Bogotá Botanical Garden Photography Class: Landscape Techniques

Photograph Colombian flora and fauna with professional technique in an urban garden

A two-hour photography class at the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden in Bogotá where you learn to shoot landscapes, portraits and wildlife with DSLR or mirrorless cameras. An expert guide teaches you camera settings, lens choice, composition and natural lighting while you photograph majestic trees, lush plants and varied fauna throughout the garden and the Tropicario.

The experience

You arrive at the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden ready to move beyond automatic mode. An expert instructor meets you and walks through the fundamentals: how to hold and configure your DSLR or mirrorless camera, which lens works for which shot, and how to dial in aperture, shutter speed and ISO for the light you actually have. This is not a lecture. You're handling your camera the whole time, adjusting settings as you move through the garden.

The garden itself becomes your classroom. You photograph majestic trees and dense flora, then move into the Tropicario to capture the varied fauna living there. Your guide shows you how to frame a landscape so the eye moves through it, how to use natural elements (a branch, a flower, an animal) to anchor a composition instead of just centering it. You experiment with filters and tripods for sharper shots, and you learn how natural light changes throughout the space: harsh overhead sun near the open areas, soft filtered light under the canopy. If you're shooting portraits of other participants, the guide walks you through the settings that make skin tones work in outdoor light.

You're working alongside other photography enthusiasts, so there's time to see what they're shooting and trade observations. The two hours move fast because you're always doing: adjusting, framing, taking the shot, checking the result on your screen, trying again with what you just learned.

What’s included

• Expert guide instruction in English or Spanish.
• camera settings and composition training.
• landscape, wildlife and portrait photography techniques.
• natural lighting guidance.
• use of filters and tripods during the class.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 4.81

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Zona Cinco Escuela de Cine y Fotografía

Is this one for you?Book this class if you own a DSLR or mirrorless camera and want to move beyond automatic settings. The two-hour format and expert instruction work best for someone with a free afternoon and a camera ready to configure manually. If you're shooting on a smartphone or don't have time to practice settings in the moment, a shorter introduction might suit you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years). Children under 14 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What camera should I bring to the botanical garden photography class?

Bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera that lets you change aperture, shutter speed and ISO manually. The class teaches you to configure these settings, so a camera with manual mode is essential. Smartphone-only photography won't work for this instruction.

What will I actually photograph during the two hours?

You photograph majestic trees, lush flora and varied fauna throughout the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden and the Tropicario. The guide shows you how to compose landscapes and capture wildlife and plants using the techniques you're learning in real time.

Do I need photography experience to join this class?

No. The instructor teaches from the basics (how to hold your camera and what aperture does) through to advanced composition and lighting. You learn by doing, so experience with your camera's manual settings is more useful than prior photography knowledge.

Is the Tropicario included in the garden tour?

Yes, you tour the Tropicario as part of the class, photographing the fauna and flora there. Entry to the Tropicario itself is not included in the price. The class focuses on the photography instruction and the garden grounds.

How many people will be in the class?

The class is a group outing with other photography enthusiasts. The guide leads the group through the garden, so you're learning alongside other people who share the same interest in improving their nature photography.