Georgetown Steam Plant PhotoWalk with Merrill Images

Join travel photographers John and Lisa Merrill for a fun small group PhotoWalk at the historic Georgetown Steam Plant, rented for private use. With their on-location tips and encouragement, you’ll work with light and compose for impact -- and intentionally make vs. take photos. The Merrills welcome 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 architectural, industrial and abstract photo opportunities of the Steam Plant. Giant boilers and turbines connected by a maze of pipes provide visual delight, as do close-ups of dials and valves, and the tools and boots used by steam plant workers. Cathedral-like light streams through enormous windows onto industrial relics.

Then you’ll create on your own, and John and Lisa will be nearby to answer questions or offer suggestions. They’ll occasionally demonstrate photo techniques including varying your perspective, using frames for intimacy and context, exploring HDR for high contrast situations, or isolating a subject with shallow depth-of-field. 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.

The learning and camaraderie continues during a mid-PhotoWalk snack break (bring your own). To ensure a personalized learning experience, the PhotoWalk is limited to 10 participants.

After uploading 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 Georgetown Steam Plant PhotoReview session will be Saturday January 21 from 10:30am-12:00pm via Zoom (a recording will be available for anyone who can’t join).

John and Lisa welcome 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
• 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 or Neutral Density Filter if you want to explore the world of creative blur with long exposures and ICM (intentional camera movement)
• Flash - if you have one and want to learn to use it to add “fill light” with portraits and architectural details
• Tripod – if you have one and want to use it to slow down and refine your images
• Apps to consider loading on your phone: Slow Shutter Cam, Image Blender, Average Camera Pro
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Warm hat, scarf and gloves (it's cold inside the Steam Plant in winter)
• Water and lunch

John and Lisa Merrill are travel and social impact photographers who create images to evoke joy and wonder, inspire action and strengthen communities.

The Merrills are inspiring photo educators who enjoy nurturing others’ creativity. They’re grateful for the community of Seattle-area photographers who join them for PhotoWalks and workshops at libraries, art schools and camera clubs.

Merrill Images photo adventures include San Miguel de Allende (Mexico), Slovenia and Turkiye, and UnCruise small ship expeditions in Costa Rica, Baja and Alaska.

Visit www.merrillimages.com to view image galleries and learn more.

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 10, 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 non-refundable. If you need to cancel, please notify [email protected] at least 3 days before the event date and the Merrills will issue a credit which can be used towards a future PhotoWalk.

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