Challenge your way of thinking about shooting outdoors on location using a minimal amount of equipment and a fresh perspective. Capture this vibrant capital city in action and explore locations in depth where both good planning and quick reflexes rule.
Students visit locations on the National Mall and other areas to be discussed the first day of class, including one morning field trip to explore various lighting conditions. A museum field trip, shooting field trips, loosely structured assignments and class critiques are included. On-location class field trips and a gallery visit, alternate with critique sessions, allowing students to develop an eye for understanding the correlation between what you do when you take the picture and your results. Students develop strategies for minimizing the difficulties of an outdoor shoot, including the ability to compensate for lighting, contrast, and exposure problems.
Students enrolling in this class must have an understanding of their camera operation. Participants provide their own cameras and may work in the camera format of their choosing. Field trips may require considerable walking. Students provide their own transportation.
Instructor: Joe Yablonsky
6 sessions, 3 hours each
Smithsonian Connections
Lee Friedlander’s The American Monument series in the Smithsonian American Art Museum depicts monuments across the country and in D.C. Students create their own portfolio of images, working on location as Friedlander did.
