Learn to evoke emotion and inspire connections with the natural world through your photography. Just as great music is more than simply playing the right notes, meaningful photography is more than simply taking a picture. Knowing the technical aspects of photography—composition, lighting, decisive moments—is important, but it is only the beginning of your journey as a photographer.
What is it that elevates photographs to the level of artistry? Master photographers Will Clay and Ken Thompson will explore this question over the course of three classroom sessions and two field sessions. The class will study how outstanding composition, exquisite light, a decisive moment, or an added special element can transform nice pictures into stunning photographs. The class will apply this exploration to landscape photography, close-up photography, and conversion of a photograph from color to black and white. Hone your artistic lens and work under the guidance of your instructors to elevate your photography. This class is appropriate for intermediate to advanced photographers who are comfortable with the manual controls of a DSLR camera and with post-production software such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.
This program meets in person at the Arboretum. Please see What to Know for additional information on required equipment and experience.
Instructor: Will Clay, photographer, and Ken Thompson, photographer
Age: 16 and older
Course number: P481
Will Clay, photographer
Formerly a professor of botany, Willard Clay has been a full-time photographer since 1982. Specializing in large format photography, he has been the primary photographer for nine coffee table books and has been published in myriad calendars, magazines, books, and advertisements. Teaching credits include teaching at The Morton Arboretum since 2005 as well as at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont since 1985. He leads classes and seminars at many venues in the country.
Ken Thompson, photographer
Ken Thompson became serious about photography after retiring from a job managing a chemicals business. He is most interested in “the world within,” that part of the world that we often ignore or walk right on by: water drops, insects, dragonflies, butterflies, and small plants. Thompson is best known for close-ups of water in its many forms, especially dew drops and ice formations. He has been teaching photography at The Morton Arboretum since 2006 and taught for several years at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute in Tennessee.
What to Know
Please bring your fully charged DSLR camera.
This is an intermediate to advanced program; foundational photography knowledge and skills are required, as is comfort with the manual controls of a DSLR camera and with post-production software such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.
The Saturday field sessions meet outdoors. Check the forecast and dress for the weather. Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and plan to walk more than a mile on uneven terrain.
Program Schedule
Thursday, October 19, 2023, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 21, 2023, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, October 26, 2023, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 28, 2023, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 2, 2023, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Thornhill Education Center
