Now that you understand shutter speeds and f/stops from the Fundamentals and Intermediate Shooting Techniques class, it is time to concentrate on the creative side of photography.  This is one of the next logical classes to enroll in.  During the #101 Fundamentals class only one of seven sessions was dedicated to the creative exploration of making an image and its composition.  This six-week class will spend each night and several field trips to put into practice a thorough understanding of: the rule of thirds, the light isolate theory, the use of negative and positive space, leading lines, the use of repetitive shapes, patterns and textures as design elements.  Learn about the master photographers’ work and how they still influence photographers of today.  You will have the opportunity to explore the differences between color and monochrome (black & white) image making.  Learn how social, emotional and spiritual influences should enhance your vision.  This class will provide a foundation leading towards the mastery of evaluating, designing and executing an outstanding composition using your camera.  Ansel Adams coined the phrase “previsualization” during which the photographer mentally imagines a shot before setting up the camera and tripod.  The field trips will inspire understanding and application of these principles.  Images from the field trips will be critiqued in the classroom.  During the field trips, each student will see and interpret the same subject differently having shot in the same location.  Celebrate and learn from each other … synergism.  If you are naturally very meticulous, precise and orderly, you may struggle with composition and understanding what constitutes “art”.  If so, this class is for you!  This class is well suited for both the right brain and the left brain learner. We will spend much time concentration on what constitutes a strong image and what does not. We will do this by emphasizing the procedure to create a better three-dimensionality to your images of height, width, but most importantly, depth. You will have opportunities during the field trips to learn about focus stacking, HDR, the use of a ten-stop Neutral Density filter to blur moving objects like water and clouds the conversion of your digital images to Black and White.  We will likely also touch on Infra-Red photography as well. Most of the time is spend working on your vision so you can apply these elements to your everyday images whether it be travel, landscape, architecture, nature, wildlife or street photography.

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