These are the classes I currently teach
Beginning 35mm Digital Photography
Perhaps you own and shoot with a 35mm digital camera, but are ending up with less than satisfactory photos. Or maybe you’re tired of shooting on AUTO, having realized you’d like a better understanding of how your camera works. This, then, is the course for you. All the basic photography concepts will be covered in depth, including:
Following that, we’ll discuss and critique each other’s pictures. This will be done both as a way to understand photographic composition and aesthetics, as well as to explore specific shooting issues you may be having with your own images.
Time will be spent in class taking pictures. This will help solidify what you’ve learned about both photographic theory and the camera controls. In addition, it will be your chance to experiment with your own composition ideas.
A very complete handout will be distributed when you arrive. It contains much information and many diagrams, and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught in class. In addition, the handout will allow you to spend less time taking notes and more time listening and participating in class. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after you get home.
Be sure to bring your 35mm digital camera (with its battery charged), battery charger, and instruction booklet. If you have them, also bring your other lenses and an extra camera battery and camera card. IMPORTANT: Please be sure your camera can operate in non-Automatic modes, such as Manual or Shutter Priority – if it does not and you still want to take the class, that certainly is fine too.
Fast Track from AUTO to MANUAL on your 35mm Digital Camera
In 3 hours or less, learn everything necessary to get your 35mm digital camera off AUTO or PROGRAM and onto MANUAL, a mode that puts YOU in charge of your camera.
The MANUAL mode allows you to take command of the camera’s important functions. The advantage is that you and not the camera set the specific controls for the photos you take. That is critical, since the settings coming from you, the photographer, are going to be far more accurate and relative to your vision than the settings coming from the camera when it’s in an automatic mode.
These are some of the topics we’ll address:
This seminar is designed to get you up and shooting quickly and effectively – WITHOUT having to resort to the AUTO or PROGRAM mode.
A very complete handout will be distributed when you arrive. It contains lots of information and diagrams, and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught in class. In addition, the handout will allow you to spend less time taking notes and more time listening and participating in class. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after you get home.
VERY IMPORTANT …
Take Great Photos with your Smartphone (for both iPhones and Androids)
The quality of smartphone cameras is improving rapidly. In many situations, they work quite well as stand-ins for 35mm cameras. Therefore, dragging around a heavy camera, hoping not to miss that great picture opportunity, is no longer necessary. A good quality smartphone camera may work almost as well.
This class is for those interested in producing high-quality images with their smartphone cameras. That means learning and understanding the camera controls, as well as when and how to use them. Doing so will put the photographer in better control of their camera. And that will mean significantly improved photographs.
Please note: This class will not cover the taking of selfies.
Everything necessary for taking great smartphone pictures will be addressed, including:
A very complete handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught in class. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after you get home.
Don’t forget to bring your fully charged smartphone, the smartphone’s charger, and any accessories you have.
Get Up and Shoot with your Smartphone Camera (a little technical information, a lot of picture taking)
This hands-on class gets students out of their seats and creating right away. After covering basic photography principles and smartphone camera controls, the focus will shift to shooting in the real world. Students will learn how to spot compelling subjects in their surroundings, pose classmates in creative ways, and apply composition techniques that will elevate their images. And for those who want them, props supplied by the instructor can be used to add another layer of fun and creativity to their pictures. Once the photographs are taken, the class wraps up with a brief introduction to the editing process, with the students learning how images can be refined and even transformed into eye-catching works of art.
A very complete handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review after you get home.
Don't forget to bring your fully charged smartphone, the smartphone's charger, and any accessories you have.
Taking Imaginative Portraits with your Smartphone
This class challenges you to break away from predictable portraits and to instead create images that are playful, surprising, and full of personality.
Participants will begin by gaining confidence in the operation of their smartphone camera, learning how to access and control key features such as focus, exposure, lens selection, and portrait mode.
From there, the class will explore a variety of lighting techniques. You’ll experiment with natural illumination, directional light, silhouettes, and some unconventional lighting setups.
Then, we’ll explore composition. Not only will we discuss what to include and what not to include in the frame, but how camera placement can dramatically influence the feel of a portrait. By changing the camera’s distance, angle, and height, you’ll discover how to create images that feel intimate, exaggerated, playful, or even slightly surreal.
