Adobe Photoshop Fundamentals 1
4-SESSION WORKSHOP
Fundamental Photography Class
LEVEL: Basic Digital Image Processing and Digital Darkroom Techniques
(View Course Requirements)
This 4-session hand-on is the first in a series of Adobe Photoshop classes that teaches you, in a comprehensive step-by-step manner, how to make the most of your original digital images. (Gift Cards for this class are available.)
Photoshop Fundamentals 1
See Prices
Location:
Downers Grove, IL
DATES
STATUS
TO BE ANNOUNCED
OPEN
Adobe Photoshop is the one and only professional digital darkroom program that allows you to make adjustments to your photos. It is the big brother of Adobe Photoshop Elements, which is made for amateurs who don't need all of the features that Photoshop offers. However, it doesn't take long until the serious amateur needs to make the step up.
Using Adobe CS2 or later versions, you will be taught how to perform many essential darkroom functions such as cropping your picture, correcting the color, adjusting the exposure, removing distracting elements, sharpening your images, preparing them for emailing and printing, and much more. But, it is our philosophy to not overwhelm you with tons of information. Instead, we teach you what you need to know—things you'll be using 99% of the time.
Partial List of Topics Include:
The class is designed so you can practice all the lessons on your home computer. You'll essentially be repeating the same lessons you learned in class, but this time you'll be guided by a comprehensive textbook with step-by-step instructions. And, you'll be working on the very same images found in the book and used during the lecture. This use of repetition and consistency aids in both learning and retention. Plus, you always have the book to help remind you about what to do.
There are two fundamental reasons why we need the digital darkroom. The first is to fix errors made when the picture was taken: red eye, distracting reflections, overexposure, color casts, etc. And though this class will teach you how to correct many technical mistakes, it's always best to take a good photo from the start (see our other classes). You cannot make a great image from a bad original.
With images now being captured by digital cameras, fewer people shoot color negative film and take it to the drugstore lab for processing. The advantage to the lab is that they did a lot of secret work behind the scenes, which the customer didn't know about. They'd correct the color and the exposure, even it was badly screwed up, and then they'd crank out a decent looking print. The downside was that, since the prints looked okay, people figured that they were doing everything correctly. But, the truth is: the lab fixed their mistakes for years and never told them.
So now, with digital capture, the curtain has been drawn aside revealing all of the shooter's photographic frailties. Now, the digital photographer has to do the job of the drugstore lab, if he wants better pictures. This is a good reason why it's important to make adjustments to your images.
The second reason for needing a digital darkroom is to perfect the digitally captured image to best represent the photographer's experience and intention. This step deals with the art of photography. You will learn many useful digital darkroom techniques to better express your own personal vision and to bring your images to life. This Photoshop Fundamentals series of classes prepares you for our more advanced and applied digital darkroom workshops. In these classes, instead of learning Photoshop, you learn how to be an photographic artist and a fine art printmaker. For instance, one of the classes is The Art of Digital Printmaking
Please read the Course Requirements before applying. It is very important that you have a solid basic grasp of your computer.
COURSE AGENDA
All instruction sessions take place in the cozy atmosphere of Mike's home and studio in Downers Grove, Illinois. Each session will last approximately 2 hours. Mike will demonstrate specific Adobe Photoshop digital darkroom tools using the images provided with the book. Homework is given at the end of the lecture using the easy step-by-step textbook lessons that let you follow along.
This photography class will be limited to 8 to 10 students, depending on the experience level of the participants. So, please register quickly to insure a spot.
Workshop Price: $198 Deposit: $198
Price does not include textbook.
If you have further questions about Mike MacDonald photography workshops just email or phone 630-852-8448.
