We are pleased to partner
with Acteva.com to offer convenient, secure
online registrations for classes. If you would
like to take advantage of online registration,
you will see a "Register Now"
button (like the one below) at the end
of each seminar description. Just click
on it to register. A minimal processing
fee will be charged.
You can also call us to register for classes at 415.663.1200 ext. 373 or download and print a registration form that you can mail or fax to us.
Bill Helsel
May 24-26 • 7PM Friday - 4PM Sunday• $250 ($230 Members)
Photography has the wonderful ability to record things quite differently than we see them and sometimes to record things we can’t see at all. This weekend will introduce you to a wide range of creative possibilities, lovely low-tech ways of giving your photos a new look, accomplished almost entirely in-camera rather than in Photoshop. Through a series of classroom talks and demonstrations, field sessions in several scenic locations, and evaluations of your results, we will explore the many uses of blur through both motion and shallow depth-of-field, photographing moonrise and moonset, night photography by moonlight and town lights, star trails, polarizing and special effects filters, pinhole photography, and other techniques as time permits. There will be time for “straight” photography, too. Our overriding goals will be to try some new techniques, get our creative juices flowing, and have some fun. You may work with any camera, digital or film, provided it allows manual control of focus, aperture, and shutter, and you are already thoroughly familiar with its operation.
Accommodations included at the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center.
This class is currently full. Please call 415-663-1200 x373 to be added to the waitlist.
George Ward
Sunday, May 26 • 6AM – 4PM • $95 ($90 Members)
With this early morning excursion into the wonderfully diverse area of Kehoe Beach, we will explore various methods of getting the best image quality that our cameras can produce. We will divide our time between fieldwork and indoor presentation and discussion. This workshop’s objective will be to spend more time creating vision skillfully in-camera, so we spend less time sitting at a computer. We will begin our day at Kehoe Beach photographing the wonderful world of a minus tide. Weather permitting; we will enjoy an almost full moon setting over the ocean. As the tide becomes higher, we will turn our attention toward the dunes and marsh that may include Bush Lupine and other wildflowers usually present this time of year. After lunch, we will head for the Red Barn to view participant’s work and discuss the finer points of photography. Whether you wish to improve your ability to control contrast or struggle with composition, George will challenge and inspire you to take your photography to the next level. All levels welcome.
Reid Thaler
Saturday, June 1 • 9AM – 4PM • $80 ($70 Member)
Come celebrate the natural world in Point Reyes and learn to photograph close up where a flower becomes a world of its own. In spirit of the late photographer, Ernest Braun, we’ll practice “wet belly” photography--the art of lying prone, seeing and feeling the magic before you, and letting time drift as you explore and push yourself visually. Students will receive group and individual support, in the classroom and field, learning the tools and techniques of macro photography. You’ll need a camera that can focus to within a few inches of the lens, hopefully using a macro lens, extension tube, or close up lenses, a tripod (preferably one that can be extended to lie close to the ground) and patience to explore, practice, and play. If available, although not essential, bring a laptop with your favorite image-editing program. All levels welcome.
Sebastian Kennerknecht
Saturday, June 8 • 5:30AM – 8:30PM • $95 ($90 Member)
With nearly 490 species recorded (45% of species of birds in North America), Point Reyes National Seashore easily claims the prize for the greatest avian diversity in any U.S. national park. The species total here, in fact, is larger than the species total in each of forty of the United States. Seeing these birds in their natural habitat is a wonderful experience, getting sharp pictures of them as they fly and interact can be quite challenging. Join renowned wildlife photography expert Sebastian Kennerknecht on a full day of avian exploration inside Point Reyes. This class will cover the process of taking better bird pictures through direct practice with Sebastian in the field. Efforts will be focused on the birds in Abbotts Lagoon to cover topics including how to get sharp pictures of fluttery birds, as well as composition, exposure, white balance, using filters, perspective, and much more! All skill levels welcome.
This class is almost full, please call (415) 663 - 1200 x373 to register
Sebastian Kennerknecht
Saturday, June 29 • 5:30AM – 8:30PM • $95 ($90 Member)
Point Reyes National Seashore remains the only National Park unit where Tule elk can be found. Their image has been expressed in the local folk art and numerous local and nationally published photographs. These majestic animals shape the landscape around them, and embody the restoration of the dominant native herbivore to the California coastal ecosystem. This class will cover the process of taking better pictures of the wildlife that abounds in the park through direct practice in the field. Efforts will focus on the Tule elk reserve at the northern reaches of the seashore to cover topics including composition, exposure, white balance, using filters, perspective, and many more! The day will start with a sunrise session out at Pierce Point to capture the elk in the glowing dawn light and then head to the Red Barn for a wildlife shooting lecture, tips and tricks and then back to Pierce Point for an optional sunset Tule elk photographing safari. All skill levels welcome.
