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What kid doesn’t like to snap photos? Know a young shutterbug who’d like to become a better photographer? Enroll your son, daughter, niece, nephew or grandkid in Jabon Eager’s special Kids Photography class Saturday July
12 (adults who want to hone their camera skills get their own class with Tom Boggan the next morning, Sunday July 13). Coached by the San Tan Valley artist and his talented 9-year-old son, Brett; Saturday’s class starts with
a lively 25-minute chalk-talk in the classroom – then heads outside to explore and photograph the colorful gardens at Boyce Thompson Arboretum (about 30 minutes drive east of AJ). Topics begin with a ‘meet your camera’
discussion on camera basics followed by the important ‘Camera Care’ chat where students will learn to care for the fragile tool they are using. A visual presentation discussing techniques such as ‘Stable Stance’, ‘Rule of Thirds’, and ‘What to focus on’; finishing with getting all cameras on their Auto-mode and baseline settings for good results. Then we’ll spend the next hour exploring the gardens seeking close up images of vivid flowers and wide landscapes. The class will also spend some time discussing portrait photography along the way. Jabon Eagar’s photography has been published by Arizona Highways and in our BTA members’ magazine; also by the Tonto National Monument – and his work was featured on the walls at Pueblo Grande Museum in Phoenix. Enrollment is $30 (or $20 for BTA
annual members), have a credit card ready and call 520-689-2723. Students need their digital camera, water, and a snack. This class would be ideal for kids ages 8-14, their child’s parent or guardian must be onsite at the
Arboretum during the workshop, but can spend his or her time exploring the gardens and trails; daily admission for the chaperone is $10.
Sunday July 13 Scottsdale pro photographer Tom Boggan leads a basic workshop geared to smartphones and ‘point-n-shoot’ cameras at 8am (also $20-$30). As Boggan describes it: “the best camera is the one you have with
you. Even if you’re shooting with your cellphone or a point-n-shot, you can still make great photos. In this two-hours class I’ll demonstrate ways to capture better photos using compact cameras, mirrorless cameras, point-n-shoot cameras, and especially your smartphone. We’ll spend about 45 minutes in the classroom talking about gear, apps for shooting and editing on your smartphone, capturing light and methods of composing a shot — then head into the garden to practice together.” Boggan’s workshops are limited to eight students; priced inexpensively, and rated highly. Consider this review from Cave Creek resident Carol, who wrote: “Tom – thank you so much for the great photography class, you have a gift for taking something complex and bringing it down to a level that the average person can understand! I tried with books and magazines to make sense of the dizzying array of counter-intuitive settings on my camera such as ISO, F-stop etc. but things just continued to be confusing. With your concise handout and your class, I actually feel as though a light bulb has come on and I am beginning to understand these concepts for the first time! I now enjoy the challenge of creating a photo and taking photos feels more about my artistic efforts vs. the camera’s magical workings. Thank you again for helping me move to a new level in my enjoyment of photography and (by extension) my real passion: nature.”
Connect with Tom and read about other camera classes here: http://ag.arizona.edu/bta/photoclass.
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