The following classes are available for registration.
Fundamentals of Studio Portrait Lighting
February 28, 2012–April 10, 2012
Fundamentals of Studio Portrait Lighting introduces students to lighting techniques in the studio environment, including how to use light to create dramatic and effective portraits. The class explores technical aspects of studio strobes in order to help students develop an understanding and appreciation of light and how it works. Students will receive hands-on instruction on a variety of lighting-styles through the use of diffusion, reflectors, grid spots and gels. Also, students will be given a weekly homework assignment to be completed in the CPC studio where they will practice different techniques on a volunteer model or another student. Each class session will consist of a critique of the previous week’s assignment and a lecture/lighting demonstration.
Students should feel comfortable using their digital SLR camera on manual mode and have a general understanding of apertures and shutter speeds. CPC provides all other equipment including a hand held light meter and Calumet Travelites.
Street Photography
February 29, 2012–April 11, 2012
Grab your film or digital camera, put on your walking shoes and join us in this 7 week adventure to discover the hidden streets of Chicago! The Street Photography class will lead you through the city and introduce you to the work of other street photographers from Henri Cartier-Bresson to Elliot Erwitt.
This Class will help you create your own body of work photographing Chicago’s interesting and unique neighborhoods. Classes will include slideshows, field trips to neighborhoods, individual editing sessions, and class critiques of your photographs.
Students should attend each Wednesday class with images that were captured and edited during the week. Included in the class tuition is full access to the digital lab at CPC beginning the first week. There is no assigned lab time, but students are encouraged to use the lab on their own, to help them prepare for each class. If students have not used the digital lab in a prior CPC class, they are required to take a free intro session to get acclimated.This is for digital or film photographers who have a working knowledge of their camera.
Prior photography experience is preferred but not required.
Multi Exposure Photography
March 1, 2012–April 12, 2012
Push your images further than you ever imagined! This 7-week class highlights established and experimental techniques in multi-exposure photography. Instructed by fine artist and photographer Jonathan Michael Johnson, it’s a great resource for any photographer who wants more control over their environment.
Whether your goal is to create hyper-realistic images or surreal, other-wordly scenes, in this assignment-based course you’ll learn the hands-on techniques to get the look you want. Explore a range of software solutions and get personal assistance on a variety of multi-exposure applications: from panoramas to HDR imaging to time-lapse composites to tricky indoor/outdoor lighting scenarios. Make the right decisions when in the field, learn best practices for image organization and acquire new processing techniques to enhance your work.
The class includes one-on-one editing sessions, slide shows, class critiques and a portfolio review. Included in the tuition is full access to the digital lab at CPC beginning the first week of class. There is no assigned lab time, but students are encouraged to use the lab on their own, to help them prepare for each class. If students have not used the digital lab in a prior CPC class, they are required to take a free intro session to get acclimated.
This is for digital or film photographers who have a working knowledge of their camera. Prior photography experience is preferred but not required.
View more of Johnson’s Multi-Exposure work on his website: www.planckstudios.com
Capturing Beauty Around Chicago
March 4, 2012–March 18, 2012
Improve your compositional skills in this three week class. It’s like taking a mini-vacation with a photo pro at your side, helping you get those interesting shots, while whispering composition tips in your ear. Here’s the deal – you don’t have to leave Chicago to get those vacation/holiday shots. Save your dough – take this class!
Week One
An overview of instructor Jim Kropp’s book “Capturing Beauty with Your Camera — 10 Tips to Taking Better Photographs”. Learn how color, shapes, faces, textures, highlights, shadows and other details can be used to improve the quality of the your photos. The group decides on Chicago locations to visit during your 2nd and 3rd classes. These may include Navy Pier; Bucktown; Maxwell Street Market; Lincoln Park Zoo; Sears Tower; public gardens. Endless possibilities!
Weeks Two and Three
Meet as a group at your pre-determined destination. Explore and shoot while honing your compositional skills. Jim and his assistant, Chris, will follow along, providing individual support and critiques of your shooting style and images, as well as a group critique at the end of each of the two shooting days. No foreign currency, no luggage.
Editorial Photography
February 29, 2012–April 11, 2012
Have you ever wondered what itʼs like to get an assignment from a magazine? In Editorial Photography, we will discuss how to creatively illustrate our ideas using photography. You will be challenged to make your photography interpretative, conceptual, and illustrative; all while ensuring that your images fit into particular styles and layouts that may be required by a magazine.
Assignments and discussions will include :
- Shooting for your favorite magazine
- Interpreting stories
- Alternative compositions
- The 10 minute portrait
- Working out a concept
- Editing
- and more!
Dave Rentauskas has been shooting editorial and advertising photography in Chicago for over 10 years. He is a regular contributor to Time Out Chicago, Chicago Magazine and more.
Pre-requisite : Fundamentals of Digital or Film
Flash Photography
March 1, 2012–April 12, 2012
This seven-week hands-on course, will give you an understanding of flash photography both in the studio and on location. You will learn how to use studio strobes to create different lighting effects, as well as how to use your dedicated flash to benefit your everyday shooting needs.
Each class includes a short lecture, an assignment and a Q&A to make sure all your questions are answered. Much of the in-class work is hands-on. There will be a in-class critique of your work on weeks 3, 5, and 7.
