Lectures & Workshops

Spring Lecture Series

We are delighted to present exceptional speakers for an exciting and informative spring and early summer lecture series. For all lectures, tickets at the door: $7 Members,  $12 General. Doors open at 7 pm and programs begin promptly at 7:30.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

7:30 p.m. — Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham

Ron Rule

The Grand Tour — Gardens in and Around Paris

British Columbia's premier landscape architect Ron Rule is just back from leading his latest European garden tour and you will enjoy an evening viewing the fabulous gardens he toured while in France. Besides designing gardens and leading garden tours, Ron Rule is founder, principal designer and director for the University of British Columbia Garden Design Program. He has created many award-winning designs in Canada and the Pacific Northwest and has authored articles for numerous publications.

Ron Rule Consultants, established in 1975 is a Landscape Architecture firm specializing in the the design and planning of quality residential estates. In the planning of gardens they believe that urban design, architecture, interior design and landscape design are all interrelated. The firm is interested in art, gardening and history and bring all these passions together in the gardens they design. Their practice is dedicated to developing plant combinations that blend color, form and texture in a stimulating and evocative manner, to create a special effect tailored to each site.

On the WHS tour of Vancouver gardens in the summer of 2009 participants were delighted by one of Ron' s small, beautifully designed and planted garden complete with a pond and small terrace.  We will also get to view one of Ron's newest gardens located on Canada's Sunshine Coast.

Garden Photography Workshop

June 25 & 26

7 pm Friday evening lecture
8 am Saturday at Karen Gilliam's garden for hands-on instruction

Photographer Mark Turner will be your instructor. Learn how to work with light and composition in the garden, as well as how to optimize the use of your digital camera. Saturday will end with a group critique.

Part 1:  Friday evening lecture
7:00 – 9:00 pm, Fairhaven Library Fireside Room
$7 WHS members, $12 general public

This approximately two-hour program, open to the public, will concentrate on the visual aspects of garden photography. You’ll see examples of different kinds of light and powerful composition techniques to help your photos rise well above snapshots. Because photography relies on technology as well as art, the program also includes tips for getting the best image quality out of your digital camera.

 

Part 2: Saturday garden photo shoot
8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Garden of Karen Gilliam
$60 WHS members (includes Friday evening program)

Limited to 15 students, this all-day photography session is an opportunity for you to practice the concepts you learned the previous evening. Mark will demonstrate setting up a variety of garden photographs from wide landscapes to intimate details, discussing the thought process that goes into each image.  Then you’ll create your own images of Karen’s large and diverse garden, practicing working with different lighting conditions and composition techniques. Mark will be available to answer your questions and coach you throughout the day.

Bring: your camera, spare batteries, extra memory cards. A tripod is recommended, especially for SLRs.  If you’re not completely familiar with your camera, bring the manual and Mark will be able to help you interpret the settings you need.  You’ll also want a sack lunch and something to drink. Coffee, tea, fruit, morning and afternoon snacks provided.

Part 3: Group critique and show (optional but recommended)
5:00 – 9:00 pm, Turner Photographics Fairhaven Studio, 1106 Harris Ave., Ste. 205

We’ll order pizza and beverages (shared cost) to start off.

Bring your laptop with your favorite image editing software installed and ready to use. You’ll download your images to your computer and then select a handful of favorites (or ones you’d particularly like a critique of).  We’ll gather everyone’s selections on Mark’s computer and project them on the big screen for discussion.  This is an excellent way to cement your new knowledge and see the great many ways to see a single garden.

 

Questions: Call Mark Turner at 360-671-6851 or e-mail mark@turnerphotographics.com.

 

Register by mail to WHS Class, Turner Photographics, 2414 C Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 with your name, phone, address, e-mail, and a check for $60 payable to Whatcom Horticultural Society. First come, first served.