Midwest Photographic WorkshopsCourse DescriptionsMidwest Photographic Workshops has divided our courses into two categories: Weekend/Week Long Workshops and Evening Classes. Evening Classes tend to be scheduled from 7 - 10PM on weeknights unless otherwise specified Weekday classes tend to be from 10:30 AM to 1:30 or 2:00PM. Classes generally meet once per week for 4 to 6 weeks. Weekend workshops tend to be all day on Saturday or Sunday from 10 - 5. Please note that each class category has its own separate link to schedules and descriptions.
Specialty Classes/Workshops
Power Macro - Beyond 1:1 $130.00
Course # 840
Instructor: Joseph Wisniewski
This one-day class covers macro photography up to 20x magnifications. Fill the frame with the head of a pin, or the glistening facets of a fly’s eye. Explore the fascinating worlds inside ordinary objects such as watches or cell phones. We will be shooting diverse subjects including insects, small machines, flowers, computer chips, gemstones, coins, and postage stamps. Both the scientific and artistic aspects of macro photography will be discussed and demonstrated. The course includes:
- Macro lighting techniques Techniques to combat vibration Live subjects Use of the bellows and extension tubes Exposure computation and magnification computation Macro lenses such as Photars, Luminars, and Macro-Summars High quality macro photography using low cost enlarging lenses Reversing regular photographic lenses for magnifications up to 20x
- Macro couplers for magnifications from 2x to 10x, even in the field
We will have four stations set up with bellows, macro lenses, and macro lighting of different types. Everyone will have ample opportunity to shoot all the different setups. The bellows are T-mount types, we have Nikon and Canon EOS T-mount adapters and may be able to arrange adapters for other systems if you do not have one. Bring any macro gear you like, and we’ll show you the tricks to push it to the limits. Please bring a camera that has mirror lockup. Some cameras have “pseudo mirror lockup”, triggered by the camera’s self-timer. This is fine. Film should be daylight balanced color print or slide, or black and white. Digital SLR's are fine. If you don’t know if a particular camera is suitable, give us a call. We also have several extra 35mm film bodies, give us advance notice if you need one.MPW has a large assortment of small objects to photograph, and if you want to bring in your own “tiny wonders”, we’ll be glad to teach you to shoot them. Please, no poisonous creatures. Film and digital cameras are welcome.
Frame Your Artwork $430.00
Course # 801
Instructor: Kelly Kossuth
This six-week class is designed for Photographers to learn not only the aesthetics but the "nuts and bolts" of mounting, matting and framing photographs. Students are expected to bring a photograph or other piece of artwork (16x20 or less in size) they wish to frame. Learn what it takes to make your images "archival". Learn color theory and what the possibilities are with framing like ordering the materials from a wholesaler to complete your piece. Learn about cold and hot mounting, cutting mattes and cutting the glass. Finally, assemble the frame to make your finished piece, ready to hang. Class size limited to six.
Time Lapse and High Speed Photography $150.00
Course # 842
Instructor: Joseph Wisniewski
Can your camera capture lightning? Can you shoot the "POP" of a bursting balloon? Yes! Yes and more! This one-day workshop will provide hands-on and classroom instruction, the techniques to photograph the blooming of a flower one frame at a time with intervals set by the photographer. Photograph an object that moves through an infra-red beam. Learn to trip your shutter using a sound trigger. Fire a camera that is sound or motion activated. These techniques are used routinely by magazine photographers such as National Geographic to capture images of rare nocturnal animals at night or freeze the beating of the wings of a hummingbird.
10-5PM.
Forensic Photography - $340.00
Course # 822
Instructor: Bryce Denison
This six-week class will provide the student with basic photography techniques, but also the basis for how evidence technicians work in the field. This class is designed for people that wish to work in either civil law or criminal law. Perhaps your intention is not to work in law enforcement, but to prove a point or win an argument. This class will show you how. Learn how to establish the scene, how to measure, sketch and document a scene. Learn about the chain of evidence and techniques like fingerprinting or making a cast of a footprint or tire track. Our field trip will be an arson scene. Learn to determine cause and origin. If you enjoy the TV show CSI, now live it and make money doing it. Bryce Denison is a full time forensic photographer working for the Detroit Fire Department.
Photograph your artwork (2d & 3D) on slides or digital for artists $125.00
Course #802
Instructor: Joseph Wisniewski
This one-day workshop is designed to show painters, sculptors, graphic artists or any visual artist the skills needed to portray their works on color slides. Any artist planning to show their work in a juried art exhibition or get published in a book, journal, magazine or catalogue needs to know how to shoot or have their artwork shot by others. For those planning to shoot their own, this class will show the artist how to set up the lights, how to match film type with light source and how to use polarizing filters to reduce or eliminate unwanted glare on your artwork whether it be flat artwork or three dimensional. 35mm, medium format or digital cameras are welcome.
Classes and Workshops not offered in 2008 but may be revisited in 2009
Astro Photography - $295.00
Farmington Hills Location for the classroom portion. Field trip location to be announced.
Course # 821
Instructor: Alan Hoskins
This four- week class will provide the student with hands-on experience, the techniques and procedures to photograph moons, planets and deep space objects through a telescope. Learn how telescopes work and how to navigate in the night sky. Learn about computer stacking programs to enable you to photograph even more than you can see! Students will have the opportunity to photograph craters of our moon and at least the Rings of Saturn. The availability to photograph deep space subjects will be dependant on the weather. The class includes three classroom sessions and two shooting sessions. The field trip (evening) of deep space photography involves an all-night experience. Plan to spend 9 hours at night in the field during the third week. You are welcome to bring your own telescope, but if you do not have one, one can be provided if enough advanced notice is given. Space is limited. Fridays 7-11 PM.
How to use a View Camera $100.00
Course # 820
Instructor: Bryce Denison
The morning session includes classroom instruction and demonstrations on the use of view camera swings, tilts, rise and fall, and the Scheimphlug principle. The afternoon session is an outdoor view camera obstacle course. A large format cameras, may be provided for those interested in using one and do not have one available. A nominal charge applies. 10-5 PM.
Revised 1-29-2008