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Beginner Photography Classes Chicago

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Learn the fundamentals of photography, from understanding your camera settings to composition techniques, in this beginner photography class in Chicago. Participants will gain the skills necessary to capture stunning images in various lighting conditions and refine their creative eyes.

6 classes have spots left

Walking Meditation & Your Photographic Practice (16+)

Evanston Art Center

Tackle an anxious mind while flexing your creativity. Learn different grounding techniques you can employ while enjoying your time outdoors to connect more with your environment. Get more comfortable taking photos with your smart phone to slow down and capture moments that you encounter along your walk. The majority of class time will be devoted to sharing and discussing the images created. You will need a device that takes digital photos (camera...

(83) All levels 16 and older
No upcoming schedules

Photograms (Ages 16+)

Evanston Art Center @ 1717 Central St, Evanston, IL

Learn how to start working with analog photography in our black and white darkroom through making photograms! Photograms involve laying various objects on top of light sensitive paper and exposing the paper to light. This results in a unique image with silhouettes of the objects placed on top of the paper.  Bring in a collection of objects you want to use to make photograms, as various materials will result in different effects!

(83) Beginner 16 and older
No upcoming schedules

Minimalism and Photography (Online)

Chicago Botanic Garden

Minimalism is as subjective in photography as in any style of art. What appears simple and soothing to one viewer might strike another as deep and complex, or have no meaning at all to another. Explore and develop techniques to investigate the principles of composition and aesthetic design to convey meaning and emotion. Learn elements of minimalism that help you capture the strength and essence of your subject, and take your images from mundane...

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
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Photography Explore Use of Time: Online

Chicago Botanic Garden

Through the use of long exposures, you will explore techniques to encode the element of time into what would otherwise be static images.  This process reveals a world that, while very real, is not experienced in real time. With the camera, we will translate this hidden world into a visible form for us to contemplate and make memorable images. Note: This class will be taught online using Cisco Webex.  All registrations must be submitted...

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Mindful Photography

Chicago Botanic Garden

Many of the great masters talk about photography as awareness of the present moment in which we forget ourselves. We let go of goals, desires, expectations, techniques, and anxieties to more fully immerse ourselves into the experience of seeing.  You will gain a new perspective through meditative photo exercises, discussions, and weekly reviews. Note: This class will be taught online using Cisco Webex and email.  All registrations...

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Street Photography

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Along every street are fleeting moments waiting to be captured to create intriguing images. Explore and analyze the various methods used by some of the best known street photographers and put those techniques to work using your own perspective. Discover backgrounds, lighting, shadows, subject framing, and much more. 

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$474

4 sessions

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Digital Photography Live In-the-Field @ Big Shoulders

Digital Photo Academy @ 1700 S Wentworth Ave, Illinois City, IL

Composition in the Field: Bridges of the City of the Big Shoulders Your workshop falls on the iconic 4th of July holiday, so your lesson will include tips and techniques accordingly. Since tonight you might be attending a July 4th fireworks display shortly after your workshop, your instructor will be giving tips on capturing fireworks displays in a compelling manner, whether long exposure, shutter speed priority and other techniques! Digital...

(146) All levels 15 and older
No upcoming schedules
$125
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Resolve 101 Plus

AbelCine Training

AbelCine has partnered with the International Colorist Academy (ICA) to offer this Resolve 101 Plus workshop. This three-day, hands-on workshop is an excellent introduction to DaVinci Resolve 12. It is ideal for first time users, and you do not need to be a Colorist to attend. The workshop mixes the operational side of Resolve with some practical real world training on workflows, basic color theory, grading approaches and techniques. In this course,...

(48) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

360 Video Stitching with Kolor Workshop

AbelCine Training @ 2602 W 16th St , Chicago, IL

This in-depth, two-day workshop teaches participants the skills needed to shoot and edit virtual reality footage. The workshop covers camera settings, best practices during production, data management, synchronization, stitching, horizon adjustment, and color correction using Kolor Autopano Video Pro and Autopano Giga software. This workshop is taught by AbelCine technical specialists who are certified Kolor instructors. This workshop is ideal for...

