PHOTOGRAPHING THE SUNSET/MOONRISE DURING THE MAGICAL HOUR AT FAIRCHILD
Pedro Lastra

Here is your chance to photograph this year‘s outstanding art exhibit at Fairchild during that magic hour of sunset and as the evening sky is highlighted by the winter’s full moon. Previous workshops by Pedro Lastra have covered how to use the beautiful morning light and the dramatic sunsets; however this will be your only opportunity this season to take advantage of his expert instruction in photographing the Garden by moonlight. A very sturdy tripod and a camera with interchangeable lenses or a point-and-shoot camera with close-up settings and user–adjustable settings are strongly recommended. You may bring either film or digital cameras. This class is limited to 12 participants, 18 years and older. The class is not for beginners, therefore there will be no basic camera instruction given. It will involve a great deal of walking, so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Students should bring along insect repellant, a flashlight and water. Class takes place even if it rains. 

5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Section A: Tuesday, January 10 (one session)
Registration deadline: Thursday, January 5
Section B: Wednesday, March 7 (one session)
Registration deadline: Thursday, March 1
Fee per section: Member, $45; Non-member, $75

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY AT SUNSET IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
Pedro Lastra

Experienced photographers will not want to miss the opportunity to photograph the Everglades during the magic hour – sunset. Join photography instructor, Pedro Lastra, as he takes you on a very special photo shoot of egrets, herons, ibis and raptors as they are actively getting their last meal of the day and roosting for the night. Weather permitting; you will see the sunset illuminate the Everglades ecosystem at the Anhinga Trail (Royal Palm). This class is not for beginners and will involve a good deal of walking. Cameras and lenses with telephoto capabilities, as well as a sturdy tripod, are required. Please wear appropriate, comfortable clothing, walking shoes, and bring water. The Park’s entrance fee will be waived with registration and a map will be provided. 

3:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Section A: Saturday, January 14 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, January 6
Section B: Saturday, February 4 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, January 27
Fee per section: Member, $40; Non-member, $60

HOW TO USE AND MASTER YOUR POINT-AND-SHOOT DIGITAL CAMERA
Pedro Lastra

Now that you are the owner of a digital camera, let us teach you how to obtain the best pictures with it. After a brief, interesting history of cameras and photography, students will focus on the point-and-shoot models of Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Panasonic and Leica. Pedro Lastra will cover in detail the basic camera functions and the different features of your particular camera. You will learn how to set resolution, and use exposure modes and auto focus in the most effective manner. Custom functions will also be covered as well as using your LCD monitor to compose your image effectively. You won’t believe how much you will learn about your new camera in such a short time. Please bring your camera and manual to class. 

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Section A: Tuesdays, January 17 – 24 (two sessions) SECTION A IS SOLD OUT
Registration deadline: Thursday, January 12
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Section B: Tuesday/Wednesday, February 21 and 22 (two sessions)
Registration deadline: Tuesday, February 14
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Section C: Mondays, April 16 – 23 (two sessions)
Registration deadline: Tuesday, April 10
Fee per section: Member, $65; Non-member, $85

THE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY DARKROOM: BASIC PHOTOSHOP TECHNIQUES
Pedro Lastra

Learn the basics of the digital darkroom and the skills needed to navigate and use Adobe Photoshop Elements. Students will explore Photoshop Elements layers and the software tools best suited to the photographer. You will learn to import and manage your digital pictures using Photoshop Browser. The course will cover basic image improvements using layers to correct exposure, contrast, eliminate color casts and improve color, as well as tools to correct blemishes such as dust, noise and image flaws. You will learn to correct geometric distortion in architectural subjects and use layers, gradients and fill layers to improve overexposed areas of your photograph. You may bring a notebook computer to class to follow along. Class size is limited to 12 students, 18 years of age and older. 

6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Section A: Wednesdays, January 18 – February 1 (three sessions)
Registration deadline: Thursday, January 12
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Section B: Wednesdays, April 18 – May 2 (three sessions)
Registration deadline: Thursday, April 12
Fee per section: Member, $165; Non-member, $195 

HOW TO USE AND MASTER YOUR DIGITAL INTERCHANGEABLE SLR LENS (SINGLE LENS REFLEX) CAMERA
Pedro Lastra

You've purchased a full-featured, advanced DSLR camera. Now how do you take advantage of its many features? This class will cover which lenses are best suited to your particular needs and how to use your camera settings to take full advantage of the lenses. Basic flash and lighting techniques, different focal length lenses, basic camera functions and the unique features of your particular camera will be explained (please bring your camera and manual). Resolution, exposure modes and auto focus will be covered, as well as custom functions and when to use them. The class will discuss cameras made by Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony and Leica. 

