Discuss this workshop
Urban environments comprise the most diverse target-rich places to photograph anywhere. Most photographs contain a “subject” within a setting or background. The cool reality is that Buildings and Urban Places are both subjects and settings. Think about all of the images you have taken or will take in the future that contain buildings as the featured subject or as backgrounds to a myriad of other photo subjects … like people, for instance.
This workshop series is designed to improve your photography regardless of whether you consider picture taking a hobby, or you are a serious enthusiast, or a professional photographer, or earn your living as a member of the global real estate, design, and construction industries.
There are rules for photographing buildings and other man-made structures, and knowing these rules will make you a better photographer. Mastering these rules will allow you to learn how “break” them in a deliberate, meaningful way.
You will learn how a basic understanding of street photography will assist in your architectural and urban photography. You will discover how the fundamental principles of travel photography will enhance your architectural and urban imaging.
While the illustrated lectures will give you the fundamental information you need, we will spend a significant portion of the workshop in the field, with hands on photography. Your professional instructor will also give daily constructive critiques of your own selected images which is a key part of the learning experience.
There is no requirement for fancy equipment. Any and every brand of camera will work, so we strongly encourage participants with Canon, Pentax, Sony and other camera brands to attend. The principles taught will also apply to point and shoot cameras, new mirrorless cameras and even camera phones. We’re serious! Bring your iPhone or Android and see what you can create!
We will discuss the elementary basics of how people see, how the camera sees, and why High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography can be so enticing and fulfilling. This is true whether you are wanting to document reality or you want to create a fine art interpretation of the built environment .
This workshop is designed to get you to think about concepts in architectural and urban photography that you hadn’t thought of or considered before. That is, admittedly, a rather bold statement. However, that is exactly what this four day experience will achieve.
You will discover how to better frame and crop architectural and urban images using the long established basic principles of portrait, wedding, and event photography. By the way, if you are a wedding or event photographer, this workshop will take your photography up a notch as well.
You will learn how to create jaw-dropping images that will be the envy of both your photographer friends and potential future clients. You might even be able to impress your kids!
And yes … for those of you with “NAS,” we can also talk about the best gear and broadly touch on software solutions that can make your images sing.
A four-day workshop with a maximum enrollment of 10 people
Outline Seminar Schedule and Structure
(This is the San Francisco schedule. Other cities will be tailored in a similar way. Schedule is tentative depending upon weather and permissions)
Day 1
10:00am – 12:30am Introduction/Objectives/Discussion:
“Classical Rules of Architectural Imaging”
12:30 – 1:30pm Lunch Break
1:30pm – 2:45pm Discussion: “Composition”
2:45pm – 3:00pm Break
3:00pm - 4:00pm Discussion: “Pre-Visualization”
4:00pm– 7:00pm Golden Hour and Sunset Photography
Day 2
9:00am - 10:30am Discussion: “Buildings are like People”
10:30am - 10:45am Break
10:45am – Noon Constructive Critiques of Selected Images Noon – 1:00pm Lunch Break
1:00pm - 3:30pm Demonstrations/Discussion
3:30pm - 5:00pm Field Photography
Day 3
9:00am - 10:30am Discussion: “STRAVEL” Photography
10:30am – 2:00pm Street Photography and Lunch Break
2:00pm - 3:00pm Discussion: “Creative Rule Breaking”
3:00pm - 4:00pm HDR Demonstration
4:00pm – 5:00pm Constructive Critiques of Selected Images
Day 4
7:00am - 10:00am Sunrise and Golden Hour Photography
10:00 am – Noon Constructive Critiques/Post Processing
Noon – 1:00pm Lunch Break
1:00pm - 3:30pm Discussion/Demonstration/Wrap-up
Note: Optional, “on your own” pre and post workshop photograhy each day.
Our Shooting locations will be in the downtown areas within walking distance of our hotel or within a short transit ride, so private vehicles will not be necessary.
Comments from Former Students
"One of the most informational and entertaining speakers I've seen. I learned a ton. I especially loved his attitude toward everything."
“I'm applying what I learned in the class everyday! Only thing I'd change is make the class longer :)"
“You opened our eyes to a new way of looking …we appreciated being free to take whatever subjects caught our imagination. You were generous with your time and your comments were helpful.”
“Truly inspiring!"
"You should know that your presentation profoundly changed (improved) the way many of us in the class shoot - myself included. The useful takeaways from it are too numerous to list. Thank you again."
“Rick has a gift for teaching, a very helpful but good way of critiquing submissions and, most important, what he teaches is immensely useful. His visuals are excellent and can be very thought-provoking.”
“…it was one of the best photography classes I have taken. You have a real knack for teaching. Your lessons and feedback have really allowed me to grow as a photographer. You encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and gave me much more confidence in my abilities.”
“It was a great experience. I really liked the way you were the authority but were open to hearing our ideas. Overall Grade A+”
“You have had the most significant impact on my photography since I took it up and the smartest decision I've made in that regard was to take your workshop. Little did I know that you would change my photography life.”
Member prices are only applicable to Nikonians Silver, Gold and Platinum Members. Non-members can register as Nikonians members here. Nikonians Basic members can upgrade the membership level here. Membership payments help sustain the growth of the Nikonians community and its services such as the Nikonians Academy.