Recommended equipment:
- Your digital SLR camera
- A dedicated add-on flash, preferably Nikon SB800-DX, Canon 430 EX II (or better)
- A notebook, pen and pencil
Street Photography
Grab your film or digital camera, put on your walking shoes and join us in this 7 week adventure to discover the hidden streets of Chicago! The Street Photography class will lead you through the city and introduce you to the work of other street photographers from Henri Cartier-Bresson to Elliot Erwitt.
This Class will help you create your own body of work photographing Chicago’s interesting and unique neighborhoods. Classes will include slideshows, field trips to neighborhoods, individual editing sessions, and class critiques of your photographs.
Students should attend each Wednesday class with images that were captured and edited during the week. Included in the class tuition is full access to the digital lab at CPC beginning the first week. There is no assigned lab time, but students are encouraged to use the lab on their own, to help them prepare for each class. If students have not used the digital lab in a prior CPC class, they are required to take a free intro session to get acclimated.This is for digital or film photographers who have a working knowledge of their camera.
Prior photography experience is preferred but not required.
Editorial Photography
Have you ever wondered what itʼs like to get an assignment from a magazine? In Editorial Photography, we will discuss how to creatively illustrate our ideas using photography. You will be challenged to make your photography interpretative, conceptual, and illustrative; all while ensuring that your images fit into particular styles and layouts that may be required by a magazine.
Assignments and discussions will include :
- Shooting for your favorite magazine
- Interpreting stories
- Alternative compositions
- The 10 minute portrait
- Working out a concept
- Editing
- and more!
Dave Rentauskas has been shooting editorial and advertising photography in Chicago for over 10 years. He is a regular contributor to Time Out Chicago, Chicago Magazine and more.
Pre-requisite : Fundamentals of Digital or Film
Flash Photography
This seven-week hands-on course, will give you an understanding of flash photography both in the studio and on location. You will learn how to use studio strobes to create different lighting effects, as well as how to use your dedicated flash to benefit your everyday shooting needs.
Each class includes a short lecture, an assignment and a Q&A to make sure all your questions are answered. Much of the in-class work is hands-on. There will be a in-class critique of your work on weeks 3, 5, and 7.
Recommended equipment:
- Your digital SLR camera
- A dedicated add-on flash, preferably Nikon SB800-DX, Canon 430 EX II (or better)
- A notebook, pen and pencil
Capturing Beauty Around Chicago
Improve your compositional skills in this three week class. It’s like taking a mini-vacation with a photo pro at your side, helping you get those interesting shots, while whispering composition tips in your ear. Here’s the deal – you don’t have to leave Chicago to get those vacation/holiday shots. Save your dough – take this class!
Week One
An overview of instructor Jim Kropp’s book “Capturing Beauty with Your Camera — 10 Tips to Taking Better Photographs”. Learn how color, shapes, faces, textures, highlights, shadows and other details can be used to improve the quality of the your photos. The group decides on Chicago locations to visit during your 2nd and 3rd classes. These may include Navy Pier; Bucktown; Maxwell Street Market; Lincoln Park Zoo; Sears Tower; public gardens. Endless possibilities!
Weeks Two and Three
Meet as a group at your pre-determined destination. Explore and shoot while honing your compositional skills. Jim and his assistant, Chris, will follow along, providing individual support and critiques of your shooting style and images, as well as a group critique at the end of each of the two shooting days. No foreign currency, no luggage.
Photojournalism
Photojournalism is your ticket to meet people from all cultures and economic levels, gain access to non-public situations, learn about the world around you and possibly help make change for the better. In Photojournalism you’ll explore the fundamental principles of making “news-worthy” photographs. These will include portraits, feature pictures, sports, hard news, general news, picture stories including a course project.
In this 7-week class you will learn to produce informative images that are technically competent and compositionally interesting. You will be encouraged to make picture stories with social relevance. Most importantly, you will enhance your awareness while honing your skills.
By learning to tell a story visually, you will use the transforming power of the photograph to communicate in journalistic terms. You will become a reporter. Projects may be assigned, but if you have an idea for a story, bring it to class and spend the weeks making it happen.
Each class we will review assignments, discuss various approaches to visual problem solving, read captions, and when time permits, hit the streets.
Photojournalism is for digital photographers who have a basic working knowledge of their photographic equipment. Prior photography experience required.
Fundamentals of Studio Portrait Lighting
Fundamentals of Studio Portrait Lighting introduces students to lighting techniques in the studio environment, including how to use light to create dramatic and effective portraits. The class explores technical aspects of studio strobes in order to help students develop an understanding and appreciation of light and how it works. Students will receive hands-on instruction on a variety of lighting-styles through the use of diffusion, reflectors, grid spots and gels. Also, students will be given a weekly homework assignment to be completed in the CPC studio where they will practice different techniques on a volunteer model or another student. Each class session will consist of a critique of the previous week’s assignment and a lecture/lighting demonstration.
Students should feel comfortable using their digital SLR camera on manual mode and have a general understanding of apertures and shutter speeds. CPC provides all other equipment including a hand held light meter and Calumet Travelites.
