Winter is my favorite time of year to be out with my camera.  The dry crisp air combined with snowy scenes makes for some amazing photos of wildlife, landscapes, and even urban scenes.  I can also access areas that other times of the year are inaccessible. 

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This program begins with a lecture where I discuss camera settings, composition, challenges, and how to protect both you and your equipment.  After the lecture, we head out onto the grounds of the Arboretum to practice the techniques covered in the lecture.​

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For more information or to register, click on the button below:

Macro Photography is fun anytime of the year.  With winter, comes some additional subject matter that we cannot get any other time of the year.  This year we will be using Valentine's Day themed subject matter as we explore the world of macro and close-up photography.

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We will also be headed outdoors to do a bit of winter close-ups and macros.  

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In both cases, the challenges are the same.  We will cover techniques for managing depth of field, focus, and composition.  

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For more information or to register, click on the button below:

Focus stacking allows us to take advantage of longer focal lengths and wider apertures when capturing images and still provide the appropriate depth of field for the subject.  While this can be very helpful when used in conjunction with macro photography, it is also helpful for other types of photography such as landscape photography.

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In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we’ll be making use of subject matter appropriate to the day. Imagine a pile of Valentine's conversation hearts. Using focus stacking, you’ll learn how to transform these simple objects into crisp, detailed images that highlight their charm and texture.

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This class with provide techniques for capturing a set of images that make up "the stack."  It will also cover the post processing steps required in order to combine the stack of images into a single image.  Two different software programs will be demonstrated during the class, Adobe Photoshop, and Helicon Focus.

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For more information or to register, click on the button below:

Just in time for the annual Spring Flower Show at the Arboretum!

Photographing flower arrangements is a great way to bring some additional color into your home.  Photographing flower arrangements can be a fun and challenging project.  What is even better is that it does not require fancy lighting or equipment.  All you need is some window light and a camera.

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This class will provide hands on instruction to show you how to create photos of everything from a simple single flower to a multi-flower arrangement.  We will explore using window light, simple flashlights, inexpensive LED panels, home made backdrops, and camera angles.  The options are endless!

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For more information or to register, click on the button below:

Not all birds go south for the winter, and for some birds, going south means migrating to Minnesota.  Winter provides a time where locating and photographing birds becomes quite a bit easier.  This is due to the availability of open water, food sources, and protection from predators.  Another advantage to photographing birds in winter is one very cold days, birds fluff up their feathers in order to stay warm.

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This class covers techniques for photographing birds in trees and around feeders, capturing birds in flight, anticipating action, camera settings, and tips for locating birds in the winter months.

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For more information or to register, click on the button below:

Today's cameras are incredibly complex devices.  This is true whether you are using one of the more advanced DSLR or Mirrorless cameras or even the camera that is part of you phone.  They are all basically computers that have the ability to also capture images.  The good news is that understanding the features of the camera along with how to effectively use those features will allow you to capture some amazing nature photos.

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This class is designed for the beginner photographer.  We begin with the basics of exposure triangle, and discuss the settings that work for the different types of nature photography.  We also cover lens selection, focus modes, histograms, white balance, and depth of field.

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For more information and to register, click the button below.

Lightroom provides a powerful set of tools that allow photographers to organize, edit and share photos.  This class is designed to provide the essential set of skills to help you get started with Lightroom Classic.

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Time will be spent working with the Library and Develop Modules.  This will include importing, tagging and rating of images, setting a develop profile, basic panel, tone curve, color mixer, sharpening, noise reduction, cropping adn healing.

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This is a hands on class that contains a number of lab exercises that will help you understand the concepts taught during the class.  A set of sample images will be provided that support the lab exercises.

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For more information and to register, click the button below.

This class explores some of the intermediate and advanced features of Lightroom Classic.  During this class, you will learn how to more effectively manage, organize and search for images, create composite images using the HDR and panorama features, correct for lens distortion, copy and synchronize edits across images, create presets, manage color, and prepare photos for print.

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This is a hands on class that contains a number of lab exercises that will help you understand the concepts taught during the class.  A set of sample images will be provided that support the lab exercises.

