From Talons to Tulips:

Mastering Motion & Depth

A weekend immersion of mindful seeing and technical mastery

Boothbay Harbor Maine

May 15, 16, & 17, 2026

$825.00* per person ($400 Deposit Required)

Includes 2 nights* room accommodations at Captain Sawyers Bed & Breakfast, Botanical Garden Passes. (Does not include lunch & dinners, travel insurance, and transportation.)

Open to Beginners & Intermediates

Photography is about more than pressing the shutter, it’s about mastering the balance between motion and focus. In this two-day workshop, you’ll learn how to freeze the dramatic power of eagles and osprey in flight during the alewife run, and then shift gears to explore the quiet artistry of depth of field in a botanical garden. With guided instruction, hands-on practice, and expert feedback, you’ll build both technical skills and creative confidence. Whether you’re new to photography or ready to take your work to the next level, this workshop will help you see and capture the world with sharper focus.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is designed for:

• **Beginner Photographers who want to learn how to take control of their camera’s shutter speed and aperture. If you’ve ever struggled with blurry action shots or flat flower photos, this workshop will give you the tools to fix that.

• Intermediate Photographers who understand the basics but want to sharpen their technical skills and creative eye. You’ll gain confidence capturing fast-moving wildlife in crisp detail and crafting images with intentional depth and storytelling.

• Nature Enthusiasts & Birdwatchers who want to translate their outdoor experiences into professional-quality images, from eagles diving for fish to the quiet beauty of botanical gardens.

• Anyone Ready to Grow their photography with hands-on practice, step-by-step instruction, and expert feedback in two distinctly different but complementary environments.

**If you are not confident with the Exposure Triangle (understanding the relationship between Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO) it is strongly recommended you schedule a 1:1 customized session prior to the workshop. Learn more: https://www.seacoastphotographyschool.com/courses/p/privatephotolessons

What You’ll Gain

By the end of this workshop, you’ll walk away with:

• Sharper Wildlife Images: The ability to freeze motion with confidence, capturing eagles and osprey mid-flight without blur.

• Creative Control of Depth: A solid understanding of how to use aperture to shape your images from dreamy, blurred backgrounds to richly detailed garden scenes.

• Technical Confidence: Comfort using shutter priority and aperture priority modes, ISO adjustments, and autofocus settings tailored to your subject.

• An Eye for Storytelling: The skill to match technical settings with creative intent, whether isolating a single bloom or showcasing an entire environment.

• Hands-On Experience: Real-world practice in two environments that challenge different aspects of photography with action in the wild and stillness in nature.

• A Personal Portfolio: A set of images from both days that demonstrate your growth, ready to share, print, or build into your photography portfolio.

As photographers, checking the weather is one of the first things we do when planning a shoot, especially with weather conditions in Maine are always subject to change. We will continually check and update the itinerary based upon the forecasts. Therefore, the following agenda may be changed to accommodate the best conditions.

Instructional Itinerary

Day 1: Friday, October 15

• 3:00 PM – Check-in

• 4:00 PM – Introductions & Agenda Overview

• 5:30 PM – Walking Photo Tour of Boothbay Harbor (weather permitting)

• 6:30 PM – Group Dinner or On Your Own

Day 2: Saturday, October 18 - Mastering Shutter Speed: Freezing Motion for Tack Sharp Birds in Action

• 6:30 AM – Optional Sunrise Photo Walk

• 8:00 AM – Breakfast

• 9:00–11:00 AM Fish Ladder - Camera Settings:

  • Manual Mode (M): How to maximize shutter Speed in available light.

  • ISO Management: Start at ISO 400–800 in daylight; increase if clouds reduce light.

  • Continuous Autofocus: How totrack flying birds with consistent sharpness.

  • Shooting in Burst Mode: Capture sequences to increase chance of ideal shot.

  • Understand Exposure Compensation: to adjust shadows and highlights against a bright sky.

• 12:00–1:00 PM – Lunch

• 1:00–4:00 PM Fish Ladder Cont’d - Methods & Techniques:

  • Panning: How to follow the bird smoothly, pivoting at the waist, to keep subject framed.

  • Background Awareness: Choose angles behind the bird for better contrast.

  • Focus Points: Use appropriate focus zones to lock subject movement.

  • Proper Preparation: Anticipate perches, water entry points, or dive paths. Pre-focus expected action.

  • Freeze Flight: Capture osprey hovering before diving, freeze wings mid-flap.

  • Capture Moments: Photograph osprey or eagle gripping alewives mid-catch.

  • Before & After: Frame eagle taking off from a tree branch, ensuring sharp talons and feathers heading for the dive.

  • Shoot Groups: Shoot groups of gulls feeding frantically on alewives for layered action.

• 5:45–6:30 PM – Golden Hour Sunset Walking Tour: Optional sunset shoot for those who want to explore perspectives in golden hour light.

