Photography and Other Workshops
Workshop Descriptions

         

Workshops are available and can be scheduled by calling (928) 333-2059. Most workshops can be adapted for younger participants or tailored to fit your group's needs. Leef Photography workshops have been given for Arizona Game & Fish, Petrified Forest National Park, Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Besh-Ba-Gowah and Casa Malpais Archaeological Parks, Arizona Outdoor Adventures and at state and private retreats, chambers and local galleries.  As workshops are scheduled they're posted on this website on the Calendar Page. 

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE FOR DESCRIPTIONS OF WORKSHOPS.
Nature & Wildlife Photography for the Beginner (Get Down & Dirty!)
Photographing Fall Colors 
Flower and Garden Photography (Photographing Spring & Summer Color)
Camera Settings & Applications (How to Use Your Digital Camera )
Photographing Historic Buildings
Photography for the Adventurous Tourist
Photographing Petroglyphs: A Path to Deeper Appreciation
Photography Field Class
Local Area Wildlife (Let's Talk Turkey!)
Petroglyph Appreciation and Context 
Escape the Ordinary 
Action, Camera, Huh?!    New for Fall 2012 
Simple Special Effects in Photoshop
NOTE:  Some workshops are available in two versions, 1.5 hours (Basic Version) or 3 hours (Expanded Version). Please see workshop descriptions below. 

Nature & Wildlife Photography for the Beginner or Get Down & Dirty!
This is a fun, informative workshop for beginners who want to learn some basic, practical photography skills. This class addresses basic principles which apply to nature and wildlife photography and is designed for novice and intermediate photographers. Topics covered include detailed composition guidelines and simple aids and props that may be used, as well as appropriate preparation, dressing and behavior for shooting in the field or near water. Included are specific techniques for approaching and photographing wildlife. Some popular misconceptions will be addressed, so prepare to be surprised!

Photographing Fall Colors
This fun, information-packed workshop is designed for beginners and more intermediate photographers who want to learn some basic, practical photography skills geared toward utilizing the features on their cameras and employing creative techniques to improve their fall photography. Topics covered include Exposure and Your Camera (Photographic Triangle overview, Shooting Modes, Bracketing, Exposure Compensation, White Balance, Filters & Histograms) and Field Notes & More (Composition, Light and Timing, Wet Weather Shooting, the Reversal approach, Subtle Shooting, Indoor Fall Photography, 3-D Artifact Scanning). It is recommended that participants bring their cameras and their camera manuals with them to class.

Flower and Garden Photography or Photographing Spring and Summer Color
This fun, information-packed workshop is designed for beginners and intermediate photographers who want to learn basic, practical photography techniques to improve their flower and garden photography. Topics covered include composition and exposure, painting with light, color casts and using color to create mood. Also covered will be utilizing camera settings, aids and props and shooting in wind and wet weather. This is a more intensive workshop presented in an easy to follow format. It is recommended that participants bring their cameras and their camera manuals with them to class.

Basic Photography: Camera Settings and Applications
or How to Use Your Digital Camera 
Intimidated by the many symbols, buttons and dials on your camera? You're not alone! This fun, hands-on workshop for beginners and more intermediate photographers is designed to introduce a variety of camera features and to offer practical ideas for using them in the field. Topics covered include Camera Care, The Photographic Triangle, Shooting Modes, Quality Settings, Menus, Drive Modes, and Focusing Functions. In addition, students will learn about Bracketing, Metering, Exposure Compensation, White Balance and Histograms and practice using these features on their cameras in class. This will be a more intensive workshop presented in a fun, easy to follow format. It is recommended that participants bring their cameras and their camera manuals with them to class.

Photographing Historic Buildings (1.5 hrs. only. No expanded version.) 
This workshop is an introduction to historic buildings and ways to photograph them using your digital compact or SLR camera. Architectural photography and various field approaches will  be introduced as well as common architectural terms, camera settings and post processing/printing ideas. Examples of architectural interest will feature Globe's historic downtown buildings as well as buildings found in the White Mountains.
See side panel on this page for building images!