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For more information and to register, click the button below.

Over the past several years, Lightroom Classic has added a wide variety of tools to provide the ability to perform localized edits on photos.  This class will spend time working with the various masking tools as well as the new lens blur tool.

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This class will cover the use of all the different mask types, refining masks and performing adjustments.  We will also cover the new lens blur capability that was introduced in late 2023.  

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For more information and to register, click the button below.

We have all heard that April Showers bring May Flowers.  Nowhere is this more true than at the arboretum.  The tulips, daffodils, and other spring flower displays provide an abundance of great subject matter.  Of course, these displays also provide their share of challenges.

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This class consists of two parts. The first part is an online webinar wher we will cover the different styles of flower photography, managing depth of field, composition, camera settings, equipment, and dealing with the elements. 

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The second part is an optional field shoot where you can put the techniques discussed during the webinar to use.

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For more information and to register, click on the button below:

There is something about waterfalls that appeal to people. We are fortunate to have a large number of amazing waterfalls located throughout the state of Minnesota.  Even in the Twin Cities Metro area there are some great waterfalls to visit and photograph.

During this class you will learn how to photograph waterfalls and flowing water in order to create works of art that you can hang on your walls.  This could be a peaceful silky waterfall image, or a powerful realistic image that reflects the feeling that you had when watching the waterfall.

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For more information or to register, click on the button below:

If a photo is worth 1000 words, then what does that mean for video?  Today’s cameras have amazing video capabilities.  In fact, most camera manufacturers are investing much more into the video features of their cameras than the still photography features.  Settings can be confusing and audio adds another level of complexity. 

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This class will begin with a lecture where we will discuss the basics of setting up your camera for video, creating a basic script, capturing steady footage, building and editing your video using free software, capturing clean audio.  We will spend time capturing some video on the grounds of the arboretum.

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For more information or to register, click on the button below:

Minnesota has a wide variety of pollinators.  Some can be rather cautious and others can be quite aggressive.  In either case, they make fantastic photography subjects.  The goal is to be able to capture photos of them while they are busy collecting and distributing pollen.  

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This class will begin with a lecture where we will discuss techniques associated with focus and composition, camera settings, equipment, and some tips for holding your camera steady.  After the lecture, we will spend time in the gardens of the arboretum photographing butterflies and bees.  

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For more information or to register, click on the button below:

A two day, in the field shooting experience at the arboretum.  Normally, the grounds of the arboretum are off limits at both sunset and sunrise.  This event gives attendees access to the grounds as the sun is setting and then the next morning just before sunrise.

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During the photo shoot, Don will be available to offer tips and make suggestions to help you get the best photos possible.  In the past this event has included everything from sunrises and sunsets to light painting.

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For more information or to register, click on the button below:

Here in Minnesota, there are so many great locations for fall photography.  What is even better is that due to the size of the state, the fall season lasts a really long time.  In the northern part of the state, the leaves start turning in mid-September but in the southern part of the state, the peak is often in mid and sometimes late October.

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During this class, you will learn how to capture the fall colors in all of their glory.  This includes the use of polarizers, understanding the affect of light on fall colors, composition, and subject isolation.  We will also discuss other fall subjects associated with harvest time and Halloween.   After the lecture, we will explore the grounds of the arboretum looking for fall subjects.

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For more information or to register, click on the button below:

From Mid-October through Mid-November thousands of sandhill cranes stop over at Crex Meadows in Grantsburg WI as they make their migration. This is a fantastic opportunity to capture photos of the birds as they head out in the morning looking for
food in the nearby farm fields.

Before heading to the location, we will get cameras set up and ready for photographing the birds. We will also go over some basics of photographing birds both in flight and on the ground. (Some of the most interesting behavior happens on the ground!)

Once on location, Don will spend time with each participant to ensure that they are able to get good shots, and that they don’t get frustrated.  As the sun gets higher in the sky, adjustments need to be made to ensure that our photos are not getting over exposed.

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For more information or to register, click on the button below: