If you want to broaden your horizons and become a skilled photographer, The Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH) in Qualicum Beach has new course starting next week.
The Elevate Your Photography workshop is being facilitated by award winning photographer Brian Argyle.
The retired snowbird spends his winters in Arizona and other parts of the southwestern US and Mexico where he enjoys snapping photos.
Argyle said he has more than 100,000 pictures on his computer.
A skilled photographer can take even the most overshot subject and produce an image which is creative and jaw-dropping.
Argyle who has many years of photography under his belt has proven he has those skills.
His work has been part of the Comox Valley Airport Art and Culture Program, an annual partnership between YQQ and the Comox Valley Community Arts Council.
For three years, his images have been on display at the airport. The most recent was a 20-inch-by-90-inch panoramic triptych of Wikaninnish Beach which came down at the end of April.
“I would like to find a good home for it because it is too big for my wall,” Argyle said
Teaching at TOSH is something new for the local shutter bug who said the workshop which isn’t about getting the perfect selfie with the camera on your phone.
“It is geared towards people who have some decent equipment and want to be creative with it beyond the settings of the camera,” he said.
Argyle said you don’t need a fantastic camera to take great images anymore but for the course you will need a camera that will allow you to control exposure such as a digital SLR or a higher end point and shoot.
If you are getting some great feedback on your photography but you only feel confident in your ability to shoot in priority modes you may be asking yourself what next?
Why not learn how to take creative control of composition, focus and exposure and become confident using aperture, shutter and even manual modes to produce photos.
Argyle agreed that many people are scared to take their photography further because they either consider it too complex or simply do not have a clue what it entails.
He added that some people need more than a book of instructions to learn and he will teach using both classroom and assignment examples with explanations in non-technical terms.
“It is much better to do something than read about it. It is like trying to ride a bicycle. If you read a book on riding a bike it is not quite the same as getting out there and doing it.”
He said today’s cameras do great jobs of taking images but if you want to get creative you have to be in command and no matter what your vision, a bit of expert advice about your equipment can make it come to life.
“There are a number of people taking pictures with their phones and if they are just going to publish them on Facebook or on the internet they don’t need the resolution. But a lot of times they get a picture and think wow this is a great photo I should blow this up … but they can’t.”
Students will explore topics including landscapes, people, flowers, sports, animals, still life, abstracts and long exposures including flowing water, night skies and light painting.
Post processing software and its role and contribution to the end result of a photo will also be discussed.
The course runs Wednesday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to noon starting May 27 and going until June 17.
The cost of the workshop is $90. For more information or to register call 250-752-6133.
