Art of Landscape Photography

Landscape Photography Workshop

LEVEL: Intermediate & Advanced Photographers
(View Course Requirements)

This class is going to forever change how you see, experience, and photograph the landscape.

Internationally publshed landscape photographer Mike MacDonald teaches his unique ideas and techniques for creatiing emotionally evocative images in this 2-session hands-on landscape photography workshop. And, you will also receive a beautiful book of the lecture materials with color illustrations.

The natural landscape is the most diffcult of subjects to photograph. Why? Because, it's not just one subject in a single plane of focus. The landscape is a complex, visual, three-dimensional drama filled with a diverse cast of characters. You must become the producer, director, casting agent, and the photographer. It is your job to assemble a poignant, compelling, and emotionally evocative story out of the sublime world of chaos before your eyes. And, this story must be conveyed through a single, well-organized, 2-dimensional image.  (Gift Cards for this class are available.)

You must determine what the story is to be about and you must decide on which characters to cast and which will play leading and minor roles. And, who are these characters? Of course, they can be flowers and trees, the sky and the clouds, the ripples in the sand. But, just as often, your characters are color, texture, light and shadows, This is what makes natural landscape photography so challenging and so rewarding. These topics Mike will address in this very powerful hands-on photography class.

Mike has created this ground-breaking workshop from years of experience and self-awareness photographing the extremely difficult natural landscapes of the Chicago region. Instead of traveling and searching out the most exotic and inherently photogenic locations in the world, Mike concentrated his efforts on mastering the local landscape. As a result, Mike was forced to develop many approaches and techniques to make his photographs convey the same beauty and drama that he recognizes with his eyes and his heart. His photography of Chicago's prairies and natural areas have been internationally published with numerous appearances in Outdoor Photographer Magazine.

Topics include Mike's "Seven Essential Rules of Landscape Composition," how to compose with light, the fundamentals of visual storytelling, the three main pieces of the landscape puzzle, how to communicating intimacy, and much more.

Art of Landscape Photography See Prices
Location:  Downers Grove, IL
LECTURE & FIELD SESSION: 8/8 (Sun.) 2:30PM to After Sunset ANALYSIS 8/25 (Wed.) @ 7:00 PM	OPEN

COURSE AGENDA

The initial session begin at Mike's home and studio in Downers Grove, Illinois (a Chicago suburb). You will receive a presentation that will teach you the various concepts. And, you will be given a comprehensive book of the presentation featuring color illustrations.

After the lecture, we will then head out to a local natural area to capture the late afternoon light and to practice the ideas that you learned. You will be guided as you take pictures using these new principles. This field session will last until about 30 to 45 minutes after the sun has set or, if there is no sun, until the light is gone.

And that's not all. There will be a follow-up classroom session on a separate date which is designed to give you a chance to show off your newest work and to provide you with valuable feedback and ideas.

The class will be limited to a small number of participants so you can get the attention you require. The cutoff will be 6 students, so please register quickly to insure a spot.

Workshop Price: $169     Deposit: $169

If you have further questions about Mike MacDonald workshops just email or phone 630-852-8448.