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PHOTOGRAPHY: Experienced

Architecture and Public Art Photography

Learn how to take great photographs of architecture and public art. Class discussions include techniques and camera settings for cityscapes, individual buildings, architectural details, contemporary public art, monuments and memorials, and cemetery statuary.

ONLINE: Thurs., March 2–16, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0RG; Members $125; Nonmembers $145

iPhone Photography II

This workshop provides additional hands-on practice to students who have completed Introduction to iPhone Photography, including achieving better exposure (using the ProCamera app), understanding advanced technical methods and terms, and using editing and organization apps.

ONLINE: Sat., March 4 and Sun., March 5, 10 a.m.; Peggy Feerick; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0RH; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

By Peggy Feerick

New Classes

Photography

Next Steps: The

Personal Project

Photographers ready to advance or refine a body of work explore editing and sequencing personal projects through discussion and writing. View the work of other photographers and fellow students. Then, begin creating an effective photographic series.

By Patricia Howard

ONLINE: Sat., March 4–25, 12 p.m.; Patricia Howard; details on website; CODE 1V0-0RJ; Members $135; Nonmembers $155

Photographing Pets and People

Learn to create photo portraits of family, friends—and passers-by—and their pets. Draw on tips from photojournalism and street photography as you learn how to use available natural light in your photos. Studio photography topics are not included in this class. Draw on personal interests through homework assignments.

ONLINE: Wed., March 8 and 15, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0RK; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

Photographing Industrial Items

Learn the camera controls, composition, and lighting considerations to achieve artful images of items such as brickwork, apartment or office buzzers, call boxes, and vintage signage. Working knowledge of your camera is required, along with willingness to see the mundane as magnificent.

ONLINE: Thurs., June 1 and 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1V0-0UD; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

By Joe Yablonsky

Mastering Exposure

Develop a greater understanding of the complex relationship among aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Topics include exposure modes, exposure compensation, filter exposure factors, bracketing, metering modes, histograms, the zone system, dynamic range, eliminating camera shake, tripods, and flash concepts. Skills are honed through assignments and in-class review.

ONLINE: Thurs., April 27–May 25, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0TD; Members $185; Nonmembers $215

The Flash Class

Lighting can make or break your work as a digital photographer. Learn the tech tips that will make your flash one of your most effective creative tools and help create a three-dimensional look in your photographs of people and objects.

By Marty Kaplan

ONLINE: Mon., May 1–22, 6:30 p.m.; Marty Kaplan; details on website; CODE 1V0-0UF; Members $165; Nonmembers $185

Slow Shutter-Speed Photography

Slow things down as you learn to capture movement and low light scenes with longer shutter speeds. Topics covered include panning, zoom effect, intentional camera movement, tripods, drive modes, neutral density filters, and the camera settings required to take slow shutter-speed photos in bright light, low light, twilight, and night.

ONLINE: Wed., May 10 and 17, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0TZ; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

Online

The Photo Essay

Learn how to create a photo essay, a set of photographs that tell a story or evoke a series of emotions. Homework assignments are designed to encourage students to explore their own personal interests.

ONLINE: Wed., May 24 and June 21, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V00UB; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit Hands-On

History of Photography: Surrealism

Learn about the world of the photo surrealists—Man Ray, László MoholyNagy, Hannah Höch, and others—and explore how they pushed the boundaries of photographic imagery. Then, create your own surrealist collage as part of the experience.

ONLINE: Sat., June 3 and 10, 12 p.m.; Pat Howard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UE; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

Build Your Photographic Portfolio

Show off your photos like a pro and learn how to assemble a personal portfolio that reflects your best work and your distinctive vision as a photographer. Targeted homework assignments help you increase your collection of portfolio-quality work.

ONLINE: Wed., May 31–June 14, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0UC; Members $125; Nonmembers $145

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Montgomery Meigs in Washington Beyond the Civil War

Montgomery Meigs is best known as the quartermaster general of the Union Army during the Civil War. Less known, however, is that he also was an engineer, architect, inventor, patron of the arts, and a Smithsonian regent. As such, Meigs left an indelible impression on the face of the capital city, from the dome of the U.S. Capitol to the Smithsonian Arts and Industries building, and more. Explore his legacy during a full day of history and architecture in Washington, D.C., led by history, urban studies, and architecture lecturer Bill Keene.

