NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

  

In one of our most popular workshops, award-winning local photographer Rona Neri teaches Nature Photography! 

The first half of this workshop consists of a presentation and discussion in the Center for Rural History. With an emphasis on assisting beginner and intermediate level photographers, Rona discusses the basics of nature photography techniques, light, composition, and photographic subjects to look for on the prairie and farmstead. Then you'll head outside with your own camera equipment, whether a DSLR camera or your cell phone, to capture the beauty of the park together or venturing off on your own. Beginners welcome! Participants should wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Spots are limited, registration is required. 

Wednesday, June 3rd 6:30-8:30 pm 
$15 per person

Note: This event is weather-dependent. In case of postponement, updates will be shared via email to those who registered.

About the instructor: 

Rona Neri is the artist behind the lens at Rona's Photography. A self-taught photographer, she honed her craft through long hikes, breathtaking wildlife encounters, reading and experimentation — learning as much from the animals she photographs as from any technical manual. At the heart of Rona's work is a conviction that animals are not merely subjects but individuals — each with its own personality, relationships, and inner life. Her images are less about capturing exotic spectacles than about bearing witness to those lives with patience, humor and respect. The best encounters, she has found, are mutual ones: moments of genuine reciprocal curiosity between photographer and subject, where the animal is just as interested in her as she is in it. 

Initially focused on Wisconsin wildlife and conservation, photo tours in South Africa & Costa Rica ignited her passion for wildlife around the globe, and recent travels to Australia & the Arctic have added new chapters to an ever-growing visual story. She is a photographer for Schumacher Farm Park in Waunakee, and the lead photographer and script writer for a series of conservation education films about local birds for Pope Farm Conservancy in Middleton. In 2020 she won second place in the National Wildlife Federation's annual photography contest out of over 27,000 submissions for the image "The Final Appeal," published in NWF magazine's December 2020 issue. In 2021 her piece "Ukiyo-e" was selected for the Wisconsin Regional Art Program's state exhibit, where it won the Chinese Fine Arts Association award. Permanent displays of her work can be found at the Waunakee Public Library and Schumacher Farm Park's Center for Rural History. Her first solo exhibit debuted at Gallery 800 UBD in Madison in 2022. 

We are passionate about making our events accessible to people of all needs and abilities. If you have any questions and/or need special accommodations, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Refunds/Cancellations:

Program fees are refundable when:

  • The acitvity is cancelled by Schumacher Farm Park
  • The participant cancels for a medical reason (a physician's note is required)
  • The participant un-enrolls 7 or more days prior to the beginning of the activity