Finally, the class will dive into the art of directing your subject. You’ll learn how to encourage interesting, offbeat poses and authentic expressions that move beyond the stiff and predictable.
No photography experience is necessary—just bring your smartphone (with a charged battery), charger, and your curiosity.
A detailed handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review at home.
Creative Smartphone Photography: Finding Extraordinary Images in Everyday Places
In this engaging, hands-on class, students will learn how to take more creative and visually exciting photos with their smartphone cameras.
The session will begin with an explanation of the camera’s operation. We’ll cover basic photographic theory, learn how to work with the camera’s various controls and screens, and go over a convenient list of steps to follow when taking a picture.
From there, participants will enter the world of composition and aesthetics. They’ll learn techniques for discovering unexpected photo opportunities in everyday places and spaces. Their goal will be to transform the ordinary into visually compelling photographs.
Students will then spend time putting their new skills into practice by taking creative photographs with their smartphones. During this guided practice session, students will explore the surrounding environment and experiment with the ideas discussed in class. Throughout the activity, the instructor will offer suggestions, answer questions, and provide feedback to help participants refine their techniques and try novel approaches.
This class is perfect for anyone wanting to develop a more artistic eye, experiment with photography, and learn how to capture unique images in everyday places. No photography experience is necessary—just bring your smartphone (with a charged battery), charger, and your curiosity.
A detailed handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review at home.
Creative Smartphone Photography: Turning Everyday Objects into Amazing Photos
In this engrossing, hands-on class, students will learn how to take more creative and visually exciting photos with their smartphone cameras.
The session will begin with an explanation of the camera’s operation. We’ll cover basic photographic theory, learn how to work with the camera’s various controls and screens, and go over a convenient list of steps to follow when taking a picture.
Once everyone is comfortable with the basic camera functions, the class will move into creative photography techniques.
Participants will learn how to look at everyday objects in new ways and discover dynamic image possibilities. The instructor will provide a variety of interesting objects and props that students can use as subjects for their photographs, demonstrating how even simple items can become the basis for compelling and imaginative images.
After the instructional portion of the class, participants will spend time putting their new skills into practice. Using the objects supplied by the instructor, students will experiment with different arrangements, camera angles, and zoom settings to create their own dynamic photographs. Throughout the activity, the instructor will offer suggestions, answer questions, and provide feedback to help participants refine their techniques and try novel approaches.
This class is perfect for anyone who wants to develop a more artistic eye, experiment with photography, and learn how to capture unique images using everyday objects. No photography experience is necessary—just bring your smartphone (with a charged battery) and your curiosity.
A detailed handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review at home.
Fix, Enhance, Create! Editing Photos on Your Smartphone
In this hands-on photography class, participants will learn how to improve and transform their smartphone photographs with the photo editing app Snapseed (free for both iPhone and Android smartphones). The instructor will introduce its basic tools and show how simple adjustments can dramatically enhance a photo. Tools to be covered will include those for improving lighting by adjusting shadows and highlights, removing unwanted items in the frame, refining color and saturation, and experimenting with a variety of attention-grabbing filters. The goal is to give the photographs a more polished and artistic look.
During the class, participants will practice editing their own photos directly on their smartphones. The instructor will guide them step-by-step through the editing process and offer tips on how to make thoughtful adjustments without over-editing an image. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with the various Snapseed tools and discover how editing can bring out details, mood, and visual impact in their photographs.
No prior editing experience is necessary—just bring your charged smartphone, charger, and a few photos you’d like to improve.
A detailed handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review at home.
YOU MUST DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL SNAPSEED ONTO YOUR SMARTPHONE PRIOR TO TAKING THIS CLASS. THE APP CAN BE FOUND AT YOUR APP STORE.
Take Great Videos with your Smartphone
Unlock the full potential of your smartphone and transform your ideas into captivating videos for personal projects, social media, documenting events, or even small business marketing. This hands-on course is designed for those eager to learn the essentials of shooting high-quality videos using just their smartphone. Whether you're a beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, this class will guide you through the entire process – from learning the basics of your smartphone’s video camera to working with a high-quality (and free!) editing program to produce your final, polished video.