(48) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$830
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Photography Portfolio: Finding your Creative Voice

Evanston Art Center

What is your compositional style? Explore a variety of compositional techniques to transform your photographs from snapshots to art. Study the compositional styles and techniques of a variety photographers to guide your own creative journey. With the goal of finding your own style or creative voice, we will expand your range of composition ideas and techniques.  The last class includes a supportive critique of your work. Important notes:...

(83) Intermediate 16 and older
No upcoming schedules

Professional Practices in Photography

Chicago Botanic Garden

This ten-week course is designed to help take your work to the next level. Whether it’s a book, a gallery exhibition, or a long–term project, this class will help you organize the essential elements to help elevate your career as a photographer. It will include discussions on putting together a CV, artist statement, website, social media, and various other factors that will help launch your professional career.  Prerequisite: Completion...

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Photoshop Collage Basics (Ages 16+)

Evanston Art Center @ 1717 Central St, Evanston, IL

Explore the basics of digital collaging through photoshop.  We will review several selection tools, methods of copying and pasting, working with layers (including adjustment layers), transforming, and resizing.  Students can source the internet for collage material, or bring existing imagery.

(83) Beginner 16 and older
No upcoming schedules

Photographing Intimate Landscapes

Chicago Botanic Garden

Taking an intimate point of view—smaller than distant horizons, larger than macro—lets you bring patterns, contrasts, layers, abstraction, and new meaning into your images. In this intermediate-level class, use traditional and creative approaches to find beauty in smaller-scale scenes from nature and daily life.  A digital SLR or mirrorless camera with manual controls for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, and familiarity with basic camera...

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Nature & Landscape Portfolio B

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Examine the compositional techniques of today’s contemporary nature and landscape photographers to help you find your photographic voice. Apply these ideas to your work through weekly class projects. Display your photographic vision through a portfolio created during the workshop.  This course is designed for intermediate photographers. Digital SLR or mirrorless cameras are required.

(122) Intermediate 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$499

6 sessions

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Night Photography: Painting with Light

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Chicago, IL

Unleash your creativity and transform the night into an illuminated canvas with the art of light painting. Discover the captivating techniques of using light as a brush to bring your subjects to life in stunning photographs. Unleash your creativity and capture the magic of the night at the esteemed Chicago Botanic Garden.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$374

4 sessions

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Photoshop 2

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Take your Photoshop skills to the next level with this advanced class at a renowned institution. Discover the art of photo enhancement and manipulation, including black-and-white with color accents and old photo restoration. Unlock your creativity and master the world of abstract art creation. Prerequisite: Photoshop 1 or approval of instructor.

(122) Advanced 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$437

6 sessions

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Portraits in the Nature

Chicago Botanic Garden

Walk into the Garden and discover portraits that reveal a message. We will practice the tools of photography that allow you to go beyond a snapshot and into the zone of creation. A digital camera with aperture priority and shutter speed priority is required. This class is open to any level, but requires an artistic mind.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

The Philosophy of Photography

Chicago Botanic Garden

Explore how the medium of photography has affected society and how it continues to evolve as it compresses recent history into a series of images and creates a sense of false memory. How do photographic images represent truth, and how do the trillions of photographs taken each year affect our daily communication? Reading assignments and class participation are required. Bring your camera, your mind, and your opinions.  The School’s CEUs=12.5...

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Advanced Black and White Photography

Chicago Botanic Garden

Black and white photography helps you create stunning images. Learn cover printing on a variety of papers, the use of black and white adjustments in Photoshop, and enhanced tonal variations within the final image.  You will also learn from the work of three iconic twentieth-century photographers.  Prerequisite:  Black & White Photography or  approval of instructor.  The School’s CEUs=15 hours FPC elective, master...

(122) Advanced 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Photographing Winter Contrasts

Chicago Botanic Garden

Shadows, bright snow reflections, and even overcast days are part of every winter season. Since the light on each day may be different, camera settings will need adjusting to best capture images in challenging conditions. Learn how to assess light, then set your camera. Additional topics will include using filters and extending shutter speeds. Students should have a working knowledge of camera controls.  Class limited to DSLR or mirrorless...

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
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