Composition in the Field - Photography Workshop

Each Composition in the Field class begins with a talk with one of our experienced instructors, and then you and your fellow students take a stroll through one of a variety of photogenic locales (in any of the 20+ cities the DPA encapsulates). There is street photography, magnificent interiors, farmers markets, zoos, landscapes, and more, photos of which are included within. These photos are a mix of student and instructor images in many different venues and cities across the United States and Canada.

You will have fun in the three hour session, learn to shoot strategically, get more interesting photos of the event, and walk away with a foundation to improve your photographs in the future, whether you’re traveling, or at a birthday party and everywhere in between.

You will start out at 15 Powder Mill Road in the town of Newburgh, the site of a former gun powder mill, built in 1828, once owned by members of the Dupont Dynasty, who made a fortune selling powder during the Civil War.

Indoors and outdoors, we will spend an hour photographing still lives as well as landscapes across the way in the 41 acre park including remnants of machinery and gears of the aqueduct that drove the gun powder production.

Then we head to the Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site, 5 minutes away from DPA headquarters, to capture a majestic view of the Hudson River, just as the first president saw it 150 years ago when he, his wife and high ranking military officers lived in the still standing fort.

Your DPA Instructor will also provide lessons on interior still life photos in natural lighting, making use of the furnishings, tools and household items in the fort, the first National Park in the United States.

Next will be lessons in shutter speed control on East Main in Beacon, with photo ops at the waterfall. This will be followed by street photography, including environmental portraiture and architectural image-making in this picture perfect community.

Finally, indoor and outdoor studies of combining colors to make compelling photographs at the Hudson Beach Glass Gallery, housed in a building that was a fire station 100 years ago.

Meeting Spot –

15 Powder Mill Rd Newburgh, NY 12550

Please note – if a class must be cancelled due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control we will be happy to work with you to reschedule or provide a refund. However, if you should need to cancel or require a new class date, contact us. A $25 transfer fee will be imposed without a 3 day notice before the scheduled class.

Call Digital Photo Academy at 1 877 372 2231 or a field agent at 917 597 7053. Lots of people seem to hang up if our welcome recording comes on instead of a live voice, but we promise to return your message within a day or two if you leave one with your name and number. It would be even better if you included your email address as well as the date and city of the class you are considering. If leaving a voice mail message is not your thing, please email us at and include the date and city of the class you are considering, as well as your phone number.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

City of Beacon, 15 Powder Mill Road, Newburgh, United States