Chris Nicholson is available to speak at conferences, trade shows, camera clubs and other events (here’s a list of future and past bookings). Some of the presentations he delivers include those listed below, though each is tweaked a bit from one event to another. He can also tailor a new presentation to fit the needs of the host. To book Chris to deliver a presentation, please contact him here.
PHOTOGRAPHING NATIONAL PARKS
From sea to shining sea, the national parks preserve some of the country’s most unique wilderness areas. Their existence is a gift to nature photographers everywhere. In this presentation, delve into what the park system offers to the photographer—where to find the wildlife, the wildflowers, the waterfalls—and how to best research and prepare for a trip to explore the artistic opportunities within. Learn how to travel safely and photograph in the various environments found in the parks, including desert, alpine, forest and coastline. Learn secrets for finding new and exciting photography spots, how to stay powered up in the outdoors, ideas for supplementary gear that will make a photo project more productive and enjoyable, and tips for scouting locations to maximize your creative potential. Many national parks will be discussed, including Acadia, Death Valley, Everglades, Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains, Olympic, Shenandoah and Yellowstone.
NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY IN NATIONAL PARKS
As many people know, our National Parks are seeing ever-increasing numbers of visitors, which means traffic jams, long waits and huge crowds at the better-known photo spots. The good news is that almost everyone disappears after the sunset fades. The instructors from National Parks at Night will show you how to make the most of your visit to any national park, and how to experience them in ways that most people never do. National parks have some of the darkest skies in the country, which means they are filled with amazing landscapes, subjects, night skies and views of the Milky Way. We will share our experiences photographing the night in parks such as Acadia, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Zion, and many others, along with presenting tips on night photography, including techniques and gear for working in natural-light situations.
SCOUTING A NATIONAL PARK SHOOT
Planning has one objective: to maximize your time and creativity. By researching your options in advance, and by actively refining your strategy while on-site, your photography and your overall experience will improve dramatically. Whether you are on assignment, on vacation, or something between those extremes, research and scouting will make your national park project better. It may save you from wasting good light while hiking to someplace that turns out to have no good view of anything, or it may lead you to wonderful places and photographic adventures that you would never have otherwise found. In this presentation Chris Nicholson will discuss various strategies and tools for researching and scouting national park photography locations, both before your trip and once on site. Learn how to build a plan that gives you structure, that gives you confidence, and that leads to the most productive, successful and enjoyable shoot possible.
PHOTOGRAPHING ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Acadia National Park is fringed by Maine’s quintessential rocky shores, serving as a final crashing point for waves that have come from distant places in the Atlantic Ocean. The surrounding bays and open waters are home to picturesque lighthouses and harbors of lobster boats, as well as seals, whales and countless sea birds. The interior of the park features rustic carriage roads and stone bridges, groves of birch and aspen, forest ponds and marshes, and trails that meander by waterfalls and over granite-topped mountains. Learn strategies and hear stories from working in the park, including information about places to stay, specific gear to consider bringing to an Acadia shoot, iconic and off-the-beaten-path locations, and subjects a photographer can expect to find during different times of year.
LIGHT PAINTING THE DARK
Coming soon.