Mobile Phone Photography Workshop
About the Event
Discover how to take better photos with your phone! Join photographer and journalist Riley Arthur for a hands-on mobile photography workshop that explores simple, accessible techniques for capturing the people, places, and natural beauty around you. Learn practical tips for composition, lighting, perspective, and visual storytelling, then put your skills into practice while exploring the Tijuana Estuary. No photography experience or special equipment is required—just bring your mobile phone and your curiosity.
Riley Arthur is a Chula Vista-based photographer and journalist, Fulbright Scholar, and National Geographic Explorer. She teaches photography with an emphasis on accessible, mobile-first techniques and is the author of "Phone Photography for Everybody: iPhone Photojournalism Technique."
This workshop is part of the Latino Conservation Week “Journey Through the Wetlands” celebration and Tijuana River Action Month kickoff.
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
The Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center is open to the general public 5 days per week, Wednesday through Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reserve hours for trail use: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset DAILY. Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days, but trails remain open during daylight hours. The Visitor Center offers a variety of hands-on, interactive activities for all ages as well as a collection of videos (including videos in Spanish) that are shown upon request. Our educational videos aim to educate the public about estuaries and watersheds, including estuary flora and fauna, estuarine ecology and natural processes. From the Visitor Center, guests can easily access our North and South McCoy trails (open daily), which take visitors into prime bird-watching areas and to the mouth of the Tijuana River. There are limited picnic areas near the Visitor Center. Equestrian trails are available on the south end of the Tijuana Estuary in Border Field State Park. (Call ahead for equestrian trails in case they are closed due to bad weather.) The Clapper Rail's Nest retail store is located inside the Visitor Center where T-shirts, sweatshirts, field guides, videos and other items are available for purchase. Proceeds go to the Friends of San Diego Refuges. Tijuana Estuary staff is available to answer your questions and update you on any important environmental news as well as give tips on how to help preserve and protect our natural resources. Directions to Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center:From North: Take I-5 South to Imperial Beach, take exit 4 - Coronado Avenue (not Coronado Bridge), turn right, continue straight on approximately 2.5 miles. (Around 13th street, Coronado Avenue will turn into Imperial Beach Blvd; continue straight on). -Turn left on 3rd Street at the stop sign, then left on Caspian Way which leads into parking lot. (parking is free) From South: Take I-5 North to Imperial Beach, take exit 4 - Coronado Avenue, turn left. Continue straight on approximately 2.5 miles. (Around 13th street, Coronado Avenue will turn into Imperial Beach Blvd; continue straight on). -Follow above directions. From Coronado: Take 75 South. Turn right on Rainbow Drive. Turn right onto Palm Avenue. -Follow above directions. From Palm Avenue trolley station: Take bus #933 to 3rd Street and Imperial Beach Blvd. -Follow above directions. From Iris Avenue trolley station: Take bus #934 to 3rd Street and Imperial Beach Blvd. -Follow above directions. Directions to Border Field State Park: (open to vehicle traffic Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. Weather permitting) From the I-5 South/North, take exit 2 - Dairy Mart Road. Head Southwest on Dairy Mart Road. Dairy Mart Road will curve right onto Monument Road. Turn right (West) on Monument Road until you reach the park entrance. From Imperial Beach, head East on Imperial Beach Blvd (it will become Coronado Avenue in Imperial Beach). Just before you reach the freeway, turn right onto Hollister Street. Continue down Hollister until you reach Monument Road. Turn right (West) on Monument Road until you reach the park entrance.
