2020 Midwest Street Photography Workshops

With the crazy start to 2020, a lot of people have had a chance to look inward and try to find their own creative niche, or bring back old hobbies that they may have set aside long ago while participating on the daily grind of life, work and family. With time to sit back and get off the day to day treadmill, creative ideas can't help but begin to surface once again.

If your creative itch is photography, but you've either lost your touch, need to brush up on settings and some other basics, or if you just want to learn photography for the first time with your budget pocket camera, The Stealth Photographer Workshops can help you. We don't care how much you already know or don't know about photography, we want to teach you more!

Free from judgement and pretension, all workshops are designed to provide skills and techniques in a way that anyone can understand and use in their own creative photography endeavors. These workshops are small and intimate, with a maximum of five or six participants to ensure everyone gets the individual attention that they need.

Discussion and thought-sharing are important parts of these courses, and individuals are encouraged to work together and compare images and experiences to broaden the knowledge and vision of the group as a whole. All sessions end with coffee accompanied by friendly, constructive critique and a celebration of the achievements of the workshop. They are times of thought-provoking learning, but above all they are fun and enjoyable.

2020 Workshop Locations
(all dates are pending due to local lock-down orders)

• Indianapolis
• Dayton
• Louisville
• Cincinnati
• Lexington
• Cleveland
• Chicago

Who can participate in The Stealth Photography Workshops?

As there is such a high degree of one-to-one time on these courses they will suit photographers of any ability and experience. You may have just bought your first camera or you might have been taking pictures for years, it doesn’t matter. Members of the group are encouraged to learn from each other’s unique vision as well as from the instruction and guidance that I will deliver.

Broad itinerary

The itinerary of the day will depend on a number of factors, including the weather, the time of year and what is happening at the time. Typically for a Photo-Walk, we will meet-up mid-morning, usually 11am, and then, after a brief chat about the day and what everyone expects and wants, we’ll visit a number of locations to talk through the ways in which they can be photographed.

There will be a brief stop for lunch and then the group will work on until about 4pm when we retire to review the pictures taken during the day. This is a group review session during which group members get the chance to see how the others tackled the same tasks. It is always amazing to see the range of different angles and viewpoints, and it’s often surprising to see who comes out with the best shots. It’s not a competition, of course, but beginners sometimes get great satisfaction from their shock high-ranking and success. Photo-Walk days will finish at about 5pm. Evening sessions typically run from 6pm-9pm, but each location times can vary.

In all though these are fun days devoted to learning something new about something you enjoy very much. There is no pressure, and advice and guidance are given in a very friendly and supportive way. There is no such thing as a stupid question, and I’m more than happy to discuss basic concepts, kit choice, photographic techniques and advanced practice.

Improve your seeing and photography skills in a single informative and entertaining day.

You won't be left to just roam around on your own trying to figure out what or how to shoot. My workshops concentrate on introducing you to new concepts, and developing new ways of seeing and polishing existing skills. During the day you’ll learn how to identify a good location, and then discover how to work it to find the best angles and to optimize its potential. We’ll talk composition, exposure and lighting, as well as timing, lenses and focusing – and what makes one of those magical decisive moments.

How does the day begin?

Starting at a designated area, typically the city's center, we’ll capture the action of life within the area’s backdrop of diverse architectural styles that creates a massive range of atmospheres and possibilities. We’ll shoot in wide open plazas, narrow hidden streets and along the available riverfronts or canals.

We always finish with a critique of the pictures of the day and a chat about what we have learned. Seeing what other photographers made of the same scenes you faced yourself can be an invaluable and mind-opening experience. This day is suitable for photographers of all levels, from complete beginners up. You will learn:

1. How to see brilliant pictures in every day scenes
2. How to tailor your exposure to emphasize your subject
3. How to compose so the viewer will see what you what them to see
4. How to get close to people in the street without bothering them
5. How to combine place, people and conditions to create truly atmospheric images
6. How to incorporate people into architectural surroundings
7. How to see scenes that have potential
8. Metering in difficult situations
9. Getting close to people without them noticing you are there
10. Effective use of light for creating impact and interest

Your day will begin with coffee and a chat at a designated spot in the city's center.

• All Day Hands-on Workshop
• Suitable for Photographers of all Levels
• Critique & Summary of Day
• Lunch Included

Exact start and end locations, as well as timings, will be communicated to all students by email ahead of the day to help with route planning.