In Nature’s Embrace

Photographing nature can provide a brief reprieve from life’s harsh realities. It reminds us of the beauty in all things delicate and fierce, and we do not have to travel far to find it. And indeed, we don’t even need expensive camera gear to make good pictures.

In this online workshop, Xuan-Hui Ng shares her techniques for photographing nature, including her use of natural light, finding patterns, reflections, and textures in the rain, snow, or mist. She also covers her use of varied shutter speeds. The challenge, and some would say the fun, of nature photography is the unpredictability of the weather. We cannot order when the sun will shine or when the flowers will bloom, but chance favors the prepared.

The objective of the workshop is to inspire new ways of seeing so that participants will be ready to seize the opportunity when it presents itself.  We explore different ways to push beyond our comfort zones, to look for beauty in the mundane, and to photograph when the weather is not cooperating.

The three sessions consist of presentations (images and video) from Xuan-Hui, group discussions, assignments, and group critiques. Techniques such as multiple exposure, flash, and intentional camera movement are not covered in this workshop; Xuan’s photographs are single-exposure images made in camera.

Xuan-Hui began photographing as a form of self-therapy. The death of her mother plunged her into a downward spiral until a chance encounter with nature set her on the path to recovery.

Studies show that nature, or even images of nature, can provide relief from symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. She hopes that her photographs bring viewers a brief reprieve from life’s harsh realities, by reminding us of the beauty in all things delicate and fierce. Now more than ever, we need to alleviate the stress in our lives and heal.