Digital Photography Part 1: Learning to Use Your Digital Camera

This class starts with a digital primer covering the basic concepts unique to digital photography including mega pixels, file size, file quality and file formats. After learning about these features we find them on the cameras and set them up based on each student's individual preferences. From here we will continue to explore the basic functions of the camera.

Digital Photography Part 2: Basic Compositional Techniques

This hands-on class discusses the basics of composition and will address techniques for creating pleasing images. We will discuss light, use of flash, photographing friends, family and pets. The first hour will be lecture discussing techniques then participants will practice photographing using what they’ve learned.

Digital Photography Part 3: Techniques for Filing, Editing, Printing and Emailing

This class provides the student with a basic workflow. We start by discussing how to download images from your camera then file and back them up. From here, basic editing techniques are covered as well as suggestions for software to use. Finally, methods and materials for printing and emailing are addressed.

Digital Photography Part 4: Getting the Most Out of Your Digital Camera

This class is for the students interested in exploring the advanced features available on mid to high end digital point and shoot cameras or digital SLR cameras. The creative zone, white balance, exposure compensation and histogram are explored and explained. Students practice making exposures in the various modes and using exposure compensation.

Notes Regarding the Digital Photography Class Series
Digital Photography parts 1-4 can be taught separately or as one class geared to take the student from a complete novice to basic understanding of the camera with its unique digital features to basic techniques organizing, editing, and printing/emailing the pictures on the home computer.

Composition and Critique

Learn to use your digital camera. You have the basics of camera operation down, now let’s make beautiful images! Join me in this 4 week class on photographic composition. In the first class I will address various shooting situations, give tips and show examples of what works compositionally and what doesn’t. Then it’s your turn. The following three weeks will be devoted to critiquing your images. Students will bring 5-10 images to class each week for critique. I will evaluate your images and give you constructive feedback. Show me your great images and your problems. Learn from your experiences as well as those of your classmates. This is a great opportunity to get the most out of your digital camera!

5 Star Travel Photography: Part1

Okay, you're at a Tropical Paradise/Eiffel Tower/Pyramids/Disney World, how do you take a great vacation picture? In Part One of 5 Star Travel Photography, you will learn the ins and outs of travel photography. Topics include: Composition, Light, Subject, the Awe Factor.

5 Star Travel Photography: Part2

In Part Two of 5 Star Travel Photography, you will put techniques learned in Part One to use! The class will travel to a local scenic location (determined by class location, etc) and practice taking pictures. Students will have immediate reinforcement of solid photographic techniques.

Nature Photography

Learn the basics of nature photography with lecture and hands on shooting in the field. We’ll start with a 2 hour lecture on the basics of nature photography. Learn techniques for shooting in a variety of nature situations, what equipment to use and when the best times to go out are. Now let's put the techniques to work in the field. Students have direct access to the instructor while they are composing images and making settings. See first hand how various filters work and how settings affect the image. Finally time is spent critiquing images from the shoot. This class is fun and exciting and a great way to get into the field in a new subject. The class is best for SLR cameras with a basic knowledge of using the camera in manual modes. Point and shoot users should contact the instructor prior to signing up.

Intermediate Photography Part I:Digital Photography for SLR camera users

Want to gain more control over your photography? Learn to use your camera in the manual modes. Join me to demystify apertures and shutter speeds. Learn to use aperture priority to gain control over your depth of field. Understand shutter priority and when to use it. Finally understand the manual mode and how to make correct exposure decisions. After I explain the concept with lecture, each student will practice various shooting exercises to reinforce the concepts. Learn hands on to gain more control over your camera. This class is for SLR camera users only, it is geared for digital, but film is welcome.

Intermediate Photography Part II:Getting the Most Out of Your SLR Camera

Now that you have basic knowledge of using your SLR camera let’s put it to use. This assignment based class will offer students lots of practice using their camera in the manual modes. Each week will be a short lecture followed by critiques of student’s images from the previous week’s assignment. Assignments will include:


• Use of light - quality and direction
• Depth of field- controlling the aperture to achieve the effect you want
• Shutter speed – controlling the shutter speed to achieve blur, stop action and other effects
• Exposure – getting the correct exposure every time
• ISO and WB – when to adjust, the pros and cons, and when to use
  
  This class will give students a better feel for their camera and offers a chance to learn from other student’s successes and problems.

Marketing Your Photography

What to make some money with all of the images you have? It’s a tough market but photography is everywhere from magazines to newspapers, as fine art, in calendars and cards and more. This 2 hour class will give you an overview of the various markets open to the aspiring photographer.

Beginning Adobe Lightroom

Learn how to use this powerful tool to organize, edit and output your photography. Adobe’s latest product combines the best aspects of Bridge and Photoshop’s common editing tools into one program. We will explore each module so the student can efficiently navigate the program. In the Library learn to import images, organize them with keywords, add captions and more. Then we’ll explore the versatile Develop module to edit images. Finally we’ll look at the output modules for Slideshow, Print and Web so you can effectively present your images. This class requires the student to have basic proficiency on the computer. Each class will consist of lecture and then hands on practice time with the instructor present. A laptop with the latest version of Lightroom installed is highly recommended so you can work on the program during class.

Beginning Photoshop for Photographers

Photoshop and its consumer version Photoshop Elements are powerful digital editing programs. While imposing at first glance, we will demystify Photoshop, making it fun and more intuitive! First, we introduce the concept of a workflow, which is a plan of action to organize your steps so you can quickly import, edit and output your images. Then by addressing each step of the workflow, we will master tools to crop, clean up dust and scratches, eliminate unwanted objects, correct colors, and improve over and under exposure problems. Finally, we will discuss proper downloading, scanning, printing, emailing and storage techniques. By the end, you will be more comfortable working in Photoshop and well on your way to opening up the vast potential this program has to offer!

Intermediate Photoshop Elements for Photographers

This course will build on the beginning class by reinforcing the workflow and adding more options for editing. Elements has several editing tools available, I will show you which ones are useful and which are more trouble than they are worth. We will look at more options under adjustment layers, learn to add text to the image, introduce blending modes, discuss optimizing Photoshop for your computer, introduce color management and learn fun tools like Photomerge, Slideshow, and Picture Package.

Intermediate Photoshop for Photographers

This course will start with optimizing Photoshop for your computer and a discussion on color management. We will then review the workflow used in the first class adding some new tools (healing brush, patch, gradient, and text) along the way. Layers are discussed in more detail and layer masking will also be covered. Finally, the use of channels, paths and actions are introduced.

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