Photography Intensive with Anna Laurent

Explore winter fruits and seeds with photographer Anna Laurent, who will guide a group through the UC Botanical Garden to collect seed pods and photograph them in a studio environment. Laurent, who has been collecting and photographing seed pods in California and elsewhere, will discuss how to look at all types of fruiting flora to select specimens that might make successful portraits. Students will observe how to collect their own fruits and seeds, learning about useful practices for removing and protecting specimens of various weights, textures, and shapes. The second portion of the day will focus on photographing the collections with Laurent in a studio environment in the Garden. Students will examine the specimens that were collected and consider effective compositions, arrangements, and angles. Using a light tent and studio lighting, Laurent will guide each student through their photography, discussing aspects such as lighting, angles, contour and depth of field. Students will download photos and Laurent will briefly review post-production techniques in Photoshop. Finally, the class will review everyone’s final photographs.

Required materials: DSLR camera with flash (external if possible); USB cable to transfer photos from camera to computer; lunch

 $125, $115 members

Register online, or by calling 510-664-9841, or by emailing gardenprograms@berkeley.edu.