Nature Photography: From Vision to Print
ART-40081
Nature Photography: From Vision to Print
9 Weeks | Live Online with In-Person Field Trips
Prerequisite: Photo I: Aperture, Shutter Speed, & ISO (ART-40629) or equivalent experience.
Discover the artistry behind fine art nature photography as you capture breathtaking landscapes and transform them into presentation-ready prints. In Nature Photography: From Vision to Print, you will explore the aesthetics and technical aspects of outdoor shooting while learning to develop a personal creative workflow. Field trips to diverse settings—such as Sunset Cliffs, La Jolla Cove, and local botanical gardens—allow you to build confidence in your technique, gain fresh perspectives, and refine your approach as you craft a final exhibition of your best work.
Course Details
Through practical assignments, guided editing sessions, and hands-on exploration, you’ll deepen your understanding of composition, camera settings, and the essential elements that make a photograph truly memorable. By the end of the course, you will have the tools to venture out on your own, produce dynamic, compelling images, and present your art in various formats—from greeting cards and photo books to professionally matted prints—ensuring your unique vision stands out.
Important Schedule Information
This course is held via Zoom, with in person field trips, and a final in person presentation at UCC - a UCSD building. Your instructor will provide specific details in your first Zoom Meeting. Please check your CANVAS portal for your Zoom link information. Course times are Pacific Time (PDT).
4/2/25 - 6:00pm to 9:00pm: Zoom Meeting
4/5/25 - 4:30pm to 7:30pm: In Person, Saturday, On Location Field Trip
4/16/25 - 6:00pm to 9:00pm: Zoom Meeting
4/19/25 - 4:30pm to 7:30pm: In Person, Saturday, On Location Field Trip
4/3025 - 6:00pm to 9:00pm: Zoom Meeting
5/7/25 - 6:00pm to 9:00pm: Zoom Meeting
5/10/25 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm: In Person, Saturday, On Location Field Trip
5/21/25 - 6:00pm to 9:00pm: Zoom Meeting
6/4/25 - 6:00pm to 9:00pm: In Person at UCC/UCSD for Final Presentation
What You'll Learn
- Identify and capture unique perspectives in diverse nature settings.
- Refine your technical skills, including composition and camera handling.
- Develop a consistent digital workflow from shooting to final print.
- Utilize editing software to enhance image quality and tonal range.
- Produce a curated selection of images suitable for exhibition.
- Present final photographs in multiple formats, such as cards and matted prints.
- Understand the essential components of a compelling nature photograph.
- Gain the confidence to explore and photograph the natural world independently.
Course Information
First class meeting mandatory. Includes 3 Saturday field trips. Knowledge of image editing with Picassa, iPhoto, Photoshop or Lightroom recommended.
Equipment/Software/Hardware: Fully adjustable DSLR camera or prosumer camera. Image editing software.
Flexible Enrollment: This course is an elective course for Photography: Images and Techniques professional certificate but is open to all students, even if you're not enrolled in the Certificate Program.
Academic Calendar: The Academic Calendar shows the open enrollment dates and term start dates for each quarter. Courses do not necessarily start on the first day of the term.
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
This learning experience is intentionally designed as a combination of in-class and web-based instruction. In-class meetings follow the published schedule. Students are also expected to engage with course content online during the published course dates.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 4/7/2025
- Early Enrollment Discount: $400 ($425 if enrolled after 3/3/2025)
- 1st meeting mandatory
- Early enrollment advised
- No UCSD parking permit required
- No visitors permitted
Note:
Schedule:
| Date | Day | Start | End | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/2/2025 | Wed | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 4/5/2025 | Sat | 4:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 4/16/2025 | Wed | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 4/19/2025 | Sat | 4:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 4/30/2025 | Wed | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 5/7/2025 | Wed | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 5/10/2025 | Sat | 5:00 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 5/21/2025 | Wed | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
| 6/4/2025 | Wed | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 303, UCSD Division of Extended Studies University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego |
Instructor:
Daniel Girard
He approaches his photography very analytically and likes to teach his students how to break down what is happening within an image so they can become more critical of their own work and create more compelling images. Dan has been an instructor for the Sierra Club’s “Wilderness Basics Course” for over 10 years. He spends every free moment backpacking and trekking across mountain ranges all over the world. His favorite destinations are the Sierras, the Himalayas, and the Andes, but he will go anywhere where there are mountains and won’t stop until he’s seen them all!