Learn how to use your digital camera—take it off AUTO
Sharon Lavier O’Keefe, instructor
Five-week workshop.
April 14–May 12, 2012
Saturdays, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Sunday, April 29, 5–10 p.m.
Workshop information
Workshop venue
Northwest Center for Photography (NCP), 1028 SE
Water Avenue, Suite 50, Portland, Oregon 97214
Workshop format
There will be some lecture, hands-on exercises in
class, walkabouts during class and weekly print
critiques.
Weekly photography assignments
Each week you’ll receive photography
assignments that are designed to improve your
camera skills and to get you to start utilizing
creative controls. Photography assignments may
focus on:
• Understanding f/stops and how they affect
depth-of-field.
• How shutter speed selection affects how
motion is recorded.
• ISO selection as it affects exposure settings.
• Lens choice and how it impacts your
composition.
• Exposure metering modes and how to use
them.
• Benefit of selecting continuous shooting/burst
mode.
• Introduction to flash photography.
• Understanding and selecting white balance
controls.
• Principles of composition.
• Value of using a tripod.
• How and when to vary settings on your
camera.
Weekly critical print critique
In order to evaluate your progress you will need
to bring in a USB flash drive or disk with photos
taken during the workshop for the weekly
critique.
Walkabouts
Each week, some time will be spent out in the
field creating photographs with specific goals in
mind. I use these walkabouts as an opportunity
to oversee what you’re doing and assist you with
technical questions and compositional decisions.
take_it_off_auto_4-11 ©2012 NCP
This course has been designed for anyone who
uses their digital camera in AUTO and would
like to increase his or her understanding of the
functionality of their camera. Learn when, why
and how to select various camera functions
and how to utilize lenses to create more visually
interesting photographs. We’ll be teaching you
“how to see” and to help make the technical
side of photography more intuitive through
walkabouts and field trips. There will also be
weekly assignments, print critiques and a Student
Photography Exhibit. Our goal is to make the
learning process stimulating, effective and fun.
About the course workshop leader
Sharon Lavier O’Keefe, founder of the Northwest
Center for Photography (NCP), has been working
as a freelance photographer for over 30 years and
teaching photography classes, independently
and through Portland Community College for
nearly 15 years. She was the staff photographer
for Kaiser Permanente Northwest for more than
12 years.
Sharon’s a gifted teacher and a talented
photographer. She inspires her students to
find new ways to see the world, in a positive
and encouraging environment, and has a
way of engaging strangers to participate
in her photographic pursuits. While Sharon
takes photography very seriously, and is truly
passionate about teaching and educating, she
firmly believes having “fun” is essential to the
creative process.
About the workshop
Enrollment. Participation is limited to 15 students.
Prerequisites. This workshop is open to anyone
new to digital photography and is designed for
digital SLR cameras. No previous photography
experience is required—just a desire to learn
how to use your digital camera and to be able to
create better photographs.
Workshop tuition. The workshop tuition and
materials fee is $255 per person and includes a
$20 non-refundable registration fee. Once your
registration has been completed, we’ll send out
additional information relevant to the workshop.
Withdrawal, Cancellation and Refund Policy. We
rely on your attendance to make important
arrangements so if, for any reason, you need to
withdraw please notify us in writing 10 days or
more before the first day of the workshop. At
that time, we will refund your deposit, minus the
non-refundable registration fee. Registrations
cancelled after that will be eligible for a refund
(less the non-refundable registration fee and a
$25 cancellation fee) only if a replacement can
be found. If notification or cancellation is made 7
days or less prior to the first day of the workshop,
you will not be eligible for a refund.
NCP is not responsible for a participant’s
cancellation due to a medical emergency, death
in the family or acts of war.
In the event NCP cancels a workshop due to
inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits
will be refunded in full, or if you prefer they
may be transferred to another workshop within
12 months. However, NCP is not responsible
for reimbursement of non-refundable airline
tickets in the event of workshop cancellation.
We strongly recommend you purchase travel
insurance.
There are no exceptions to this Withdrawal,
Cancellation and Refund Policy.
Waiting lists. When a workshop fills, we start
a waiting list. There is no charge to be on the
waiting list. If space becomes available, we
contact the first person on the list. That person
then has 24 hours to register before we move
to the next person. If a space becomes available
within 14 days of the start of a workshop, the
registrar may call all persons on the waiting
list and the space will be given to whoever
completes their registration first.
Application procedures
To apply for the workshop(s) of your choice, please complete the application form and return it with
the deposit specified for each workshop you’re applying for. The deposit includes a nonrefundable
registration fee.
There is no deadline for application. However, our workshops fill quickly and space is limited. To
avoid disappointment, submit your application to Northwest Center for Photography (NCP) as soon
as you can.
Your participation for the entire workshop is important. Please arrange to start and end the workshop
with the group. If your current schedule does not allow this, we request that you participate at another time.
