2025 PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES- Look below for my upcoming classes with several different arts organizations:

JOEYABLONSKY.com (Zoom & in-person)
PHOTOGRAPHY TUTORING
(Zoom & in-person)
SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES (Zoom & in-person)
MARYLAND HALL (in-person)
VISARTS (Zoom & in-person)
DELAPLAINE ARTS CENTER
(Zoom & in-person)


JOEYABLONSKY.com (Class Policies)

PHOTO CHALLENGE (not a contest): A SENSE OF PLACE (Zoom)
Learn how to capture the essence of a location through photography. This will be similar to a photo essay, but no words are required. Think differently to gather a diverse and unique set of photos that will convey the atmosphere, personality and spirit of a location (or two or three). The second session will be a photo review.

Wednesdays, June 4 (6:30-8:30pm) & July 2 (6:30-9:30pm), $95


YOUR NEW MIRRORLESS CAMERA (Zoom)
Even if you had a good handle on using your previous DSLR, the technology and options available in your new mirrorless camera can be absolutely overwhelming- they have 1000 page instruction manuals! We'll discuss focus bracketing, Canon Fv exposure mode, lens adapters, digital teleconverter, in-camera stabilization, multiple exposures, display simulations, grid displays, grips, creative filters, custom shooting modes, battery recharge performance, touch-screen & touch-shutter, panoramic shot mode, aspect ratios, shooting info displays, subject & eye detection and more. The second session will be a photo review.

Tuesdays, June 10 & 17, 6:30-9:30pm, $110


PHOTO CHALLENGE (not a contest)- BOTANIC GARDENS (Zoom)
Need motivation to get out and shoot? If so, get a list of photo opportunities in/near DC (and further afield based on participant location), tips, tricks and time of day recommendations to create a body of work that includes photos of flowers, pollinators, sculpture, public art, armillary spheres, winding paths and more. The second session will be a photo review.

Wednesdays, June 18 (6:30-8:30pm) & July 16 (6:30-9:30pm), $95


PHOTO TOUR- NATIONAL ARBORETUM, DC (in-person)

Highlights include: Mid-century administration building, koi pond, National Bonzai and Penjing Garden, National Capitol Columns, ground level Capitol column capital, public art and more. Receive real-time advice on photo opportunities, compositions, camera controls and lighting.

Sunday, June 22, 9am-12pm, $55


PHOTO CHALLENGE (not a contest)- HOW TO SHOOT PEOPLE & GET AWAY WITH IT, or, PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY (Zoom)
Some photographers have the gift- they can approach a total stranger, engage them in conversation and leave with a fantastic photo. For other photographers, it can be a terrifying experience. We'll discuss techniques to overcome fear & apprehension, how to develop a rapport with your subject, finding subjects, camera controls, lens selection, complimentary lighting conditions and more- all guaranteed to take great candid, environmental & photojournalistic photos of family, friends, acquaintances, street performers, activists and more. The second session will be a photo review.

Mondays, June 23 & July 21, 6:30-9:30pm, $110


DC IN FOCUS- SUMMER SESSION (in-person & Zoom)
We will meet at metro accessible locations for the first 5 weeks and have a Zoom photo review for the final week.

Sundays, June 29 (West Mall & Tidal Basin, 9:30am-12:30pm), July 6 (Folklife Festival, 11am-2pm), 13 (Dupont Circle- Farmers Market & Little Flea, 9:30am-12:30pm), 20 (Brookland & National Shrine, 9:30am-12:30pm), 27 (TBD, 9:30am-12:30pm) & August 3 (6:30-9:30pm, Zoom photo review), $330, $280 (15% OFF SALE!!!)


PHOTO CHALLENGE (not a contest)- DON'T FORGET TO REMEMBER, or, MEMORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY (Zoom)
Need motivation to get out and shoot? If so, we'll concentrate on photos of monuments, war memorials, cemeteries, the abandoned, pregentrified areas, the soon to be demolished and much more. The second session will be a photo review.

Tuesdays, July 1 (6:30-8:30pm) & 29 (6:30-9:30pm), $95


PHOTO TOUR- SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL
(in-person)
The 2025 Festival, Youth and the Future of Culture, will explore the creativity, vitality, resilience and intergenerational learning & exchange through the contributions and experiences of youth. We'll photograph musicians, skaters, artists, craftspeople, lowriders and more! Receive real-time advice on photo opportunities, compositions, camera controls and lighting.

Sunday, July 6, 2:30-5:30pm, $55


NEGATIVE INFLUENCE (Zoom)
Time marches on and it is absolutely cruel and unforgiving. Rescue your family's vintage negatives/slides and get them digitized. We'll discuss ways to view the negatives/slides, along with scanning & viewing options. Rediscover and share the memories before it's too late!

