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A Comprehensive Seminar on Wildlife Photography

Updated: Aug 30

An Engaging Experience at the Dungeness River Nature Center


I was thrilled when the Dungeness River Nature Center invited me to present an all-day seminar on wildlife photography. Naturally, I agreed. This opportunity called for a complete overhaul of my PowerPoint photography class curriculum, which I typically use in one-on-one settings. I needed to adapt my casual teaching style into a structured format suitable for 14 participants.


This task proved to be incredibly challenging. I decided to start from scratch, assuming my students had never held a camera before. I worked diligently to put into words and examples everything they needed to know. This included camera settings, photographic principles, the exposure triangle, color spaces, and how to edit photos. I also prepared valuable resources for follow-up education.


Ethics in Bird Photography


One of the critical slides in my presentation covered ethics in bird photography. It’s essential to encourage conservation and respect for wildlife. I'm passionate about sharing these values with aspiring photographers.


I owe a big thank-you to my friend Michele Deo. She dedicated an entire afternoon to help me organize my PowerPoint slide deck. Michele was a former student and has become a good friend. Her support was invaluable during this process!


The Rewards of Volunteering


This project was a volunteer initiative. Yet, as I’ve often discovered in my volunteer work—including my photography for the Sequim Irrigation Festival and the United Way—there is always a rewarding aspect. In this case, it catalyzed my growth as a photographer and educator. I learned so much while creating numerous slides. I even had to trim back some content to fit our class time slot. Still, I provided an extra 40 minutes to ensure I covered all critical information.


Want to truly excel at something? Teaching a class about it can motivate you to learn more deeply! The fear of being incorrect drives the desire to "know it all."


Hands-On Learning


Just like in my individual classes, I emphasized hands-on drills during the seminar. In these drills, I would ask the students to adjust one setting on their cameras while they modified the other two elements of the exposure triangle to get the perfect shot. Engaging in this way enhances learning and helps to solidify the concepts discussed.


Here are some photos from the class at Carrie Blake Park in Sequim. The scrumptious shots were kindly taken by Jennifer Waters-White, the Communications Coordinator at the Dungeness River Nature Center.



If you’re interested in taking my class, visit this link.


The Olympic BirdFest Connection


The Olympic BirdFest is an inspiring collaboration involving the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, the Dungeness River Nature Center, and the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe. Proceeds from this festival help support the educational programs at the Dungeness River Nature Center. Thank you to all involved for their significant contribution to our community!



📸 Keith Ross | Keith’s Frame of Mind

Capturing wildlife, nature, and the world through my lens and my art


🔗 Follow my work:

📩 For inquiries & collaborations: keith@keithsframeofmind.com

🎥 Gear & Tools I Use: https://omsystem.com/en/


Here is the link to my YouTube Video!



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