A picture is worth a thousand words— especially one taken on Assateague Island.
The annual Assateague Nature Photography Workshop will be held on Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 at the Assateague Island Visitor Center. The photo workshop at Assateague Island is a three day event put on by Assateague Island Alliance, designed for those with a basic knowledge of the operation of a 35 mm SLR digital camera and interest in nature photography.
Although the event is currently in its fifth year, this is the first workshop being held in the fall.
“Every one knows weather-wise, Assateague is really beautiful in the fall,” Ashlie Koslowski, outreach coordinator for AIA, says. “The workshop provides an enhanced experience and allows people to enjoy Assateague Island in ways they might not have been able to, in a different way then if they were to take an interpretive program through the park.”
Irene Hinke-Sacilotto travels around the United States teaching photography workshops and is no stranger to Assateague Island. Hinke-Sacilotto’s course is intended for those who desire to improve their photographic skills and optimize the use of their camera.
The multi-day workshop includes field sessions on Assateague Island, instructive slide programs, and critiques of participant images. The instructor will discuss equipment selection and operation, composition, creativity and perspective, metering and exposure, lighting, digital media and image storage, basic image manipulation and locating, approaching and photographing wildlife.
The course begins with a pre-workshop assignment, due prior to orientation on Friday. During Friday’s session, the pre-workshop assignments will be critiqued and each individual will discuss what they would like to gain from the workshop.
“It’s unique because participants can get feedback not only from instructor, but also members of the course,” Koslowski says.
During the Friday evening orientation, departure times, current field conditions, potential subjects, equipment needed, safety, field ethics, and other logistical topics will be discussed. Prior to dawn on Saturday, the class participants will depart for the beach to photograph sunrise and take advantage of the soft, warm early morning light.
Koslowski says in years past, popular subjects have included the sunrise, sand dunes, shells, the surf, beach vegetation, fisherman, the wild horses of Assateague Island and local wildlife including whitetail deer, fox, raccoons, herons, rails, geese, ducks, shorebirds and other resident and migratory species.
After shooting, participants will spend the early afternoon editing images, followed by a critique of photos taken during the morning. The remainder of the afternoon will be devoted to more photography of island inhabitants, the beach and sunset. Sunday, photography will begin at dawn and continue through the morning. Mid-day editing will be followed by a final critique of images. See the schedule above for details.
The course is limited to 10 participants to allow a one-on-one feel with the instructor. The cost for the three day workshop is $300, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting AIA.
“The most exciting thing is to see people surprised at what they are able to capture on their camera,” Koslowski says. “They come away with an understanding on how to approach wildlife, how to capture natural moments on nature.”
Koslowski says this years workshop has an 11-year-old and a 17-year-old participating, which is uncharacteristic, but exciting, for the group.
For more information on the workshop, visit www.ospreyphoto.com.
Aerial photo of Assateague Island from Chopper 16 (Photo: WBOC)