6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Section A: Mondays, January 23 – 30 (two sessions)
Registration deadline: Tuesday, January 17
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Section B: Tuesday/Wednesday, February 28 and 29 (two sessions)
Registration deadline: Tuesday, February 21
Fee per section: Member, $65; Non-member, $85

PHOTOGRAPHING THE WINTER SUNRISE AT FAIRCHILD-SOLD OUT
Pedro Lastra

Come along with us and sharpen your photography skills as we venture into a wonderfully crisp Florida morning to photograph Fairchild’s spectacular garden setting. This early morning class will offer you the opportunity to photograph the Garden’s environment dramatically lit by the rising sun. Participants will receive instruction and demonstrations on photographing outdoors in the early morning natural light. Pedro Lastra will instruct you in choosing your subject and creating attractive compositions with your camera. This class will use different settings on your camera to bring about the best results and show you how to control and meter light effectively. You will focus on visual expression and the technical understanding of photography techniques that capture our landscapes. Time spent in the field will be geared toward the aesthetic challenge of moving from documentation to interpretation in your photographs. You may bring either film or digital cameras. Instruction will be tailored to your individual level, whether beginner or advanced. 

6:30 to 10:00 a.m.-SOLD OUT
Saturday, January 28 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, January 20
Fee: Member, $45; Non-member, $80 

MORNING PHOTOGRAPHY IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
Pedro Lastra

Discover the exotic beauty of the Everglade’s fauna along the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm. The Anhinga Trail is one o fNorth America’s premier birding sites during the winter. Hundreds of migrating and resident birds will be available for you to photograph as you exercise your photography skills in the field. Discover herons, egrets, ibis, purple gallinules, storks, bitterns, anhingas and cormorants, plus raptors and reptiles as they fly, fish, hunt and nest. This workshop will cover instruction on how to use your camera effectively to capture the beauty and drama that will unfold during the winter visit of migrating birds to the Everglades. Single Lens Reflex Cameras and Advanced Point and Shoot cameras are highly recommended. A zoom or telephoto lens of at least 300mm (6x) is needed for frame filling bird photographs. This class is not for beginners. Please bring water, a camera and a sturdy tripod that you are familiar with. Please wear appropriate, comfortable clothing and walking shoes. Directions and an Everglades National Park entrance waiver will be provided upon registration.  

8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, March 3 (one session)
Registration deadline: Monday, February 27
Fee: Member, $40; Non-member, $70

CREATING BROCHURES, CALENDARS AND ILLUSTRATED PUBLICATIONS USING ADOBE IN DESIGN 5
Pedro Lastra

Learn the basic features of Adobe In Design 5 and the skills needed to navigate this program. We will create sample illustrated brochures and calendars to familiarize the students with In Design’s engaging layouts for print and digital media. You will also learn to integrate images from Photoshop and In Design’s built-in creative tools to create beautiful PDFs. You need to bring a fully charged laptop with the Adobe InDesign CS5 software installed. The required text book for this class is Interactive InDesign CS5: Take your Print Skills to the Web and Beyond by Mira Rubin. This class is perfect for anyone who is involved with a club or society that wishes to produce their own newsletters.

6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Tuesdays, March 6 – 20 (three sessions)
Registration deadline: Friday, February 24
Fee: Member, $100; Non-member, $135 

ORCHID PHOTOGRAPHY: CAPTURING THE BEAUTIES OF FAIRCHILD’S TENTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ORCHID FESTIVAL
Pedro Lastra

Orchid and photography enthusiasts will enjoy this unique opportunity to preview and photograph Fairchild’s International Orchid Festival early in the morning, before the crowds arrive. This class will offer the opportunity to photograph these exquisite beauties at their best. Participants will receive instruction on how to photograph the orchids using artificial light to produce natural looking photographs. Mr. Lastra will instruct you in choosing and creating attractive compositions with your camera. This class will use different settings on your camera to bring about the best results and show you how to control and meter light effectively. Advanced point-and­ shoot cameras with pop-up flashes and macro capability as well as SLR’s with macro lenses and external flashes are highly recommended. Small point-and ­shoot cameras are not recommended for this class due to their very limited controls. 

8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, March 10 (one session)
Registration deadline: Wednesday, February 29
Fee: Member $35; Non-member, $60 

MACRO LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Pedro Lastra

See the beauty of Fairchild up close and personal. We will explore, discover and photograph the ecosystem at Fairchild by focusing on the small beautiful details in flowers, leaves and insects. Petals, pistils and stamens will be transformed into abstract works of art. Dragonflies, butterflies and caterpillars will become other worldly sci-fi creatures. In this class, instructor Pedro Lastra will teach you how to use your equipment to capture the small wonders of the Garden. During this session you will cover the technical issues that must be learned in order to master macro photography as well as review basic concepts of effective composition. Time in the field will be used to learn how to manage your subject, use the correct approach and effectively compose your image. For this class students should be familiar with their camera’s basic exposure and focus controls. This class will not cover basic camera operations. Sturdy tripods and cameras with interchangeable lenses or point–and–shoot cameras with close-up settings and user-adjustable settings are strongly recommended. You may bring either film or digital cameras. A macro lens is highly desirable. If you do not own a macro lens, students will need a good close-up lens (one that allows you to fill your frame with subjects four inches in length). This class is appropriate for students 18 years of age and older. 