The tour visits the Arts and Industries Building, the National Building Museum, Battleground National Cemetery, and the Commissary Sergeant’s Quarters at Fort Myer, as well as views other buildings and works by Meigs.

Fri., March 24, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; by bus; CODE 1CD-007; Members $160; Nonmembers $210

All Eyes on Pittsburgh

The centerpiece of this art-filled three-day visit to Pittsburgh—a city of smokestacks and steel reborn as a cultural capital—is the 58th Carnegie International exhibition, held every three to five years at the Carnegie Museum of Art. The latest edition displays the work of more than 30 artists, both rising stars and celebrated figures.

In addition, the tour led by arts journalist Richard Selden visits alternative-art venue the Mattress Factory, the museum devoted to Pittsburgh-born pop-art king Andy Warhol, and the former estate of industrial baron and art collector Henry Clay Frick, an associate of Andrew Carnegie.

The itinerary includes a walking and tasting tour of Pittsburgh’s revived market center, the Strip District; a ride on the 1877 Duquesne Incline cable car to view a panorama of downtown; and lunch at the National Aviary.

Sun., March 26, 8 a.m.–Tues., March 28, 10 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-PIT; Members $1,045; Nonmembers $1,375

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Walking Tour

Springtime on the Potomac Heritage Trail

Wildflower Hike at Turkey Run Park

Discover the spring splendors of the Potomac Gorge, a 1,900-acre natural area spanning Maryland and Virginia, and one of the most geologically diverse places on Earth. Hiking north from Turkey Run Park along the Potomac Heritage Trail, trek along one of the most scenic sections of the Potomac River as you admire lush upland forests and floodplains brilliantly decorated by Virginia bluebells. Keep an eye out for great blue herons and other native fauna in the temporary pools and side channels.

Study leader Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a naturalist and author, has spent a year exploring the Potomac Gorge from Great Falls to Theodore Roosevelt Island for an upcoming book, and this trek covers one of her favorite sections of it.

TWO OPTIONS: Wed., April 12 (CODE 1CS-B05); Thurs., April 13 (CODE 1CS-C05); 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $75

Doodlebugging Through Delaware

Hop aboard a private charter of an early 20th-century self-propelled railcar called the Doodlebug and take in the spring sights along the historic Wilmington & Western Railroad line. The W&W has been in continuous operation since 1867, stretching at its longest to 20 miles of track along the Red Clay Valley from downtown Wilmington, Delaware, to Landenberg, Pennsylvania.

As you ride, tour leader Joe Nevin, a railroad historian, covers the colorful background of the W&W and offers stories of the once-bustling industrial towns along the branch line. The visit includes a tour of the W&W’s steam locomotive and passenger car shop facilities at Marshalltown, as well as a guided walking tour of a vintage amusement park site at Brandywine Springs. The day concludes with a stop in New Castle to see remnants of the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad, one of the nation’s first. Lunch is at the Back Burner restaurant in Hockessin, the current end of the line. Sat., April 15, 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-008; Members $200; Nonmembers $250

The Best of Brooklyn

Brooklyn is New York City’s most populous borough and is arguably the most historic and colorful section of the city. Today it’s hipper than ever, filled with intriguing shops and restaurants and a booming cultural scene. On this two-day visit, arts journalist and former Brooklynite Richard Selden introduces you to several of Brooklyn’s top attractions.

The itinerary includes the Brooklyn Museum; a chamber-music performance at the floating venue Bargemusic; and a special look inside the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Bridge, Olmsted and Vaux’s Prospect Park, and other landmarks round out the sites. Stay in a hotel in the heart of Brooklyn and eat like a local with dinner at a charming Italian restaurant in Carroll Gardens and a visit to an authentic Turkish restaurant for lunch.

Sun., April 16, 7 a.m.–Mon., April 17, 9:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-BOB; Members $635;

Nonmembers $835

Military History in the Capital Area

Much of America’s military history—both past and present—is connected to the capital area, the backdrop for a day that spotlights three significant sites in a tour led by two staff members of the National Museum of the United States Army, public outreach manager Brent Feito and historian Matt Seelinger

A visit to Mount Vernon, the home of the United States’ first commander in chief, George Washington, sets the stage for examining the early military campaigns of the fledgling nation. The Fort Belvoir–based Museum of the United States Army, one of the newest in the area, gives visitors the opportunity to explore the branch’s 247-year history and its direct influence on American life.

