Photography Foundations Class
You have a camera and a vision, yet those inspiring shots often remain out of reach. Whether you’re a former film shooter overwhelmed by digital menus or a beginner stuck on "Auto" mode, it’s frustrating when a good photo feels like a fluke rather than a choice. You’ve tried the books and the YouTube tutorials, but the information overload hasn't clicked yet. It shouldn’t be this complicated—photography can be simple, and you can master it.
That’s where I come in: my goal is to simplify. We can't run before we walk, yet the industry often pushes us to sprint by selling "quick fixes"—presets, gear, and tutorials that promise results without teaching the fundamentals. After thirty years behind the lens, I’ve learned that the basics never change. Whether you’re using a vintage film camera or the latest digital model, photography relies on knowing how to place an exposure exactly where you intend. Once you master that, you begin to see the world differently. Your knowledge builds, and soon you’re making the deliberate artistic decisions that create the photography you’ve always admired.
In my hands-on classes, you’ll learn by doing. You’ll adjust the dials and buttons in real time while we review the results together. We will start by configuring your camera for success in Manual mode, then dive into the Exposure Triangle. You’ll master ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture through practical lessons that reveal exactly how these elements relate to one another.
Beyond the mechanics, we’ll cover essential creative pillars: color temperature, composition, Raw vs. JPEG, contrast, and light quality. By the end of this course, you will have a rock-solid foundation in camera operation, giving you the confidence to make creative choices that bring your photography to a state of Art!
Landscape Photography~5 week mastery class
You’ve been photographing for a while now, but your work still isn’t coming out quite how you wish. Perhaps your work feels inconsistent, or the portfolios you are creating lack the harmony that brings a body of work together for exhibition. Maybe your images just aren't looking the way you want them to, and you can’t quite put your finger on the cause. Whether you are struggling to achieve creative results or looking for ways to move past the beginner’s plateau and start making work with drama and impact, this Landscape Mastery class is for you.
In this class, we will dive deep into the world of landscape photography to learn the skills and techniques that are often difficult to develop on your own. I learned to use a medium format camera professionally when being a "pro" meant using slide film, which was much less forgiving than negative film; basically, there was no room for error. That environment required me to be extremely purposeful with my exposures and composition. It meant waiting for the light, the clouds, or the fog—or accepting that I might not get the image that day at all if the elements didn't come together for a particular scene. While frustrating at times, it taught me valuable lessons that I still employ today.
To take extraordinary photographs, you must be able to see the light and recognize compositional design elements. You must learn to slow down, examine the scene, and use all the tools available to you. This doesn't happen overnight; it takes practice. In this Landscape Mastery class, you will master foundational elements, expand on composition, and learn actionable ways to use depth of field beyond aperture alone. You will gain insight into what actually makes a good, usable exposure (it’s often not what you think), as well as how to use long exposures and different lenses with purpose.
I will share which filters I use and exactly when I use them. We will examine the use of natural contrasts and discuss when sharpness can actually kill a capture. We will see how color can add impact and drama when used correctly, and how to utilize that knowledge in black-and-white development. You will discover why previsualization gives you power in post-processing and provides insight into the proper exposure needed for your vision. We will visit some of Indiana’s best parks to explore trails with specific destinations in mind, aimed at exploiting particular techniques and camera functions.
Finally, we will return to the classroom where you’ll learn my editing techniques and practices on the images we took together. I come from a purist point of view; I rarely “add” to a landscape photograph, preferring instead to enhance what is already present. My editing processes in Lightroom and Photoshop utilize what we consider traditional darkroom techniques. We will cover RAW conversion, advanced dodging and burning, layering techniques from bracketed images (and why I shy away from HDR), variable contrast grading, selective sharpening, color saturation/grading/correction, and “trash removal” via cloning and healing techniques.
By the end of this class, you will be able to professionally capture and edit landscape photographs, allowing you to make the most of your future travels or destination workshops. Your portfolios will see an exponential jump in both technique and harmony, leaving you ready to create your own exhibition-quality work.
