Register by:	October 15, 2011
Tuition:	$625 members; $700 non-members
Materials list:	Digital Nature Photography materials list
Prerequisites:	Familiar with your digital camera, laptop computer, and able to shoot, download, and view images in an image browser like iPhoto, Picasa, Aperture, or Lightroom.

One of the best ways to take your nature photography to the next level is by discovering your passion. When you discover your passion and what in nature you love to photograph the most, you will develop your own unique vision and photographic style.

One of the best ways to discover your passion is by adopting a project all your own. Whether it's photographing flowers and butterflies in your own backyard, macro subjects in tide pools along the rocky coast, or moody landscapes, being focused on a particular project or goal will help you develop your vision.

This workshop is designed to help you discover you passion by encouraging you to adopt your own project. Students are asked to bring 5 images to class from a new or ongoing personal project, or simply a sequence of images. Ideally the work should be shot within the past 12 months and follow a theme that interests you. During the workshop we will work together shooting, editing, and critiquing to build on your portfolio.

Day 1: Wednesday, June 13

1:30-4pm: Class time; Greetings and Intro. View and critique student's 5 images.
5pm-Sunset: Field time; Class shoot and one-on-one instruction.

Day 2: Thursday, June 14

Sunrise shoot: Students on their own. Optional.
9-11:30 am: Class time; Instructor presentations, editing, and image critiques.
11:30-1pm: Lunch
1pm-2:30pm: Class time; Image critiques continued.
2:30-5pm: Free time. Optional Q & A.
5pm-Sunset: Field time; Class shoot and one-on-one instruction.

Day 3: Friday, June 15

Sunrise shoot: Students on their own. Optional.
9-11:30 am: Class time; Instructor presentations, editing, and image critiques.
11:30-1pm: Lunch
1pm-2:30pm: Class time; Image critiques continued.
2:30-5pm: Free time. Optional Q & A.
5pm-Sunset: Field time; Class shoot and one-on-one instruction.

Day 4: Saturday, June 16

Sunrise shoot: Students on their own. Optional.
9-11:30 am: Class time; Instructor presentations, editing, and image critiques.
11:30-1pm: Lunch
1pm-3pm: Class time; Image critiques continued.
2:30-4pm: Free time. Optional Q & A.
7pm: Farewell dinner.

Day 5: Sunday, June 17

Sunrise shoot: Students on their own. Optional.
9-11:30 am: Class time; Final edit and class slideshow.

Before leaving home:

• Check your camera to see that it's functioning properly.
• Practice shooting and downloading images to your laptop computer.
• Practice basic tasks for viewing and organizing your images in thebrowsing software you are familiar with, like iPhoto (Apple), Picasa (Google), Lightroom, or Aperture.

About Ralph Lee Hopkins

Ralph Lee Hopkins is director of photo expeditions for Lindblad Expeditions and travels the world's wild places aboard the National Geographic Explorer. An inspiring teacher, he is lecturer on tour with National Geographic Traveler digital seminars and teaches with National Geographic Expeditions, Arizona Highways Photographic Workshops, and Santa Fe Photographic Workshops.

Ralph's work regularly appears in National Geographic publications and in major magazines including Arizona Highways, Outdoor Photographer, Outside, and Nature's Best. His images are represented by the National Geographic Image Collection and fine-art prints are exhibited by the Ordover Gallery in San Diego and the Verve Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Ralph's most recent book is Nature Photography - Documenting the Wild World. To view his online porfolio visit www.RalphLeeHopkins.com.

See also: Gualala Arts Workshop Registration, Payment & Cancellation Policy.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.