Nature Photography

“Nature Photography is a window onto the natural world. But how clear your window is, how bright, or how inspiring, will depend on how well you apply the tools of your craft.”
—George Lepp

Nature photography is an exciting and captivating endeavor—a creative blending of a naturalist's skill, artistic vision, and technical craft. It provides an opportunity to explore the natural world and a means to capture and share your observations with others.

Members: Arboretum members must present their Membership Card at the entry gate with each visit.

View and enroll in the current schedule of classes.

Frequently asked questions about nature photography courses.

Through participation in the program you will:

Develop and expand your potential as a photographer
Master a range of photographic skills and techniques
Gain knowledge of photography as a tool for biological and environmental documentation and awareness
Share experiences with people of similar interests
Meet professional photographers from a variety of disciplines and learn from their experience
Expand your appreciation and understanding of the natural world

Certificate Outline

Three core photography and three core natural history courses, plus an additional 45 contact hours of photography electives and a juried nature photography project are required to complete the certificate. Students usually complete the program in two or more years. We encourage you to proceed at your own pace.

Core Nature Photography Courses

Introduction to Nature Photography
Through nature photography you may express your delight in a particular season, the beauty of a flower or insect, or document an item for scientific purposes. In this class you will learn the full range of uses for nature photography, and be introduced to equipment basics, field notes, exposure, light, and compositional strategies. Class will include hands-on practice in the field and classroom reviews. The recommended text is Nature Photography Field Guide by John Shaw.

Light and Exposure

Photographs are ‘stories of a subject painted with light.’ The dramatic impact of the story is greatly influenced by the photographer's use of light and exposure. Discuss the various qualities of light that photographers encounter in shooting the natural landscape, and examine the quantity, color, and quality of light found during the course of the day and the seasons. Through practice in the field and classroom reviews, learn how to use different natural lighting creatively and effectively, what filters to use, and how to get correct exposures in each light quality.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Nature Photography (P001)

Composition in Nature

How do you capture the "physicality" of a scene – its shapes, textures, and forms? Composition is a fundamental cornerstone of photography. Learn photographic techniques for composing and capturing natural scenes in photographs by combining the physical elements and colors you observe in nature. Through practice in the field and classroom reviews, translate design principles, subjects, and prevailing light into appealing, expressive photographs.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Nature Photography (P001)

Core Natural History Courses

The nature photographer Bryan Peterson has said, “If you want to be a nature photographer, become a naturalist.”

Three of the following courses are required to complete the Nature Photography Certificate.

Introduction to Botany

Study the structure of plants, including their flowers, leaves, roots, and stems, and learn how plant structure is related to plant function. Class includes both lectures and lab sessions.

Local Flora: Spring, Summer, or Fall

Learn to identify native and introduced plants in our forests, prairies, and wetlands by both common and scientific names. Only one class in this series is required.

Tree Identification and Ecology

Learn to recognize plants of the Chicago region and their preferred plant community, including both native and commonly planted woody plants. You will examine 70 – 80 trees, develop the skills to identify them, and discuss relevant aspects of tree biology and ecology.

Field Ecology: Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall

Study the ecology of Illinois as it unfolds throughout the four seasons. You will practice data-gathering methods used by professional biologists while you explore the relationships between plants, animals, and their environment.

Elective Courses

The elective courses change from season to season. Courses include traditional classes, workshops, and seminars that cover specific aspects of Nature Photography. A minimum of 45 contact hours of elective photography courses are required to complete the certificate.

Electives may include, but are not limited to, courses such as:

· P002: History of Nature Photography

· P321: Black and White Photography

· P322: Photographing Water

· P323: Night-time Photography

· P324: Photographing Trees

· P330: Plants in the Landscape

· P340: Plants in Close Up

· P412: Abstracts in Nature

· P480: Wildlife Photography

Courses in Adobe Photoshop (P200, P220, P240), Adobe Lightroom (P250), and other courses in the digital processing and manipulation of photographs are offered each year as certificate electives. Only one course in digital processing may be counted towards completion of the certificate.

Equipment

To obtain maximum benefit, participants should have, at a minimum, a basic 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR or DSLR) camera with adjustable aperture and shutter speeds. Elective courses may recommend or require other specialized equipment.

Performance Evaluation

Students will be evaluated for each course in the Certificate Program, receiving either a satisfactory or unsatisfactory grade. Evaluations will be based on attendance standards and instructor reviews, including written examinations, field identification, class projects, and take-home assignments. An individual progress report will be sent each summer, detailing the list of classes you have taken.

Juried Project

After all coursework, you may apply for a final portfolio review. The portfolio consists of at least 15 and not more than 30 photographs. Portfolios for review should be submitted digitally in presentation format. The collection of photographs can either provide an overview of the best work from your courses, or center on one type of photography or project theme. Approval for the portfolio project must be given by the program manager in the summer of the year a student expects to complete the certificate.

*To enroll in the nature photography certificate program, fill out an enrollment form and mail it to the registrars office.If you have questions about Nature Photography classes or Nature Photography certificate credit, please contact Megan Dunning, Manager of Natural History Education, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 630-725-2101.

The Morton Arb

Education

Nature Photography