Digital Photography Workshops
For people with ordinary cameras. Even point-and-shoots.
Photography for Everyone — from Artists to Zoologists
With his blend of entertainment and education, Bryan has taught many hundreds of people to photograph nature, family, pets, sports, artwork, sunsets, landscapes and most any other scene from the drama of life on earth. In these workshops, you’ll master buttons, dials and menus. No longer will you select “AUTO” on your camera and hope for the best. You’ll learn the digital essentials, everything from metering to ISO. It’s practical photography for ordinary people like you. Even with your little point-and-shoot.
Instructor: Bryan Pfeiffer
A writer, field biologist and photographer, Bryan is first and foremost an educator. Whether he’s teaching photography in the Grand Canyon, writing at the University of Vermont or birdwatching off the coast of Maine, Bryan uses humor, exuberance and practicality for effective learning.
Although his photography seminars work for anyone, Bryan specializes in teaching folks to photograph nature. His seminar participants include birders and botanists, gardeners and biologists, grandparents and artists.
2019 Seminar Calendar
Watch this spot for additional seminars.
Pushing Buttons (and Dials and Menus)
Begin a new relationship with your camera by understanding how to push its buttons, turn its dials and select from its menus. If you're stuck on AUTO mode, if buttons bother you, if icons infuriate you, this is your session. After all, you won't easily get great images until you unleash the full potential of your camera. It's all there at your fingertips. In this session, Bryan can also offer advice on choosing the right camera for you. Open Enrollment: No need to pre-register; just charge your battery and show up with your camera at North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier.
Field Photography for Naturalists and Biologists
Get the most from your camera in a single comprehensive session. We begin with fundamentals: light, shutter, aperture and ISO. Then we move to the challenges of motion and depth of field. From there we cover metering and other essentials for getting the best shot in most any situation. We'll shoot together in "scenarios" to help you photograph wildlife, landscapes, plants, portraits or your own subjects. This is Bryan's signature workshop. Register with an email to Bryan »
Point-and-Shoot Photography for Birders
Discover how to capture sharp and stunning images of birds and other wildlife — even with a point-and-shoot camera. We'll spend the day in the field photographing birds with whatever camera you've got. You'll learn the secrets for approaching wildlife and for dialing your camera settings for the best possible shots. Although any birder and camera are welcome, this workshop is mostly designed for ordinary birders who want better photos (rather than photographers with big SLR gear). You'll be amazed at what you can pull off with a mega-zoom point-and-shoot. Register with an email to Bryan »
Nature Macrophotography
Learn to shoot insects, flowers and other small things in nature. This course begins with assigned readings on light, metering, depth of field, composition and other hot topics in macrophotography. We'll put it all into practice in the field shooting insects and plants (with an optional nighttime session with moths). Limited to six people, the course includes written materials, a two-hour indoor session on June 14 and a full day in the field on June 15. Register with an email to Bryan »
