Workshop Fee 

Act Now!

Save $ when you register early

$159 early registration by October 17, 2021

$179 normal registration after Oct 17, 2021

Plus optional in-person shoots

$50 each or $125 for all three

When

4 Online Sessions: Sundays 1-3 pm
Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14, and Dec 5, 2021

Plus 3 optional in-person photo shoots
in Raleigh, NC (extra fee) :

1) Monday Nov 8, 10 - noon
2) Thursday Nov 11, 10 - noon
3) Monday Nov 15, 10 - noon

Contact

Mary Louise Ravese
Bella Vista Photography
919-307-9054
mlravese@bellavistaphotography.com

Where

Online via Zoom (video conference)

Plus, optional in-person photo shoots for those in the Raleigh, NC area

Who Should Attend

Experienced beginner, intermediate and advanced DSLR, mirror-less or smartphone camera users.  Participants must be familiar with basic camera operation, including the setting of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Smart phone users should know how to focus in a specific place and adjust exposure brightness. An extra app may be required for long exposure photography using a smart phone.

Online class size is limited to 20 participants.

In-person class size is limited to 6 participants.

What's Included

  • Training handouts
  • Homework assignments
  • Recordings of the live zoom sessions for your personal use
  • Group feedback session on select images by each participant

About the Instructor

Photo by Richard Fain Mary Louise Ravese specializes in fine art nature and travel photography from locations across the world. Her photographs are in private, university & corporate collections in over 40 states and are exhibited nationally. She has published images in calendars, magazines, books and websites. Mary Louise is a regular speaker and competition judge for photography clubs. She also enjoys teaching on a wide range of topics related to nature, travel and creative photography. Based in North Carolina, Mary Louise leads classes and workshops at a variety of locations across the US and abroad. 


 

Creative Abstract Photography Workshop 

Car of many colors
Abstract Photography allows the photographer the freedom to discover and explore "ordinary" subjects from a fresh perspective for the sheer beauty of their characteristics of color, texture and shape. Learning abstract photography techniques is an excellent exercise in expanding and refining the "photographer's eye" and enables participants to create images that are uniquely their own, employing strong visual design elements. It is a valuable learning exercise that will improve not just the participant's ability to make abstract imagery, but take a more creative approach in all types of images from landscapes to portraiture and beyond. 
 
In this workshop, instructor Mary Louise Ravese shares some her favorite techniques for creating abstract photographs in the studio and the field. The combination of lecture, demonstration and hands-on photography shooting sessions is sure to spark the imagination and produce some unique and beautiful abstract images.
 
This workshop is best suited for those who understand basic digital SLR, mirrorless, or smartphone camera use and are looking for a creative challenge, unique photo opportunities and to expand the vision of their "photographer's eye". 

 

  Some techniques covered include:

  • Architectural abstracts Black and White and Read All Over
  • The play of light on contours, including bubbles
  • Distorted reflections in tranlucent as well as opaque materials
  • Movement during long exposures, including intentional camera movement
Abstract Reflections by Mary Louise Ravese
Unusual reflections - participants will use a variety of reflective surfaces with unusual shapes and textures that distort subject matter reflections in fascinating ways.
sample image by Mary Louise Ravese


 

Bubble image by past participant Richard Fain
Bubble-mania - We'll create some interesting "bubble-scapes" - a landscape of bubble shapes in different sizes and colors. Then we'll explore how changes in lighting and the proximity of nearby objects are reflected in the bubbles creating unusual effects.
sample image by former participant Richard Fain

 

Reeds by Mary Louise Ravese
Intentional Camera Movement - participants will see colorful scenes like gardens in a new way as they practice intentional camera movements like panning, zooming and rotating during long exposures.
sample image by Mary Louise Ravese



 

One thing is for sure, this workshop could be the most fun you've had as an adult and it will transform your ideas about where and how to make unique images.


A Hybrid WOrkshop Format

For all participants: The live, online sessions allow participants to join from multiple physical locations, while allowing you to ask questions in real time. You'll learn about abstract photography principles, what to shoot, design considerations, even key settings for certain techniques. Mary Louise will also explain and demonstrate how to setup DIY photo shoots for you to try on your own. You will complete your photo shoot of each setup offline. After a multi-week break after session 3, the workshop will conclude with a final online session on December 5th where participants can share and receive feedback on a selection of the abstract images they've created.

All online session will be recorded so you can replay them later for reference. 
For participants from the Raleigh, NC area, you have the option to add in-person photo shoot sessions for hands-on photography with Mary Louise. You can purchase the in-person photo shoots a la carte, or the bundle of all three shoots at a discounted price.

Photo Shoot #1) Nov 8, 10 - noon
meet at 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC
photo shoot theme: architectural abstracts
Explore Raleigh's warehouse arts district on foot and practice photographing architectural abstracts

Photo Shoot #2) Nov 11, 10 - noon
meet at JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, NC
photo shoot theme: light on contours

Photo Shoot #3) Nov 15, 10 - noon
meet at JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, NC
photo shoot theme: reflections and distortions