This class is almost full, please call (415) 663 - 1200 x373 to register
Betty Sederquist
June 21-23 • 6PM Friday - 2PM Sunday • $245 ($230 Members)
Camera sensors and film record the world differently than our human eyes. We see the beautiful vistas of oceans, creatures and plants of Point Reyes with our hearts, and translating that into a meaningful photograph that evokes what we feel can be challenging. Using the photogenic historic Lifeboat Station as our base, our destinations will vary according to the wonderful serendipitous lighting of this area, whatever the weekend weather may bring. Designed for beginning and intermediate photographers, we’ll start the weekend on Friday evening with a series of lectures on basic camera settings, exposure and composition. We’ll spend some time with your individual camera. During this evening hour, more advanced photographers might want to take a break from the beginning sessions to capture the magic light of sunset. Insomniacs might enjoy a possible special session in the dark learning night photography. On Saturday we’ll shoot from dawn until dark. On Saturday night Betty will present a few Photoshop and Lightroom tips for “polishing up” images, bringing that photo closer to what your mind’s eye has captured. After a short morning shoot on Sunday we’ll review some of the great images made over the weekend. All levels welcome.
Accommodations included at the historic Lifeboat Station.
Barrie Rokeach
July 6 & 7 • Saturday, 11AM – 6PM; Sunday, Sunrise - Sunset • $370 ($350 Members)
Aerial Photography is not for the faint of heart, but for those with a sense of adventure. It offers a dramatic vantage point and a new avenue for imagination. Barrie Rokeach, author of the definitive aerial photography manual, offers a rare opportunity to explore that perspective and lets you in on some of his secrets learned over the course of a 30-year career behind the lens and in the cockpit. Rokeach will pilot you through his Kodak Guide to Aerial Photography, telling you everything you need to know to produce stunning, crisp images from 2,000, to 20,000 feet! He’ll discuss the basics of aerial photography, from lenses and cameras to composition and lighting, exposure techniques, safety considerations and aviation regulations, flying jargon, weather issues, flying situations to avoid, the peculiarities of helicopters and light planes and how to hire a pilot/instructor at your local airport. Each student will have a 45 minute flight, one-on-one with the instructor, exploring the unique landscape surrounding Point Reyes National Seashore. The knowledge and experience you will gain in this class is pivotal for future flights: either by hiring a pilot/instructor at your local airport or flying on an aerial tour over the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Hawaii or other national park. All levels welcome.
Harold Davis
August 2-5 • 5:00 PM Friday – 10:00 AM Monday • $790 ($760 Members)
Join award-winning photographer Harold Davis, author of bestselling Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), for a once in a lifetime adventure high in the White Mountains of Eastern California. This workshop will be co-lead by Steven Christenson, a 2010 Astronomy Photographer of the Year and co-founder of Star Circle Academy, and have the assistance of Eric Harness, a light painting expert and faculty member of Star Circle Academy.
The gnarled, ancient, and beautiful Bristlecone Pines are the oldest living things on earth - but their isolated location makes photography, particularly at night, logistically difficult. The White Mountains are among the least light polluted in the continental United States and a frequent favorite destination of astronomers. This class is timed to coincide with the dark phase of the moon in order to maximize the potential combination of star circle photography with imagery of the ancient trees. Classroom demonstrations include instructions on using an intervalometer (interval timer), how to minimize noise in long exposures, nighttime safety considerations, and post-processing night photographs.
Lodging at the 10,000 foot Crooked Creek Research Station allows participants ample time for night photography of the ancient Bristlecone Pines in the Patriarch Grove, as well as daytime photography in the magnificent environs of the White Mountains. The dramatic scenery includes views of the grand Sierra Nevada crest, Nevada’s dramatic basin and range country, the desert landscape of Death Valley, a nearby picturesque abandoned mining settlement, and local wildlife including Bighorn Sheep.
Comfortable dormitory-style lodging and delicious house made meals are included.
Please note: The drive to Crooked Creek includes a stretch of 15 miles of primitive unpaved roads along the crest of the White Mountains where cell phone coverage is not available.
This class is full, please call (415) 663.1200 x 373 to be added to the waitlist.
David FitzSimmons
August 9-11 • 6PM Friday - 2PM Sunday • $320 ($300 Members)
Join David for an all-access workshop on successfully shooting stunning seascapes. Learn composition principles, exposure tricks, natural history features, favorite locations, and specialized techniques for mesmerizing light and amazing exposures. Field sessions include photography around Point Reyes National Seashore, a magical realm of picturesque beaches, Seaside Mountains, and romantic sunsets. Classroom sessions will focus on professional techniques for envisioning, compositing, and creating stunning images. Sigma will provide an array of loaner lenses in popular lens mounts for use by participants. Over $1,000 in door prizes! All levels welcome.
Accommodations included at the historic Lifeboat Station.
Reid Thaler
Saturday, August 17 • 9AM – 4PM • $80 ($70 Member)
Do you want to have more fun with your smartphone camera and learn new skills you can use every day? Do you want to explore and capture the beauty of Point Reyes National Seashore? It’s been said that the best camera is the one that’s with you. For many of us, the one that we have with us is our smartphone. With better image sensors, higher quality lenses, unparalleled portability, and a plethora of apps to enhance and share images, today’s smartphones are a worldwide boon to photographing and sharing images. Students will learn the fundamentals of composition, point of view, as well as form, texture, and color principles common to all forms of photography. You’ll also learn how to enhance images using either free or very affordable apps to add creative effects and to share them through social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, or via email. Emphasis will be on the iPhone, although principles apply to all smartphones. This class is open to all levels.
Also open to youth (age 15-17) with attending adult.
We offer gift certificates for specific classes or the dollar amount of your choice. Email or call 415.663.1200 ext. 373 and we can create a certificate for you to give as a gift.
Back to Top
This page last modified May 21, 2013.
|
