Not every class assignment ends with lunch and stories about going to jail.
For 16 students in a photography course in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Georgia (OLLI@UGA), that’s exactly what happened after a recent trip to Lexington. Led by Gary Whiting, the group searched for the perfect shot at Beth Salem
Presbyterian Church, its neighboring cemetery and the Historic Oglethorpe County Jail.
“I want to get people comfortable with using their camera in different situations,” Whiting said.
Whiting, a freelance photographer, joined OLLI@UGA in 2019 and has taught over 50 photography and nature programs for two OLLI organizations. His photo classes introduce adult learners over 50 years old to photography techniques while encouraging
creativity and storytelling through images.
Whiting mixes traditional instruction with exploration. Students spend one day learning photography techniques in the classroom, then use another day to practice what they’ve learned in settings across Northeast Georgia.
Oglethorpe County’s John Fortuna helped arrange the visit and guided the group through the sites, sharing bits of local history along the way.
He even posed with the group for a photo inside one of the jail’s cells.
“That was the most people I ever remember in the cell at one time,” Fortuna said.
Although the class traveled together, every photographer found their own inspiration.
“No one got the same shot twice,” Whiting said. “There’s always a little different angle, different perspective.”
That perspective is something the class actively encourages. Students often receive simple challenges during outings to look for shadows, search for texture or find a pop of color.
Sometimes those challenges lead to unexpected discoveries. One student captured a striking close-up of an ornate doorknob inside the church, a small detail most people, including Whiting, had walked past without noticing.
Beyond photography skills, the class also creates something just as valuable: community.
The OLLI@UGA program offers a variety of classes each year, ranging from writing and travel to kayaking and hiking. Members also participate in “shared interest groups,” informal clubs built around hobbies like photography.
For many participants, the classes offer a way to stay curious, active and connected with others.
After their morning exploring Lexington, the photography group and Fortuna continued their lesson over lunch at La Cabana De Don Juan, passing phones and cameras around the table to show off their favorite images, including several photos of themselves behind bars.
“We don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Whiting said, “but we have a lot of fun.”