Peggy Kelly Media Arts Studio

Photographic Arts

Beginning and Intermediate B&W Photography/Darkroom
Ric Johnson
Through discussion, demonstration, and hands-on darkroom work, participants will learn practical methods for achieving high quality negatives and prints through the correct use of film, paper, darkroom chemicals, and archival processing techniques. Includes free lab during class duration, a $50 value. Limit 4. More Information >

Digital Point-and-Shoot Photography for Beginners, Part 1
Bill Steinbicker
Want to learn more about your digital point-and-shoot camera? Concerned about preserving the photos you take? This class explains how to get the most from your camera in the “automatic mode” including using the flash, close-up focusing, picture definition settings and more. We’ll also look at how to print, protect and preserve the photos you take. Bring your camera (with fully charged batteries), your USB transfer cable and user’s manual. Limit 6. More Information >

Digital Point-and-Shoot Photography for Beginners, Part 2
Bill Steinbicker
Learn how to move beyond the “automatic mode” for better pictures under more challenging conditions. For point-and-shoot cameras, we’ll look at adjusting daylight and flash exposure, setting camera sensitivity (ISO), white balance, focusing on difficult subjects and using the self-timer. Also, learn how to transfer pictures to your computer, burn them to CDs and how to properly delete images from your memory card. Bring your camera (with fully charged batteries), your USB transfer cable and user’s manual. Limit 6. More Information >

Introduction to Photography
Ric Johnson
Begin with your camera to become comfortable with loading, meters and basic functions. Determine the interaction between shutter speeds and apertures (f-stop). This is a technically & artistically based class, aimed at a full understanding of your camera, so you can feel comfortable doing creative work. Bring your manually adjustable camera (film or digital) and manuals to the first class. Limit 8. More Information >

Photographing your Oils, Pastels and Watercolors
Aaron Fahrmann
Photographing flat artwork may seem simple, but to getting the best results is a technically demanding process. Common flat surface distortion and reflection problems can be overcome with correct camera and lighting setup in combination with proper technique and equipment. This workshop will be a combination of instructor-guided participatory demonstration, followed by group practice sessions using instructor-selected student works. There will be a brief, but important introduction to studio strobe lighting equipment at the very beginning of class. Bring one 20" (longest dimension) or smaller piece of your own artwork (preferably unframed) with you to the class. Not all student work will be photographed during the workshop. Limit 6. More Information >

Photographing Your Sculptures, Pottery and Mixed Media
Aaron Fahrmann
Photographing three-dimensional art presents many unforeseen challenges. Learn the basics of correct studio techniques of fine art preparation, staging, and lighting for photographing your artwork. This workshop will be a combination of instructor-guided participatory demonstration, followed by group practice sessions using instructor-selected student works. There will be a brief, but important introduction to studio strobe lighting equipment at the very beginning of the workshop. Bring one 15" (longest dimension) or smaller piece of your own artwork with you to the class that you might like to photograph. We will, as a group, photograph a small selection of student works. Limit 6. More Information >

Planning Your Family Video DVD
Media Staff
Have you been thinking about putting your photos, slides and videos together into a multimedia presentation? You can learn to produce a beautiful printed DVD that can be duplicated and sent to your friends and relatives. Once you have found and organized your media, what technology will you use and how do you learn to use it? Let our staff show you what is possible and get their recommendations for the best consumer-level technology available to you. You could have these gifts ready for this Holiday season. Limit 6. More Information >

The Photoshop Elements Series

Advanced use of Filters, Brushes and Blending Modes (2 sessions)
Barb Reinan
Prerequisites - 6129 and 6150 Are you getting a grasp on using layers but wondering what else Adobe Photoshop Elements can do? This class will introduce you to the amazing world of brushes, filters, effects and blending modes. Move from basic photo editing functionality to creating works of art! Limit 4. More Information >

Guided Edit in PE
Barb Reinan
Recommended - Introduction to Photoshop Elements and Its Editing Tools. Learn to use the Guided Editing tools in Adobe Photo Shop Elements. Guided editing walks you through basic photo editing functions such as color and lighting corrections and photo touchups, but it also gives you the ability to merge the best of two photos together, create artistic photographic affects, and it even provides an action player to help you apply captions, make your subjects appear thinner and resize and crop your photos. Limit 4. More Information >

Introduction to Layers (2 sessions)
Barb Reinan
Prerequisite - Introduction to Photoshop Elements and Its Editing Tools or strong knowledge of the editing tools within the Adobe Photoshop Elements workspace. This class will introduce to the use of layers within the editing workspace. Layers are the key to the wonders available in editing your photo projects. Expand your ability with PE. Limit 4. More Information >

Introduction to Photoshop Elements and Its Editing Tools (2 sessions)
Barb Reinan
Adobe Photoshop Elements editor provides powerful image editing functions ranging from Quick Photo Editing to Guided Editing to Full Editing tools. The Quick Fix function contains common image editing functions including auto, eliminating red eye, lighting and color corrections. Full edit holds many of the functions of the larger professional Photoshop program. This class will focus on introducing the user to the basic tools available in Quick Fix and the Full Editor. Limit 4. More Information >

