Profile
Charles Needle is an award-winning, California-based fine art photographer, author, speaker and workshop leader with a unique eye for design and artistic interpretation. His popular “Art of Nature” creative macro workshops have attracted students nationwide.

In 2011, Charles was selected as a finalist, among 15,000 entries worldwide, in the International Garden Photographer of the Year photography contest, sponsored by The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London, England). This exhibition traveled throughout the United Kingdom. He was also a semi-finalist in the 2014 Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards photo contest.

Charles has authored three cutting-edge instructional books: Tiny Worlds: Creative Macro Photography Skills (Amherst Media, January 2015), Impressionistic Photography: A Field Guide to Using Your Camera as a Paintbrush (March 2014), and Creative Macro Photography: Professional Tips & Techniques (2011).

An accomplished speaker, photography juror and teacher with international workshops in Monet's Garden (Giverny, France for 10 years in a row, with exclusive private access), Keukenhof Gardens (Holland) and The Butchart Gardens (Canada), Charles is a FujiFilm USA Talent Team member and North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Award winner six years in a row.

Charles’ photographs have selected for publication in Nature’s Best, Outdoor Photographer magazine, Nature Photographer magazine, Inner Reflections Engagement Calendar , The Chicago Tribune , SELF Magazine and are in private and public collections nationwide and abroad.

To learn more about Charles' work, including his workshop and private
lesson offerings, visit www.charlesneedlephoto.com.
Friday Night Presentation
“Creative Camera Techniques”
July 27, 2018 - 7:30pm
The Cleveland Photographic Society is pleased to welcome award-winning California-based fine art flower and garden photographer, Charles Needle, who will present a program on how to craft painterly intimate landscapes, as well as striking and unusual macro images, using nothing more than your camera and a little imagination.

Charles' program will begin with a short inspirational slide show, followed by a lecture covering in-camera Impressionistic techniques, such as Long-Exposure Pan/Tilt, "Multiple-Exposure Monet" (a technique he invented), Multiple-Exposure Rotate & Zoom, Soft-Glow Montage and Composite Montage. Charles will also demonstrate how to use a free script in Photoshop to accomplish this same look, if your camera does not have built-in multiple exposure capability. You’ll be amazed how quickly and easily you can transform everyday scenes into unimaginable visual masterpieces!

In the second half of Charles’ program, you’ll learn how to create unusual and striking close-up images both in the field and in your own backyard and/or home studio. Topics covered will include: selective-focus macro, "shooting through" with a telephoto lens, close-up lenses/diopters, Lensbaby macro, and wide-angle macro. Charles will also discuss specific methods for shooting water droplets, reflections on iridescent glass, mylar, and everyday household objects.

Following his presentation, Charles will be selling and signing three books he has authored: Impressionistic Photography: How to Use Your Camera as a Paintbrush, Tiny Worlds: Creative Macro Photography, and Creative Macro Photography: Professional Tips & Techniques (eBook).

And on Saturday and Sunday, July 28-29, Charles will be teaching a special weekend workshop at the Cleveland Botanical Garden and Holden Arboretum where you can practice many of the techniques covered in this presentation under his professional tutelage.

For more information about Charles and his workshops, visit www.charlesneedlephoto.com.
Workshop
“The Art of Flower & Garden Photography”
July 28 - 29, 2018
J oin award-winning California-based fine art flower and garden photographer, Charles
Needle, for this hands-on 2-day photography workshop at both the Cleveland Botanical
Garden and Holden Forests and Gardens at the peak of summertime bloom.

Charles will guide you through the technical craft of flower and garden photography, and you’ll receive lots of personalized, 1-on-1 instruction from him, both in the classroom and in the field. Learn tips and techniques for capturing artistic close-ups and intimate garden landscapes through slide-illustrated lectures and field demos. Topics covered will include: suggested camera equipment and accessories, effective lighting techniques, mastering artistic compositions, creative macro photography, Impressionistic flower and garden photography, in-camera multiple-exposures, soft-glow montage and creative smartphone photography. You’ll also have the opportunity to hone your flower and garden photography skills through assignments and supportive group image evaluations.

All skill levels and camera formats welcome. Students should also have basic proficiency in post-capture image editing software, such as Lightroom, Photoshop or Snapseed for image assignments. Limited to 14 participants.

Hours:
Saturday, July 28th, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Cleveland Botanical Garden
Sunday, July 29th, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm at the Holden Arboretum

Cost: $199 for members of the Cleveland Photographic Society and/or Cleveland Botanical Garden or Holden Arboretum (includes free admission to both locations)

Register for this workshop beginning May 1, 2018 by calling 440-602-3833 at 8:00 am. No online registrations. CPS is NOT involved in the registration process.

For more information, email Charles at charles@charlesneedlephoto.com