Photography Workshops
Photography and Forest Bathing half-day Workshop
Saturday, April 22, 2023
8 am - 12 pm
Latta Nature Preserve, Huntersville, North Carolina
“When one tugs at a single thing in Nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” John Muir
This half-day event is your opportunity to slow down, enjoy nature, and learn how to take better photographs. Combining Forest Therapy and Slow Photography, you’ll:
• Gain a new awareness of your impact as a photographer in nature
• Deepen your understanding of your connection to nature
• Engage your five senses to take more meaningful and impactful photographs
• Take better images – quality over quantity is the focus.
Equipment Needed: 1 body, 1 lens, and/or cell phone. Feel free to bring a backpack/camera bag.
Also: We will be outside for the duration of this event. Please dress comfortably and in layers appropriate for the day’s weather.
Bring water, sunscreen, snacks, and any other personal items you require. This event is open to ALL experience levels, from beginner to professional. HOWEVER, we won’t be teaching you “how” to use your camera, only how to create images more intentionally.
Only 12 spots available. CLICK HERE to register.
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein
Slow Photography
Slow Photography was inspired by the Slow Food Movement of the 1980s. The idea is to engage intentionally and move at a meaningful pace while focusing on the experience of photography. This is a slow, personal approach to appreciating nature through the lens of your camera. From the Slow Photography website:
• Tell engaging stories about the context in which an impactful image was captured.
• Emphasize quality over quantity, by prioritizing thoughtful and respectful attitudes toward photographic subjects.
• Build community among photographers that practice a slow approach, revealing unique perspectives and celebrating common experiences.
For more information about Slow Photography, visit: https://www.slowphotographymovement.com/
What IS Forest Therapy?
Forest Therapy is a research-based framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments. Forest Therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to “forest bathing.” Studies have demonstrated a wide array of health benefits, especially in the cardiovascular and immune systems, and for stabilizing and improving mood and cognition. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be fully present, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. At its core, a Forest Therapy walk is gentle and slow.
Only 12 spots available. CLICK HERE to register.
Nelson Stegall is a professional photographer with a passion for nature, landscapes, wildlife, adventure, and conservation. His lifestyle has taken him on amazing adventures to see what most people have only read about or seen on TV: traveling the remote backcountry of Alaska, rafting the Colorado River through Grand Canyon, kayaking 350 miles across Florida + Georgia, and visiting all 50 states.
Nelson’s photos have been published in Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine, various local newspapers, the Slow Photography Movement website, on huge billboards, and have graced the cover and interior of the book Make Some Room by Angie Mattson Stegall. He has been interviewed and held multiple speaking engagements about his adventures.
Nelson is currently working on documenting the recreational opportunities of the Catawba River basin, photography for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, drone video for a local documentary, Ambassador for Nature First USA, Nikon Profesional Services, guiding monthly Nature Photo Walks, a coordinator for Charlotte, NC chapter of Carolina Nature Photography Association, and volunteering photography services to grassroots organizations.
Nelson’s photography is also assisted by his experiences and training in Forest Resource Management, National Outdoor Leadership School participant, EMT in North Carolina and Alaska, Wilderness First Responder, New York Institute of Photography, and Conservation Visual Storytellers. Nelson is a member of the Professional Photographers of America, the North America Nature Photographers Association, and the Carolina Nature Photography Association.
Nature has blessed his life and taught him more than any book ever could. Nelson loves capturing the moment when the light crosses paths with a subject and creates a once-in-a-lifetime event. Photographing and sharing nature is his motivation. Go out and let Nature inspire you, too. And let’s get busy conserving it for future generations.
