Traveling Art Exhibit Locations

Mountain West Bank                                     August 10-17, 2009
Zions Bank                                                        August 17-24, 2009
Member's First Credit Union                    August 24-31, 2009
Christensen's Windows                               Peach Days   (September 10-12, 2009)

Basic Photography 
This class is taught by photographer Amber Rust, owner of  Two Color Photography in Brigham City.  Amber has additional experience in photo editing, and graphic design.   Here is a class for the public to learn ways to take better pictures!!  Tentative plans are to  offer the class 2 to 3 times per year as a 6 week evening class.  The next class is scheduled to start Thursday September 17th.  This will be a five week course on  Thursdays.   Pre- registration by phone  at least two days ahead is requested,  call the Fine Arts Center at  435-723-0740 or e-mail us at bcfineartscenter@aol.com.   Cost 1s  $30.  Students are taught to explore their cameras helping them to understand more of what to expect of their individual cameras.  Principles are taught relating to both digital and 35mm photography.  Learn how to take the pictures you want to have as memories.  Includes composition, portrait and subject matter considerations as well as the mechanics of getting a good picture.   The last two classes are scheduled to use the computer lab at the Lincoln Center ( 271 No on 100 West).  A minimum of  6 students needed for class to run. 

Intermediate Photography
We held our first intermediate class with great success.  If enough interest is shown, we will consider adding another intermediate class in in October 2009. Persons can call to indicate their interest at 723-0740.   This intermediate class, offered as a four week course,  will be on Tuesday or Thursday evenings  from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.   Students can look forward to a more hands on experience than in the Basic Photography Class.  They will have models for posing techniques,  go on location for landscape technics, and delve into the world of more advanced lighting techniques.  This class will be taught by photographer Amber Rust, owner of Two Color Photography in Brigham City.  Preregistration is a must for this class!

Final Projects
Both the Basic and the Intermediate photography classes are scheduled to end on the same week.  Each class will have to submit a final project that will be enlarged and mounted or framed to be displayed on a traveling photo exhibit.  This exhibit roams around the different businesses in Brigham City.  Each location is home to the exhibit for approximately a week.

Past  Class Topics and Assignments

September 18, 2008

Topics
Why do YOU take pictures?
What level of photographer are you, and what level do you want to be achieve? (casual, serious, advanced)
Myths of Photography:
    Myth #1    Photography takes you away from the action.
    Myth #2    Photography is too technical
    Myth #3    It's all up to the camera
    Myth #4    You need a really expensive camera
    Myth #5    You should use a manual camera
    Myth #6    There are no rules in art
    Myth #7    If there are rules, you should break them
Pros and Cons of 35mm and digital cameras
Film and ISO speed
Memory Cards
Megapixels
Developing your pictures (film and digital)
Enlarging your photos

Assignments for Class #1:
#1    Story Time
Bring in ONE photo (preferably one taken just for this assignment).  That picture must contain a story that can easily be told within that one picture.  When you get to class next week, we will exchange these photos and everyone will get the chance to tell the story in their class mate's photo.
Tip:  Make sure that everything in your picture leads the viewers imagination to a story - whether it's the correct story or not.  This is what makes a photo interesting to a viewer, being able to imagine what the story behind it might be.

#2    Sunset and Sunrise
Play around with shots facing the sunrise/sunset, and then turn yourself around and take photos of what the sun setting and rising is doing to the area around you.

#3 Key Words
Dark
Humor
Children
Age

Final Assignment:
Brigham City
The final assignment for this class is called "Brigham City".  You're challenge is to find something in Brigham that "is" Brigham, and photograph it in a way that no one else has.  You will then have the opportunity to sit down with the instructor one-on-one for some friendly critique of your photo.  You will get some personal help with photo editing your picture and then ordering an enlargement of the size of your choice.  The classes pictures will then be on a traveling photo exhibit throughout Brigham City. 

Class #2 
September 25, 2008

Topics
Most common photo problems
   Blurry pictures
         Incorrect Point of Focus
         Camera Shake
         Subject Movement
         Too Close to Subject
         ISO Speed too High
   Lighting problems
         Flash Misuse
         Photos too Dark
         Photos too Bright
         Lighting Contrast
         Subjects are Backlit
         Sun Spots
   Composition problems
         Subject to Small
         Subjects "Cut" Out of Picture
         UFO's  -  Unidentified Floating Objects
         "Horns" Growing Out of Subject's Head
         Photo Too Busy
         Uneven Horizon

Assignments for Class #2:
#3    Compositional Problems
Go through your pictures at home and find one that will match up with each of the listed compositional problems.  In your photography journal, log what you could have done to correct each picture, or to prevent it from happening at all!