• 6:30 PM – Dinner

• 8:30 PM – Evening Gather & Gab

Day 2 Outcome: Participants leave with a portfolio of action shots showing technical mastery over shutter speed, exposure, and autofocus tracking

Day 3: Sunday, October 19 - Mastering Aperture: Exploring Depth of Field in Botanical Gardens

• 6:30 AM – Optional Sunrise Photo Walk or Yoga

• 8:00 AM – Breakfast

• 9:00–11:00 AM: Camera Settings:

  • Aperture Mode: Exploring wide, mid and narrow apertures for compelling effects.

  • Focus Stacking: Using tripod for focus stacking or small aperture shots with lower shutter speeds.

  • Focus Selection: Single-point focus for close-ups; broader zone for wide shots.

  • Foreground/Background Framing: Use light, arches, and pathways to add depth.

• 12:00 -2:00PM – Methods & Techniques:

  • Bokeh Effect: Step closer to subjects to isolate subject.

  • Patterns & Repetition: Use narrow apertures to emphasize symmetry in rows of flowers.

  • Layering: Include foreground petals blurred with sharp mid-ground flowers.

  • Reflections: Shoot water lilies with narrow apertures to keep both reflection and flower in focus.

  • Close-Up Textures: Macro shot of leaf veins or petal edges.

Day 3 Outcome: Participants explore creative choices using aperture, controlling depth of field to craft images ranging from minimalist single blooms to detailed, immersive garden landscapes.

Instructors:

David Mazur & Susan Demers Weigold bring a rare combination of technical mastery, creative artistry, and professional coaching to this immersive workshop. Together, they offer a 360° approach to developing your photography.

David, is a seasoned college professor and certified performance coach who specializes in experiential, hands-on learning. His approach empowers photographers to push past their comfort zones, master their tools, and build the discipline needed to deliver high-quality photography.

Susan, an accomplished fine art photographer, creative branding expert, and Getty/iStock contributor, is known for helping creatives create impact photos. She blends intuitive artistry with real-world strategy, guiding photographers to craft stories through their images and present their work with confidence and clarity.

David and Susan combine their complementary strengths. David’s expertise in skill development with Susan’s mastery of storytelling will help participants design, refine, and deliver a photos that stands out.

What You’ll Need:

• Layers to wear, especially at night (base layer, windproof layer).

• Comfortable shoes

• Mirrorless or DSLR camera.

• Sturdy tripod and a remote shutter

• Any or all of the following recommended lenses

• Wide-angle lens 14-24 mm.

• Medium zoom lens 24-70 mm.

• Telephoto lens, 70-200 mm lens.

• Macro lens 50 / 100mm Instructors

This weekend is your opportunity to see it through a new lens.

Workshop Accommodations

Captain Sawyer’s Bed & Breakfast

(Included in Workshop Fee)

Enjoy 3 days & 2 nights nestled in the heart of Boothbay Harbor, Captain Sawyer’s Bed & Breakfast is the perfect host for our Seacoast Photography School workshop, offering a historic Victorian-era inn (est. 1877) nestled in the heart of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. With its sweeping harbor views, wrap-around porch, and thoughtfully curated local art, the inn provides both inspiration and comfort, creating an atmosphere that primes participants for creativity. Just steps from the water, guests are immersed in ever-changing coastal light, tide-pool textures, and classic New England harbor scenes are ideal subjects for practicing composition, exposure, and storytelling. Beyond its stunning location, Captain Sawyer’s delivers quiet luxury, modern amenities, and attentive hospitality, allowing our group to focus fully on learning, shooting, and collaboration without distraction. Captain Sawyer’s is more than a place to stay, it’s part of the creative inspiration, offering the sights, textures, and light that make Boothbay such a captivating backdrop for photographers.

Be sure to make your reservation by emailing info@seacoastphotographyschool.

FAQ’s

Do I need to be an experienced photographer?

Not at all. This retreat is for all levels, from beginner to experienced. The focus is on seeing differently, not chasing perfection.

Do I need fancy gear?

No. Bring whatever you have, a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, or even your phone. The lessons are about perspective and presence, not expensive equipment.

What if the weather is bad?

Perfect. Part of this retreat is learning to work with what is. We’ll explore indoor and outdoor opportunities no matter the conditions.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

A non-refundable deposit of $400.00 USD is required for registration. Final payment is due 30 days before the workshop's start. Deposits are non-refundable upon payment, except if your spot can be filled. A 50% credit of the deposit fee will apply to future workshops. $525.00 due October 10th.

FOR ALL CANCELLATIONS YOU MUST EMAIL US AT INFO@SEACOASTPHOTOGRPAPHYSCHOOL.COM

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

Questions:
Please email info@seacoastphotographyschool.com.