From City to Sand

From City To Sand: A Photography Workshop

Overview

Join us from July 19th through the 21st for an immersive photography workshop in the vibrant city of Chicago and Indiana National Dunes Lakeshore. This workshop is designed for amateur photographers, photography enthusiasts, and hobbyists who want to elevate their skills in capturing stunning cityscapes, landscapes, and architectural wonders. Co-led by accomplished photographers Nick Sinnott and Brian Matiash, this workshop will teach you advanced techniques in long exposure, focus bracketing, and the effective use of circular polarization (CPL) and neutral density (ND) filters.

Workshop Schedule and Highlights

Friday: Capturing the City’s First Light

• Time: Early Morning – Mid-Day
• Locations: Lakefront, Grant Park, Millennium Park, Art Institute, Chicago River, Mag Mile
• Activities: Start your morning by capturing the first light as it touches the iconic landmarks of downtown Chicago. Learn the intricacies of long exposure and tripod usage to achieve sharp, breathtaking shots of the cityscape.  Following sunrise we will head into the loop to capture highlights of Chicago.  Breakfast and lunch is included.

Saturday: Nature and Landscape Mastery

• Time: Mid-Day – After Dark
• Locations: Indiana National Dunes Park, Chesterton, Indiana
• Activities: Spend the day amidst the natural beauty of Indiana National Dunes Park. Capture the interplay of light and landscape, and as the day concludes, photograph the sunset behind the Chicago skyline from the waters of Lake Michigan. Focus on using CPL and ND filters to enhance your landscape photography.  Sack Lunch and Dinner is included.

Sunday: Editing and Printing Your Masterpieces

• Time: Mid-Morning – Afternoon
• Location: Chicago Photography Classes (4001 N Ravenswood Ave.)
• Activities: The final day is dedicated to organizing, editing, and printing your favorite images from the workshop. Learn advanced editing techniques in Adobe Lightroom with guidance from Brian Matiash, and take home beautifully printed versions of your best work.

Key Skills Covered

• Long Exposure Photography
• Proper Tripod Usage
• Circular Polarization Filter and Neutral Density Usage
• Focus Bracketing
• Photographing Cityscape and Architecture
• Photographing Landscape and Nature
• Lightroom
• Printing

What to Bring

• Required: Camera, Tripod, Wide to Telephoto (200mm) Lenses
• Optional but Suggested: Circular Polarization (CPL) Filter, Neutral Density (ND) Filters

What to Know

• This is a rain or shine event.  Some of the best photographs are taken in the worse weather.
• Please note that there will be a lot of walking involved, please be prepared to walk about 4 miles (city) and about 2-3 miles (National Park trails).

Meet Your Instructors

Nick Sinnott

Owner and Director of Chicago Photography Classes, Nick Sinnott brings a wealth of experience in photographing cityscapes, landscapes, nature, and wildlife. Having grown up near Indiana National Dunes, Nick combines local knowledge with a passion for teaching and photography.

Brian Matiash

A renowned YouTube Photography Educator and creator of the popular Lightroom Everywhere class, Brian Matiash joins us from Florida but has strong ties to Chicago. Specializing in landscape photography and Lightroom editing, Brian’s teaching style is both engaging and insightful.

Registration Details

Don’t miss this opportunity to refine your photography skills and capture the beauty of Chicago and its surroundings. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago for an unforgettable photography experience!