Photoshop Elements Organizer
Barb Reinan
Adobe Photoshop Elements is the main workspace for importing and organizing photos. Your can browse and view your images one at a time or in a grid of thumbnails. You can tag them for easy access, group them into collections, and drag and drop them into categories. Best of all, you can find your photos easily and dependably. Limit 4. More Information >

Restoration of Photos
Barb Reinan
Prerequisite - Introduction to Photoshop Elements & Its Editing Tools. Adobe Photoshop Elements gives you the editing tools to restore photos damaged by fading, tearing and time. This class will focus on using the healing and cloning tools, selection tools, the eraser tool and an introduction to adjustment filters. Limit 4. More Information >

Using the Create function in PE
Barb Reinan
Recommended - Introduction to Photoshop Elements and Its Editing Tools. Using the basic editing tools and the Create Function in Adobe Photoshop Elements, learn how you can create Photo Books, Greeting Cards, Calendars, Photo Collages, Slideshows and more, simply and easily. Limit 4. More Information >

Digital SLR Photography Series

Digital SLR Camera (Advanced)
Stephen Haynes
This course is geared toward graduates of Digital SLR Camera (Intermediate) and other photographers who have a good working knowledge of digital SLR cameras and want to learn the full capabilities of their cameras to create high quality images and artistic photographs. You will explore the advanced features of your camera (including an in-depth discussion of Camera Raw, color spaces and 16-bit color depth) and discuss a field assignment. Between sessions you will photograph, pursuing a fine art theme of your choice. In the second session, you will receive expert critique on your images and observe demos of techniques for using software to enhance your images. Please bring your camera, its manual, fresh batteries and digital storage media for your camera to both class sessions. Limit 6. More Information >

Digital SLR Camera (Basic)
Stephen Haynes
Digital SLR Camera (Basic) is for camera owners working with a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera for the first time, or who are concerned that they are "over their head" with their new camera. This course will cover the essential features of your DSLR camera: the basic mechanics; care and use of your camera; benefits and drawbacks of photographing on 'automatic"; how to use scene settings; basic use of flash; and other fundamental DSLR features. Bring your DSLR camera and its manual. Participants will have maximum opportunities to ask questions regarding operation of their cameras. Limit 6. More Information >

Digital SLR Camera (Intermediate)
Stephen Haynes
Explore the more sophisticated features of your digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera. This course is for graduates of Digital SLR Camera (Basic) or digital SLR camera users who already have a basic understanding of their cameras. DSLR (Intermediate) will cover topics including a more advanced understanding of the mechanics of your camera, how images are captured, resolution, lens choices, creative settings, more advanced use of flash, white balance and other more advanced SLR features. Bring your digital SLR camera and its manual. Limit 6. More Information >

Taking and Processing RAW Photos
Stephen Haynes
If your digital camera permits the option of photographing in "RAW" format, you have at your fingertips the means of taking the best possible digital images and making the best possible prints. This course starts with the practical techniques of taking photographs in RAW. Then we will cover extensive techniques of converting those photographs in Adobe Camera Raw, a software module within Adobe’s Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Your instructor, Stephen Haynes, has been photographing in RAW for over eight years and is one of the foremost practitioners of its use in the Twin Cities. Limit 4. More Information >

Travel Photography: Taking Great Photos in Strange Places
Stephen Haynes
You are off to Italy or Guatemala, on an African safari, or to see the terra cotta warriors in Xi’an, China, and you want to bump your travel photography up a quality notch? This course covers topics such as the ethics and techniques of photographing indigenous peoples, avoiding tourists’ cliché photos, going for maximum artistic effect, developing and pursuing a theme and choice and care of equipment. Whether your next trip is to Berlin, Wisconsin, or Berlin, Germany, this course will provide valuable information and ideas. Limit 6. More Information >

Professional Portrait Photography Series

High Dynamic Range Photography
Larry Grace
Learn the basics of High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography for a whole new level of creative expression. HDR is the process of taking a sequence of exposures, allowing you to lighten underexposed areas and darken overexposed areas to better simulate what your eye would actually see. Gain control over the total dynamic range of your images through exposure techniques and software enhancements. You must be thoroughly familiar with your Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera. Bring your camera, manual, tripod, cable release or remote. Limit 6. More Information >

Portrait Photography (Advanced)
Larry Grace
Designed for the Professional Portrait Photography (Intermediate) graduate or experienced SLR camera user (film or digital). In session 1, we’ll cover working with a one-light setup and posing your subject. Limited review of using Photoshop with your images. You’ll work on an assignment between sessions. In session 2, we’ll critique your work and practice posing using what you have learned. You should be committed to doing the class assignment. Limit 6. More Information >

Portrait Photography (Intermediate)
Larry Grace
Designed for the graduate of Professional Portrait Photography (Basic). Review Basic Portrait Class. More hands-on training on settings for best exposure, window light, natural outdoor light and limited on-camera flash. Posing your subjects. Bring your camera, flash, manual (for both), tripod, cable release or remote. Limit 6. More Information >

Portrait Photography (Basic)
Larry Grace
Designed for the Single-Lens-Reflex (SLR) camera user (film or digital) who would like to learn the fundamentals of portrait photography. We’ll cover camera settings for exposure and basic set up for lighting of portraits. Bring your camera, flash, manual (for both), tripod, cable release or remote. Limit 6. More Information >