The final stop is the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, for a look at the extensive display of American and international military aircraft, uniforms, and other artifacts and close-up views of holdings such as the Bell AH1F Cobra, a Bell UH-1H Iroquois “Huey,” and a Redstone missile.

Fri., April 21, 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; by bus; complete tour information on website; box lunch provided; CODE 1CD-009; Members $160; Nonmembers $210

Bus Tour

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Hillwood: A Collector’s Vision of Beauty, Inside and Outside

Walking Tour

Discover one of the finest and most personal museums in Washington in a private, small-group experience that invites you to spend a spring day exploring Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, the former residence of businesswoman and collector Marjorie Merriweather Post.

Enjoy a guided tour of Hillwood’s gardens, which feature a diverse and fascinating array of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. It’s the perfect season to stroll through the French parterre, the Japanese-style garden, and the working greenhouse filled with orchids and other tropical plants.

Then tour the Georgian-style mansion that reflects the distinctive artistic focus of Post, who maintained strong ties to the 18th-century French decorating style when transforming Hillwood into her own after purchasing the estate in 1955. Within its walls are a large decorative arts collection focusing heavily on Russian art and religious objects—including Faberge eggs—as well as 18th- and 19th-century French art and furniture.

TWO OPTIONS: Fri., May 5 (CODE 1CD-010) and Fri., May 19 (CODE 1CD-B10), 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $150; Nonmembers $200

Glimpses of Old Arlington

The essence of Arlington County goes beyond highways and high-rises—and reaches deep into the past. From the early 17th century to the Revolution and the Civil War to the Great Depression and the postwar boom, Arlington County has been a canvas for American history. Get a close look at sites that reflect that fascinating heritage with historian Dakota Springston.

After an introductory presentation at the Ripley Center, a bus tour travels through diverse neighborhoods in East Falls Church, Fostoria, Clarendon, Cherrydale, Fort Myer Heights, Glencarlyn, and Ballston. Participants visit five historic structures such as the Ball-Sellers House, a circa-1780 log cabin that’s the oldest residence in the county; the Mary Carlin House from around 1800; and the Clarendon post office, opened in 1937. A catered box lunch is served in a firehouse.

Sat., May 6, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; CODE 1CD-011; by bus; detailed tour information on website; Members $135; Nonmembers $185

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Lincoln in Virginia: A Wartime Journey

Abraham Lincoln spent 18 of the last 21 days of his life in eastern Virginia, headquarters for Ulysses S. Grant’s campaign against Robert E. Lee, whose army was in the process of defending Richmond and Petersburg. Join Noah Andre Trudeau, author of Lincoln’s Greatest Journey: Sixteen Days That Changed a Presidency, March 24–April 8, 1865, as he leads a visit to sites in the region connected to that trip.

Highlights include City Point, Lincoln’s base during his visit; Fort Wadsworth, where Lincoln and his son Tad observed troops in combat; the Thomas Wallace House, the site at which Lincoln and General Grant met to discuss the terms for Lee’s surrender; and Richmond’s Jefferson Davis mansion, the house Lincoln visited the day after Union troops entered the city. Representatives of the National Park Service and the American Civil War Museum add perspective on Lincoln’s visit and the closing weeks of the war.

Sat., May 13, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-012; Members $175; Nonmembers $225

The Civil War at Chancellorsville

In the eyes of many Civil War scholars, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory and Union General Joseph “Fighting Joe” Hooker’s greatest lost opportunity can be found during the battle of Chancellorsville that raged in the Virginia Wilderness from May 1-4, 1863. Marc Thompson, a former Air Force military intelligence officer, leads a visit to most of the significant locations associated with this epic Civil War battle.

Thompson’s extensive experience in analyzing and assessing adversary operations, along with his intimate knowledge of the Chancellorsville battlefield, provide him with some unique perspectives on combat leadership and the fog of war that impacted the battle’s participants.

Sat., May 20, 8:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-013; Members $150; Nonmembers $200

Related program: A Bitter Defeat (see p. 11)

A Spring Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island

Enjoy a spring morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows the island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C.

Choukas-Bradley shares an overview of the landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes.

THREE OPTIONS: Tues., May 23 (CODE 1CS-A06); Wed., May 24 (CODE 1CS-B06); Thurs., May 25 (CODE 1CS-C06); all tours 8:30–11:30 a.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $75