Art Guild / Camera Club Upcoming

Some good stuff coming up locally, but I need to mention one little thing first. A slightly belated first birthday wish goes out to… the Central Illinois Photoblog, which turned one last Sunday. We produced 193 posts in the first year – and boy are my arms tired. That joke probably works better if you just flew in from somewhere though… On to the stuff:

§ The Peoria Camera Club officially kicks off their 2009-10 session with their first meeting of the new season, next Tuesday Sept 1st at 7:30pm at the new location: Immanuel Lutheran Church Hall (corner of Knoxville and Glen Ave – park at the back of the church). The opening speaker is Hank Erdman, one of the Midwest’s best known nature photographers. His topic is “The Art of Seeing” – something we all to get a grip on to get good images. Club board member Sam Black also passes along that it’s “also a good time to pick-up your new members handbook and enjoy time with fellow members on the great photos you took this summer!” Can’t argue with that.

§ And the Peoria Art Guild is ready to turn loose the fall schedule of classes. Sign-up officially begins next week when Education Coordinator Erin Robert is back in the building, but if you want to get your request in right away, you can email her (erobert@peoriaartguild.org) or call the Guild (309-637-2787) and ask for her, in which case you’ll be transferred to her voicemail where you can leave a message.  Be sure to include your name, phone #, and what class you’re interested in.  Leaving an email address would also be good.  Here’s the sneak peak of what’s coming:

ONE-ON-ONE PHOTO

Members $29 per hour / Non-members $32 per hour (two hour minimum), Ann Conver, MFA

This offering is open to anyone and everyone who is interested in photography, digital or film, and would like to receive individualized instruction based on their individual goals.  Students may sign up for more than one session, but must hurry because limited sessions are available!

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CAMERA

Members $95/ Non-members $110

8 Tuesdays, October 13 – December 8, 6 – 8pm (Min: 5 / Max: 8), Ann Conver, MFA

Whether you’re new to digital photography or have been at it for a while, this class offers students the perfect opportunity to get more out of their digital camera as they learn about pixels, DPI, and white balance.  In this class students will concentrate on making exposures with their camera while they are offered ideas on how to better compose and take their pictures.  Advice will be given on how to select equipment and accessories and how to get the best processing out of a digital camera and basic instruction on managing photo editing software will be covered.  Bring your own digital camera to the first class along with the manual and fresh batteries.

LIGHTING WITH SMALL FLASHES

Members $80 / Non-members $100

6 Wednesdays, October 4 – November 18, 6-8:30pm (Min: 4 / Max: 6), David Vernon

With plenty of hands-on demonstrations, students will be exposed to lighting big with small strobes – aka flashes. This course is aimed at total manual control of lighting, and will not rely on camera-system specific lighting systems. Students do not need extensive lighting equipment but should at least have a camera with a hot-shoe or PC connector and one external flash. Students can contact the instructor for an optional materials list if they want to further outfit themselves.

LANDSCAPE EXPEDITION PHOTOGRAPHY

Members $80 / Non-members $100

6-week class: 3 Mondays – October 19, November 9 & 30, 6-8:30pm, 3 Saturdays – October 24, 31 & November 14, times TBD in class, Min: 5 / Max: 8, David Vernon

Ever wanted to dig deeper into landscape photography?  This class is for the photography who wants to explore both natural and urban landscapes and come away with images that make the viewer take notice.  We spend three sessions in the classroom learning the concepts of landscape shooting and post-processing, and we venture out into the world for three days of making it happen.  Come out and play!

NO LIGHT, LOW LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

Members $80 / Non-members $100

6-week class: 4 Thursdays – October 15 & 22, November 12 &19, 6-8:30pm, 2 Saturdays – October 17, 8pm & November 7, 5:30am, Min: 5 / Max: 10, Ann Conver, MFA and David Vernon

This class is for the photography who owns a tripod and wants to explore the wonderful images that can be created before dawn, at sunset and under the stars.  We will stumble around in the dew and dark to shoot the moon, create star trails, capture the skyline, paint with light, and who knows…we might even get a shot of one of those things that go bump in the night!

*Thursday sessions meet at PAG; Saturday sessions meet off-site, location TBA in class.

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Class meets in the Mac lab at Robert Morris College , 211 Fulton St. , downtown Peoria .

Members $40 / Non-members $50

2 Saturdays, October 17 – November 7, 10am – 12:30pm, Min: 4 / Max: 10, Jeff McSweeney, MFA

This class will help you learn the techniques and approaches to develop your own portrait style.  Students will review various portrait styles before going on a ‘location shoot’ in downtown Peoria .  The workshop will conclude with a review of the location shots and any portraits created since the first class.

UNDERSTANDING SOFTWARE

Class meets in the Mac lab at Robert Morris College , 211 Fulton St. , downtown Peoria .

Members $35 / Non-members $40

Section I – Beginner Level: 4 Mondays, October 5 – October 26, 6 – 7:30pm

Section II – Advanced Level: 4 Mondays, November 2 – November 30, 6 – 7:30pm

Min: 4 / Max: 10, Jeff McSweeney, MFA

This class is designed for students who have basic knowledge in operating a digital camera and photo editing software and want to move on to the next level.  The content covered in class is tailored to students’ needs and allows plenty of time for Q&A leaving them with a better understanding of digital photographyand how to manage photo editing software.  Students are encouraged to come prepared with their own laptop installed with image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or equivalent and digital camera, if possible.  However, the class will be held in a Mac lab equipped with appropriate software and is available for those who do not have access to their own equipment.