Everything necessary for creating wonderful smartphone videos will be addressed, including:
Don’t forget to bring your fully charged smartphone, the smartphone’s charger, and any accessories you have.
Whatever you're interested in shooting, this class will help you make the most of the powerful tool already in your pocket!
Reimagine Your Images: The Art of Photo Editing using ACR
Photoshop, made by Adobe, is probably the most well-known and, arguably, the best digital imaging program on the market today. However, accompanying Photoshop is another very powerful program called Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). It originally was designed for processing RAW images (most SLR cameras save an image either in the JPG or RAW format – a RAW image is a much more robust entity than a JPG image, and it’s the format to use for serious digital editing). There are three reasons Adobe Camera Raw may be preferable to Photoshop for digital editing:
What most people don’t realize is that editing is almost mandatory for making a picture look the same as what the naked eye originally saw. Therefore, all images can benefit from at least some editing. At the very least, dark areas should be lightened and light areas darkened, colors should be improved, sharpness and contrast should be added, and distracting elements removed.
Further, editing can be used to transform photographs into something entirely different and unique. That’s usually my goal. I create images in ACR that I think are a vast improvement over what my camera captures (you can view some of my edited pictures at www.peterglass.com/portfolio).
A very complete handout will be distributed in class. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught. In addition, the handout will allow you to spend less time taking notes and more time listening and participating in class. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after you get home.
The current version of Photoshop (which includes ACR) is available through Adobe on a subscription basis only. The cost is about $15 - $20 per month, which is very reasonable since Adobe upgrades and fixes issues without you needing to do so. (Please note that owning Photoshop is not a requirement for taking this seminar.) And even if you'd prefer using another editing program instead of ACR, you'll find that what you've learned in this class will most likely apply to that program as well. By the way, ACR is the program I use for almost 90% of my digital editing.
Composing the Photograph (Learn the rules, then break the rules)
Specific rules of picture composition can be immensely helpful when setting up a shot. But despite what’s often written and taught, these rules aren’t set in stone. Not following them does not mean your photograph will turn out badly. In fact, blindly adhering to even the most accepted of these rules can keep you from creating truly interesting and inventive images.
The various rules of picture composition will be demonstrated and discussed in class. This will be done using images made by me, the instructor, a professional commercial and editorial photographer, as well as those of other photographers. Further, we will explore how and when to apply these rules to our photographs. It will be emphasized that specific rules are useful only when they improve a picture. Otherwise, they should be ignored.
In addition, we’ll be discussing and critiquing each other’s pictures. This will be done both as a way to further understand photographic composition and aesthetics, as well as to explore specific shooting issues you may be having with your own images. So, please bring to class ten to twenty of your photographs (as JPGs or in the RAW format), saved to a flash drive. Include both the great images and the problematic ones.
I’ll be distributing a series of printed notes I’ve compiled from several photographic and art composition books. These notes will be used for our exploration of the topic. By the way, one of the more intriguing books is The Simple Secret to Better Painting by Greg Albert (books dealing with painting and drawing often apply just as well to photography, as does this one). He professes to solving the problem of creating interesting compositions by simply following his mantra: “Never make any two intervals the same.” That’s definitely a topic we’ll investigate!
Finally, we’ll put some of our pictures through one or more digital editing programs. You’ll learn how your photographs can be improved and even transformed through the use of these remarkable software packages.
Please don’t forget to bring your JPG or RAW photos to class.
Make Money as a Stock Photographer
If you are an amateur or professional digital photographer who loves taking pictures, you might want to consider stock photography as a possible source of additional income. A stock photographer shoots a variety of images and then sends them off to their stock photo agencies for them to display on their websites. When magazines, businesses, ad agencies, textbook companies, etc. need photos, they often will purchase existing images from one of these stock agencies, thereby saving the expense of having to hire a photographer to shoot new images. When the stock agency sells a photo, the payment for that sale is shared between the photographer and the stock agency.
All aspects of the stock photography business will be presented. Topics will include:
Build Your Own Website
Many years ago, when I decided to design and build my first website, I knew that doing so would not be easy. I began by purchasing a few books (thick books!!) on the subject. I pored through them, trying to make sense of what I was reading and taking copious notes along the way. Luckily, knowing code was not required. But there was still lots to learn. Finally, after much studying, worrying, and procrastination, I began the construction of my new website.
