Story-Telling at the National Museum of American History

This safari is thoughtfully designed for photographers who wish to enhance their storytelling through images. Participants will explore the art of capturing moments that convey a narrative, focusing on people, events, and interactions that evoke emotion and context. Using museum exhibits, dioramas, sculptures, and paintings as practice subjects, you will learn how to position yourself for maximum dramatic effect, often getting low and close to immerse viewers in the scene. The safari emphasizes subtlety, showing you how to capture candid moments without disturbing the subject, utilizing wide-angle lenses, articulating monitor screens, and other techniques that help tell a compelling story. Instruction will also cover composition, white balance, lens selection, filter use, and creative problem-solving in low-light environments without the use of flash or tripods.

Led by professional architectural photographer E. David Luria, this safari provides hands-on guidance in understanding exposure, framing, and perspective to make every photograph meaningful. Whether you are capturing images for family events, travel adventures, or community projects, you will develop skills to produce photographs that clearly convey relationships, mood, and context. With real-time feedback, you will learn to adapt your settings and approach to challenging lighting and intricate scenes, ensuring that every image has impact and clarity. By the end of this safari, you will be able to tell vivid stories through your photography, creating memorable images that resonate with viewers.