Wednesday, July 9, 6:30-8:30pm, $40


FREDERICK, MD
(in-person)
Highlights include: High Wheel Race (1880's style bikes, Victorian era clothing- great for portraits, photojournalism and panning), Carroll Creek, historic architecture and more! Receive real-time advice on photo opportunities, compositions, camera controls and lighting.

Saturday, July 12, 11:45am-2:45pm, $55


PHOTO CHALLENGE (not a contest): PATTERNS IN NATURE (Zoom)
Need motivation to get out and shoot? If so, get tips, tricks and time of day recommendations to create a body of work that includes photos of flowers, foliage, tree bark/branches/eyes, pareidolia, produce, animal patterns and more- while learning about the golden ratio, fibonacci sequence, different types of symmetry, branching, fractal geometry, spirals, meanders, waves, bubbles, tessellation, cracks, phyllotaxy, leaf venation and other concepts. The second session will be a photo review. A macro lens or extension tubes are recommended for this class.

Mondays, July 14 (6:30-8:30pm) & August 11 (6:30-9:30pm), $95


KENILWORTH AQUATIC GARDENS, MD
(in-person)
Highlights include: The Lotus and Water Lily Festival, with peak bloom of the lotus and lily flowers! Receive real-time advice on photo opportunities, compositions, camera controls and lighting.

Saturday, July 19, 8:30-11:30am, $55


PHOTO CHALLENGE (not a contest)- SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, or, COUNTY FAIRS & FARMS (Zoom)
Need motivation to get out and shoot? If so, receive inspiration to take incredible photos of landscapes, fields (peak bloom of sunflowers), structures (barns, silos...), produce stands, industrial equipment (tractors, combines...), farmers markets, folk art, livestock, petting zoos, border collie herding, goat yoga, barn cats, photojournalism, some of the most intriguing slow shutter speed photos ever (amusement rides at night) and more. The second session will be a photo review.

Mondays, August 4 & September 29, 6:30-9:30pm, $110


CLARK'S ELIOAK FARM, ELLICOTT CITY, MD (in-person)

Highlights include: The salvaged Enchanted Forest structures and figures (from a local storybook theme park), sunflower showcase (during peak bloom), petting farm, other animals and farm market. Receive real-time advice on photo opportunities, compositions, camera controls and lighting.

Saturday, August 23, 10am-12:30pm, $46 + farm admission


PHOTO TOUR- OLD ELLICOTT CITY, MD
(in-person)
Highlights include: Main Street Music Fest event, B&O Ellicott City Station Museum, Firehouse Museum, architecture, photojournalism and more! Receive real-time advice on photo opportunities, compositions, camera controls and lighting.

Saturday, September 20, 12-3pm, $55


PHOTO CHALLENGE (not a contest)- SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER, or, AUTUMN SCENES (Zoom)
Need motivation to get out and shoot? Capture the colors of the season (and lower sun angles) in your photos of landscapes, fall foliage, pumpkin patches, black cats, macro photography of fall flowers/leaves, scarecrows, farm equipment, Halloween decorations and more. The second session will be a photo review.

Tuesdays, September 23 (6:30-8:30pm) & November 11 (6:30-9:30pm), $95


PHOTO TOUR- HISTORIC FREDERICKSBURG, VA (in-person)

Art in the Park, Farmers Market, historic architecture, street photography, industrial items, murals, otter sculptures and more. Receive real-time advice on photo opportunities, compositions, camera controls and lighting.

Saturday, October 4, 11am-2pm, $55


PHOTO TOUR- DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING, MD, NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY (in-person)
The best location for light trails and blurred people due to mass transit, hills, road curves and overhead lane signals. Learn the techniques required to capture great nighttime photos! We’ll address how to use exposure modes, exposure compensation, white balance and ISO to guarantee great results.

Wednesday, October 29, 6:30-9:30pm, $55


PHOTO CHALLENGE (not a contest)- YOU'RE A MEAN ONE MR. GRINCH, or, HOLIDAY SCENES (Zoom)
Need motivation to get out and shoot? Capture iconic photos from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve- Turkey Trots, backyard Turkey Bowls, seasonal parades, midnight madness events, tree lightings, caroling, creepy ornaments, candid portraits of family & friends and more. The second session will be a photo review.

Tuesdays, November 18 (6:30-8:30pm) & January 6, 2026 (6:30-9:30pm), $95


DC IN FOCUS- WASHINGTON, DC, HOLIDAY NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY (in-person)
We'll visit: Dupont Circle (including the DC Holiday Market and Connecticut Ave), Penn Quarter (including the Downtown DC Holiday Market, Archives, 7th St. and Chinatown Friendship Arch) and the Capitol Grounds (Botanic Gardens, Capitol Reflecting Pool, Capitol Christmas Tree, Supreme Court and Union Station). Learn the techniques required to capture great nighttime photos of lightrails, architecture and photojournalism! We’ll address how to use exposure modes, exposure compensation, white balance and ISO to guarantee great results.

