Location:      Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminar & Conference Center

                        1895 Fall River Road, Estes Park, Colorado

Time:  

Course Description:

In this highly interactive, inspirational, and fun course you will learn about making the common uncommon; how to see with your imagination; how to see things before you see them. Join Eli Vega on this artistic photo journey, suitable for both beginning and intermediate photographers, as he explains how he incorporates intuition, imagination, impressionism, surrealism, and eastern philosophy into his photo art to produce breathtakingly beautiful works of art. Abstracts, close ups, and special effects will be the focus as participants learn techniques for tapping into their creative sides when producing images that allow their work to become anything but ordinary. Eli will show you how you can produce fine art through your photography, without having to spend hours in photo editing software.

Course Level:  II

Short-distance walks throughout the day on primarily level terrain

Brief Instructor Biography (additional information available at www.rmna.org):

Eli Vega is an award-winning, extensively published photo artist, with over twenty years of experience in the field of photography. He is a sought-after presenter and art competition judge among Colorado’s Front Range camera clubs. He is known for his mantras: “The best photography is found where technical know-how and creative aesthetics meet,” and, “I don’t see with my eyes; I see with my imagination.”  In addition to freelance work, he is also a photography instructor for Front Range Community College in Westminster, and Arapahoe Community College, in Littleton, Colorado.

Instructor’s Website: www.elivega.net

Expectations:  Professional conduct will be expected from participants at all times.  Individual ideas will be respected.  Except during course breaks, cellular phones, pagers, and personal entertainment devices are strictly prohibited in the classroom and during field sessions.

Car-pooling:  Rocky Mountain Field Seminars courses utilize car-pooling to limit vehicles traveling into the Park.  Car-pooling makes it easier to keep the group together, reduces transit time, and allows courses greater access because fewer parking spaces are required at destinations.  In addition, it provides an opportunity for participants to discuss course material in small groups during transit.  Typically, a few participants from each course volunteer the use of their vehicles for car-pooling to course locations.

Tentative Course Schedule:

What to Bring:

·         Sack lunch, snacks, energy bars, Water                                 

·         Gloves, for cold morning weather

·         Sun block & hat/cap

·         Winter weather clothing for early morning shooting (it gets cold in RMNP!)

·         Good, comfortable hiking shoes/boots

·         5-10 digital images on CD or flash drive, if we get a chance for a private critique

·         Camera equipment and accessories:
--lenses, filters, lens hoods, memory, tripod, battery chargers
-- Diffusers and reflectors, for close-ups & abstracts  
--Camera bag/backpack
--Rain gear in case of inclement weather
--Small notebook and pens for note taking

·         Laptop or something similar with photo editing software, and CDs or flash drive, to edit images for group critiques/feedback

·         (Optional):
--12”-20” black material to use as backdrops, to create “In-the-studio” looking images
--Camera with the capacity do to multiple exposures (vs. image overlays)

In this workshop, in beautiful and historic Rocky Mountain National Park, the opportunities to create fine art images will be endless. You will be tempted by lakes, creeks, reflections, mountains (some between 12,000’ and 14,000’), brooks, cascades, flowers, and fauna. When you apply Eli’s techniques, your eyes may see a lake, but your images will leave people wondering. Although the focus will be on creating fine art photography, there will be time, and the hopeless temptation, to see and photograph elk, deer, pica, marmots, and maybe even an occasional black bear. Macro lenses (1:1 ratio) and lenses ranging from 17mm to 200mm will provide the best fine art images. However, please bring all your lenses with you. If you don’t have a true macro lens, lenses with a 1:3 ratio can also give you that fine art look. 35mm formats are recommended for light travel, hiking, and quick-reflection capture. It is also recommended to bring your camera/lens manuals, unless your knowledge/understanding of your equipment is now second nature to you.

* Participants should have a basic understanding of camera mechanics, such as f/stops, shutter speeds, exposure and focusing modes, etc., should also have a basic understanding of photo software editing and have appropriate software and hardware for photo image editing (laptops, flash drives, Photo Shop, etc.)

Remember to Bring the 10 Essentials:

Rocky Mountain National Park recommends that hikers always carry the 10 essentials in their daypacks.

     Raingear                                     Map and compass                       Flashlight or headlamp

     Sunglasses and sunscreen            Candles                                      Matches or other fire starter

     Pocketknife                                 First-aid kit                                 Extra layers of clothing

     Sack lunch, snacks, water              

Note:  Rocky Mountain Field Seminars recommends that participants for all courses dress in layers and wear comfortable, sturdy hiking boots/shoes.  Participants should be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and weather conditions.

Teacher Recertification Credit: 

Most seminars are eligible for teacher recertification credit through the Centennial Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES).  The fee is $25.00 per seminar (.5 unit) or $25.00 per series of threaded seminars (1.0 - 3.0 units).  A list of threaded seminars can be found online at www.rmna.org.  Participants must enroll in all seminars of a threaded series in order to qualify for the $25.00 multi-unit fee. Please be prepared to pay for this credit with a check, made payable to BOCES, on the first day of a seminar or on the final day of a threaded series of seminars.