Courses
Workshops, Seminars

2010-2011

Copyright 2010 Jeff Adams.
All rights reserved.
Except for personal home use no form of reproduction, including copying or
             saving of digital image files, or the alteration or manipulation of said image files or content is permitted.
Any unauthorized use of these images will be prosecuted to the full extent of Federal Copyright Law.

Tentative outline:

Week 1 - Getting started.  Learning resources.  Homework you can do on your own (optional). Comparison of digital to traditional film-based imaging.  Understanding digital cameras part 1. The digital process from shooting to downloading, to editing, to printing and how that process is affected by basic camera set-up and control of camera options.  

Week 2  - Understanding digital cameras part 2,  jargon clarified, auto and program modes vs. scene modes, digital vs. optical zooming, file formats, handling memory cards, how to examine images on playback mode, how to delete images, re-formatting memory cards.

Week 3 - Understanding digital cameras part 3, megapixels vs. megabytes, resolution, white balance, ISO, summary of optimum camera settings.

Week 4 -  Accessories, tripods; image stabilization, white balance controls; outdoor shooting session if the weather allows.

Weeks 5 - Focus control options (spot vs. average), metering for exposure vs. focus, understanding and dealing with natural and artificial light.  Flash techniques. RAW file format basics.

Week 6 -  Exposure control continued, histograms, controlling depth of field, using shutter speed controls to improve sharpness. Downloading basics. 

Week 7 -  Aperture vs. shutter priority shooting modes, picture styles, creative camera features, shooting for black and white, shooting for creative editing.  Quick review of editing and management software:  Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, ACDSee, Sendpix, MS PhotoStory 3, etc.  

In this course we won't spend much time on:

• software (Photoshop Elements, Photoshop CS 1/2/3, Paint Shop Pro, Painter IX, etc.)
  
• printers and printer docks
  
• helping you develop your Windows skills
  
• Mac's and Apples
  
• laser printers
• building web pages
  
• scanners
  
• color management processes to keep your pc screen matching your printer output
• detailed features found in cameras over $600.00
• desktop publishing
• conversion of your slides and negatives to CD's
  
• we specifically will not cover how to install the software that came with your camera or how to connect your camera, via USB cable, to a pc.  That process is not available to us in the labs here at FLCC.
• RAW file processing
• getting video clips into and out of general digital still cameras
• special effects settings
  
• manual camera exposure settings
  

Prerequisite: Thorough Windows operating system skills are required. Access to the internet for additional materials and assignments required. 

Students should already understand basic- and mid-level digital camera operations (resolution, ISO, exposure control, white balance, focus controls, and histograms) before taking this course.

Tentative outline:

Week 1 - Editing basics, setting up Photoshop and Elements preferences. Introduction to toolbox tools, palettes, review of Quick-Fix editing tools.

Week 2  - Adjusting tonal values, cropping.

Week 3 -   Dodging, burning, sponges, understanding brushes

Week 4 -   Resizing, color correction,  blurring and sharpening.  RAW file processing (special topic before or after this class session).

Week 5 - Selections, layers, adjustment layers.

Week 6 - Blend modes, cloning, basic portrait retouching, creative effects, adding text, black and white, filters, layer blending modes (screen, multiply, soft light, overlay), layer styles (shadows, bevels, glow).

Week 7 - Composites and collages, comparison of Photoshop Elements 6 to Photoshop CS3 software, basic plug-in information.  Basic printer settings.

In this course we won't spend much time on:

• digital camera operating instructions
  
• high-end software (Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Lightroom, Aperture, Painter X, etc.)
  
• printers and printer docks
  
• helping you develop your Windows skills
  
• Mac's and Apples
  
• laser printers
• building web pages
  
• scanners
  
• color management processes to keep your pc screen matching your printer output
• conversion of your slides and negatives to CD's
  
• we specifically will not cover how to install the software that came with your camera or how to connect your camera, via USB cable, to a pc.  That process is not available to us in the labs here at FLCC.
• getting video clips into and out of general digital still cameras

Note:  The emphasis in this course is learning how to apply creative techniques along with our basic camera knowledge in all phases of photography.  We will learn more about pre-visualizing images, making creative photo journals, discovering the creative editing features included in Adobe Photoshop/Elements software, creative software plug-ins and artistic printing techniques.

