College offers classes in photography.

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The Light Chaser. A blog by Rob Alway.

Chapter 13: Enriching your photography skills at West Shore Community College

Have you ever wanted to take your photography to the next level? Do you struggle with Photoshop? In our very own community, there are classes that you can take to help you improve those skills.

West Shore Community College will be offering two photography classes during its fall semester. Yes, it seems a little hard to think about fall when we have hardly had spring, but the college is already enrolling students for the fall.

Photographic Technology I is a fancy way of saying Beginning Photography. The class meets on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Students taking the class will need access to a digital single lens reflex camera (a camera that has interchangeable lenses). The class teaches beginning camera operations, composition and computer editing.

Students will also learn to critique each others’ work. At first this sounds a little intimidating but actually ends up being one of the most valuable processes of the entire class.

The class is also very hands on, with several field trips to various locations within the college’s district.

If you are looking more for computer skills, then Digital Photographic Editing is the class you will want to take. The class meets Monday and Wednesday afternoons and does not require any photography skills or equipment. Basically this class focuses mainly on Adobe Photoshop, the most popular photo editing software. Students will also learn some basic tips in graphic design as well.

So what are you waiting for? Log on to www.westshore.edu right now and take that next step!

Rob Alway is editor-in-chief of Media Group 31, LLC, owner of Mason County Press, Manistee County Press and Oceana County Press. He is also a professional photographer with over 25 years of career experience and an adjunct instructor of photography at West Shore Community College. He and his wife, Becky, own Alway Photography, www.alwayphotography.com.