Putting it all together was challenging. Back then, there was little automation within the web-building software. Everything had to be done manually. And because of the software’s complexity, I was constantly referring back to my reference books and notes.
Luckily, this knottiness is a thing of the past. There are currently many companies online that let you quickly design and set up a website without needing to be too technically proficient. This is possible due to the availability of professionally produced templates, lots of design elements that can be added by simple dragging and dropping, and the ability to easily add and modify both text and pictures.
We will be working with Weebly (www.weebly.com) in this class – a highly rated and very popular website creation company. As of this writing, it has four pricing plans that range from $0 to $30 per month. Weebly is what I’ve used to build and maintain my four websites: www.peterglass.com, www.stockpeterglass.com, www.lifecoachpeterglass.com, and www.ministerpeterglass.com.
A very complete handout will be distributed in class. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after the class ends.
I am no graphic designer. However, the quality of Weebly’s templates and other features is more than enough for producing inexpensive, high-quality, and highly professional-looking websites.
Create Dynamic Portraits
Creating a great portrait is less difficult than most people think. In this class, all the pieces of the dynamic portrait puzzle will be detailed. Volunteers from the class will act as models, and everyone will have a chance to photograph them.
However, before doing that, we’ll review the operation of your 35mm camera in the MANUAL mode. We’ll then discuss what it takes to make a dynamic portrait. This will be done in conjunction with a handout entitled How To Add More Interest To Your Images and with portrait photos illustrating the points from the handout.
Then the photography session will begin. You’ll start by selecting what’s necessary for setting up the shot, including:
Once that’s done, the shooting will commence. As it proceeds, you and the model will be making modifications and improvements to the above items.
But there’s one more element – post-production. We’ll be putting some of your images through Photoshop’s Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). This is a program that comes with Photoshop but is insanely easier to understand and work with (I use ACR for about 90% of my editing). You’ll see the vast improvement a few minutes of editing can have on your photographs.
You will need to bring your 35mm digital camera and lenses (a lens with a focal length of 85mm or more will be best). In addition, if you own one, a tripod might be helpful, as well as a few interesting props, clothing, and accessories. Be sure your camera battery is fully charged, but also bring your battery charger. And, it will be a good idea to bring an extra battery and camera card.
Much of my professional work involves portrait photography. Please visit the portfolio on my website, https://www.peterglass.com, to view some of those images.
Make a Picture Story (The Photo Essay)
It’s exciting when you can tell a story primarily through photographs (and, perhaps, with a little bit of text). Viewing a documentary project consisting of well-shot images is immensely satisfying. The impact often is far greater than anything a writer can write. And it takes little more than a 35mm camera or even a smartphone camera to create a very professional-looking photo essay.
The class will teach you everything necessary for producing your own photo essay. This includes:
Here are a few websites for viewing a selection of photo essays:
http://www.lenscratch.com
http://www.lensculture.com
http://www.motherjones.com/photoessays
http://www.lifeforcemagazine.com
http://ransomriggs.com/photos
Prerequisite: A basic understanding of how your camera (35mm or smartphone) works and feeling comfortable photographing with it.
Perhaps you own and shoot with a 35mm digital camera, but are ending up with less than satisfactory photos. Or maybe you’re tired of shooting on AUTO, having realized you’d like a better understanding of how your camera works. This, then, is the course for you. All the basic photography concepts will be covered in depth, including:
- Hand-holding the camera
- What aperture, shutter speed, and ISO do, and how to make them work for you
- Methods for avoiding blurry and out-of-focus pictures
- How to make sure your photographs are properly exposed
- The advantages of shooting in Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority
- Digital image editing basics
Following that, we’ll discuss and critique each other’s pictures. This will be done both as a way to understand photographic composition and aesthetics, as well as to explore specific shooting issues you may be having with your own images.
Time will be spent in class taking pictures. This will help solidify what you’ve learned about both photographic theory and the camera controls. In addition, it will be your chance to experiment with your own composition ideas.
A very complete handout will be distributed when you arrive. It contains much information and many diagrams, and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught in class. In addition, the handout will allow you to spend less time taking notes and more time listening and participating in class. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after you get home.
