared to spend several hours outdoors each evening in varying weather conditions. A detailed packing list, including recommended clothing, camera equipment, and personal items, will be provided upon registration to help you arrive fully prepared.

Eastern Iowa’s woodlands, wetlands, and native grasslands come alive during the summer months with an incredible diversity of life. While the fireflies are the stars of the workshop, you’ll also have opportunities to photograph butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, katydids, praying mantises, orb-weaving spiders, frogs, toads, wildflowers, and a wide variety of birds during our optional daytime outings. Every day offers something new to discover, making this workshop as much a celebration of Iowa’s rich summer biodiversity as it is an opportunity to capture the enchanting glow of the Little Green Lanterns of Summer.

What’s Included

4 nights lodging in Cedar Rapids (single or double occupancy, depending on your registration)

Breakfast each morning at the hotel

Airport pickup and drop-off at Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)

Transportation to and from all photography locations throughout the workshop

Personalized photography instruction and mentoring from Donald Quintana

Classroom instruction covering camera setup, long-exposure photography, composition, and post-processing techniques

Individual image critiques and editing demonstrations

Optional daytime photography outings to photograph birds, butterflies, dragonflies, wildflowers, and other Iowa wildlife

Insect repellent for use during evening photography sessions

Water, soft drinks, and light snacks while in the field each evening