Dianne Kittle, Fine Art Photography, MFA, has taught photography workshops at the Chicago Botanic Garden for the last 12 years and offers private bookings for your group or one–on–one mentoring.
Current Offerings for 2026:
The Inner Landscape, Online
Dates: 6 Wednesdays, October 28 – December 16, 2026, 1 – 3:30 p.m. CST, Online, Registration with Chicago Botanic Garden (New!) Intermediate
Using the ideas of abstract expressionists, we will release our emotions onto a digital canvas, with nature as the subject. Explore painters of this period, such as Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline, and Mark Rothko, as well as the photographers they inspired in the art world. Intermediate to advanced level. Class is limited to DSLR or mirrorless cameras.
This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance.
Surrealism in Photography: Online, all levels 2027! FPC elective course
Dates: 6 Tuesdays, January 26 – March 2, 2027, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CST, Online, Registration with Chicago Botanic Garden
Explore the ideas of surrealists including Salvador Dalí, Frida Kahlo, René Magritte, and others. Dig into your own subconscious for creative expression. Dreams become reality in digital or printed form. Prerequisites: Knowledge of your camera. You will create surrealist collages by hand or by using Photoshop. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance. Class is limited to DSLR or mirrorless cameras. Tripod not required. Students in the Master Track will be required to do a personal project in addition to weekly class exercises. Students must have knowledge of their camera.
Existing Workshops with Curriculum:
Abstraction in Photography, The Inner Soul, Beginning and Intermediate
Abstract Expressionism, The Inner Landscape, Finding Real Truth, INVISIBLE Women Artists
Modernism, Beyond Reality, From Impressionism to Surrealism (Intermediate to advanced)
Creative Digital Photography For those who want to paint with the camera and feel (beginning level)
Fine Art Portfolio A, Modernism (Components of a “submission” portfolio)
Fine Art Portfolio B, Conceptual Beginnings, Creating a Portfolio with a Theme
Japanese Aesthetics I, What is Wabi-Sabi, Beauty is Transient, a portfolio workshop
Japanese Aesthetics II, Cultural and Historical Influences on Japanese Photo Art
Pictorialism, The Beginnings of Concept, Clouds that Feel
Postmodernism: Appropriation to PROVOKE, Conceptualism in the Present
Surrealism, Eyes Wide Open, Scream the Truth
Textures in Nature, See the Forest, See the Garden, Feel the Surface
Water Gifts, Canvas of Life, Abstraction versus Realistic, Power of the Invisible