Be sure to bring your 35mm digital camera (with its battery charged), battery charger, and instruction booklet. If you have them, also bring your other lenses and an extra camera battery and camera card. IMPORTANT: Please be sure your camera can operate in non-Automatic modes, such as Manual or Shutter Priority – if it does not and you still want to take the class, that certainly is fine too.
Fast Track from AUTO to MANUAL on your 35mm Digital Camera
In 3 hours or less, learn everything necessary to get your 35mm digital camera off AUTO or PROGRAM and onto MANUAL, a mode that puts YOU in charge of your camera.
The MANUAL mode allows you to take command of the camera’s important functions. The advantage is that you and not the camera set the specific controls for the photos you take. That is critical, since the settings coming from you, the photographer, are going to be far more accurate and relative to your vision than the settings coming from the camera when it’s in an automatic mode.
These are some of the topics we’ll address:
- Techniques for handholding your camera
- The workings and interactions of the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
- Finding and using specific camera controls
This seminar is designed to get you up and shooting quickly and effectively – WITHOUT having to resort to the AUTO or PROGRAM mode.
A very complete handout will be distributed when you arrive. It contains lots of information and diagrams, and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught in class. In addition, the handout will allow you to spend less time taking notes and more time listening and participating in class. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after you get home.
VERY IMPORTANT …
- Be sure your camera’s aperture, shutter speed, and ISO can be adjusted manually.
- Bring your battery charger.
- If you have them, bring an extra battery, camera card, and other camera lenses.
- Bring your camera manual.
Take Great Photos with your Smartphone (for both iPhones and Androids)
The quality of smartphone cameras is improving rapidly. In many situations, they work quite well as stand-ins for 35mm cameras. Therefore, dragging around a heavy camera, hoping not to miss that great picture opportunity, is no longer necessary. A good quality smartphone camera may work almost as well.
This class is for those interested in producing high-quality images with their smartphone cameras. That means learning and understanding the camera controls, as well as when and how to use them. Doing so will put the photographer in better control of their camera. And that will mean significantly improved photographs.
Please note: This class will not cover the taking of selfies.
Everything necessary for taking great smartphone pictures will be addressed, including:
- Learning how to use the camera controls on your specific smartphone
- Basic photographic theory
- Discussing alternative smartphone camera apps
- Suggestions for hand-holding your camera
- Specific steps to follow when taking a picture
- Useful accessories for your smartphone camera
- And, how to compose your photographs to produce truly wonderful results
A very complete handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught in class. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after you get home.
Don’t forget to bring your fully charged smartphone, the smartphone’s charger, and any accessories you have.
Get Up and Shoot with your Smartphone Camera (a little technical information, a lot of picture taking)
This hands-on class gets students out of their seats and creating right away. After covering basic photography principles and smartphone camera controls, the focus will shift to shooting in the real world. Students will learn how to spot compelling subjects in their surroundings, pose classmates in creative ways, and apply composition techniques that will elevate their images. And for those who want them, props supplied by the instructor can be used to add another layer of fun and creativity to their pictures. Once the photographs are taken, the class wraps up with a brief introduction to the editing process, with the students learning how images can be refined and even transformed into eye-catching works of art.
A very complete handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review after you get home.
Don't forget to bring your fully charged smartphone, the smartphone's charger, and any accessories you have.
Taking Imaginative Portraits with your Smartphone
This class challenges you to break away from predictable portraits and to instead create images that are playful, surprising, and full of personality.
Participants will begin by gaining confidence in the operation of their smartphone camera, learning how to access and control key features such as focus, exposure, lens selection, and portrait mode.
From there, the class will explore a variety of lighting techniques. You’ll experiment with natural illumination, directional light, silhouettes, and some unconventional lighting setups.
Then, we’ll explore composition. Not only will we discuss what to include and what not to include in the frame, but how camera placement can dramatically influence the feel of a portrait. By changing the camera’s distance, angle, and height, you’ll discover how to create images that feel intimate, exaggerated, playful, or even slightly surreal.
Finally, the class will dive into the art of directing your subject. You’ll learn how to encourage interesting, offbeat poses and authentic expressions that move beyond the stiff and predictable.
No photography experience is necessary—just bring your smartphone (with a charged battery), charger, and your curiosity.
