Where We Go: In the middle of a Montana summer, the sun hangs in the sky well into the evening hours. Fading beyond the horizon, it leaves behind a dynamic display of color and light. North of Missoula, you photograph the landscape of the National Bison Range and the evening light as it paints the west slope of the Mission Mountains. Nearby Ninepipe Wildlife Refuge offers glimpses of animals, waterfowl and spectacular reflections in the marshy waters. At Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, south of Missoula, the morning sun brings daylight to the Bitterroot Mountains. During midday hours you photograph at Moon-Randolph Homestead and indoor locations, which may include a greenhouse or the interior of an ornate church.

What You Learn: This workshop gets you thinking about light, shadow, shape and color as the building blocks of every photograph you take. Referring to light and shadow as “the pencil of nature” and “the shape of darkness,” Kathy explores how each differs when viewed by the human eye and your camera. She explains how weather, time of day and light source affects your camera controls and influences the mood of your images. During field shoots, she encourages you to notice the relationships light creates with the objects it encounters. You benefit from Kathy’s one-on-one attention and from sharing your thoughts with fellow students. Critique sessions further your understanding and allow you to identify ways you can improve.

Who Should Attend: You should be comfortable with the manual exposure operation of your digital camera. Film cameras are welcome, however only digital images can be critiqued.