Story-Telling Photography at the National Museum of American History

Saturday, March 3, 2012 | 2:30 pm-5:00 pm

Her face says it all:  “You can make me sit in a segregated part of this train, but you can’t break my spirit.”  She is a middle-aged African-American passenger on a US railroad car in the 1920s, her face is proud, resolute, her chin is held high, her lips are tight, her hands firmly clasped in her lap, as if to say:  “Someday, one day, we will be able to sit anywhere we want. I might not see it in my lifetime, but I know it will happen….”

She is a life-sized figure in the “America On The Move” exhibit at the National Museum of American History, and her face makes a GREAT story-telling image that you can learn to capture in your camera.

She is one of hundreds of figures in this museum, where you can learn how to take beautiful story-telling pictures WITHOUT flash by joining us on this special Safari inside the one of the most interesting museums in town: the National Museum of American History.

This Safari is especially designed for clients wishing to improve their photojournalism skills, taking pictures of people in ways that tell a story. This museum offers several exhibits with life-size figures in unique historical situations, such as the history of transportation in America gallery entitled “America On The Move.” and the large exhibit that highlights US military history. 

Accompanied by professional event photographer E. David Luria, you will receive instruction on composition, getting low and close to tell stories that have impact, choice of white balance, choice of lenses,  use of filters, how to cope with unique lighting situations without flash, how to use your equipment to capture exhibits, paintings, sculpture, dioramas and other works of art with the existing low light.

Any camera will do, but for best results we recommend SLR cameras with adjustable shutter speeds and apertures, and high ISO setting capability (1600 or 3200).  We also highly recommend fast lenses like a 50mm F1.4 or F1.8 or a 35 mm F1.8 for low-light shooting without flash. Fast telephoto lenses (F2.8) are also highly desirable but not necessary. Wide-angles (i.e. 10-20mm etc.) or fish-eye lenses give great depth of field for these shots.  No tripods, no flash.