A detailed handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review at home.
Creative Smartphone Photography: Finding Extraordinary Images in Everyday Places
In this engaging, hands-on class, students will learn how to take more creative and visually exciting photos with their smartphone cameras.
The session will begin with an explanation of the camera’s operation. We’ll cover basic photographic theory, learn how to work with the camera’s various controls and screens, and go over a convenient list of steps to follow when taking a picture.
From there, participants will enter the world of composition and aesthetics. They’ll learn techniques for discovering unexpected photo opportunities in everyday places and spaces. Their goal will be to transform the ordinary into visually compelling photographs.
Students will then spend time putting their new skills into practice by taking creative photographs with their smartphones. During this guided practice session, students will explore the surrounding environment and experiment with the ideas discussed in class. Throughout the activity, the instructor will offer suggestions, answer questions, and provide feedback to help participants refine their techniques and try novel approaches.
This class is perfect for anyone wanting to develop a more artistic eye, experiment with photography, and learn how to capture unique images in everyday places. No photography experience is necessary—just bring your smartphone (with a charged battery), charger, and your curiosity.
A detailed handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review at home.
Creative Smartphone Photography: Turning Everyday Objects into Amazing Photos
In this engrossing, hands-on class, students will learn how to take more creative and visually exciting photos with their smartphone cameras.
The session will begin with an explanation of the camera’s operation. We’ll cover basic photographic theory, learn how to work with the camera’s various controls and screens, and go over a convenient list of steps to follow when taking a picture.
Once everyone is comfortable with the basic camera functions, the class will move into creative photography techniques.
Participants will learn how to look at everyday objects in new ways and discover dynamic image possibilities. The instructor will provide a variety of interesting objects and props that students can use as subjects for their photographs, demonstrating how even simple items can become the basis for compelling and imaginative images.
After the instructional portion of the class, participants will spend time putting their new skills into practice. Using the objects supplied by the instructor, students will experiment with different arrangements, camera angles, and zoom settings to create their own dynamic photographs. Throughout the activity, the instructor will offer suggestions, answer questions, and provide feedback to help participants refine their techniques and try novel approaches.
This class is perfect for anyone who wants to develop a more artistic eye, experiment with photography, and learn how to capture unique images using everyday objects. No photography experience is necessary—just bring your smartphone (with a charged battery) and your curiosity.
A detailed handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review at home.
Fix, Enhance, Create! Editing Photos on Your Smartphone
In this hands-on photography class, participants will learn how to improve and transform their smartphone photographs with the photo editing app Snapseed (free for both iPhone and Android smartphones). The instructor will introduce its basic tools and show how simple adjustments can dramatically enhance a photo. Tools to be covered will include those for improving lighting by adjusting shadows and highlights, removing unwanted items in the frame, refining color and saturation, and experimenting with a variety of attention-grabbing filters. The goal is to give the photographs a more polished and artistic look.
During the class, participants will practice editing their own photos directly on their smartphones. The instructor will guide them step-by-step through the editing process and offer tips on how to make thoughtful adjustments without over-editing an image. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with the various Snapseed tools and discover how editing can bring out details, mood, and visual impact in their photographs.
No prior editing experience is necessary—just bring your charged smartphone, charger, and a few photos you’d like to improve.
A detailed handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review at home.
YOU MUST DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL SNAPSEED ONTO YOUR SMARTPHONE PRIOR TO TAKING THIS CLASS. THE APP CAN BE FOUND AT YOUR APP STORE.
Take Great Videos with your Smartphone
Unlock the full potential of your smartphone and transform your ideas into captivating videos for personal projects, social media, documenting events, or even small business marketing. This hands-on course is designed for those eager to learn the essentials of shooting high-quality videos using just their smartphone. Whether you're a beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, this class will guide you through the entire process – from learning the basics of your smartphone’s video camera to working with a high-quality (and free!) editing program to produce your final, polished video.
Everything necessary for creating wonderful smartphone videos will be addressed, including:
- Locating and learning about the various video camera controls on your smartphone
- Discussing the best settings for those video camera controls
- How specific camera accessories can greatly improve the quality of your videos
- Specific steps to follow when getting ready to shoot
- Specific steps to follow while shooting your video
- The art of composition – how to frame your shots and manipulate your camera for more visually engaging videos
- AND, an introduction to a great editing program for turning your raw footage into a polished video production
Don’t forget to bring your fully charged smartphone, the smartphone’s charger, and any accessories you have.
