The Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation is located in a beautiful, historic turn-of-the-century mill building in Waltham, Massachusetts. This museum stands as a tribute to the fine craftsmanship and great inventions of this nation during the Industrial Revolution. Founded by Francis Cabot Lowell, the visionary man who inspired the city of the same name, the Boston Manufacturing Company was America's first "integrated" textile mill. Built just two years after the War of 1812, this groundbreaking facility revolutionized American manufacturing. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as America's first true factory and represents a turning point in American industrial history.
There are many amazing photographic subjects to focus your camera on inside this museum, including over 50 displays of intricate steam engines, massive gears, antique bicycles, vintage typesetting equipment, line shafts, pulleys and belts from the first assembly line, a beautifully preserved horse-drawn fire engine, the original collection from the prestigious Waltham Watch Company, and various groundbreaking inventions like the first flat-bottomed paper bag making machine which was invented in 1871 by Margaret E. Knight. Opportunities abound for unique and compelling images, whether you are shooting intimate details or wider perspectives of the many fine lines and intricate forms throughout the space. The natural light bathes the entire room with beautiful illumination from gigantic windows above, and the high ceilings allow you to imagine each skilled machinist at their posts on the assembly line, bringing these machines to life.
To properly showcase these industrial works of art in your photographs, your experienced instructor will share advanced composition techniques such as using leading lines and applying the rule of thirds, discuss getting proper focus and depth of field to enhance the storytelling aspect of your images, and give detailed feedback on your shots. You will learn how to make old machinery look compelling and contemporary through thoughtful photographic choices.
Join us while we explore the fascinating past of this great nation and share our collective love of photography and industrial heritage. This is more than just a photo tour; it is a journey through American innovation and craftsmanship captured through your lens.
How These Field Photography Classes Work: Each Composition in the Field class begins with an engaging talk with one of our experienced instructors, setting context and discussing the location's history and photographic possibilities. Then you and your fellow photography students take a guided stroll through one of a variety of photogenic locales within one of the 20+ cities the DPA encompases across the United States. There is street photography, magnificent architectural interiors, farmers' markets, zoos, landscapes, and more. The photographs used in our promotional materials represent a mix of student and instructor images taken in many different venues and cities across the United States and Canada.
You will have fun during the three-hour session while learning to shoot strategically and thoughtfully. You will get more interesting and compelling photos of the location, and you will walk away with a solid foundation to improve your photographs in the future, whether you are traveling, attending family events, at a birthday party, or anywhere in between.
Please note – if a class must be canceled due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control, we will be happy to work with you to reschedule. If you should need to cancel and require a new class date, please contact us. A $25 transfer fee will be imposed if you do not provide 3 days notice before the scheduled class date.
