1. Know your Digital Camera

Do you want to uncover the mystery of the many functions of your digital camera? Then you should consider enrolling in this class. All you need to bring is your camera and instruction manual, and cable to transfer photos from camera to computer. Please make sure your batteries are fully charged.

The intention of this 3 hour Class is to explain and demonstrate the many useful features built into your camera. It is a practical hands-on session designed to expand your knowledge and improve the way you take digital photos.

Some of the topics discussed include:

2. Taking Better Photos/Images

Learn the fundamental principles of taking better photos. This 3 hour Class draws attention to a number of basic considerations you need to get that perfect shot. You should bring your camera, instruction manual and USB cable to connect your Camera to the Computer.

A number of factors that determine the outcome of a photo will be explained and outdoor exercises follow to demonstrate the affect of varying conditions. A constructive critique of these images is then shared in the classroom.

Examples of subjects to be considered include:

3. Managing and Editing your Photos using Picasa

Now that you have a greater understanding of your camera and learnt how to take better photos, it is time to gain some knowledge of Managing and Editing your masterpieces.

This 5 week course is designed specifically for those who want a simple yet effective way to manage and edit their photos.

Picasa is a free program by Google that can be downloaded from the Internet. It is easy to use and ideally suited to those who don't want too technical a solution for straightforward everyday editing.
It also provides a range of interesting effects that can be applied to your photos to give an attention-grabbing artistic look.

Some of the easy point/click (with optional variable) features include:

4. Digital Photography

Want to further expand your knowledge of a digital image/photo? This 5 week course has been prepared to explain in more depth, the technical make-up of an image. You will gain a greater understanding of not only terminology but how to use different tools and techniques to get an improved result. You will need a working knowledge of using a computer with a Windows operating system.

This course focuses more on using manual adjustments rather than just automated processes to improve an image. Manual alterations give greater control and offer a more precise level of fine-tuning to achieve a better result (i.e. you control the outcome). Irfanview (a free program) is used for basic editing exercises, more advanced techniques will be introduced using the ExpressFix feature of PhotoImpact. PhotoImpact (a Ulead/Corel product) is a professional photo editing program and costs $90 to $150 from varying websites. Don't be deterred by the cost, experience this class and the others following and decide for yourself.

There are a number of practical exercises that involve:


Digital5. Advanced Digital Photo Editing

Now let's get serious and learn more advanced techniques to give your images a professional look. Most photos suffer from at least one of the following problems:

This 5 week course uses PhotoImpact and shows how to use the tools available in good photographic editing software to overcome these problems and make you a 'more aware' photographer.


Even professional photographers at times take inferior shots, especially if time and opportunity is restricted. Their solution? Don't throw these away; fix them with a good photo editing program!


In fact there are very few commercial photos that have not been adjusted using editing software such as Photoshop, PhotoImpact or similar professional photo editing programs.

 

6. Restoring Old Photos

Quite often old photographs become damaged or fade with the passing of time.

 

 

Special Interest Classes

There are a number of Special Interest Classes conducted throughout the year that are designed to enhance your skills in specific areas of photo manipulation/enhancement.

These 3 hour courses are:

1. Collages & Calendars

A collage is an easy and attractive way to paste together photos with a common subject. These can then be printed off for photo albums or for wall display.

Gift Calendars and greeting Cards can be produced easily using "project templates" and with similar skills to Collages

2. Selection Tools

Selection Tools allow parts of photos to be changed or improved. Do you want to add, or remove, someone or something from a photo? Maybeyou would like to bring out or tone down part of a photo? Selection tools allow this to be done. These tools are basic to good photographic programs such as PhotoImpact, Photoshop or Paintshop Pro.

3. Layers

Layers are a basic tool in the photo/image adjustment process; that is, in improving or just being creative with photos. Selections that have been improved often become a new layer in building an improved photo/image. PhotoImpact, Photoshop, Paintshop Pro and similar programs rely on Layer processes.

4. Montages

Montages are something like collages. Whereas a Collage pastes several images together, a Montage builds up a single, composite image from several different images using Selection and Layers techniques.

5. Scrapbooking

This 3 hour course shows how to produce scrapbook items that can be used for scrapbooking, and how to produce a digital scrapbook. Techniques used are similar to those used in Montage work.

Please note that the courses listed are for your information only and you will need to check the availability of vacancies in any course by looking at the rosters in the hall at the clubroom or by emailing islingtonpals@gmail.com or if you have no email, phone 49616576 during office hours.

Your name can only be added if a vacancy is available.

You are not enrolled until we receive payment so send it in as soon as you enrol or you may miss out.