Sundays, November 23, December 7, 14 & 21 (Zoom photo review), 5-8pm, $220


PHOTO TOUR- OLD ELLICOTT CITY, MD, NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY (in-person)
Midnight Madness event, historic architecture, downtown light trails and more- learn the techniques required to capture great nighttime photos! We’ll address how to use exposure modes, exposure compensation, white balance and ISO to guarantee great results.

Friday, December 5, 5-8pm, $55


PHOTO TOUR- ALEXANDRIA, VA, SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS WALK PARADE (in-person)
The Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade- dozens of Scottish clans dressed in colorful tartans parade through the streets of Old Town, joined by pipe and drum bands, as well as terriers and hounds, community groups and more.
Receive real-time advice on photo opportunities, compositions, camera controls and lighting.

Saturday, December 6, 10:30am-1:30pm, $55


PHOTO TOUR- OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA, NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY (in-person)
Learn the techniques required to capture great nighttime photos! We’ll address how to use exposure modes, exposure compensation, white balance and ISO to guarantee great results.

Tuesday, December 9, 6:30-9:30pm, $55


PHOTO CHALLENGE (not a contest)- SWEDISH DEATH CLEANING, or, DECLUTTERING & ORGANIZING YOUR PHOTOS (Zoom)
Do we really need to save every photo we take, along with assigning key words and giving star ratings to them?

TBD 2026 , $110


BACK TO TOP


PHOTOGRAPHY TUTORING

Get the knowledge you need, when you need it, with private instruction. Tutoring will be tailored to your individual needs and is available in a wide range of digital and film photography topics, such as: periodic mentoring, camera use, camera/lens choices, creativity, flash photography, portfolio creation, photo critiques, aspect ratios, film developing, printing enlargements in a traditional darkroom, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, website/portfolio review and more. Contact me with your desired topics.



BACK TO TOP


SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES

THE PHOTO ESSAY (Zoom)- June 26 & July 10, 6:30-9:30pm

ON LOCATION (in-person & a Zoom photo review)- Sundays, June 29, July 13, 20, 27, August 3 & 10, 1:45-4:45pm

PHOTO CREATIVITY (Zoom) - July 31, August 7 & 14, 6:30-9:30pm

ON LOCATION (in-person & a Zoom photo review)- Sundays, October 5, 12, 19, 26, November 2, 9 & 16, 1:45-4:45pm

THE EXPOSURE TRIANGLE (in-person) - Tuesdays, October 7, 14, 21 & 28, 6:30-9:30pm

MAIN STREET USA (Zoom)- Thursdays, November 6 & 13, 6:30-9:30pm

DC NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY (in-person)- Mondays, November 10 & 17, 6:30-9:30pm


BACK TO TOP


MARYLAND HALL FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS

ANNAPOLIS: OFF THE BEATEN PATH (in-person)- Saturdays, June 7, 14, 21 & 28, 10am-1pm

CAMERA GEAR- WHAT SHOULD I BUY?! (in-person)- Wednesday, September 3, 6:30-9:30pm

PRO QUALITY PHOTOS USING ANY CAMERA (in-person)- Wednesdays, September 10, 17 & 24, 6:30-9:30pm

BLACK & WHITE ANALOG PHOTOGRAPHY (in-person)- Wednesdays, October 1 & 15, 6:30-9:30pm

INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY (in-person)- Mondays, October 6, 13, 20 & 27, 6:30-9:30pm

ANNAPOLIS BY NIGHT: HOLIDAY SEASON & MIDNIGHT MADNESS! (in-person)- Thursdays, December 4, 11 & 18, 6:30-9:30pm


BACK TO TOP


VISARTS

INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY (in-person)- Thursdays, September 4, 11, 18 & 25, 6:30-9:30pm

PRO QUALITY PHOTOS USING ANY CAMERA (in-person)- Thursdays, October 16, 23 & 30, 6:30-9:30pm

NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY (in-person)- Monday, November 3, 6:30-9:30pm

CAMERA GEAR- WHAT SHOULD I BUY?! (Zoom)- Thursday, November 20, 6-9pm


BACK TO TOP


DELAPLAINE ARTS CENTER

CAMERA GEAR- WHAT SHOULD I BUY?! (Zoom)- Wednesday, October 8, 6-9pm

PHOTOGRAPHING FREDERICK- ARCHITECTURE & PUBLIC ART (in-person)- Saturdays, October 18 (10am-2pm) & 25 (10am-1pm)

CANINES ON THE CREEK: DOGGY PARADE & COSTUME CONTEST (in-person)- Saturday, October 25, 1:30-4:30pm

PRO QUALITY PHOTOS USING ANY CAMERA (Zoom)- Wednesdays, November 5, 12 & 19, 6-9pm

NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY: SAILING THROUGH THE WINTER SOLSTICE (in-person)- Tuesday, December 2, 6-9pm

THE EXPOSURE TRIANGLE (in-person)- Saturday, December 13, 10am-1pm


BACK TO TOP