7:30 to 10:30 a.m.(morning session)
Section A: Saturday, March 17 (one session)
Registration deadline: Monday, March 12
4:00 to 7:00 p.m.(afternoon session)
Section B: Thursday, April 12 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, April 6
7:00 to 10:00 a.m.(morning session)
Section C: Saturday, May 5
Registration deadline: Friday, April 27
Fee per section: Member, $40; Non-member, $65 

ADVANCED DSLR TECHNIQUES: GETTING MORE OUT OF YOUR DSLR CAMERA
Pedro Lastra

This is a new class offering for those who attended our class “How to Use and Master Your Digital Interchangeable Lens SLR Camera” and want to learn the more advanced camera features of your DSLR. This class will cover the following advanced functionalities of your DSLR: when to use RAW format vs JPG; how to manage your White Balance Options; how to manage the Auto Focus options; using External Flashes and light modifiers effectively; how to use your camera’s TTL meter to control multiple dedicated external flashes and balance ambient and artificial lights to create professional results. We will cover how to use your histogram to maximize your image quality and managing your lens aperture and focal length to accomplish different aesthetic effects. The class will discuss cameras made by Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony and Leica. Please bring your camera and manual with you to class. The recommended textbook for this class is the National Geographic Field Guide to Photography: Secrets to Making Great Pictures by Caputo and Burian. 

4:00 to 7:00 p.m.(afternoon session)
Section A: Wednesday/Thursday, March 21 and 22 (two sessions)
Registration deadline: Wednesday, March 14
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.(morning session)
Section B: Tuesdays, May 1 – 8 (two sessions)
Registration deadline: Wednesday, April 25
Fee per section: Member $60; Non-member, $80 

BIG BEAUTIFUL BROMELIADS: CREATING ATTRACTIVE COMPOSITIONS IN PHOTOGRAPHY
Pedro Lastra

If you are a photographer and a bromeliad enthusiast this class is for you. Students will enjoy this unique opportunity to preview and photograph South Florida’s Bromeliad Society Show and Sale early in the morning, while the Garden is still quiet and you can see the show quality bromeliads at their best. Mr. Lastra will offer instruction and guidance in regards to choosing good subjects and creating attractive compositions with your camera. This class will use the different settings on your camera to bring about the best results, and show you how to control and meter light effectively. Photograph these exquisite beauties at their best with instruction on: how to photograph bromeliads using artificial light to produce natural looking photographs; how to control and meter light effectively; how to select the ideal subjects and create attractive compositions and how to use different settings on your camera to create the best results. Advanced point-and-shoot cameras with pop-up flashes and macro capability as well as SLR’s with macro lenses and external flashes are highly recommended. Small point-and-shoot cameras are not recommended for this class due to their very limited controls.

8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 21 (one session)
Registration deadline: Monday, April 16
Fee: Member $35; Non-member, $60 

STUDIO STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
Pedro Lastra

Workshop participants will receive instruction on how to take quality photographs of flowers and three-dimensional objects indoors. Your instructor, Pedro Lastra, will present techniques on how to use your camera to effectively compose, focus and expose your photographs. The class will also cover different indoor lighting techniques to creatively light your subject matter. The three-hour workshop will focus on visual expression and technical understanding of indoor photography and will be geared toward the aesthetic challenge of moving from documentation to interpretation. You will review great works from contemporary and classic photographers in order to explore and emulate their techniques. Students must bring fabric, flowers, vases and other three-dimensional objects to create the vignette to be photographed. Do not bring two-dimensional artwork under glass.

6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9 (one session)
Registration deadline: Tuesday, May 1
Fee: Member, $35; Non-member, $60 

CREATIVE TECHNIQUES USING BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY
Pedro Lastra

Explore Fairchild through the lens of your camera with visions of black and white images dancing in your head. Using a digital camera, interesting black and white photographs can be achieved using in-camera settings and Photoshop. The class will also cover exposure methods to develop mood and dramatic effects, contrast, creative composition, lens selection and the benefits of shooting in JPEG and RAW. Prerequisite: Must have a digital camera with manual capabilities. Sessions will take place in the field and a classroom setting. 

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Saturdays, May 12 – 19 (two sessions)
Registration deadline: Monday, May 7
Fee: Member, $60; Non-member, $85