After months of meticulous planning and dedication to the vision of this program, the inaugural workshop at Richmond Nature Park on April 20th, 2024, unfolded into a tapestry of shared creativity and community spirit. The overwhelming enthusiasm from the community, which led to a wait-listed registration, was a testament to the collective yearning for artistic exploration.
Bathed in the sublime light of an ideal day, we found harmony with nature’s canvas. The true essence of the workshop was embodied by the vibrant assembly of local photographers, each bringing their unique perspective and innate talent for capturing the ephemeral beauty of our natural world.
The day was further enriched by the collaboration with Flick Harrison, a media artist and advocate for community engagement. Having been guided by his wisdom during the ICASC FUTURES/forward mentorship in 2020, it was profoundly meaningful to co-create this experience alongside him. His unwavering support and insightful mentorship have been pivotal in my journey as a community-engaged artist.
Our session commenced with communal activities designed to forge connections, my personal favorite being the spontaneous portrait session. This was followed by an enlightening discourse from Angela Soon, the park’s botanist, who unraveled the geological narrative of the park’s evolution. A guided sojourn along the ‘Pond Trail’ boardwalks allowed us to immerse ourselves in the presence of iconic flora, such as the Sphagnum Moss, which anchors the bog’s unique ecosystem.
As we gathered amidst the verdant heart of the park, I shared insights into the technical nuances of creative aperture control and the art of composition—foundational elements of my photographic practice. Despite the diversity of equipment, from smartphones to DSLRs, the focus remained on mastering the tools at our disposal. The artistry lies not in the device but in the intimate knowledge of its capabilities and the deliberate intent behind each captured moment. In the realm of contemporary art, entire exhibitions have been curated with images captured on the most unassuming devices. It is a reminder that the true medium of an artist is not the instrument but the vision they bring to life through it.
The compositional techniques we explored transcend the medium, applicable to any device in the hands of a storyteller. It’s about the art of pause, the contemplation behind each frame, the narrative we yearn to weave, and the meticulous orchestration of our visual symphony. The collective brilliance of the group shone through, as each individual contributed to a tapestry of shared wisdom and camaraderie.
In this blog post, I wish to share a glimpse of the aperture insights that illuminated our workshop. Aperture, akin to the eye of the camera, dictates the story’s depth. The elements of light and focus, from the ethereal blur that cradles a subject to the crisp expanse of a landscape, is all controlled by the aperture’s setting. To master this, one may embrace aperture priority mode—or manual, for the intrepid—bearing in mind that a smaller f-stop number narrows the stage to a single actor, while a larger number invites the entire ensemble into clarity. While other elements play their roles, this is a splendid starting point for those eager to experiment and discover the interplay of these values. During the workshop, I presented visual exemplars of depth of field (pictured below), each a testament to the narrative power held within the choice of aperture.
The top image shows a ‘shallow depth of field’ - f/2.8.
The image below was captured with f/8.
Personally, I use aperture priority mode, often opting for f/8 and f/11 to capture the grandeur of landscapes, steadied by a tripod’s embrace. For portraits where the background fades into a dream, f/2.8 and f/5.6 are my confidants. As a self-taught photographer and artist, I advocate for the relentless pursuit of practice, for it is through exploration and experimentation that our craft truly flourishes. Should this post spark a desire to delve into the realm of aperture, I invite you to download the exercise crafted for our workshop.
Engage with it, witness the effects firsthand, and let experience be your guide.
A heartfelt thank you to the souls who graced our gathering, each a vital thread in the fabric of our collective artistic journey. My gratitude extends to Flick, whose enchantment infused our session, and to the Richmond Nature Park, its Society, and the City of Richmond for nurturing this program’s growth.
With anticipation, I await our next session on June 1, 2024—a picnic-style workshop where we will craft Chlorophyll prints and enjoy the melodies of live music. Join us for an afternoon where art and nature coalesce in celebration.