In person and online
Develop your nature photography and environmental storytelling skills in this three-session, field-based workshop led by acclaimed wildlife photographer Keith Ellenbogen. Experience what it’s like to “go on assignment” as we head to the Eel River Preserve—a restored wetland in Plymouth, Massachusetts—to photograph landscapes, animals, and plants.
Presented in collaboration with the Town of Plymouth’s Department of Marine and Environmental Affairs.
Adults 18+ $175 members and Harvard ID holders / $200 nonmembers.
Workshop Schedule
Overview and Orientation
Date: Thursday, May 4, 6:00–7:30 pm
Location: Online
In this Zoom session, Keith Ellenbogen will review technical aspects of nature photography, including the use of DSLR cameras, wide-angle and telephoto lenses, tripods, and composition, as well as the basics for developing a visual narrative focused on conservation. David Gould, Director of Marine and Environmental Affairs for the Town of Plymouth, will share details about the restoration and ecological importance of the Eel River Preserve, formerly a cranberry bog.
Field Session
Date: Saturday, May 6, 8:30 am–3:00 pm
Location: Eel River Preserve, Plymouth, MA
During the field session at the preserve, participants will practice taking photographs of landscapes, animals, and plants, while learning about the restoration of the site from cranberry farmland into a native Atlantic white cedar swamp—the first project of its kind in Massachusetts.
Storytelling Session
Date: Sunday, May 7, 9:30 am–1:00 pm
Location: Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge, MA
In this final, in-person session, participants will use their images to develop an environmental story highlighting the importance of the Eel River Preserve.
In case of inclement weather, the field and storytelling sessions will take place May 20–21 (same schedules).
Additional Information
Max. number of participants: 12
Photography expertise: All skill levels welcome
Equipment required: Digital DSLR camera and lens (camera phones are not encouraged)
Hiking/walking level: Easy
Transportation: Participants are responsible for driving to the Eel River Preserve in Plymouth, MA.
Meals: Participants are responsible for bringing their own lunch and water.
If you have questions, please email: hmscprograms@hmsc.harvard.edu
About the Instructors
Keith Ellenbogen is a renowned wildlife photographer, Associate Professor of Photography at SUNY/Fashion Institute of Technology; Visiting Artist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT Sea Grant; Senior Fellow, The International League of Conservation Photographers; Fellow, The Explorers Club, and is affiliated with the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. He also is a recipient of an Ernest F. Hollings Ocean Awareness Award, a U.S. Fulbright Fellowship, and a TED Residency. Currently many of Keith’s images are featured within Harvard’s Museum of Natural History exhibition Swimming with Sharks: A Deep Dive into Shark Biology and Behavior. To learn more about Keith Ellenbogen, visit his website: keithellenbogen.com.
David Gould is Director of the Town of Plymouth Department of Marine and Environmental Affairs (DMEA). He has been with the Town of Plymouth for twenty years working on programs and projects ranging from endangered shorebird management, aquaculture, dredging, dam removals, and wetlands restoration projects. He has been the project manager on the Eel River Headwaters Restoration Project, Wellingsley Brook Restoration Project, Foothills Restoration Project, and all of the projects along Town Brook. Mr. Gould has degrees from Bridgewater State University and Arizona State University. He is the recipient of numerous awards such as the NOAA Environmental Hero Award, Coastal America Spirit Award, Coastal America Partnership Award, and Gulf of Maine Council Sustainability Award.
