Photography hikes through Central Park and Coney Island teach how to get the most out of your camera (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Central Park Photography Hike, Wednesday, September 1, $49, 6:00
Coney Island Photo Class, Saturday, September 11, $49, 3:00
Central Park at Night Photography Class, Saturday, September 18, $49, 8:30
Central Park Photography Hike, Sunday, September 19, $49, 3:30
www.outdoorbound.com
The digital revolution has turned everyone into a would-be photographer, but most people are still not getting the most out of their cameras. Owners Kirk Reynolds and Connie Magee of Outdoor Bound Adventures are looking to change that. Since December 2003, Reynolds and Magee, who also serve as guides and are advanced wilderness EMTs and Leave No Trace trainers, have been reinventing the company as it enters its second quarter-century, introducing new weekend retreats, city escapes, youth excursions, and other outdoor experiences. Some of their most popular events are their photography classes, in which photographer and teacher JP Pullos, who spent three years working for famed lenser Patrick McMullan, leads small groups through Central Park and Coney Island, two of the most photographed places in the world, helping people better understand what they can do with their cameras.
Outdoor Bound photography teacher JP Pullos would have a lot to say about this picture (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Whether it’s a simple point-and-shoot or a more complicated SLR, Pullos shows that there’s a lot more than most people realize to the instruments as he discusses deep focus, white balance, shutter speed, aperture, light and dark, ISO, and other photographic elements. For the Central Park hike, he makes stops at such familiar spots as Bethesda Fountain, the boat pond, and Belvedere Castle, giving the class time to wander around and experiment with their cameras, then offering individual advice to help make everyone a better photographer. There are several photo tours scheduled for September, but you’ll have to act fast, because class size is limited and these hikes often sell out well in advance; for example, the Central Park photography hike scheduled for September 12 is already full, but there is still availability for tours on September 1, 11, 18, and 19.