Charles and Melissa Needle

Email Address

Website

http://www.charlesneedlephoto.com

About Charles

Charles Needle is an award-winning, Colorado-based fine art photographer, author, speaker and workshop leader with a unique eye for design and artistic interpretation. His popular “Art of Nature” creative macro workshops have attracted students nationwide.

In 2018, Charles earned an honorable mention in the Macro category of the 8th Annual International Mobile Photography Awards Contest. He was also a semi-finalist in the 2014 Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards photo contest. In 2011, Charles was selected as a finalist, among 15,000 entries worldwide, in the International Garden Photographer of the Year photography contest, sponsored by The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London, England). This exhibition traveled throughout the United Kingdom.

A popular conference and camera club speaker for more than two decades, Charles has authored three cutting-edge instructional books: Tiny Worlds: Creative Macro Photography Skills (Amherst Media, January 2015), Impressionistic Photography: A Field Guide to Using Your Camera as a Paintbrush (March 2014), and Creative Macro Photography: Professional Tips & Techniques (2011).

An accomplished speaker, photography juror and teacher with international workshops in The Butchart Gardens (Canada), Charles is a FujiFilm USA Talent Team member and North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Award winner for 13 years.

Charles’ photographs have been selected for publication in Nature’s Best, Outdoor Photographer magazine, Nature Photographer magazine, Inner Reflections Engagement Calendar, The Chicago Tribune, SELF Magazine and are in private and public collections nationwide and abroad. To learn more about Charles’ work, including his workshop and private lesson offerings, visit www.charlesneedlephoto.com.

Melissa Needle is a part-time professional photographer and stared her journey at the age of 12 with the family camera. She has lectured on smartphone photography at numerous camera clubs and at the New England Council of Camera Clubs annual conference. She currently leads the Greater Lynn Photographic Association (MA) Smartphone Special Interest Group. Since 2016, Melissa has assisted her husband, Charles Needle, in workshops, classes and online Zoom sessions. She enjoys literal image making but really enjoys exploring her creative side with various smartphone apps. Melissa’s smartphone images have been recognized with various awards, including a Top 24 image award in the 2020 NANPA Showcase.

Charles's Upcoming Tours

Photo by: Charles Needle
Location: Tuscany Italy

April 21-May 1 2025

Italy: Impressions of Tuscany with Venice Extension

I have been very happy with Charles teaching style (patient, kind, thorough, detailed, picky, and also lots of fun). Thanks to him, I have visited beautiful places I might not have otherwise.

I highly recommend Charles especially to anyone who wants to ignite their creativity. In particular, his in-camera Impressionistic techniques are fun, and the resulting photos are beautiful.

Charles gives so much to his students: time, attention, enthusiasm, knowledge and more. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a wonderful instructor and a wonderful time.

— Betty A. ~ Billings, MT

I learned many new photographic techniques and had ample time in the field to try out these new techniques. These techniques included many impressionistic camera techniques as well as creative macro techniques. Charles was very helpful in the field both explaining techniques and then demonstrating them to you on your equipment. I found this very helpful. Charles does not do any personal photography in the field but makes his way to everyone to make sure that questions are answered and techniques demonstrated. He also provides supportive image evaluations to help take my images to the next level. We had a great time on the trip, made some beautiful images and met wonderful people. Charles made this all possible. I highly recommend his trips.

— Bruce L. ~ Wheaton, IL

Charles encouraged me to play outside my comfort zone and experiment with creative photography. It was clear to me that he has a passion for teaching photography, helping to bring out your creative side, and his lectures were easy to follow and then incorporate in the next field session. The techniques I learned with both my traditional SLR and my smartphone led to a gallery show where I have sold seven prints! A week in the field with Charles will not only expand your world to creative photography, but also realign you with the beauty Mother Nature holds. My photography has gained a new dimension of creativity thanks to Charles, and I am looking forward to my next adventure participating in of his workshops!”

— Melissa F. ~ Lynn, MA

Charles workshops are the best I’ve ever attended. It was good to have his hands-on instruction and lectures. Too many workshops I’ve attended, they take you to a place and say ‘Take photos.’ I can do that myself for free! I enjoyed seeing your great photography, and it inspires me to keep going. The supportive image evaluations were very good as well.”