Photography and Computer Classes – SOA 2011

Make a new masterpiece with your camera, or turn an ordinary picture into one. The School of the Arts Photography and Computer classes can help everyone from beginning to seasoned photographers use lighting, exposure, composition, and computer magic
to bring their images to life. Skill levels for courses range from beginner to advanced; check the course listing for details.

Computer Lab: A computer lab is available during the day for word processing, using the Internet, accessing email, and working independently on class work.

Saving your work: USB flashdrives or CDs to save any work done in your classes may appear on class supply lists.

Photo Printing Policy: Students will be limited to 10 photos in their use of the color printer. Trigs Grocery Store will print photos in their film department for a minimal fee.

Film Processing Information: One-hour and overnight print film processing and prints from digital memory cards are available in Rhinelander. Locations and drop-off/pick up times will be included in the supply lists for each class.

The Art of Photographing People with Phillip Ziesemer (B9) 8:30-10:00 am

A photograph of a person—a portrait—should say something about the subject. In this beginning- to intermediate-level course you will learn how to use your camera to make aa statement, not just a snapshot. Posed and candid techniques will be explored, with natural light being the preferred source.

Phillip Ziesemer, co-owner of Phil Ziesemer Photography, Ltd. in Merrill, Wis. began working as a part-time wedding photographer after high school graduation. In addition to his studio work, he serves as the registrar of the Wisconsin Professional Photographers School which he helped found. He has been honored by the Professional Photographers of America with the degrees of Certified Professional Photographer, Master Photographer and Craftsman Photographer. He received his education at the Milwaukee Area Technical College and UWPlatteville.

Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 9 Made Practical with Nancy Koberle-O’Connell (B3) 8:30-10:00 am

Looking for ways to organize and enhance your digital images? Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 9 is the answer. Through in-class exercises you will learn how to organize your images into albums, as well as how to crop, change exposures, remove and repair imperfections, and experiment with cloning. This entry-level course is for students who have basic computer skills. Digital images for class exercises are provided, but you may also bring a flash drive with your own images to work on.

Nancy Koberle-O'Connell is an award-winning artist with more than 28 years' experience in graphic design. She is currently a senior artist in UW-Madison Continuing Studies, where she works extensively with Adobe Photoshop®. Her portfolio includes work for American Girl and several Fortune 500 companies.

Creating Your Coffee Table Book with Nancy Koberle-O’Connell (C2) 10:15-11:45 am

Looking to put together a book of memories or a visual journal of a special vacation or event? In this hands-on workshop we’ll create a book of your images and your experiences using Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 9. Learn what makes good design work, how to create a visual mood, and the importance of typography in layout. We’ll review image cropping, resizing, rotation, quick fixes, and discuss printing options. Digital images will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring a flash drive with your own images to create a book ready for print. Printing costs are not included.

Download supply list (pdf)

Every Town Is an Art Piece with Dennis McGill (D3) 1:30-4:30 pm

Find the art that is all around us! Students will go on field trips around Rhinelander looking for the art, both natural and manmade, that no one else sees. A slideshow highlighting our work will be shown at Rhinelander’s Creative Arts Walk. Photos used in this slideshow may be used in future promotional materials for the School of the Arts.

Dennis McGill has been working as a professional photographer since 1970 and operated his own portrait studio in Rhinelander for more than 25 years. He is a member of the Professional Photographers of America, the Wisconsin Professional Photographers Association, The Indianhead Professional Photographers Association, and is the director of the Wisconsin Professional Photographers School.

From Snapshot to the Gallery Wall with Phillip Ziesemer (E4) 1:30-3:00 pm

In this class we will explore the use of our cameras and discuss and learn compositional techniques—before turning to the computer, the natural extension of our digital cameras. By exploring high dynamic range images; panoramic images; and the use of Topaz Adjust®, Topaz Simplify®, and Topaz Detail® computer programs; we will transform our photographs from common to fascinating. This is a class for people who have some experience manipulating images using computer software.