Fall Foliage Workshop ; The Color is Coming!

I am in the middle of my Introduction to Digital Photography Course through the Keene Community Education Program.  This is my third time presenting a wide range of topics including, handling image files, archiving, exposure, composition and the use of the great variety of naturally occurring light.  The curriculum is basically the same, but I always seem compelled to make “refinements”, hopefully for the better. Once again I am blessed with an enthusiastic class with a broad range of experience.  This time I was surprised to find only one point and shoot photographer with all the rest using DSLRs.  It is going to be fun.

Diving into teaching has taught me two important lessons.  First, preparing courses is a lot of work.  It has placed pressure on my shooting and writing, but happily I have also discovered that it is wonderfully fulfilling and a whole lot of fun.  I plan to expand my teaching to include more advanced topics and more on the use of editing software. I have wondered whether my audience would eventually run out, but digital cameras have expanded the availability of high quality imaging to a growing segment of the public and the excitement to learn more about the new technologies seems to be boundless.

As I continue with the Intro class I am finalizing plans for my other classes in the next few months. This will include a weekend fall foliage workshop and a 5 week course on the amazing capabilities of the Adobe Lightroom program.   I have a long list of folks who have expressed the desire to hear about upcoming programs.  I will try to send email annoucements, but this is another way of getting the word out.  My experience has been that classes fill quickly, so get in touch as soon as you can.

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Fall Foliage Workshop:

October 14^th -16^th, 2016
Spofford, New Hampshire

Coming up first is a Fall Foliage Workshop scheduled for October 14^th-16^th.  There is much debate about the effect that this summers hot and dry weather will have on the color, but this is New England and a big part of photography in our region is learning to adapt to conditions.  In most years the weekend after Columbus Day is descent, but we may need to head north or south to find the best color.

This is my first attempt at a workshop format, but my basic principals are the same, keep it small, informal and flexible.  The plan is to get together around my dining room table, in Spofford New Hampshire, on Friday evening, the 14^th, for a discussion about photography in general and fall foliage photography in specific.  We will also make plans for the next day’s shoots, based on the conditions.  Saturday will be devoted to exploring as many locations as possible.  This is the exciting treasure hunt that is photography in. New England.   

 

You never know what you are going to find, but it is almost always something other than you expected. I have ideas about potential locations, but it will all depend on the conditions.  Saturday evening, we will gather again around the dining room table for an extremely informal dinner (probably pizza) and the chance to review many of your favorite images from the day. 

Bring a Polarizing Filter

I promise to be gentle in my critique, and I hope to have the chance to demonstrate how editing can bring the best from your images.  Sunday morning will provide another  chance to look for opportunities, again based on our discussions from the night before.  

 

Can't Guarantee a Moose

That’s the plan.  To me it sounds like like a great deal of fun and the chance to revel in the spectacular beauty of our most colorful season. Since this is my first time through this program I’m keeping the cost to only $95, including the very disappointing dinner.  The workshop will be limited to 8 participants so please get in touch with me for more information and to reserve a spot.  The color is coming.

Contact me at jeffn49@myfairpoint.net, or 603-363-8338

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Introduction to Lightroom
January 2017
Spofford, New Hampshire

Around the Table

I ran my Lightroom course last winter for a small group of folks sitting around my dining room table at home in Spofford, New Hampshire.  I had intended to cap the class at eight, but because of a couple of dangling commitments I ended up with ten. It worked great, but I ended up stuffed in a corner of the room.  This year, only eight, definitely!  I ran the class as a live demonstration, with students encouraged to work along on their own laptops.  It was a new experience for me, trying to keep organized without my PowerPoint slides. I had a great time and the class seemed to enjoy and benefit from the sessions.  

As is always true of teaching a course, I learned a ton.  I thought that that four,  two hour classes would be enough to cover the program's many features,  but because of my tendency to ramble and lots of great questions, I had to add a fifth class to cover the Slide Show, Book and Web Modules. I probably could have used more time, but I definitely learned that 2 hours of software, even amazingly useful software, was about the limit for my mature students, especially since I held the classes in the evening.

The plan is to meet for 5, two hour sessions on successive Tuesday evenings beginning on January 10^th 2017.  The cost will be $125 for the five week course.  Again I will be limiting the class to 8 participants.     My list for this course is already long, so call or email soon.  If you miss out this time, I promise to offer it again. 

Contact me at jeffn49@myfairpoint.net, or 603-363-8338

That is the schedule for this fall and winter.  In the future I would like to expand classes to include more advanced photographic techniques including panoramas, focus stacking and HDR, and workshops to explore topics including night photography and the great variety of our New England Seasons.  Some day I may even take a stab at introducing  Photoshop to a small group of unsuspecting victims.

Looking Forward to Seeing You : Abby & Steph 1984

Please get in touch if you have any questions about upcoming programs or suggestions for future topics.

Jeff Newcomer

partridgebrookreflections.com

603-363-8338