Capture the geometric beauty of the last signs of winter and the first hints of spring at The Morton Arboretum in macro photography. Focus on the first buds of the season to frost-covered berries, hardy leaves, resilient fungi, and textures found in frost-bitten wood.
We’ll capture the intricate details of small subjects unique to the transitional time between winter and spring, and just for fun, we’ll also experiment with science indoors to create exciting abstracts, for a dramatic artistic perspective on the often overlooked.
We’ll cover specific techniques like manual focus, white balance, exposure compensation for white subjects, and other tools to work with the soft, diffused light of cloudy late winter days.
Tripods are strongly recommended.
This program meets in person at the Arboretum.
Instructor: Cora Jacobs, photographer
Age: 16 and older
Course number: P310
Instructor
Cora Jacobs, photographer
Cora Jacobs is both a nature and a street photographer. She has been teaching at The Morton Arboretum since 2012. She served as the managing editor for Allium, A Journal of Poetry & Prose, and taught magazine editing and production at Columbia College Chicago.
What to Know
This program meets indoors and outdoors.
For outdoor sessions on Saturdays, check the forecast and dress for the winter weather. Wear comfortable, sturdy boots or shoes, and plan to walk more than a mile on uneven terrain.
Participants should have a digital camera and a zoom or macro lens, and should bring this equipment to each class session.
Materials for taking notes will be useful.
Program Schedule
This program meets the following four times.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 7, 2026, 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Thornhill Education Center (parking lot P-21), West Side
