How-To | Travel Related | Shorts | Under Development | Request Info

Hank teaches and gives programs and presentations to many varied organizations. A sampling of those programs follows. New programs are always under development. Workshops, seminars, phototours or variations of all can be designed to fit any organizations instructional needs.

Personal instruction is also available and described on a separate page.

Photographic “How To” Programs

“Re-learning to See – Photographically”
An hour and a half program that looks at the art of seeing and light, the real subject of our images and talks about the total visual process of making images. This is all about how I make images.

“The Photographic Process: From Your Mind to an Artwork"

The process of creating an image, at least a great image is much more than pointing and shooting. This program speaks to the process of creating an image, one that is more than technically correct, but on that is artistic. An image is more than mere subject matter, it is an artwork molded by the way we see through the process of our own lives as it connects with light, mood, and subject.  Learn how you can capture images that express your artistic vision. 1 1/2 hours in length. Can be combined with "Composition Mechanics" and or "The Picture Within The Picture" for an afternoon or evening seminar.

“Composition Mechanics ”
Sound a bit mecahnical? Yes, this is the program that explores the nuts and bolts of composition, how line and shape and color, and format and texture and pattern and etc all combine to form cohesive photoggraphic statements. We look at how to contrust landscapes, close-ups, and intimate landscapes, and how to keep unwanted subject elements from dargging our viewer's eyes out of our images. 1 hour.

“Seeing the Picture Within the Picture”
An hour-long program that shows the process of removing unneeded subject content and defining the essence of a subject into a single image with impact.

“Different Visions”
Seeing past the obvious and literal, this program shows how to make evocative images that combine art and craft to make the artistic imagery. I hour plus.

“Controlling Exposure”
A look at controlling exposure to make images look like you want them, versus what the camera wants. How to use and interpret Histograms. 1 Hour plus.

“The Concept of Midtone”
A half hour program program that shows you how meters work and how your camera computes exposure. Can be combined with Controlling Exposure for a hour and a half seminar.

“Light and the Art of Photography”
An hour program that looks at what our images are made from; light. We look at the direction of light, the quality of light, the color of light, in short, the charecteristics of light.

“The Long & Short Of Close Up Photography”
An hour program that makes close-up imagery a snap. Learn why it's not absolutely necessary to go out and buy the $2400 Macro lens and how to make great close-up images with just the gear you have and a few inexpensive additions to you camera bag.

“6 Steps to Better Outdoor Images”
An hour and 15 minute program highlighting six easy steps that will make any photographer’s images better. Aimed at the novice and intermediate photographer.

“Facing The Howling Blizzard with Your Camera – Winter Photography”
How to prepare yourself and your equipment for winter photography, 1 hour plus questions.

“To Polarize or not to Polarize, that is the question! How to use polarizers and the two other essential filters, warming filters and neutral density filters"
I think the polarizer is one of my most valuable tools in my camera bag, here's how why and when to use them and how they work. 1 hour

"Snow Hemlock", Wagner Falls Scenic Area, Alger County, Michigan © Hank Erdmann Photography

Photographic & Travel Related Programs, Other Programs

“Door County, Bayshore to Lakeshore”
One hour and 15 minutes on photographing this spectacular Wisconsin Peninsula in all seasons.

“Two Islands, Surrounded by Water ~ Michigan, Truely the Great Lakes State"
An hour long hike through the natural beauty of the State of Michigan

“Illinois, More than Just a Cornfield”
An hour long travelouge through the natural beauty of the Prairie State

“Midwest Gems ~ Great and Sometomes Almost Unheard of Photographic Sites in the Midwest”
An hour to hour and a half (a two part program that can finish at the two-thirds point) visual guide book on gret places to photograph in the Midwest with a bunch of little know or photographed gems.

“Lake Superior Provincial Park, Gitchegoomee’s Photographic Wonder”
An hour plus. A two person program with Fred Drury (depending on both photographer’s commitments, or can be given by either photographer) on fall in this fabulous jewel of a park an hour and a half north of Sault Ste. Marie on the shore of Lake Superior.

“A Lake Michigan Lighthouse Photography Tour”
A guided forty-five minute tour of Lake Michigan Lighthouses, where to find them, how to access them, how to photograph them and when to visit them.

“The History of Nature Photography”
1 hour on the history of photography, primarily as it pertains to nature photography.

"Gold Water Falls", Detail of Laughing Whitefish Falls, Alger County, Michigan © Hank Erdmann Photography

Short Multi Image Programs with Musical Backgrounds
(under 30 minutes)

“The Art of Leaves”
A look at the beauty and diversity of the leaf, forty-five minutes.

“Islands Of Nature in the Land Of Lincoln”
Northeastern Illinois is full of small parks and preserves that showcase Islands of Natural Illinois and this program highlights many of them. An hour plus tour of this “urban wilderness”.

“The Sun Rises On Wisconsin”
An hour long look at the Eastern shore of Wisconsin from the Michigan Border to Chiwaukee Prairie at sunrise.

“Winter Solstice”
A celebration of Nature in it’s season of rest. An half hour long with questions. This show is often paired with “Facing the Howling Blizzard”.

Bunchberry Fruits and Leaves, Mink River Nature Conservancy, Door County, Wisconsin © Hank Erdmann Photography

Programs Under Development

“How to Photograph Lighthouses (and other buildings)”
How to phoptograph lighthouses, what lenses, what times of day, how to get to them, where to find information on them and much more about shooting these historic and magnificent structures. Summer 2009

“Landscapes, Intimate Landscapes, and Close-Ups, ~ Three ways to look at a subject through a lens”
This one hour program looks at subjects through three distinct perspectives, and discusses lens selection in depth as well as in some not-so-common ways, ie; wide angle close-ups. Summer 2009

Spiderwort, Grant Creek Prairie Nature Preserve, Will County, Illinois © Hank Erdmann Photography

Program Request Information

I give programs to camera clubs, garden clubs, sporting clubs, corporate audiences and many other groups. Bookings are usually made a few months to a year in advance. Availability varies greatly depending on current bookings, my photo travel schedule, and projects in progress.

My Biography and a list of organizations to who I have given programs is available on other pages in this site. I create and give custom photographic seminars and workshops to camera clubs and many other organizations. Please call to discuss options, scheduling, and fee structures.

Fees and honorariums; I do ask for some honorarium of the organization’s choice for programs for local non-profit organizations, but I leave that amount up to those entities. I try to cover mounting gasoline, travel and handout costs. For travel over fifty miles round trip (I do programs this distance and farther quite often), I do ask for a minimum honorarium, and depending on distance, required lodging costs. Corporate speaking fees are quoted upon request. Photographic field workshops and phototours are quoted specifically to meet a given organizations needs.

Gratiot River, Keewenaw Peninsula, Keweenaw County, Michigan © Hank Erdmann Photography