Acceptance
Applications are accepted in the order received. Although your application and deposit will reserve a
space in the workshop(s) of your choice, some workshops have photographic proficiency prerequisites,
and you are not officially accepted until we review appropriate samples of your photography. Do
not panic! For those workshops requiring a sample of your photography, simply submit 20 slides,
unmounted prints, or a photo CD for viewing on a Mac.
This policy reflects NCP’s sincere desire to maintain a consistent level of proficiency in each workshop.
The portfolio review process also ensures that your choice of a workshop is a sound and prudent one.
If we do not feel that your choice is appropriate, we will call you to discuss other workshop options
consistent with your photographic skills.
Upon acceptance, we’ll send you a letter providing detailed information about your workshop. If a
workshop is already full when we get your application, we will offer you the opportunity to enroll in
any other workshop that still has openings. Or, you may request to be placed on a waiting list. If you
choose neither, your deposit will be returned to you in full.
NCP reserves the right to decline an application for any reason.
Deposits and payments
Please make all payments in U.S. dollars, payable to Northwest Center for Photography, and mail it to:
NCP
1028 SE Water Avenue, Suite 50
Portland, OR 97214
Tuition
Workshop fees cover tuition only. Tuition does not include transportation, lodging or meals unless
stated in the workshop description. The balance of the fee for each workshop is due no later than 30
days before the first day of the workshop. If we do not receive your balance by that time, your space in
the workshop could be forfeited, and your place may be filled with someone from the waiting list.
Withdrawal, cancellation and refund policy
We rely on your attendance to make important arrangements. So if, for any reason, you need to
withdraw, please notify us in writing per the withdrawal, cancellation and refund policy applicable to
the workshop you were registered for.
(continued on second page)
Once you’re registered in a workshop, if for any reason you wish to transfer to a different workshop,
please notify us at least 30 days before the first day of the workshop you wish to withdraw from. You
must register and complete the new workshop within 12 months from the date your withdrawal is
accepted. NCP reserves the right to allow or disallow any transfer. However, you can only transfer once
and the transfer fee is $30.
NCP is not responsible for a participant’s cancellation due to a medical emergency, death in the family
or acts of war.
In the event NCP cancels a workshop due to inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits will be
refunded in full; or if you prefer, they may be transferred to another workshop within 12 months.
However, NCP is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of a
workshop cancellation. We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance.
There are no exceptions to our withdrawal, cancellation and refund policy.
app procedures 11-10 ©2010 NCP
www.nwcenterforphotograpy.com
Application
Northwest Center for Photography
workshops and programs
Fax or mail your application (and portfolio, if required) to:
Northwest Center for Photography
1028 SE Water Avenue, Suite 50
Portland, OR 97214
(Phone: 503-384-2783)
Name
Permanent mailing address
City
Bus. phone
Home phone
Occupation
Years in photography
Camera formats used
Male
State
Female
ZIP
E-mail
Workshop title and instructor
If this workshop is not available, I am also interested in the following:
Dates
Tuition
Other fees
Total
Balance due
I have read the terms which are applicable to my workshop concerning qualifications, payment,
liability and cancellations, and I agree to the terms and conditions.
Date
application 11/10 ©2010 NCP
Signature
Waiver of liability
We ask that you take full and complete responsibility for your own health, safety and well-being
while participating in any NCP workshop or program and that you absolve NCP, the workshop leaders,
staff and the state in which the workshop or program is held of all liability. If at any time you feel your
health, safety or well-being is in jeopardy, we ask that you notify workshop staff immediately and halt
your participation until you have done so.
In addition, we ask that you take responsibility for any and all medical and/or legal expense you may
incur as a result of any accident or injury sustained during your participation in a NCP workshop
or program.
NCP cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to your personal property, including cameras
or automobiles.
We also retain the right to cancel any workshop and to alter the time, context or format of any
workshop if circumstances so require. If a workshop is canceled for any reason, our liability is limited
to refunding all fees paid to NCP.
Weather
Most of our workshop sessions take place out of doors. NCP cannot be responsible for the weather.
However, in case of severely inclement weather that’s not compatible with the workshop agenda, we
will try to find alternate locations that are suitable.
Acknowledgement
I have read and understood the workshop application procedures, and I agree to them. By signing this
acknowledgement, I hereby release and hold harmless the Northwest Center for Photography (NCP),
Sharon Lavier O’Keefe, or anyone associated with or acting on their behalf, from any and all liability
associated with my workshop or program participation.
I understand that my participation in a NCP workshop will be declined if I do not sign this release of
liability form, and that my nonrefundable deposit will be retained by NCP.
Signature
Date
Address
City
State
ZIP
E-mail
www.nwcenterforphotography.com
Evening telephone
waiver of liability 11/10 ©2010 NCP
Day telephone