Click Away 2016

How often have you looked out your window and noticed the light hitting a tree in the yard just so? Or watched as the birds flutter around the backyard feeders, vying for the best seed? Landscape and nature photography isn't just sweeping mountain vistas, fields of flowers, or the sun setting over a glistening sea, although those certainly are a huge part of it. Nature photography should draw the viewer into the scene by telling them a story. Regardless of the depth of field used, nature photographs are often filled with details. Those details should grab the viewer's interest, making them peruse the photography intently, pausing along the way to appreciate the beauty in the details. At first glance, the viewer often will not see the full story. A successful nature photograph brings them back to the image to look through it again and again.

In this program, you will learn to seek out and photograph the often overlooked details of landscape and nature photography. You will learn that landscape and nature photography isn't limited to a photograph of a beach at sunrise, but also the tiny shells that make up the beach. You will learn to use those details to enhance your images, adding depth, creativity, and emotion to your photographs. Special equipment is not necessary, however, you may enjoy using a variety of lenses, macro tools, or a Lensbaby if you have them. A tripod is not necessary.

Learning Objectives:
1. Gain an understanding of environmental, landscape, and nature photography.
2. Discuss and demonstrate various settings where you can find beauty in the natural world, from your backyard to the National Park you visit on vacation.
3. Learn to recognize the details and beauty in everyday outdoor settings and create photographs using those details to add depth, emotion, and creativity to your images.
4. Create the best images possible by absorbing yourself in the beautiful simplicity of the natural world, learning to understand nature, weather, and light.
5. Understand what gear is necessary in nature photography, what is beneficial, and what would be fun to use.
6. Learn what to look for when envisioning photographs including light, mood, atmosphere, weather, plants, animals, trails, shores, human subjects in nature, etc.

Location:
This outdoor Boutique Program will take place at Seattle Center. 

The Seattle Center requires a brief ride (approximately 2-3 minutes) on a nearby monorail train that runs on a loop and departs approximately every 10 minutes from the Westlake Center Mall (across the street from the Westin). Travel time can range from approximately 15-24 minutes, depending on group size, how quickly the group moves, and how quickly the group can board the monorail. The Seattle Center is massive with tons of usable shooting space, from green park-like areas to funky walls and sculptures. The Space Needle is located within the Seattle Center. Attendees in programs taking place at the Seattle Center will be provided a round trip ticket for the monorail at the beginning of the program. The group will travel together to the Seattle Center. After the program concludes, attendees may travel back to the Westin at their leisure.