Online Store :: Courses :: Firm Foundations
Basic Black-and-White Photography
Instructor: Hugh Tifft
Discover the magic of traditional film and paper black and white photography. We start at the beginning and take you through the finished print.
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Making pictures with a film camera, starting with loading your film
*Learning the basic camera controls and about exposure
*Developing your black and white film – chemicals provided!
*Printing negatives – chemicals provided!
*Using contrast filters
*Spot-toning your pictures to perfection
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
1. September 15–October 13, Wednesdays, 6:30pm
Advanced Photoshop
Instructor: Carrie Mondore
Trick out your imaging and printing skills with these advanced techniques.
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Using merge to HDR to create images with full tonal range
*Perfecting compositing techniques
*Creating custom profiles for color management
*Creating custom tools and personalizing your work environment in Photoshop
*Using the gradient tool to its fullest
*Refining your prints through specific and targeted feedback
*Getting answers to the questions that will help your images most
What to bring: Hard drive
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
1. October 21–November 18, Thursdays, 6:30pm
Basic Studio
Instructor: Stephen Shaner
Learn how to use all the equipment in the Community Darkrooms lighting studio!
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Working with strobes
*Working with hot lights
*Using reflectors to fill in shadows selectively
*Using scrims to diffuse and soften light
*Figuring out exposure considerations in the studio
*Working with backdrops
*Lighting static objects
*Lighting people
*Troubleshooting hard-to-light surfaces, such as glass and metal
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
1. September 16–October 14, Thursdays, 6:30pm
Composition 101
Are you ready to take your images to the next level of expression? Each class after the first, student will be required to complete shooting exercises to address the ideas discussed in the workshop.
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Square one: thinking about aspect ratio
*Deciding to take a picture vertical or horizontal
*The rule of thirds: why it’s great and also great to break the rules
*Getting away from the middle and activating the edge
*You are part of the picture: Point of view
*Using line to guide your glace
*Lights and darks: Values also form the picture
*Stopping action and letting it go become part of the composition
*Manipulating depth of field
*Negative space: What’s missing also forms the picture
*Figuring color into the picture
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
1. September 16–October 14, Thursdays, 6:30pm
Nature Photography
This workshop is for serious nature lovers who want to sharetheir outdoor experiences with photography. Shooting trips to local attractionswill provide hands-on experience photographing both the flora and fauna ofSyracuse.
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Metering in all nature scenarios
*Controlling light with flash and reflectors
*Maximizing depth of field in the field
*Framing and composing on the fly
*Making the most of nature’s colors
*Exploring different types of scenes, including water, forests, and more
*Working with animals from afar and close-up
*Using macro photography to get close to flowers, insects, and other creatures
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
1. September 19–October 17, Sundays, 2:30pm
Photoshop 101
Instructor: Carrie Mondore
If you are new to Photoshop, or you want a refresher course on the basics, there is no better foundation for you. You will learn everything you need to know to make your pictures – whether they come from your digital camera or from the web – look exactly the way you want them to every time.
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Sizing files to the correct size and resolution for your purpose
*Managing different file types (tiff, jpeg, psd, etc.)
*Opening, closing, and saving files in Photoshop
*Importing files from different sources, including scanning
*Reading histograms
*Making the most of the Photoshop environment with palettes and settings
*Learning basic selection techniques
*Making color adjustments
*Adjusting contrast and value
*Clone-stamping to “retouch” your pictures
*Adding text to your images
What to bring: Hard drive
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
1. September 14–October 12, Tuesdays, 6:30pm
2. October 20–November 17, Wednesdays, 6:30pm
Photoshop: The Next Level
Instructor: James Suites
In order to make the most of this level of Photoshop instruction, it is recommended that you feel comfortable and can work independently with the skills covered in the Community Darkrooms Photoshop 101 workshop.
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Sharing files over a network
*Compositing, blending, and working with layers
*Working with channels
*Developing advanced masking techniques
*Using filters for sharpness and other effects
*Using actions to simplify your workflow
*Printing your images through Photoshop
*Soft-proofing and color management
What to bring: Hard drive
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
1. September 15–October 13, Wednesdays, 6:30pm
2. October 19–November 16, Tuesdays, 6:30pm
Portrait Photography in the Digital Age
Instructor: Stephen Shaner
We’ll show you how to use all the equipment in our professional lighting studio, including strobes, hot lights, reflectors, scrims, and more, to make beautiful, high-quality studio portraits with your digital camera.
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Working with strobes
*Working with hot lights
*Using reflectors to fill in shadows selectively
*Using scrims to diffuse and soften light
*Figuring out exposure considerations in the studio
*Working with backdrops
*Lighting static objects
*Lighting people
*Troubleshooting hard-to-light surfaces, such as glass and metal
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
1. October 20–November 17, Wednesdays, 6:30pm
Professional Practices Seminar
Being a successful practicing artist means more than shooting good pictures. You also need to know how to get your work in front of the right eyes and what to do when opportunity does come knocking.
This seminar will be taught by members of the Light Work/Community Darkrooms staff.
In one session of the workshop, Brian Clamp, director and owner of the gallery ClampArt in New York City, will lead a dialog and answer questions about working with galleries and other aspects of professional practice.
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Editing your work for different types of opportunities
*Applying for grants, exhibitions, and contests
*Writing your artist statement and cover letter
*Showing your work in portfolio reviews
*Preparing your images for exhibition
*Knowing what the gallery does for you and what you do for yourself
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
1. October 20–November 17, Wednesdays, 6:30pm
Shooting Weddings and Events
Instructor: Dan Michaels
Syracuse photographer Dan Michaels, who has decades of experience shooting events including weddings, shares his hard-won knowledge about breaking into and succeeding in the business. Whether you’re shooting events and weddings for family and fun or trying to break into the business, this workshop will get you ready to capture the moment.
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Knowing what equipment you need
*Breaking into wedding and event photography
*Marketing your skills
*Pricing your services
*Working with the event planner
*Scouting locations
*Shooting in low light conditions
*Making the most of on and off camera flash
*Discovering the fine art of the wedding portrait
*Getting the basics of digital work flow in the field
*Packaging the product with good album design
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
1. October 19–November 16, Tuesdays, 6:30pm
Using Your Digital Camera
Instructor: Dan Michaels
You have your first digital SLR camera – now how do you use it?!
Skills addressed in the workshop:
*Discovering how the camera works
*Figuring out the basic camera controls
*Learning what all those buttons and wheels do
*Using the right settings for the kind of picture you’re shooting
*Understanding white balance and color temperature
*Figuring out how to set file size and type (including RAW)
*Using your camera’s flash
*Analyzing your images as you make them (histograms)
*Downloading images from the camera/card
*Editing and organizing your images
*Adding meta data and storing your images
Bring with you:
Camera and manual, hard drive
$165.00 | Members: $110.00
2. October 21–November 18, Thursdays, 6:30pm