Photography for the Adventurous Tourist (1.5 hrs. only. No expanded version.)
Planning a trip and want to get the most from your digital camera? Discover various ways of approaching composition and your subject(s) to improve your images, learn some of the pitfalls that are commonly encountered when photographing buildings, statues and people and practice using simple field techniques and camera settings to improve your overall photography. 

Photographing Petroglyphs: A Path to Deeper Appreciation
Photographing petroglyphs and other historic, cultural resources can be a path to deeper appreciation because it encourages us to slow down and take our time as we determine ways to best capture the mystery and beauty of the scenes before us. Topics covered in the expanded (3 hr.) version include sections on composition, light, shadows, filters and reflector usage, as well as using specific camera settings such as metering, bracketing, white balance and exposure compensation. All topics are directly related to the challenges and rewards inherent in petroglyph, site and heritage photography.

Photography Field Class (varies--1.5 hours to 2.5 hours in the field)
You've read your manual, you understand basic photography concepts and are getting comfortable adjusting the dials on your camera... what's next? If you'd like to learn how to apply what you've learned to actual field situations, then this class is for you. After a brief preparatory indoor session (think Cheat Sheets!), students will go outside as a group and practice different camera functions and learn how to apply them in various field environments. Different field approaches will be explained and demonstrated. This class is adapted to the available season and local surroundings, and has been offered focusing on fall colors, spring & summer flowers and gardens (Gardenscape), and petroglyphs and Native American ruins (Shoot the Ruins!). If you're already familiar with a few basic photography concepts and camera operations, this class is for you! Let's have fun and learn together, and be sure to bring an extra card and battery!

OTHER WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS

Local Area Wildlife aka Let's Talk Turkey! (1.5 hrs. only. No expanded version.)
Two AZ versions available: Globe-Superior and the White Mountains
Let's talk Turkey--and bear and elk and mountain lion and bobcat too. Learn more about these and other exciting animals who share our lands with us. Learn some natural history and hear adventure stories from the field!

Petroglyph Appreciation and Context  (1.5 hrs. only. No expanded version.)
Interested in petroglyphs? Would you like to see LOTS of really neat petroglyph images? This informative and colorful presentation addresses some important issues for petroglyph and site viewing today: historical perspectives and world context, respect and preservation, terminology and usage concerns, site etiquette and related (and controversial!) laws. Photographs of regional petroglyphs that are available for public viewing will be featured as well as others from around the state and a select few from even farther away. Information on area petroglyph and site viewing opportunities and locations will also be distributed, depending on where this workshop is offered.

Escape the Ordinary (1.5 hrs. only. No expanded version.)
This is a motivational and inspirational workshop that not only covers a little of my background, but also focuses on personal risk-taking and following one's dreams. It addresses the reality of change and difficult times and covers a number of practical ideas and suggestions for keeping one's life on track and positive in periods of uncertainties and exceptional stress. 

Action, Camera, Huh?!  (1.5 hrs. only. No expanded version.)  Available Fall 2012 
Got lots of pictures on your digital camera but have no idea what to do next? This class explores downloading images from your camera, file management basics and simple photo organization using Windows Explorer, but the principles can be adapted to any file management program available. Go from chaos and cluttered to calm and contented!

Simple Special Effects in Photoshop (3 hrs. only)
Got Photoshop, but you've never progressed much past cropping and resizing your JPGS? Whether you have Elements, Photoshop 6, 7, CS or a comparable image editing program, it's time to get some higher mileage out of your software! After a short introduction to image preservation and layers, students will learn how to enhance their images with a variety of special effects, including Vignetting, Colorizing and Tinting. Other topics will include using presets, creating dynamic backgrounds and textures, adding unique borders, applying filters and using layer styles, as well as creating photo montages. Handouts will be provided but you’ll want to bring a notepad and pen for the many extra tips you'll hear during the presentation (or bring your laptop for digital notetaking!). This workshop is designed for Photoshop beginners and beginning intermediate users.
See below and side panel on this page for examples of class content!