The City of West Palm Beach, Mandel Public Library, Armory Art Center and the Grassy Waters Conservancy are partnering to promote the 2020 Grassy Waters Annual Amateur Photography Contest. The Mandel Public Library will host classes on iPhone photography (January 18), Beginner and Intermediate Nature Photography (February 8), and Intro to nature Photography for Families (February 22). Award winning photographer, Barry Schein will teach these classes. Guided Nature Walks take place on January 19 and February 8. For the first time, there will be a Junior Nature Photographer component! The Deadline for entries is February 28. All entries must be taken on or of Grassy Waters Preserve. The exhibit opens at the Armory Art Center on April 3 and runs through April 11. The exhibition continues at the Mandel Public Library from April 18 – May 17. The Rickie Report shares the details here and urges you to go out and take some photos! You MUST sign up for classes and nature walks. You will find the information in this article.

GRASSY WATERS PRESERVE
Amateur photographers and Junior photographer are invited to showcase the natural beauty of the Preserve’s environment and wildlife by submitting work to our 17th annual competition.
Entries are being accepted February 1 through February 28, 2020



Grand Prize photo by Ken Craig
Grassy Waters Conservancy Nature Photography Classes
January – February 2020
Saturday, January 18th, 2020: Introduction to iPhone Photography
The iPhone photography class will give you a real sense of using the iPhone as a camera, and provide some photography basics, and the opportunity to use the skills learned in the classroom on an escorted nature photography photo shoot.
You will have classroom instruction from 10:00am until noon, then, after a 2-hour break, meet again at Grassy Waters Preserve from 2:00 – 4:00pm and have the chance to practice what you learned in the pristine Everglades environment of the Preserve. In the morning session, Barry Schein will sow you how to set up you iPhone, how to compose a picture, and how to pick the right time of day (lighting) to shoot great pictures. He will go over all of the tools built into the iPhone and how to use them, and also show you an Adobe editing app and how to use it. Barry will provide information on how to get the free app prior to class. After the 2 hours of classroom instruction, you will a good sense of iPhone photography. In the afternoon session you’ll have the opportunity to put into practice what you learned earlier in the day with an escorted photo shoot at the Grassy Waters Preserve, the Everglades in West Palm Beach. Barry will be there with tips and suggestions, answering your questions, and he’ll be available for one-on-one help.
All participants must be at least 18 years old. The maximum class size is 12 participants.
Cost is $65 for Grassy Waters Conservancy Members and $75 for non-members (You can join the Conservancy ($25/year membership) while you are registering for the class).
The schedule is:
10:00am – Noon: Classroom instruction in the Hibiscus Room, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach.
Noon – 2:00pm: Free time for you to get lunch and drive to the Grassy Waters Nature Center – we’ll meet at the dock next to the parking lot.
2:00 – 4:00pm: Escorted photo shoot. All walking during the photo shoot will be on pavement near the parking lot or on boardwalk.
Barry Schein, Instructor
Barry Schein is an award winning photographer, educator and photo editor. During his career he has created photography for many nationally branded Fortune 500 companies and their advertising agencies. He received an Eastman Kodak Professional Photographers award and both Nikon and international journal Graphis have recognized his work. Barry’s photographs have been displayed at Nikon House in New York City, the Kodak Pavilion at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Center, numerous group shows in South Florida, and in many private collections. Currently, he teaches photography at the Armory Arts Center in West Palm Beach.
Saturday, February 8th, 2020: Introduction to Nature Photography
Your day begins in the classroom at 10:00am. Barry Schein will teach you how to use your camera to capture stunning natural landscape photos, and in the afternoon you will have the chance to practice what you learned in the pristine Everglades environment of Grassy Waters Preserve. Barry will begin the morning session with camera basics and settings – going beyond point-and-shoot photography, It will continue with a discussion of the fundamentals of photography including composition and using light, and how to apply them to nature photography. Bring the camera you intend to shoot with to class. During the photo walk at Grassy Waters Preserve, the Everglades in West Palm Beach, you’ll have an opportunity to practice taking photographs using the techniques discussed in the classroom. Barry will be with you to make suggestions, answer question and provide one-on-one help. You’ll come away with a new perspective of the Grassy Waters Preserve and nature photography.
All participants must be at least 18 years old. The maximum class size is 12 participants.
Cost is $65 for Grassy Waters Conservancy Members and $75 for non-members (You can join the Conservancy ($25/year membership) while you are registering for the class).
The schedule is:
10:00am – Noon: Classroom instruction in the Hibiscus Room, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach.
Noon – 2:00pm: Free time for you to get lunch and drive to the Grassy Waters Nature Center – we’ll meet at the dock next to the parking lot.
2:00 – 4:00pm: Escorted photo shoot. All walking during the photo shoot will be on pavement near the parking lot or on boardwalk.
Saturday, February 22nd, 2020: Introduction to Nature Photography for Families
Spend a day with your child in a beautiful setting, and together develop an appreciation for nature photography you can share for a lifetime.
Barry Schein will teach your child and you how to use your camera and/or iPhone to capture stunning natural landscape photos and you will practice in the pristine Everglades environment of Grassy Waters Preserve.
Your day stars with a classroom presentation by Barry from 10:00am – Noon. Bring your camera and iPhone to class. Barry will start by going over camera and iPhone basics, then he will teach and demonstrate his guidelines for creative composition that will set your child’s pictures apart for school projects, in albums, or on Facebook or Instagram. After a 2 hour break, we’ll meet at the Grassy Waters Nature Center where you’ll have a chance to practice what you learned in the classroom. Barry will lead a photo walk around the Preserve dock, Nature Center and boardwalk, providing tips and advice on composition, camera and iPhone settings, and answering your questions.
The class is open for children between 9 – 18 years old who must be accompanied by a paying adult over the age of 18. The maximum class size is 15 participants.
Cost for adults is $65 for Grassy Waters Conservancy Members and $75 for non-members (You can join the Conservancy ($25/year membership) while you are registering for the class). Cost for children, 9 – 18 years old, is $25 per child.
The schedule is:
10:00am – Noon: Classroom instruction in the Hibiscus Room, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach.
Noon – 2:00pm: Free time for you to get lunch and drive to the Grassy Waters Nature Center – we’ll meet at the dock next to the parking lot.
2:00 – 4:00pm: Escorted photo shoot. All walking during the photo shoot will be on pavement near the parking lot or on boardwalk.

Photo by Barry Schein
Grassy Waters Conservancy Nature Walks With Nature Center Naturalist
January – February 2020
Sunday, January 19, 2020
4 – 6:30 pm
Sunset Walk with a Nature Center naturalist. Meet at the Nature Center. Free for Conservancy members. 15 attendees maximum
Saturday, February 8, 2020
4 – 6:30 pm
Sunset Walk with a Nature Center naturalist. Meet at the Nature Center. Free for Conservancy members. 15 attendees maximum
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT:
The Armory Art Center will host an Exhibit of accepted entries. Winners will be announced at the Opening Reception, Friday, April 3 6-8 pm. The Exhibit will be available through April 11, 2020. The Armory Art Center is located at 811 Park Place West Palm Beach, FL. 561.872.1776
The Mandel Public Library will host an Exhibit of accepted entries from April 18 through May 17. The Library is located at 411 Clematis Street West Palm Beach, FL. 561.868.7700
For contest details:
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17019 SW Sapri Way Port St. Lucie, FL 34986