Whatever you're interested in shooting, this class will help you make the most of the powerful tool already in your pocket!
Reimagine Your Images: The Art of Photo Editing using ACR
Photoshop, made by Adobe, is probably the most well-known and, arguably, the best digital imaging program on the market today. However, accompanying Photoshop is another very powerful program called Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). It originally was designed for processing RAW images (most SLR cameras save an image either in the JPG or RAW format – a RAW image is a much more robust entity than a JPG image, and it’s the format to use for serious digital editing). There are three reasons Adobe Camera Raw may be preferable to Photoshop for digital editing:
- As wonderful as Photoshop is, its complexity makes mastering it a long-term challenge. Adobe Camera Raw, though still demanding, is considerably easier to learn and use.
- ACR is a muscular program with an extensive variety of editing tools. It has more than enough resources to meet the requirements of many amateur and professional photographers.
- ACR is designed to edit not only RAW images, but also JPG, TIF, and other image formats.
What most people don’t realize is that editing is almost mandatory for making a picture look the same as what the naked eye originally saw. Therefore, all images can benefit from at least some editing. At the very least, dark areas should be lightened and light areas darkened, colors should be improved, sharpness and contrast should be added, and distracting elements removed.
Further, editing can be used to transform photographs into something entirely different and unique. That’s usually my goal. I create images in ACR that I think are a vast improvement over what my camera captures (you can view some of my edited pictures at www.peterglass.com/portfolio).
A very complete handout will be distributed in class. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught. In addition, the handout will allow you to spend less time taking notes and more time listening and participating in class. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after you get home.
The current version of Photoshop (which includes ACR) is available through Adobe on a subscription basis only. The cost is about $15 - $20 per month, which is very reasonable since Adobe upgrades and fixes issues without you needing to do so. (Please note that owning Photoshop is not a requirement for taking this seminar.) And even if you'd prefer using another editing program instead of ACR, you'll find that what you've learned in this class will most likely apply to that program as well. By the way, ACR is the program I use for almost 90% of my digital editing.
Composing the Photograph (Learn the rules, then break the rules)
Specific rules of picture composition can be immensely helpful when setting up a shot. But despite what’s often written and taught, these rules aren’t set in stone. Not following them does not mean your photograph will turn out badly. In fact, blindly adhering to even the most accepted of these rules can keep you from creating truly interesting and inventive images.
The various rules of picture composition will be demonstrated and discussed in class. This will be done using images made by me, the instructor, a professional commercial and editorial photographer, as well as those of other photographers. Further, we will explore how and when to apply these rules to our photographs. It will be emphasized that specific rules are useful only when they improve a picture. Otherwise, they should be ignored.
In addition, we’ll be discussing and critiquing each other’s pictures. This will be done both as a way to further understand photographic composition and aesthetics, as well as to explore specific shooting issues you may be having with your own images. So, please bring to class ten to twenty of your photographs (as JPGs or in the RAW format), saved to a flash drive. Include both the great images and the problematic ones.
I’ll be distributing a series of printed notes I’ve compiled from several photographic and art composition books. These notes will be used for our exploration of the topic. By the way, one of the more intriguing books is The Simple Secret to Better Painting by Greg Albert (books dealing with painting and drawing often apply just as well to photography, as does this one). He professes to solving the problem of creating interesting compositions by simply following his mantra: “Never make any two intervals the same.” That’s definitely a topic we’ll investigate!
Finally, we’ll put some of our pictures through one or more digital editing programs. You’ll learn how your photographs can be improved and even transformed through the use of these remarkable software packages.
Please don’t forget to bring your JPG or RAW photos to class.
Make Money as a Stock Photographer
If you are an amateur or professional digital photographer who loves taking pictures, you might want to consider stock photography as a possible source of additional income. A stock photographer shoots a variety of images and then sends them off to their stock photo agencies for them to display on their websites. When magazines, businesses, ad agencies, textbook companies, etc. need photos, they often will purchase existing images from one of these stock agencies, thereby saving the expense of having to hire a photographer to shoot new images. When the stock agency sells a photo, the payment for that sale is shared between the photographer and the stock agency.
