After break-in, Looking Glass Photo thanks supporters with free bird photography class

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Jen Waicukauski, owner of Looking Glass Photo, wanted to find a way to say thank you to the local community after being moved by the outpouring of support that followed a break-in at her Berkeley photography store. Her solution: free bird photography classes (see details below).

The smash-and-grab robbery in February caused significant damage to the much-loved store at 2239 Fifth St. But the community rallied and put the store on a path to recovery: as of publication time, the store’s Gofundme has raised more than $75,000 to cover repairs, security upgrades and recouping the cost of stolen merchandise.

Waicukauski, who has a California naturalist certification, has taught the online bird photography class before, and said it was one of her most popular ones. If you take it, “It might change the way you see and the way you interact with your environment,” Waicukauski said.

Berkeleyside emailed with Waicukauski about what prompted her to offer the series of online classes for no charge, and to hear her take on photographing birds. The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

What motivated you to make this class free for the community?

I was so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our community after the devastation of the burglary and I really wanted to find a way to say ‘thank you.’ I wanted to give back something that I felt would have value and offer a broader sense of community for the largest number of people. It’s hard to know how best to show our gratitude and not accidentally leave people out that really matter to us.

We had just announced adding this class back onto our spring schedule a few days before the burglary and it’s only the second time we’ve offered it. It was one of the most well-received, fun and engaging classes we’ve offered. It is also highly accessible to different levels of photographers and, because it is offered via Zoom, there is a minimal barrier for folks to be able to attend.

The first time we offered this class, it built engagement, community, friendships and enhanced people’s relationship to the world around them. I’m hoping it can do the same for even more people this time around. Our community was there for us in a very dark moment, we hope this class will bring some light into their lives during what is proving to be a very tough start to the new year for almost everyone.

How did you get your start photographing birds? 

I really began photographing birds consistently during the pandemic lockdown in 2020. It was a way to connect to the world around me while feeling very cut off from it. It was a huge help for my mental health at a really difficult time. I continue to spend time watching the birds in my yard and photographing them as a way of staying present and connected. It’s a great tool for reducing anxiety and shutting off some of the perpetual noise we are bombarded with through media and devices and systems (and situations) that are out of our control.

What’s your favorite spot to go birdwatching in the East Bay? Is there a specific time you go, and what species do you look for there? 

I don’t really have a favorite spot. The truth is that I love finding birds wherever I am. I have become so much more attuned to finding them all around me, because the birds are always there… you just have to learn how to notice them.

One of the funniest bird sightings I had recently was by the dumpsters next to the parking lot behind the Fourth Street shopping area. There were a number of black-crowned night herons just skulking around in the trees. That was a completely delightful and unexpected surprise. If you want some more traditional recommendations, Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary in Alameda is great, and you can always find cool birds in Aquatic Park and down at the Albany Bulb (but these are not safe places to be alone with a camera). 

What do people gain by taking photographs of birds (as opposed to only birdwatching)? 

I actually wrote an entire blog post on why using tools and techniques of photography can be such a powerful tool for naturalists. From that post: “Not only does the camera allow me to share what I find out in nature with a broader audience, but it helps me be more accurate with my observations, and allows me to see with so much more nuance than my eyes are capable of. It creates more time to observe in a much more intimate way. I can examine more fully from a distance (both space and time) still subjects AND those moving quickly. And then I can share what I see with so many more people.”

I hear you’re a certified California naturalist. How does that inform your work and your teachings? 

I think being a naturalist is really just another way of saying that I have an ongoing love affair with learning, observation, science and nature. It gave formal validation for my inherent curiosity and focus for what I already loved doing which is learning more about the interconnected nature of all things. And now I have a certificate and a cool pin to let other people know that I think nerding out on the natural world is a totally legitimate and valuable use of time and energy. In many ways I think it makes me more approachable and unassuming when people have questions and ideas. It also lends itself to knowing that there is always something new to learn and knowledge can be gained from any relationship.

What do you hope participants will take away from this course, both in terms of actual photography skills and their connection to nature? 

I hope participants end up surprising themselves by making images that they really love and did not know they were capable of. I hope they will start to notice more about the world around them. Photography is an excellent tool for observation, discovery and literal focus on things outside of ourselves. And when we gain new insight and grow our curiosity, we have the opportunity to change our minds and our habits to make better choices for a future that needs us to see beyond ourselves.

Waicukauski’s five-week online class, “Backyard Birds: Tips & Tricks,” takes place 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays, April 5 through May 3. (You’ll want to RSVP.) Topics covered include photography essentials — camera settings, tools and techniques, composition and editing — and how to identify our avian neighbors and understand their habits.