Join us as we learn about photographic storytelling and connection!
How can our images tell a story? How do we bring a voice to a 2 dimension object that exists in a very real sense in 3 dimensions in front of us. Why is connection so important to the environment in which you are photographing? What the heck is storytelling? Â
These are just some of the questions people ask when it comes to how can my images tell a story. For many of us we don’t know what it is but somehow we can see it in other peoples work where an image communicates far beyond the literal interpretation of the landscape. Â
- We start the series with UK Photographer Margaret Soraya and Finding Your Voice where we will set the stage on how to find time for ourselves to create, how to extract what we might want to say, and then ways we can say that (available now!).
- 2023 Inspired Creator, Talor Stone, she speaks about Storytelling within Long Term Projects. How when we commit to projects we find a deeper level of commitment and ability to extract themes and narratives (available now!).
- Next, we welcome back to Nature Photography Clases the author of 14 books on photography, creativity, and connection, David duChemin. In David’s talk we will dive into how stories have characters we connect with, how stories have mystery, how stories need to have setting and how stories have conflict (available now!).
- The series concludes with Cole Thompson who will lead us us through Vision, Passion and Project. Learn how to combine Vision and Passion to create amazing photos (available now!).Â
This series promises to answer the question of how can my images tell a story and how can I more effectively communicate through my images. Priced at $22 each or $77 for the entire series you can cost effectively dive into the creation of your own stories.
Registration for the series comes with the opportunity to rewatch as much as you want for as long as you want, and even download for offline viewing. They are all recorded so no need to be there live! You will have permanent access to the recordings through My Library, YouTube or Dropbox file download.
Nature Photography Classes offer are a unique opportunity to hear from people that rarely speak with audiences and are considered some of the best photography educators in the world. Â
5% of all registration fees will be donated to the environmental cause or organization of the speakers choosing. Another great opportunity to give back!
The sessions will be hosted by Nic Stover, founder of Nature Photography Classes.Â
Margaret Soraya teaches “Finding Your Unique Style in Photography”
Margaret Soraya
Join Margaret Soraya for a talk exploring the journey to uncovering your unique voice and style in photography. Drawing from her own life experiences, Margaret shares how she rediscovered peace, stillness, and herself through photography.
Margaret believes each of us has a deeply personal and beautiful creative voice shaped by our life experiences, personality, and perspective. This talk delves into the profound "why" behind your art, the barriers that hold you back, and the steps you can take to connect with your true self. Through self-awareness, mindfulness, and gratitude, Margaret shows how understanding yourself can help you craft work that feels authentic and uniquely yours. Margaret will touch on steps she has taken to develop her own work and the things that you can start doing now.Â
This talk is not just about photography; it’s about self-discovery, embracing your passions, and living a creative, fulfilling life.
Bio:
Margaret is a photographer and writer based on the Isle of Harris in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. The quiet, solitude and ever-present connection to the sea and nature on the remote island where she lives is at the heart of her creative work.
Her belief that creativity is vital for well-being inspired her to develop creative retreats, an online membership, and an annual creative photography festival to support, encourage and teach others in a gentle and uplifting way. On her Substack, she shares personal stories and visual meditations that help quiet the mind and encourage well-being through unconventional, creative living. She runs a podcast called Creative Soundscapes and is currently building her own gallery at her home in Harris.
Learn more about Margaret and her work on her website.Â
Margaret will be supporting Women's Aid with 5% from the registration feesÂ
Price: $22 (or as part of the entire series for only $77!)
Talor Stone teaches “To the Edge of the Earth: Storytelling Through Long Term Projects”
Talor Stone
Photography can do so much more than simply freeze a moment in time. Rather, the camera can be wielded as a powerful tool weaving through time to reveal rich stories and connect them with far-flung audiences. When we truly commit to long term projects, we find a deeper level of connection to the story and discover the ability to extract subtle themes and complex narratives.
Bio:
Talor Stone is a PhD researcher and photographer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Talor is a polar specialist whose work focuses on storytelling and education. Her images merge science and art to highlight themes of transition and fragility and to emotionally connect viewers to remote places that few will ever visit.
You can learn more about Talor and her work on her website.
Talor will be supporting Hila Kihimi Documentary from The Film Collaborative  with 5% from the registration feesÂ
Price: $22 (or as part of the entire series for only $77!)
David duChemin teaches “Photographic Storytelling: Hooking the Heart & the Imagination”
David duChemin
Photographers often talk about themselves as "visual storytellers" but ask them about the basic elements of storytelling and they get stuck. We threw the word 'story' around but what does it mean, why does it matter, and how do we use the elements of story and storytelling to make photographs that hook the emotion and the imagination? This presentation is a practical deep dive into those elements, by a photographer whose storytelling abilities were in demand as a humanitarian photographer, and now as a Creative Storytelling Specialist for Apple. This presentation will help you make photographs that connect, and create impact.
Bio:
David duChemin is a Canadian photographer, author, educator, amputee and adventurer. A former comedian turned humanitarian photographer, duChemin now spends his time behind the camera focused on wilder subjects. His work has taken him to all 7 continents. To his great delight and surprise, his books—among them Within The Frame, The Visual Toolbox, The Soul of the Camera, and The Heart of the Photograph—have been published in over a dozen languages and are celebrated for their focus on vision and creativity. His work and teaching can be found at DavidduChemin.com, and his books—including his latest, Light, Space & Time, Essays on Camera Craft and Creativity—can be found on Amazon or your local bookstore.
Learn more about David and his work on his website.
David will be supporting Sea Legacy with 5% from the registration feesÂ
Price: $22 (or as part of the entire series for only $77!)
Cole Thompson teaches "Vision, Passion and Projects"
Cole Thompson
For many years I was a Photographic Grazer. I photographed wherever the grass was greener and resisted working on projects. And I created some wonderful “greatest hits” images, but the images were not related in any way.
But then something happened that changed how I viewed projects, and I've gone project crazy! Here are some of my projects:
- Melting Giants
- The Ghosts of Auschwitz-Birkenau
- Monoliths
- Harbinger
- Trees from a Train
- Powerlines
- Beauty in Death
- The Lone Man
- Ceiling Lamps
- And many more
I'm hooked on projects!
And do you want to know the secret behind creating great portfolios?
(marketing people say that I'm supposed to use words like "secret" and "great" to lure you in...)
There isn't one. But what I have learned is that all my portfolios have two ingredients in common: Vision and Passion.
And so, I've been invited to speak on the topic of: Vision, Passion and Projects.
I'll be talking about how I create projects and why, and the critical role of Vision and Passion. I'll also be talking about:
- Where do my ideas come from?
- Why a unique idea isn't enough.
- How I create projects.
My least favorite type of portfolio. - The project you should give up on.
- What are the rules for creating a project.
Bio:
Cole Thompson is a fine art photographer whose passion for the medium began at the age of 14 when a chance discovery of an old home once owned by George Eastman sparked a deep fascination with photography. Over the next decade, Thompson immersed himself in the art form, constantly studying and creating images, with a particular affinity for the work of photographers like Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and Minor White. His unique style, often dark and evocative, reflects an emotional depth, drawing on the power of black-and-white imagery to convey the feelings beneath the surface.
Thompson’s art has been showcased in numerous exhibitions and publications, receiving recognition through various awards. However, he defines success not by accolades, but by the emotional connection he feels with his work. For Thompson, the true measure of success is the satisfaction of creating art that resonates on a personal level, beyond external validation.
Learn more about Cole on his website.
Cole will be supporting Nature Photography Classes with 5% from the registration feesÂ
Price: $22 (or as part of the entire series for only $77!)
