Leaves & Bokeh
Autumn color, depth, distance and the way small changes in position can transform an ordinary background.
Ask about a spot →Field Session · Saturday · November 7, 2026
Leaves & Bokeh
A small, quiet photography session exploring autumn color, depth, distance, background and the way small changes in position can transform a photograph.
Ask about a spot →
Field Sessions
Stop chasing yesterday's photographs.
Find today's opportunity.
Field Sessions are quiet, small-group photography experiences centered on learning to see more clearly in the field.
We work with ordinary subjects in good conditions — autumn leaves, forests, flowers, winter detail and mountain landscapes — while paying close attention to light, background, color, depth, distance and atmosphere.
These are not gear-driven workshops or photo tours built around collecting predetermined compositions. The goal is to become better at recognizing what a place is offering today.
Groups are generally limited to six photographers, leaving time to work individually, ask questions and move through a location at an unhurried pace.
Next Field Session
Leaves & Bokeh
Autumn color can be spectacular — and visually chaotic. This Field Session is about learning how to simplify it.
We’ll look at how subject-to-background distance, focal length, direction of light and surprisingly small changes in where you stand can completely transform an image.
The emphasis is not on collecting a particular photograph. It is on recognizing relationships between color, light, foreground, background and depth — skills that carry into nearly every kind of photography.
Some comfort with your camera is helpful, but the session is about seeing rather than technical formulas.
Ask about November 7 →
2026–2027 Calendar
Field Sessions through the seasons
Sessions follow the light and the season. Dates for future sessions are announced as conditions and locations become clear.
Winter Color & Texture
Restrained color, quiet details, natural forms and subjects that are easily overlooked during the winter months.
Join the interest list →Seeing the Forest
Layers, quiet light, visual simplification, moss, structure and finding order inside visually complex woodland.
Join the interest list →Spring Blossoms in Soft Light
Color relationships, selective focus, clean backgrounds and learning how distance can turn a busy garden into a quiet photograph.
Join the interest list →Roses in Soft Light
Layered color, selective focus, background control and careful observation among Seattle-area roses.
Join the interest list →Mountain Wildflowers & Evening Light
Working with wildflowers as part of the larger landscape, using evening light, atmosphere and relationships between foreground and mountain terrain.
Join the interest list →Dahlias in Soft Light
A late-summer study of color, selective focus, thoughtful backgrounds and evening light.
Join the interest list →
Seeing begins before the camera comes up.
Good photographs often begin with observation rather than equipment.
We spend time looking before photographing, making small adjustments and noticing how a subject changes with light, angle, patience, distance and restraint.
A few feet of movement can completely change a background. Waiting for softer light can separate shapes that were previously competing. Moving farther away can make a photograph simpler rather than smaller.
Those decisions matter more to me than formulas or gear.
In the Field
Small shifts make the photograph
Light
Recognizing soft, directional and atmospheric light — and understanding when waiting changes everything.
Background
Learning how angle, distance and lens choice affect separation, simplicity and visual calm.
Color
Seeing relationships between colors rather than treating color as something to intensify later.
Depth
Using layers, selective focus and spatial relationships to create photographs that feel dimensional.
Restraint
Learning when removing information creates a stronger photograph than adding more.
Opportunity
Stop chasing yesterday’s photographs. Learn to recognize what today’s light and conditions are offering.
Private Field Days
One-on-one mentoring
Private field days are occasionally available by request and can be shaped around your interests, experience and the conditions.
Opportunities in the Field
Some sessions cannot be scheduled months in advance.
Exceptional wildflowers, unusual fog, fall color, snow or other seasonal conditions sometimes create opportunities worth acting on quickly.
Additional Field Sessions may be added when the conditions justify them. If you would like to hear about those sessions, send me a note and I’ll keep you informed.
Notes from past participants
“I learned more about where to stand and when to wait for light in a few hours than I had in years of shooting on my own.” — Chuck
“The way Mike explains light and restraint changed how I approach every photograph I make.” — Raina
“A few hours in the field with Mike was more valuable than an entire photography course. I came away seeing places differently.” — Rachel
November 7, 2026
Leaves & Bokeh
Limited to six photographers. If the session sounds like the way you would like to work in the field, send me a note.
Ask about a spot →