Bellevue Botanical Garden PhotoWalk with Merrill Images

Join travel photographer Lisa Merrill for a fun small group PhotoWalk at Bellevue Botanical Garden. With her on-location tips and encouragement, you’ll work with light and compose for impact -- and intentionally make vs. take photos. Lisa welcomes participants at every skill level, with any camera (including a phone), and will help you create compelling artistic images to treasure and share.

The PhotoWalk begins with a briefing highlighting the abundant photo opportunities of the Bellevue Botanical Garden – intimate close-ups of flowers or insects, the vibrant Perennial Border, the tranquil Yao Japanese Garden, and a suspension bridge over a ravine.

Then you’ll create on your own, and Lisa will be nearby to answer questions or offer suggestions. She’ll occasionally demonstrate photo techniques including varying your perspective, using frames for intimacy and context, isolating a subject with shallow depth-of-field, or using reflectors or diffusers to modify natural light. Many PhotoWalkers appreciate the opportunity to dive into the playful and powerful world of ICM (intentional camera movement) photography with long exposures and creative blur.

To ensure a personalized learning experience, the PhotoWalk is limited to 5 participants.

After uploading up to 8 photos to a shared folder, the group will reconvene via Zoom to discuss them, give and get supportive feedback, and be inspired by what others created at the same location. The Bellevue Botanical Garden’s PhotoReview session will be on Thursday, July 15 from 6:30-7:30pm (a recording will be available for anyone who can’t join).

Lisa welcomes questions about any aspect of this PhotoWalk, including gear. Other than your camera and a desire to create and have fun, everything on this list is optional:

• Camera (dSLR, mirrorless or phone) with a charged battery, and an extra if you have one
• Camera manual (or file downloaded to your phone)
• Lenses – if you have more than one, bring any that you want to use. A wide angle and telephoto are great options to expand creative possibilities
• Circular polarizing filter - one to fit the diameter of each lens – highly recommended to reduce sheen on surface of water/windows and saturate colors
• Flash - if you have one and want to learn to use it to add “fill light”
• Tripod – if you have one and want to use it to slow down and refine your images, or create expressive imagery with very long exposures
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Raincoat
• Hat
• Water and snacks
• A foam pad to kneel on or folding step stool
• Load the Slow Shutter app on your iphone if you want to learn to use it to create impressionist imagery with creative blur

Lisa and her husband John founded Seattle-based Merrill Images back in the days of film. Their work is used by travel destinations, outdoor adventure companies and non-profits, and featured in books and magazines around the world. Lisa will lead the Bellevue Botanical Garden PhotoWalk on her own, and it's limited to just 5 participants.

The Merrills nurture photographic creativity through online coaching and workshops, Pacific Northwest PhotoWalks and international photo journeys. Learn more and view galleries at www.merrillimages.com.

By registering for this event, you agree to receive the quarterly Adventures and Inspiration e-news from Merrill Images with info about new PhotoWalks and workshops, and photo tips and resources. You can unsubscribe at any time.

This event is limited to 5, and registration is required for each participant. If you are on the waitlist for this event, you will receive a notification via email if a space becomes available.

Merrill Images PhotoWalks are held rain or shine (puddles reflect hidden wonders!). If you need to cancel, please notify [email protected] at least 2 days before the event date and the Merrills will issue a credit which can be used towards a future PhotoWalk. Note that Eventbrite fees are not refundable (unless the event is canceled by Merrill Images).

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