Gallery of Photos by Workshop Participants
As part of my own journey through the world of photography, I lead workshops in the Bay Area with the intention of instructing novice-to-intermediate students on some of the finer points of image making. It’s been a rewarding experience for me: connecting and engaging with others who have a similar passion, sharing some of what I’ve learned over the years, finding interesting venues to shoot, and leading small groups through situations where they can make interesting photos. We always find a fair amount to discuss over the course of a session, which typically last 2-3 hours.
This selection of photographs represent a very small portion of the work of participants.
Curious about upcoming sessions?
Part of what I find interesting is the variety in approaches that I see from attendees. Although they’re unique in location and general focus, each workshop follows a similar track. After introductions, we spend time talking about camera settings and functions. The sessions are primarily for those with DSLR or mirrorless cameras, but there are the occasional smart phone shooters. Many of the basic principles, especially composition, apply regardless of the capture device. For those looking to improve when using the settings found on most modern cameras, we talk about the various modes, their differences, and when they might be ideal to use: automatic, manual, shutter priority and aperture priority. There’s a large emphasis placed on the exposure triangle, understanding the relationships between ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.
I’m a bit of a sports fan, so I make an analogy to practice that I think has a great relevance to photography. Whether someone plays golf, tennis, baseball – whatever – the repetition of practice leads to positive results. This manifests in a number of things. Familiarity with the controls of your own camera and the muscle memory that develops from switching between modes and making adjustments to make desirable exposures comes from shooting. This proves especially valuable when a person is shooting in a new environment and encounters conditions that change unexpectedly, whether it’s composition, motion, or lighting conditions.
I emphasize that photography has the capability of personal expression.
The sessions I lead are a mix of instruction, exploration, and connection. Sharing and collaborating are encouraged, but not required of participants. The workshops are conducted with the intent of being open, interactive, and non-judgmental.
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