Creative Eye^TM
Digital Photography Classes & Workshops

Helping to Discover & Develop Your Own Personal Style

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Mike MacDonald offers beginning digital photography classes and Private Photography Lessons, and Money Saving Workshop Packages to photographers who are serious about improving their artistic and technical ability. We offer a range of digital and creative photography classes to accommodate beginners to advanced students. Our beginning photography classes apply to the photography of all subject matter because they cover essential fundamental principles. Whether you take pictures of your children, flowers, cars, pets, architecture, nature, wildlife, landscapes, or penguins our courses can help. Creative Eye Gift Cards are also available.

Located in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of Downers Grove (east of Naperville) our photography classes are targeted and efficient. Our photo classes are tailored to the person with a busy schedule and a true desire to learn the art of photography.

Our goal for the beginning photographer is to help the student feel confident and unafraid of her camera. We said "her" because 80% of our students are women. (We don't know why, though Mike likes to credit his "raw animal magnetism.") Newbies can take a beginning photography class that covers the basics of photographic composition or how to start using her DSLR digital camera outside of the "AUTO" or "point-and-shoot" mode. What's more, we offer several money-saving photography workshop packages. Of course, if you're a more advanced photographer (or a just smarty pants), we have classes designed for you, too.

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Our photography courses are designed to address the most important issues in a very efficient manner. We focus on learning, not force feeding you loads of information. Each photography class concentrates on the most important and confusing topics, so you learn the information once and for all. This will then free you up to focus on what's most fun: being creative!

Technical photographic knowledge and skills are essential for executing your creative vision, otherwise you won't be able to bring home the goods. With time and practice, technical information can eventually be grasped by following certain concrete steps. But, how many times have you taken a picture of a fabulous scene only to discover that what you captured did not look or feel nearly as great? If you answered "yes," you're not alone. But, are there steps to follow? Can this even be taught? The answers are a resounding, "Yes!" and "Yes!"

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Your instructor, coach, and the creator of Creative Eye Workshops™ is Mike MacDonald. Self-taught, Mike started out taking pictures like everyone else. But, eighteen months later, he turned himself into a nationally published photographer with an article called "Frozen Images" in Outdoor Photographer Magazine.

Mike has a deeply insightful grasp of the technical and creative aspects of photography and he knows how to teach. The information he presents and the way he presents it will take your photography to the next level. But, if there is a warning, it's this: "Prepare for the passion!" Passion is at the heart of Mike's teaching and his passion is contagious.

With degrees in mathematics and physics and careers in scientific computer programming and, since 1987, professional comedy, Mike has rare and symbiotic credentials for a photographer and a teacher. This is what makes him stand apart from the rest. For instance, his technical lessons are simply presented and easier to absorb. Mike uses his unique knowledge and background as development tools to create simple lessons that help students to better visualize, imagine, and absorb even the most complex material.

Here are some ideas that define our philosophy about photography and, really, life:

• The more mistakes you make, the better you'll be at photography (or anything). So, get out there, make lots of mistakes, and embarrass yourself!
• Knowledge + Confidence = Creative Freedom
• Success is proportional to Hard Work.
• Practice makes perfect.
• Excuses = Failure
• Passion, enthusiasm, and love will propel you in whatever you do.
• If you believe what we believe, then Creative Eye Workshops™ is for you.