Torrance Digital Photo Classes
Spring 2012 Schedule
I will be teaching the classes described below at Torrance this spring.
As a reminder, the camera class is for students just starting out and/or using a relative simple digital camera that does not allow for manually selecting the shutter speed and lens aperture. But, these classes are also for those students using a digital SLR or a more sophisticated compact digital camera, which does allow one to manually set the shutter speed and the lens aperture. However, the student need not be advanced. In-class shooting assignments will vary with the camera type being used as necessary.
Remember, camera classes fill up quickly since they are restricted to 15 students, so register early.
You should receive your catalog in the mail and also be able to register online soon. The Spring term starts March 26, 2012.
Handouts will be available online as usual from password protected pages attached to my blog. You will be given the password and any handouts needed for the first day
of class at the first session. I have posted a short video on YouTube that shows you how to access the handouts. Click Here to view it.
The following are the basic descriptions for the classes I will be teaching this spring. The titles shown below in red may be somewhat different than those that appear in the catalog. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me.
Digital Video and Photo Projects
This course explores the steps you take to share your digital video and still images with family and friends. In the course, you will start with your video clips and still images taken with your mobile phone or digital camera. The basic steps you will exercise in class as well as at home will include uploading your files to the computer, organizing your media content, enhancing the raw video and images, creating the multimedia project, and then producing the finished presentation in a variety of shareable formats. Software programs you will use to create and produce your project will include Windows Live Movie Maker and Windows DVD Maker, which are free programs for Vista and Windows 7. Photoshop Elements will also be used. In this class you will learn how to share your presentation using online services such as YouTube, DVDs, as well as in a format suitable for display on mobile devices. Throughout the course, you will be working with your own media.
This course can viewed as a basic introduction to digital video editing, as well as digital photography in general.
Wednesdays 5:30-7:30 pm, beginning March 28,2012 (Levy)
Photoshop CS5 for Digital Photographers
Photoshop is pretty much the industry standard not only for professional photographers, but also
graphics artists, and CS5 is Adobe’s latest version. This is a basic course, so it will be ideal for someone who desires or needs to become familiar with the
basics of this extremely powerful program.
If you are already familiar with photo editing using Photoshop Elements and are possibly considering moving beyond what Elements can provide, you will benefit from this
introductory look at Photoshop CS5. A lot of what you’ve seen in Elements will look familiar. But, you will get a good idea why there is a $700 price difference between the two programs. By the way, as a student, you qualify for a huge discount if you buy Photoshop CS5.
A file manager called Bridge is also part of Photoshop CS5. We will use this program in class to easily locate the images we will work on within Photoshop CS5. Bridge plays a
similar role as the Organizer in Elements.
Thursdays 5:30-7:30 pm beginning March 29, 2012 (Griffith)
Digital Photography and Organizing
This is the course to start with if you are new to digital photography, thinking about it, or just want to find out more about it. It is also the one course that will help you keep track of and protect all of those digital images you have been collecting on your computer. You will learn how to use the Organizer of Photoshop Elements beginning with importing images to your PC, managing them, and then protecting them. We also cover simple photo enhancements in this class, as well as emailing your photos and making a slide show.
This course builds an excellent foundation for the photo editing courses offered. The class will also introduce you to creative ways to share your photos with others.
Tuesdays 12:30-2:30 pm beginning March 27, 2012 (Griffith)
Your Digital Camera
This class is for students using a compact digital camera as well as those with more sophisticated model or digital SLR camera. In-class assignments and instructions will be structured to accommodate both types of cameras.
Do you find the manual that came with your new digital camera confusing? Or maybe some of the pictures you have taken using its programmed or automatic mode did not turn out like you had hoped. Are you struggling a bit to understand or set all of those options you are presented with, let alone knowing how and when to use them? If
so, then this may just be the class to help you get more from your digital camera. This is a hands-on course – your hands on your camera. Class size is purposely being kept small to maximize the benefit to you.
Section 1: Mondays, 12:30-2:30 pm, beginning March 26, 2012 for 5 Meetings (Griffith)
Section 2: Mondays, 12:30-2:30 pm, beginning May 7, 2012 for 5 Meetings (Griffith)
Please note, there is an information sheet that describes what you should bring with you to the first class, and a couple of things you need to do prior to the first class meeting. Click here to see these instructions.
Basic Photo Editing
This class deals with improving and enhancing your photo images once you have transferred them to your computer. The course basically deals with the Edit Mode
of Photoshop Elements 7. Using layers and the various selection tools are just two of the topics thoroughly covered. Specific exercises also address converting photo images into works of art. This course will also address the Guided Edit task pane that was new in Photoshop Elements 7. Although not specifically covered in class exercises, scanning, obtaining quality prints, and related digital photography topics are discussed and/or demonstrated as appropriate.
