Described as a national treasure, the 15-mile Potomac gorge from River Bend Park to Roosevelt Island is the focus of shooting assignments in this course. After a classroom orientation session, photographers experience evocative early morning fall landscapes from both Maryland and Virginia locations in this beautiful and ecologically significant area on hikes of up to 3 ½ miles.

A mid-class critique is held after several field trips and includes discussion of current issues, suggested reading, and a visit to the Sackler Gallery to view contemporary Chinese photographer Hai Bo’s serene landscape photographs (on view through Feb. 27).

Additional field excursions are followed by a final classroom critique and portfolio review. Field session times vary, beginning as early as shortly before sunrise to take advantage of lighting conditions. Locations and field trip times are discussed in class and details are provided by e-mail. If weather prevents a field session, the meeting that week is held in the classroom at 10 a.m.

Students should have basic photography skills. Emphasis is placed on improving design skills and developing photographic vision. Any manually adjustable digital or film-based format with tripod may be used. Students process film outside of class time.

Instructor Barbara Southworth is a professional landscape photographer and instructor.

8 sessions, 3 hours each

No class Nov. 26.