Advanced Photography Workshop with Benjamin Williamson

This event is now full. Please email Phil at programs@hhltmaine.org to be added to the waitlist.

Join Benjamin Williamson for an advanced photography workshop. This workshop will begin with a classroom lesson on shooting locally, including some of Ben’s secrets. After the discussion, participants will visit one or more of HHLT’s preserves for a sunset shoot (transportation not provided, carpooling is encouraged). Attendees will return to the office to review and edit photos with Ben’s guidance. The program will conclude between 7 and 8 p.m.

HHLT is very fortunate to have a local, well-known photographer donate his time to lead this workshop. Benjamin Williamson is not your traditional landscape photographer. Instead of seeking places devoid of human presence, he likes to showcase our relationship with the environment through images that often include man-made objects. He wants to understand where we fit in to celebrate humanity as well as the obvious wonder we associate with the natural world. A lifelong love of history and culture are one side of the coin that drives Ben to capture these scenes. The other is weather. He’s been a weather nut since he was very young, and that obsession has informed most of his imagery. He is largely self-taught — he began making photos in 2012 while working nights as a bartender. In a few short years he was offered a job as the photo editor of Down East Magazine. While working for them, he built a large photography workshop program while continuing to sell prints, license images, and run his own workshops. He left Down East in July 2022 to focus on personal work and he continues to run many photography workshops and sell prints. Ben joins a small, select group of artists from Maine, including the painter Andrew Wyeth, whose work (Giant’s Stairs) has been used on a U.S. postage stamp. He lives in Bath with his wife and three small children. To see some of Ben’s work, check out his website.

Please note: This is an advanced photography workshop with a limit of 12 spaces. Participants are expected to bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera, lenses (16-35mm and 100-400mm are preferred), a sturdy tripod and head, and a laptop to edit and receive feedback on photos. Participants are also encouraged to bring a sandwich and a drink. We anticipate more interest in this event than we can accommodate, and will maintain a waiting list, so participants should only sign up if they are sure that they will be able to attend and should notify HHLT if their plans change.