Light, Design and Color: The Expressive Landscape in Iceland

The workshop begins with student intros, and a presentation by Brenda on the art of photography, to get our minds moving off jet lag and in the direction of creative thinking. Please bring 10 pictures to share as a way of getting to know each other, and for your interests and me to see what your skill levels are. A Q&A session will allow me to review and answer technical questions to get everyone prepared for the week.

In this workshop, participants will be challenged to create dynamic photographs of everything they see. Always bring a camera and at least one lens with you everywhere we go- everything can be a photograph when you're traveling! The workshop will focus on developing our creative eye, how to see photographs everywhere, from the large outdoor landscape to the shadows a lamppost might make on a wall.

Iceland is a land of extreme beauty and contrast. From volcanic activity to dramatic seacoast, ice caves, and massive waterfalls, you are brought close to the raw power of nature and to places of breathtaking scenery. During this week, you will be immersed in an environment that will thrill and challenge you as you strive to capture images that express the essence of this amazing place. Beginning with that first visual presentation, you’ll be learning how to better express your vision by incorporating techniques for creating visual depth, utilizing the design elements that exist in nature, making effective compositions, and making the most of the light.

We’ll follow the light and weather to capture the drama and magic of each day, spending the maximum time possible in the field to allow you to apply new ideas, to immerse yourself in a location to see more deeply, and to celebrate all that Iceland has to share. A typical day will be a sunrise/morning light field session, followed by time to download/prepping and photo reviews, and then we'll head back outdoors for an afternoon/sunset light photo session. Yet depending on the circumstances of weather, we may change our daily schedule to make the most of the conditions. I want to be sure you have plenty of time in the Icelandic landscape to capture the magic here!

My goal is to help students discover their personal vision, while also helping them master the craft of photography, because you can't successfully express your vision if you haven't mastered how to translate what you see into a final picture. I provide one-on-one help in the field when asked, and offer general suggestions at each location we visit, helping people see what’s there. I provide an honest, yet constructive critique, as it’s the best way I know to help students improve technique, all the while honoring their personal point of view and interest.

My own passion for photography provides the basis for an information-packed, fun, and inspirational workshop experience Brenda’s book “Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography, Revised Edition” will be released in March 2010 and is a great text support for this workshop.

Workshop Fee and On-line Registration