We have decided to cancel our La Jolla photography workshop on Saturday, March 21.
Our primary concern is you and your family’s health.
In the meantime, We are working on creating some motivating content and list of photography activities that you can do from home! We will let you know when we have these available and will post them on Facebook.
Though many things have shut down, it is still important to stay active and go out in nature when safe.
We are very sorry and will work to reschedule after the crisis passes.
*Above image of Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) mother carrying pup on belly, Elkhorn Slough, Monterey Bay, California
Sebastian Kennerknecht’s Sea Otter Photography Workshop in Monterey, CA
Date: December 11th, 2019 Time: 6:45am – 5:00pm Location: Moss Landing, California
THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED. Enter by November 5th! We will announce winners on November 9th! This contest is open to girls 13-18. You will need an email address. **Travel to Monterey, CA, accommodations, and meals are not included.
Details: You can win two spaces in photographer Sebastian Kennerknecht’s Sea Otter Photography Workshop in Monterey, California on December 11th, 2019. One spot will be for you and one is for your adult chaperone to accompany you on this special day. This day-long workshop will include photographing sea otters from land in the morning, a break for lunch, and going out on the Elkhorn Slough in a pontoon boat in the afternoon to take more pictures. You will have a great time improving your skills with Sebastian while learning more about California’s sea otters.
Sebastian Kennerknecht (@pumapix) is one of Girls Who Click’s biggest supporters. He has generously donated these two spaces in his workshop to support Girls Who Click and the next generation of female photographers.
Sebastian Kennerknecht is a wildlife and conservation photographer. He has over fourteen years of experience covering wildlife and environmental issues internationally. He has a particular interest in photographing wildcats. His work has been featured in BBC Wildlife, Smithsonian, The Economist, Science, and Conservation International, among others. He has a degree in Ecology and Evolution from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Last month in Florida, the amazing Karine Aigner joined forces with local biologist and University of Florida graduate student Alli Smith, for our July photography workshop. They took a group of ten girls out in the breath-taking Corkscrew Swamp, a National Audubon Society sanctuary located in southwest Florida; just North of Naples. Girls Who Click awarded two scholarships for the workshop. These girls were able to use professional cameras provided by Borrowed Lenses.
Karine Aigner starts her workshops discussing composition, light, and focus — but the real work, she says, is “learning to see.” She wants her students to look past their initial gut observation. It’s not just looking at a flower: it’s noticing what is on it, around it, in it; seeing it as a part of the landscape, or, individually, or in terms of the pattern and designs of its shape. The farther the group progressed into Corkscrew Swamp, the more they saw.
Photo credit: Alli Smith, biologist
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary occupies approximately 13,000 acres in the heart of the Corkscrew Watershed in Southwest Florida, part of the Western Everglades. It is primarily composed of wetlands. These include the largest remaining virgin bald cypress forest in the world (approximately 700 acres), which is the site of the largest nesting colony of Federally Endangered Wood Storks in the nation. In addition to the Wood Stork, Corkscrew provides important habitat for numerous other Federal and State listed species, including the Florida Panther, American Alligator, Gopher Tortoise, Florida Sandhill Crane, Limpkin, Roseate Spoonbill, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Big Cypress Fox Squirrel and the Florida Black Bear. Several rare plants are also found here, most notably the Ghost Orchid.
Photo credit: Alli Smith, biologist
The girls not only got to experience the watershed up-close-and-personal by walking the wooden boardwalks through it, but they also got to see the Ghost Orchid, as well as some of the wildlife it’s known for! They spotted alligators and otters, and even survived a short Floridian squall that lent itself to some amazing shots with water droplets. At one point, an over-habituated and over-friendly juvenile ibis approached the group looking for food (see above). Karine and Alli took the opportunity to explain that while it is a fun experience to have a wild animal approach you (and in this case gnaw on your fanny pack) a tame ibis is not a good thing. While it seems fun, the ibis has learned that it’s easy to get food out of humans, but most human food is not nutritionally valuable to the bird. Some parts of Florida have problems with people feeding ibises so much bread that they essentially don’t eat anything else—and they’re in very poor body condition because of it; bread is not nutritious.
September was a busy month for Girls Who Click! Workshops that spanned the nation were offered simultaneously, reaching teen girls who have one thing in common – a love for nature photography.
Karen Kasmauski offered a workshop at the Kenilworth Aquatic Park and Gardens in Washington DC. The ladies got a lucky break in the weather and practiced photography skills and met with a National Park Service Ranger.
Karen Kasmauski is a filmmaker, photographer, project manager and educator. During her two decades as a National Geographic photographer, Karen produced 25 major stories for the magazine. Karen is a senior fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.
I want to be a photographer and this program encourages girls to learn more in-depth strategies about the art and practice of photography. -Samantha
In Texas, a group of young ladies braved the rain to spend the day with Kathy Adams Clark at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. They learned about conservation photography and the unique challenges one faces while photographing migrating hummingbirds.
Kathy is a photographer, naturalist, and teacher. Her goal is to promote photography and the natural world through teaching. When people understand photography they can enjoy it for a lifetime. When people experience the natural world they will work to preserve it for future generations.
…We not only took photos … but also learned about careers in science…This program really helped cement for me that the science field is where I belong. – Kathryn
Photo Credit: Stacy Frank
And on the west coast, a large group of teens spent the day in Moss Landing, California, with wildlife photographer and GWC founder, Suzi Eszterhas. Not only did the girls learn what it’s like to be a female in a male-dominated career, they practiced their skills in a reserve and also from a boat on Elkhorn Slough.
Suzi Eszterhas is best known for her work documenting newborn animals and family life in the wild. Her photographs have been published in over 100 magazine cover and feature stories in publications such as TIME, Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, GEO, Popular Photography, Ranger Rick, and National Geographic Kids.
Dear Suzi, Thank you for the amazing photography workshop! I had so much fun and learned so much! I will never forget it! – Julia
In October, GWC led a members-only event at the California Academy of Sciences with Suzi Eszterhas. Not only did the girls learn about photography, but they met with staff scientists, got some behind-the-scenes tours of incredible specimens, and got to take a special tour of the living roof.