All aspects of the stock photography business will be presented. Topics will include:
- determining what kind of images will sell
- the equipment needed to shoot them
- adding metadata to your pictures
- the keywording process
- using a digital asset management program
- types of stock agencies
- everything else necessary to set up and run your own stock photography business
Build Your Own Website
Many years ago, when I decided to design and build my first website, I knew that doing so would not be easy. I began by purchasing a few books (thick books!!) on the subject. I pored through them, trying to make sense of what I was reading and taking copious notes along the way. Luckily, knowing code was not required. But there was still lots to learn. Finally, after much studying, worrying, and procrastination, I began the construction of my new website.
Putting it all together was challenging. Back then, there was little automation within the web-building software. Everything had to be done manually. And because of the software’s complexity, I was constantly referring back to my reference books and notes.
Luckily, this knottiness is a thing of the past. There are currently many companies online that let you quickly design and set up a website without needing to be too technically proficient. This is possible due to the availability of professionally produced templates, lots of design elements that can be added by simple dragging and dropping, and the ability to easily add and modify both text and pictures.
We will be working with Weebly (www.weebly.com) in this class – a highly rated and very popular website creation company. As of this writing, it has four pricing plans that range from $0 to $30 per month. Weebly is what I’ve used to build and maintain my four websites: www.peterglass.com, www.stockpeterglass.com, www.lifecoachpeterglass.com, and www.ministerpeterglass.com.
A very complete handout will be distributed in class. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after the class ends.
I am no graphic designer. However, the quality of Weebly’s templates and other features is more than enough for producing inexpensive, high-quality, and highly professional-looking websites.
Create Dynamic Portraits
Creating a great portrait is less difficult than most people think. In this class, all the pieces of the dynamic portrait puzzle will be detailed. Volunteers from the class will act as models, and everyone will have a chance to photograph them.
However, before doing that, we’ll review the operation of your 35mm camera in the MANUAL mode. We’ll then discuss what it takes to make a dynamic portrait. This will be done in conjunction with a handout entitled How To Add More Interest To Your Images and with portrait photos illustrating the points from the handout.
Then the photography session will begin. You’ll start by selecting what’s necessary for setting up the shot, including:
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Props
- Background
- Camera Position
- Pose and Expression
Once that’s done, the shooting will commence. As it proceeds, you and the model will be making modifications and improvements to the above items.
But there’s one more element – post-production. We’ll be putting some of your images through Photoshop’s Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). This is a program that comes with Photoshop but is insanely easier to understand and work with (I use ACR for about 90% of my editing). You’ll see the vast improvement a few minutes of editing can have on your photographs.
You will need to bring your 35mm digital camera and lenses (a lens with a focal length of 85mm or more will be best). In addition, if you own one, a tripod might be helpful, as well as a few interesting props, clothing, and accessories. Be sure your camera battery is fully charged, but also bring your battery charger. And, it will be a good idea to bring an extra battery and camera card.
Much of my professional work involves portrait photography. Please visit the portfolio on my website, https://www.peterglass.com, to view some of those images.
Make a Picture Story (The Photo Essay)
It’s exciting when you can tell a story primarily through photographs (and, perhaps, with a little bit of text). Viewing a documentary project consisting of well-shot images is immensely satisfying. The impact often is far greater than anything a writer can write. And it takes little more than a 35mm camera or even a smartphone camera to create a very professional-looking photo essay.
The class will teach you everything necessary for producing your own photo essay. This includes:
- How to decide who or what your subject for the photo essay will be
- Determining the type of pictures to shoot and how to compose them
- Learning the necessary camera skills for making quality images
- How to fix and enhance your photographs in a digital editing program (you won’t have to actually digitally edit your images for this class)
- How to arrange your pictures into the final photo essay
Here are a few websites for viewing a selection of photo essays:
http://www.lenscratch.com
http://www.lensculture.com
http://www.motherjones.com/photoessays
http://www.lifeforcemagazine.com
http://ransomriggs.com/photos
Prerequisite: A basic understanding of how your camera (35mm or smartphone) works and feeling comfortable photographing with it.