Topics:
This course is designed for dSLR and point and shoot camera owners who have completed a basic course in camera operations and basic editing and are ready to build on those skills.  Participants should be familiar with program, aperture, and shutter priority camera modes, histograms, level adjustments, and have set up their cameras for optimum exposure quality.
This is a creative techniques course for advanced amateurs and professionals.  Participants will develop additional skills in camera exposure techniques, creative lighting using off-camera flash, creative filters, improving color workflow techniques, location shooting techniques, and how to evaluate images for tonal/color/sharpness values.  Students will learn about new software plug-ins that provide greater creative techniques. Preparing an image for printing will be covered.  High quality printing techniques will be demonstrated.  (This is not a hands-on lab-based editing course, but opportunities will be provided for students to work on their own after days 2, 3 and 4 in FLCC's editing labs using Adobe Photoshop Elements  software and an Epson 4800 17x22" printer.)

Preliminary topics by day:
Day 1 - orientation, advanced camera skills, advanced camera set-up, comparison of RAW vs. JPG file formats.

Day 2, nature shoot on location (Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua) using various lighting, filter, and creative techniques.

Day 3, review of images; critical review of focus, exposure, sharpness, noise, highlight and shadow detail, color; composition issues; setting up a color managed workflow using Photoshop Elements  and Photoshop CS3, printing high quality images using the Epson 4800 printer and ICC profiles.

Day 4 - using adjustment layers and soft proofing to accurately predict print quality, creating digital test strips for print tests, review advantages and disadvantages of various paper surfaces, creative plug-ins.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Prior to the first day of class:  Students will be required to complete web-based orientation and assignments prior to the first day of class via e-mail and the internet.

Registration is limited to 12 students.  Students must bring a camera, batteries, and memory cards.  Snacks and break beverages will be provided by the college each morning.

Instructor:  Jeff Adams

Location: FLCC Main Campus, Room B386
4355 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua
 

Note:  Thorough Windows operating system skills are required.

Prerequisite:  This course requires that students already have an understanding of either the basic digital photography course, or the editing course.

Week 1 - Digital cameras at all levels including high end SLR’s, composition part 1.

Week 2 - Composition part 2, depth of field, hyperfocal distance, advanced exposure control, camera histograms, conducting fade tests.

Week 3 - Understanding color, gray scale, resolution, and conducting exposure/contrast/sharpness tests.

Week 4 - Lighting for indoor photography and still life subjects Also: advanced color management concepts, colorimeters (we'll demo the Colorvision Spyder system), shooting in RAW mode.

Week 5 - Shooting still life subjects and camera tests (color, resolution, test charts) in our studio.

Weeks 5-7 Required viewing outside of class of 2 videos of student's choice at FLCC campus.

Week 6 - Review of week 5 images, advanced Photoshop Elements and intro to CS3 editing.

Week 7 - Advanced Elements editing continued, introduction to Photoshop CS3, using actions in Photoshop,  installing plug-ins, and Advanced Photoshop editing tips and tricks video, advanced project development (creating web pages using photos, pdf’s; automated slide shows).
 

Jeff Adams (315-789-0490) is the instructor.

Jeff Adams is currently a free-lance photographer, manages Adams Editions in Geneva, NY, and is a member of the Finger Lakes Photography Guild, NAPP, and several other photographic art groups. 

He was the Director of the Educational Technology Center at FLCC for nearly 30 years...Jeff has taught several courses and workshops in digital imaging, video production, multimedia program design, general photography, presentation design, and video editing.  Jeff's responsibilities at FLCC included creative services, satellite services, distance learning programs, inter-active high tech classrooms, tv studio operations, digital imaging facility development, workshops, displays, special event support, department newsletters, occasional programs for Finger Lakes TV public access channel 12, and more.

Please read the disclaimer.