Wednesdays 12:30-2:30 pm, beginning March 28, 2012 (Griffith)
Advanced Digital Photo Editing Workshop
During this course, more advanced built-in imaging editing and special effects capabilities using the Edit Mode of Photoshop Elements will be explored. New tools in
later versions of Photoshop Elements will be explored. Free or low-cost third party plug-in programs are available that give Photoshop Elements capabilities
well beyond those that come with the boxed program. The course will cover the installation and use of some selected plug-ins. Examples include the use of curves, channels, and other advanced editing and special effects tools.
This class will be offered during the summer session.
need adv. edit class in evening
Hi Peter,
Good to hear from you again. For Torrance, 5:30 pm is the normal start time for my evening classes. I hope you schedule allows you to attend.
By the way, did you notice the photo on my Welcome screen?
I see that the advanced editing is offered on Wedensday again. That leaves me out again.
I know, Denny. I have no control over that, other than to suggest another night/day, which I did. In defense of Torrance, there are a lot of balls they have to juggle when they make out the schedule. This term, there were even more variables with some of the classes moving to Levy.
Please give a class in Photoshop CS5 during the day. I love your classes, but I find nights or I should say evening classes impossible.
Would the camera raw be the same for photoshop CS5?
Hi Doris,
We will be using the Adobe Camera RAW editor that is in both Photoshop CS5 and PSE. However, like many Photoshop commands implemented in Elements, there are some expanded capabilities in the Photoshop version.
Is the Advanced Digital Photo Editing Workshop you will be teaching at Torrance a follow on to the PSE class I just took with you at Edison?
Is Griffith a location for Torrance Classes? If so, where is it?
Thanks, Larry
Will the photoshop elements basic class be useful for photoshop elements 9?
Yes Carrie. The user interface or the way the program works when you’re editing a photo has changed little since Photoshop Elements 6. That does not mean that new features and commands have not been added with each version since then. However, as I’m teaching the class, I will point out any differences in PSE 9 relative to the version we are using in class. Torrance uses PSE 7.
thanks for your reply Don, however, I have another question. I have been using Photoshop Elements 4 and have just bought 9. Will the data from 4 be picked up by the version 9? I am going to call Torrance Adult school to see if there is still space in the elements basic class on Tues afternoon.
Thanks again.
Carrie
Carrie,
I assume you are using the Wondows version of PSE 4. If that is right, after you install PSE 9 (or during the installation) it should find your catalog that you are using for PSE 4 and automatically convert it. It may ask you if you want to do that. I can’t remember.
At any rate, in PSE 9 should see your catalog just as it was in PSE 4. Keep PSE 4 installed (they can co-exist) until you are comfortable that all of your pictures and tags were converted properly.
Many thanks. I will try that. Carrie
We took your classs with PSE4 years ago. Is it necessary to get PSE 9 or 10 before taking you Wed class on Organizing. We do not use our Elements much and are not very good with it. Would the Organizing class be a good choice? Thanks
My normal answer to similar questions is when you are using a version that is as old as PSE 4 is now, it is probably time to upgrade. There have been a lot of improvements over the years with new features being added.
That being said, since you have not been using PSE much there is a lot you can learn from taking the class. The fundamental organizing capabilities and they way you use them are the same in PSE 10 as they are in PSE 4. The biggest change you will see is the background is a dark gray. Certain buttons have moved around on the screen a bit. But, fundamentally it is the same program, especially as you learn/review the basics as is the focus of the course.
Finally, depending upon which school you choose, you will being using PSE 7 or PSE 8. That will give you a better idea what to expect with PSE 10. I would like to think that after taking the course, you would see the benefit of upgrading to PSE 10. But you might very well decide that PSE 4 meets your needs, and with the course you have gained a much better understandng how to use the version you now have.
Hope this helps somewhat.
Don, I got the call that your Advanced Digital Photo Editing Workshop has been canceled. I’ll keep watching for it next fall. Thanks for all of the information so far. Keep me on your email list!
Thanks
Al DeVinaspre
Yes, it was one of my classes that was cancelled. It seems most of my classes are/will be cancelled due to low enollment. It seems I need to regroup and figure just what people may want to learn about.
For example, today I watched part of a a two-day webinar called iPhoneography. Using, enhancing, and sharing pictures fro iPhones is absolutely taking off in popularity.
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