Imagine preparing an exceptional meal for friends, only to hear them praise the cookware rather than your culinary skill. You would rightfully feel underappreciated, recognizing that the oven does not create great food; rather, the skilled cook does. Similarly, legendary photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson captured extraordinary images using simple equipment, and his success came from his artistic vision, not his camera gear. Photography, like all visual arts, fundamentally depends upon composition: the interplay of symmetry, balance, leading lines, framing choices, perspective selections, and the strategic placement of focal points that guide the viewer's attention. This photography safari focuses precisely on training your eye to recognize and capture compelling compositional elements in your photographs, regardless of the camera equipment you use.
This unique learning experience takes place within the recently renovated East Building of the National Gallery of Art, one of Washington's most visually striking venues. Following an extensive three-year renovation, the building showcases over 12,250 square feet of newly constructed exhibition spaces designed to present an expanded collection and accommodate increasing visitor traffic. These significant additions include the Roof Terrace, an outdoor sculpture garden overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue featuring monumental works such as Katharina Fritsch's striking electric blue sculpture Hahn/Cock (2013); two interior tower galleries illuminated by skylights that create dramatic lighting effects; the northwest Tower Gallery displaying a dynamic installation of Alexander Calder's kinetic works (1898-1976); and the northeast Tower Gallery presenting abstract expressionist paintings, with rotating selections of Mark Rothko works (1903-1970). The new Roof Terrace features trees, plantings, and built-in seating areas that create an inviting atmosphere for relaxation while overlooking the city and appreciating the architecture from fresh perspectives. The architecture and landscaping themselves exemplify principles of visual composition through their soaring angles, geometric precision, and intentional spatial arrangements designed by I.M. Pei.
We commence in the East Building's atrium with foundational instruction on photographic technique and compositional principles. We examine masterfully composed black and white photographs from the 1940s and 1950s by Henri Cartier-Bresson, celebrated for capturing the "decisive moment" of spontaneous human experience. Moving into the galleries, we analyze compositional strategies within French paintings spanning the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, learning how artists used similar compositional elements to guide viewers' eyes. We then study the East Building's architectural elements: its dramatic angular forms, clean geometric lines, and Calder mobiles suspended within the soaring atrium space, deliberately designed for the gallery's 1978 opening to interact with the structure and light.
Our exploration extends through all gallery levels, photographing contemporary and traditional artworks that exemplify compositional excellence, including the "Photography Reinvented" exhibition and the "Los Angeles to New York" abstract art collection. We access the newly constructed fourth-floor towers housing Rothko paintings and artfully positioned Calder mobile installations, culminating on the spectacular rooftop terrace with its monumental blue sculpture and panoramic city views of Washington, the Capitol building, and the surrounding landscape. We conclude by traversing the underground connecting passage between the East and West Buildings, which features a spectacular three-million-dollar LED light installation, allowing you to experiment with variable shutter speeds to capture dramatic lighting effects in the low-light environment.
This safari develops your critical faculties through studying and documenting the compositional approaches of master photographers and artists. Additionally, you will master techniques for photographing artwork in challenging low-light conditions without flash or tripod support, achieving proper exposure and white balance in museum settings. While any camera or smartphone functions adequately for this course, SLR or interchangeable lens cameras (ILC) with high ISO capabilities (1600, 3200, 6400) and fast lenses (such as 50mm f/1.4 or 35mm f/1.8) perform optimally for low-light artwork photography. These camera specifications allow you to maintain fast shutter speeds while keeping subjects in proper focus. Note that tripods and backpacks are not permitted within gallery spaces for security and access reasons.
What to Bring:
- Any camera or smartphone works well; for optimal results, we recommend SLR or ILC cameras with high ISO capabilities (1600, 3200, 6400) and fast lenses such as 50mm f/1.4 or 35mm f/1.8
- Additional camera batteries (bring more than you think you'll need)
- Extra memory cards to ensure you capture all compositional opportunities
- Note: Tripods and backpacks are prohibited in the gallery
Where to Meet:
Meet behind security inside the modernistic entrance to the East Building (NOT the West Building) of the National Gallery of Art, located at 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.
