Alpine Vision Media

WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS

MEDIA, PHOTOGRAPHY & COMMUNICATION

MASTERING THE ART OF ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY

This workshop will introduce participants to the skills and techniques used to create professional quality images of their adventures in the natural world. Topics will include exposure control and light metering, the principles of visual communication, the qualities of natural light, advanced digital techniques, as well as the fine art of paying attention and the philosophy and tradition of the artist in nature. The program will incorporate slide-illustrated lectures, group discussion, and ample student feedback. Course ebook provided.

ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY & FILMMAKING

Adventure Photography & Filmmaking is a course that examines the latest tools of the storyteller. The workshop will introduce participants to the skills and techniques used to create professional quality images and video of their travels and adventures. Topics include exposure control and light metering, the principles of visual communication, the qualities of natural light, time-lapse photography, basic video editing, post processing, and the art of telling a good story. The program will incorporate illustrated Zoom lectures, group discussion, and workshop critiques.

THE HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography is synonymous with the rise of the modern era. A technology that emerged out of Europe in the 1830s, the photograph quickly became a defining vehicle for self-expression. It brought about a democratization of the arts, in that we all became historians to our own experience. This course explores the changes photography brought to our relationship with history, authenticity, and our understanding of time. It will also provide an art historical perspective of the different movements, personalities, and styles that have defined the medium from its early roots to the rise of digital technology and the age of social media.

ZEN & THE ART OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

Zen philosophy has much to teach the Western artistic mind about being present in the moment, paying attention, spontaneity, balance, and the interconnection of all things. This program will integrate these principles in the pursuit of creating elegant and expressive images of the natural world. Each day will involve a set of morning and evening photoshoots in some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, including the vistas of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Castle Valley, and the banks of the Colorado River. Participants will hone their technical photography skills, including conveying motion, depth of field, astrophotography, and advance digital techniques, in addition to practicing meditation exercises on light, form, and movement.

WORLD DISCOVERY PROGRAMS

JOURNEYS IN EASTERN PHILOSOPHY

This course will provide a broad introduction to the core beliefs and teachings of Eastern philosophy, as well as opening a portal into the sacred landscapes and architecture of Asia. The class will be half philosophy seminar, and half travelogue. Each week we will focus on one of the great religions of the East, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Zen. We will then embark on a photographic safari through the landscapes, temples, and shrines held sacred in each tradition. The journeys will include a trip down the Ganges River, a visit to Bodh Gaya, into the monasteries of Ladakh and Sikkim, and a pilgrimage through the sacred mountains of China. There will be discussions on the history of each tradition—its art, sacred texts, core beliefs, and the geography and culture that inspired them.

SACRED MOUNTAINS OF THE WORLD

This course explores humankind’s relationship with the mountain environment throughout time and across cultures. From the sacrificial rituals of the Inca in the high Andes, to the Buddhist pilgrimages of the Himalayas; from the Inuit legends of Denali, to the European Romantics first artistic forays in the Alps—the course will explore the different ways cultures have made sense out of the meaning and spiritual dimensions of the world’s high places. The class will incorporate multimedia lectures, readings, and open discussion. Course ebook provided.

THE GEOGRAPHY OF BUDDHA

This course provides an introduction to Buddhist philosophy through the lens of the landscapes, history, and culture that inspired it. Students will trace the emergence of Buddhism in northern India, and examine the role that the geography and culture of the Himalayas have played in its evolution. The class will explore the representation of mountains in Eastern mythology, as well as the art, literature, and ethnogeography of the Himalayan region. Through slide-illustrated lectures, readings, and open discussion, student will gain intimate knowledge of a region that is held sacred to five of the world’s great religions.

THE IDEA OF WILDERNESS

The idea of wilderness preservation is one of America’s great gifts to the world. The first national parks on the planet were created in the United States. This tradition of preserving wild country has grown into a vast network of parks, preserves, and sanctuaries. Wallace Stegner called these spaces “the geography of hope.” This seminar will explore the history and evolution of America’s wild lands. Each week we will meet the pivotal characters, encounter the literature, and explore through words and images many of North America’s most spectacular wild places. This program will incorporate slide illustrated lectures, videos, readings, and open discussion into an immersive learning experience opening a portal into the heart of America’s wilderness.

THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE

The Great Salt Lake is one of the geographical wonders of the world. It is the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere, and the eighth largest terminal lake on Earth. Human beings first encounter the Great Salt Lake 12,000 years ago, and for centuries various tribes lived along its shores. The lake became an icon for early European and American explorers and pioneers, from Jim Bridger to Brigham Young. Long before that the lake was a vibrant and complex ecosystem, providing essential habitat for millions of migratory birds, as well as bison, antelope, coyote, brine shrimp, and a myriad of other living things. This course will chart the Great Salt Lake’s rich natural and cultural history, and examine its uncertain future as an ecosystem, economic resource, and source of inspiration.

TESTIMONIALS

“Jonathan Duncan was truly inspirational. Passion, depth of knowledge, ability to convey new concepts and encourage class participation—the best.”

“Jonathan Duncan is ‘over the top’ knowledgeable on his subject. He is a gifted speaker/teacher, expert in audio visual support for his lectures, supportive/respectful of his students, logical and works very hard to make his many presentations interesting and on point. He is an academic/community treasure.”

“Jonathan Duncan’s classes are a wonderful blend of an adventurer’s curiosity and a writer’s eye for beauty along with a transcendental experience of nature.”

“This class is a very generous gift--in the ways you’ve gleaned knowledge, shared positives, linked us to authors, shared your images, and invited us to step closer into our own creativity–with attention and intention. The whole class and your photography—are inspiring.”

“Thank you for expanding my horizon and lifting my soul during this most constricting of times. Some people have broad visions and others deep ones. You carry both along the passionate journey you have so gracefully and generously shared with us.”

“Jonathan was made for online teaching. He was so smooth and seamless in his presentations. He was the only one of the first season Zoom instructors that knew what he was doing. He made me feel very comfortable.”

“Jonathan is a superb instructor, very engaging and knowledgeable.”

“Jonathan was an excellent and enthusiastic instructor. He brought a lot of his own to the class.”

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS