Introduction to Landscape Photography Workshop

Each workshop is composed of four live virtual or classroom sessions, approximately 90 minutes each, and three field sessions at interesting landscape photography shooting locations around the Triangle. Field sessions are typically late afternoon through sundown on weekends, weather permitting. Fields will meet unless severe weather is forecasted. Shooting in light rain or fog can help create successful landscape photography images.

What You Will Learn

  • History of landscape photography

  • Review of photography fundamentals

    • Light: color, quality, and direction

    • Exposure: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO

  • Applying photography fundamentals to landscape photography

    • Understanding and using histograms

    • Lenses: focal length, angle of view, depth of field

    • Composition rules and how to break them

  • Selecting subjects

  • Understanding light in the landscape

  • Pre-visualization and shot planning

  • Landscape photography equipment

Prerequisites and Required Equipment

  • A camera that you are familiar with and know how to use. A DLSR or mirrorless with a zoom lens is ideal, but the workshop can be successfully completed with a smartphone camera. Please note, that there will be limitations if using a camera you can not put into manual mode. This is NOT a class to teach you how to use all of the buttons and features on your camera.

  • A tripod is recommended, but not required. Having solid camera support opens up a much wider number of image capture possibilities.

  • Ability (or at least willingness) to use your camera in manual mode, setting aperture, shutter speed, focus, etc. by hand.

  • Basic photography vocabulary. At a minimum you should have at least heard the terms, aperture, shutter, exposure triangle, depth of field, etc. If the majority of a class does not have a basic photography vocabulary, we will spend a part of the first session establishing this foundation.

 

Workshop Schedule

None currently scheduled

Workshop Curriculum

Classroom / Virtual Session #1

Workshop participant waiting for the light at Jordan Lake

  • Foundational Principles of Photography

  • A Brief History of Photography

  • The Roots of Landscape Photography

  • It’s All About Light

  • Exposure Control

  • Using and Understanding Histograms

  • Depth of Field

  • Lenses, Field of View, & Focal Length

  • Composition: Tools & Rules

  • Prepare for Field Session #1

  • Homework Assignment #1 - Practice exercises

Field Session #1

  • Goal: Create images of at least 3 subjects

  • Group will all photograph the same subjects

  • Instructor will demonstrate on each subject,
    talking the class through his thought process and capture execution

  • Students will each create their own images of the designated subject
    with guidance of instructor as needed.

  • Post session actions - select your images and upload to workshop group page

Classroom / Virtual Session #2

  • Review material from Session #1 and address any questions

  • Review of Homework Assignments 1

  • Image review from field session 1

  • Landscape Photography Equipment

  • Homework Assignment #1 - Practice exercises

Field Session #2

  • Goal: Create images of at least 3 subjects, applying lessons learned

  • Students will be free to find and photograph any subjects they choose

  • Instructor will be available for consultation and guidance

  • Post session actions - select your images and upload to workshop group page

Classroom / Virtual Session #3

  • Image review from field session 2

  • Review homework assignment 2

  • Masting your equipment and building muscle memory

  • Tips & Tricks to improve your landscape photography

  • Shot Planning: Pre-visualization, Online and App Tools

  • Introduction to Shooting RAW

  • Homework Assignment #3 - Practice exercises

Field Session #3

  • Goal: Create images of at least 3 subjects, applying lessons learned

  • Students will be free to find and photograph any subjects they choose

  • Instructor will be available for consultation and guidance

  • Post session actions - select your images and upload to workshop group page

Classroom / Virtual Session #4

  • Image review from field session 3

  • Review homework assignment 3

  • Final thoughts and group discussion