Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or an amateur who wants to improve your skills, a new photography workshop organized by a Land O’ Lakes couple may be right up your alley.
Noted nature photographer Jason Hahn and wife Nicole have been laying the groundwork for months for a new regional event they hope will attract photographers from near and far to hone their skills, while also having fun.
The couple owns Outdoor Photo Workshops, which already organizes a similar two-day workshop in South Dakota that attracts about 200 photographers a year.
The inaugural Tampa Bay event, called the Tampa Bay Photo Shootout, will be April 4-6, at the Pinellas Technical Education Centers. Registration is $225, which includes an optional free Photography 101 workshop on April 4 and four workshops — out of a list of 46 options – on Saturday and Sunday.
There also are two lunch sessions with talks by professional photographers. During one luncheon session, Hahn will do an aerial photography demonstration using a drone.
In addition to the registration charge, some photo shoot venues have small admission fees. While the lunch chats are free, participants must buy their own meals.
Locations for the photo shoots will range from street life in Ybor City to nature shots at Weedon Island; from city skylines in downtown Tampa to a wet walk in a Pasco County cypress strand. One workshop the couple expects to be popular is a swimsuit fashion shoot on the beach.
The Tampa Bay area, though, offers diverse photo opportunities. Photo shoots are planned to allow photographers to capture images of classic cars, coastal landscapes, birds of prey, and scenes in a working set for “Dry Creek,” a television show shot in a replica of an 1800s western town.
Shutterbugs also will be able to work on a wide range of skills. Those who enjoy the challenge of taking action shots will have the opportunity to photograph horseback riders shooting at targets at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds.
Some photographers will want to hone technical skills, while others want to work on their artistic expression. Some may want some pointers on the business side of the profession.
“No matter what you are interested in, or where you want to grow as a photographer, we’ve got something that will fit your particular needs,” Hahn said.
The Hahns have assembled a team of professional photographers — hailing from such places as Florida, South Dakota, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Kentucky and Minnesota — to share their expertise. The keynote speaker is Jim Clark, former president of the North American Nature Photography Association, who will travel from Virginia to the shootout.
The event is intended for photographers of all ability levels, Hahn said. Some hobbyists may be trying to decide whether to take the plunge and pursue photography full-time. They’ll be able to find plenty of experienced photographers who can tell them about opportunities, challenges and joys the field offers.
“Folks that are a little bit more skilled tend to gravitate to the portfolio reviews,” Hahn said. “Some of them are trying to make that decision, whether they should jump into this and do it.”
The 30-minute portfolio session is an additional $30 fee, Nicole Hahn said.
Most participants will bring along a single-lens reflex camera, but there are those who will use point-and-shoot digital cameras, or even smartphones. One of this year’s sessions is geared to smartphone photography.
“You do have these fairly sophisticated cameras in smartphones,” Hahn said. “They take good pictures, but you’ve got to learn how to do it right.”
People need not feel intimidated if they lack fancy equipment or if their photography knowledge is limited, Hahn said.
Besides opportunities to learn, the two-day event is fun, Nicole Hahn said. “Some people just enjoy the camaraderie.”
Her husband agreed. “We can’t stress enough the social aspect of this. Photographers are a different group of people,” he said.
Photographers often want to spend a couple hours observing when the rest of the family is ready to move on. This event allows them a chance to immerse themselves in something they love, and to share the experience with like-minded people, Hahn said.
The couple said they have tried to keep the workshop’s price reasonable, to encourage participation. They also offer a 50-percent discount to full-time students.
“I’m a big believer that we’ve got to act as mentors for the next generation of photographers and conservationists,” Hahn said.
Registering for the shootout must be done online. To register or learn more, visit ThePhotoShootout.com.
Published March 12, 2014
