Farmington Public Schools

The quality of smartphone cameras is improving rapidly. In many situations, they work quite well as stand-ins for 35mm cameras. Therefore, dragging around a heavy camera, hoping not to miss that great picture opportunity, is no longer necessary. A good quality smartphone camera may work almost as well. This class is for those interested in producing high-quality images with their smartphone cameras. That means learning and understanding the camera controls, as well as when and how to use them. Doing so will put the photographer in better control of their camera. And that will mean significantly improved photographs. Please note: This class will not cover the taking of selfies. Everything necessary for taking great smartphone pictures will be addressed, including: Learning how to use the camera controls on your specific smartphone Basic photographic theory Discussing alternative smartphone camera apps Suggestions for hand-holding your camera Specific steps to follow when taking a picture Useful accessories for your smartphone camera And, how to compose your photographs to produce truly wonderful results A very complete handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify the process of understanding what’s being taught in class. You’ll also find it quite useful for review after you get home. Don’t forget to bring your fully charged smartphone, the smartphone’s charger, and any accessories you have.

In this hands-on photography class, participants will learn how to improve and transform their smartphone photographs with the photo editing app Snapseed (free for both iPhone and Android smartphones). The instructor will introduce its basic tools and show how simple adjustments can dramatically enhance a photo. Tools to be covered will include those for improving lighting by adjusting shadows and highlights, removing unwanted items in the frame, refining color and saturation, and experimenting with a variety of attention-grabbing filters. The goal is to give the photographs a more polished and artistic look. During the class, participants will practice editing their own photos directly on their smartphones. The instructor will guide them step-by-step through the editing process and offer tips on how to make thoughtful adjustments without over-editing an image. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with the various Snapseed tools and discover how editing can bring out details, mood, and visual impact in their photographs. No prior editing experience is necessary—just bring your charged smartphone, charger, and a few photos you’d like to improve. A detailed handout will be distributed on arrival. It contains lots of information and will greatly simplify understanding what's being taught in class. You'll also find it quite useful for review at home. YOU MUST DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL SNAPSEED ONTO YOUR SMARTPHONE PRIOR TO TAKING THIS CLASS. THE APP CAN BE FOUND AT YOUR APP STORE.