#4    Who are You?
Gather an array of items that when all put together would describe you.  Compose them together in one "frame", and take a few pictures of them.  Try arranging them in different ways to see which items stand out under different arrangements.
Tip:  Start with the largest item, and work your way down to the smallest item.  Try grouping smaller things together within the one large picture.  Groups of odd numbers are generally more pleasing to the eye.  The more pictures taken the more likely you are to find the "one" you'll love!

Class #3 
October 2, 2008

Topics
Aperture
    An opening through which light is admitted.
    On a camera, aperture is noted with the letter f  followed by a number (i.e. f2.8)
    The smaller the number, the larger the hole.

Some reasons for having a large aperture (small number i.e. f2.8):
     Let's in more light allowing you to have a quicker shutter speed.  Quicker shutter speed allows you to 
         freeze motion.
     Large aperture gives you a Large Depth of Field - Where all or nearly all of your picture is in focus.

Some reasons for having a small aperture (large nubmer i.e. f22):
     Small aperture is good for creating a feeling of motion.  It allows you to slow your shutter speed down,
        allowing for purposeful blur depicting a feeling of motion (like in a waterfall)
     Small aperture is great for portrature.  It gives you a Shallow Depth of Field - Where less of your picture is
        in focus.  This allows you to blur the background so that you subject "pops" out of the picture.

White Balance-The reference point in which your camera determines the true color of white
     When it's best to use Auto White Balance
     Temperature of light
     White Balance Pre-sets
     Filters for White Balance
     Manually setting White Balance 

Assignments for Class #3:
#5    Fun with Portraiture
Take at least 12 picture per subject of portraiture.  Limit the amount of people per "sitting" to two.  Use two different locations/settings (i.e. "studio" using a homemade backdrop, and outdoors location).  Try to match the personality of your subject using props.  Go in close for some beautiful shots.  Take a few candids, they may end up being your favorite! 

#6    Self-Portraiture
Set up  your tri-pod, learn how to use your timer, get yourself dressed up and take some pictures . . . of yourself!  Submit some pictures of yourself!!



Class #4 
October 9, 2008

Topics
Composition

Composition is the pleasing selection and arrangement of subjects within the picture area.

Good pictures are created not found!

Composition Tips:
    Simplicity
    Rule of Thirds
    Lines
    Balance
    Framing
    Avoiding Merges

Top Ten Tips for Taking Great Pictures
    1.  Keep is simple
    2.  Move in closer
    3.  Use the rule of thirds
    4.  Take both horizontal and verticle pictures
    5.  Eliminate unnecessary clutter
    6.  Avoid extremes in contrast
    7.  Focus on your subject
    8.  Use appropriate speed of film
    9.  Work with a good photo lab
    10. Use a self-timer

Tips for portraiture
    1.  Get to know your subject
    2.  Use props that don't detract from your subject
    3.  Don't use busy backdrops
    4.  Use natural lighting, but not direct sun light
    5.  Have the subject close their eyes.  Count to three, and have them open their eyes on "three" snap the   
          picture immediately at  "three", this will give the the most natural facial expressions.
We will also debut a contest for our weekly assignments! 
Get your photos posted on the Fine Arts Center's web site! 

#7    Composition Practice
Take each of the elements discussed in the Composition Tips, and specifically search out, or set up a photo you can use to define these techniques.  They can be defined by breaking the rules or keeping them.  As a reminder, the tips are: 
    Simplicity
    Rule of Thirds
    Lines
    Balance
    Framing
    Avoiding Mergers
Bring in one developed picture per tip!  We will be voting on them at the beginning of class next week.  (5 possible points for how well assignment is followed, 5 posssible points for technique, and 10 possible points for creativity!)

#8    Key Words
This is a fun assignment to test your creativity!
Bring in a picture for each of the following key words!  You have FULL artistic license on this assignment!  I am look for creativity as well as technique!
    feet
    time
    youth
    peace
    fear
    hobby
    smile
This assignment will also be voted on!  The voting will be done as a whole assignment, we will not vote on each key word individually.

#9    Online Assignment
Remember to go to http://amatuersphotographycorner.blogspot.com to post at least one of your favorite pictures from this class.  List what type of camera was used, and if you know the details, list them too (i.e. shutter speed, aperture, time of day pic was taken, where pic was taken . . .).  While you're on the web site, also add a comment to other's pics, giving them friendly critique of their photos.  I will be checking this site daily, and will post my friendly critiques as well as posting some of my pics for critique as well!

Class #5 
October 16, 2008
Lincoln Center

Topics will include:
    Getting your pictures off your camera and organizing them in a way that you can find them again easily.
    Printing off your pictures.
          common mistakes made
    Uploading pictures for different venues.

Class #6 
October 23, 2008
Lincoln Center
 

Any questions contact instructor, Amber Rust, at amber@bcfineartscenter.org or 720-3801.  Have Fun!