FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- The Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Arts and Crafts Frame Shop on Fort Leonard Wood will host a variety of photography classes throughout the year for both aspiring and veteran shutterbugs.
Classes include:
-- April 14: Icons and Menus of Point
and Shoot;
-- April 28: Spring Landscapes;
-- May 19: High Dynamic Range (new photographers are recommended to take Photography 101 prior to this class, offered separately);
-- June 2: Outdoor Portraits;
-- Oct. 20: Fall Landscapes.
All classes are taught by Mike Curtis, lead photographer for Fort Leonard Wood. Curtis has been a professional photographer for more than 30 years.
"I can't believe they pay me; I love to do it," he said. "The variety I get at this job -- I get to see and do things that most people don't ever get to see or do."
Curtis said he was inspired to teach a variety of photography classes after teaching his first Photography 101 class on post last year and hearing from students that they appreciated classroom instruction, but wanted more hands-on practice.
"The light came on," he said. So, he came up with test topics for future classes, and now they are on the frame shop's schedule.
The new classes take place both in the classroom and outside, at locations around the installation, so that students can practice their technique.
"The best thing about the class is you can stop me anytime and ask the question everybody else is thinking," Curtis said. "That's what good about a workshop -- plus the hands-on thing."
It's also a great place to network and learn from other photographers on the installation, he added.
"You will have the beginner and you will have the more advanced, all in the same class," he said. "The (advanced) student will go over and say 'Hey, this is how you do it' (to the novice students), and man, that is cool to see that happen."
The next class, "Icons and Menus of Point & Shoot," is specifically for people who do not own a professional-quality camera, but want to take better pictures with their "point and shoot" digital camera using the buttons and menus.
The portrait class scheduled for June 2 will feature live models. "I'm going to show them how to use their off-camera flash like a studio light," Curtis said.
Curtis also plans to offer another Photography 101 class in the fall.
Kay Flores has already taken three of Curtis' classes at the frame shop: Photography 101, Fall Landscapes and Lightroom 3.
"I wanted a class that would enhance my skills as a photographer, and hands-on classes are very beneficial to me as an adult learner," said Flores, who has a flyer of upcoming classes taped up in her office, so she won't miss any.
Since taking the classes, she has already seen a marked difference in her photos.
"It's not all about pointing and shooting -- you can get a better product if you know how your camera equipment can work for you," she said. "The Photography 101 class was definitely beneficial in this aspect. I find myself looking for 'the picture' whenever I go anywhere."
The classes came to Fort Leonard Wood after Bernie Riker, frame shop manager, took photography classes with Curtis off-post. She invited him to teach through the frame shop last October. Since the first photography class was offered, Curtis' classes have received overwhelming positive response, she said.
"I have not received any negative feedback whatsoever. (Students) like the one-on-one (instruction), and that's what Mike is able to do because he's very passionate," Riker said.
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