All these photos were captured using film some new some old.

Hello everyone!  I just want to make you aware of the new photography classes for summer at Truman College. There are three different classes that you can choose Beginners, Studio Lighting and Darkroom.

The Beginner’s class starts on June 9th. The class runs from 9:00 to 11:00 am and is designed to teach you everything about the camera, lenses, flash, filters, composition and much, much more. You can either use a digital or a film camera for this class.

The Studio Lighting class starts the same day, June 9^th. The class runs from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and is designed to teach you how to create amazing photos using flash units placed away from the camera triggered by remote control inexpensive units; you will learn about different types of light and how to create cinematic looking photos.  We try to have a model for every class and for this purpose we look for people interested in modeling. We exchange photos for their time.

Wednesday night we have the Darkroom class. In this class, you learn how to properly expose film, how to develop it, how to print photographs, all with black and white film. This is a very cool class and it has become very popular with people that are tired of sitting in front of their computer trying to make digital images look cool. There is nothing like placing a piece of photographic paper in the developer and see an image appear. This is what got me hooked on photography some 40 years ago.  Come and learn how real photographs are made.

To register for any of these classes, just call Truman College at 773-907-4440. Laura Smith will help you register over the internet.  

Written by Elsa Madrigal

Talent is also a factor, but not the only factor. A person born in Kenya is unlikely to become a record-breaking marathoner by talent alone, no matter their genetic predispositions. There are hundreds, if not thousands of talented athletes and yet only a few prop to the top. Photography these days seems commoditized. Paid gigs are often a race to the lowest price, and many photographers struggle to stand out above the rest.

3. Build up your Knowledge

I read a lot about photography, and I am well versed enough in technical aspects, but it has come with an investment. And it’s currency is time. I have been reading for several years and just last year I had to Google “what is a prime lens”. In photography, as in anything, you must always be open to learning and put time into it.

4. Find your Teacher/Guru

The main contribution to stepping one’s game at anything, according to the podcast, is working with a teacher. This is the main ‘success’ factor, according to Freakonomics. This person is preferably a master and guru in his or her own right, and would be someone who has been in the trenches and knows the nuances, tips and tricks of the field. Someone who, quite possibly knows what failure looks like and has persisted to eventually find the path to  success.

I have taken photography classes for several years now with Ignacio Alvarez. He has become, besides a mentor and guru, a good friend and like a second father. He is not afraid of showing us new techniques (or reviving old ones). Using his vast experience with analog and darkroom photography we have done many techniques seldom practiced anymore. He goes above and beyond the extra mile for his students.  If there’s something that is not in the curriculum that you are interested in learning, he will gladly teach you, often outside the classroom in his own time.

5. Find your Inspiration

Likewise, gurus often inspire us with examples of those great masters who have come before us. The internet enables us to find interesting and awe inspiring photographers. Their life is often as interesting as their work (Jerry Uelsman, Sally Man, Graciela Iturbide, Pedro Meyer, and the list goes on).

6. Develop your Aesthetic

Creativity is unlimited  and gives plenty of room for one to find your own “aesthetic” and initiate projects based on what piques your interest. I have many themes on my portfolio, in which I apply with intention my knowledge to express my creativity. I find darkroom meditative and although I have plenty of options to work with digital photography, the process does not enhance my creativity.

7. Locate your Tribe

 

Ignacio had his own studio and is currently a teacher at Truman College. He teaches in one of Chicago’s last standing darkrooms in a community college. He also teaches special workshops and digital photography classes. His meetup group is also a lot of fun, often we go all over Chicago to explore.

My darkroom classmates are now more like trusted colleagues, providing tips, inspiration and encouragement. We often surprise each other, never knowing what kind of image will show up next from their travels or photo shoots. We have participated in shows together, and are willing to lend each other a helping hand when we are stuck. We move each other forward.

8. Make Mistakes and Fail Fast

This is contrary advice to what people may tell you. The good news is, the faster you fail, the quicker you will get to learn good habits of photography.  You will make every mistake in the book, not once, but several times. By the time you are done, there will be many photography essentials that will become second nature. Changing settings in your camera in an instant will become like walking or breathing. In film photography there are often what’s called ‘happy accidents’, but knowing which settings cause you to blur an image, or help you get a double exposure will make you happier, I promise.

9. Share and Feel Good

In the darkroom we go through the entire process from shooting to developing and printing. How you feel about the work is as important as the process of creating it. We all need that positive reinforcement. At their request, I have gifted prints to family and friends. Knowing they feel good about having a handmade print makes me happy, because ultimately what makes them happy also makes me happy. Sharing photographs is awesome, regardless of your choice of social media or website. However, many fall into the trap of collecting ‘likes’, instead of contemplating the work. Ultimately, what makes you happy is what you should care the most about.

There you have it. My version of ‘How to be great at Photography’ (or really, anything), according to me and Freakonomics.

10. Last Step

Now grab your camera and go shoot.

DARKROOM CLASSES – NOVEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 13, 2017

Hello again everyone.  The new photography classes will start soon. I hope that many of you sign up for the beginners or studio lighting classes that start on Saturday, October 28th  or the Darkroom class that starts on November 1.  Truman is adding more classes to the Continuing Education department and you can see them all in this link.

http://www.ccc.edu/departments/Documents/PPD/PPD-FA-2017-TR.pdf

Anyone interested in a class, please contact Laura Smith at 773-907-4440. She will help you register.  Since Truman is one of 7 city colleges, the prices for the classes through the CE department are very affordable.

Beginning Photography $155

Learn the principles of photography with your digital or traditional 35mm camera. You can learn how to use a camera or you can refresh your knowledge of photography. You will learn about lens apertures, shutter speeds, light meter, film or ISO speeds, white balance, histograms, lenses, flash, composition, depth-of-field, digital storage cards, and much more. You will also learn to create great images using techniques like panning, painting with light, night photography, flash photography and others. Prerequisites: Bring either a working 35mm film or digital camera with manual exposure controls. Check the batteries! It is very important not to miss the first class!

Studio Lighting Photography $155

Learn how to photograph any subject the way you want, using perfect lighting. You will learn how to use flashes and strobe units like a professional. We will cover hard, soft, and directional lighting, as well as diffused light and light ratios. You will also learn how to use a flash meter to measure the output of each light and how to manipulate natural light using reflectors, gobos or diffusion panels. You will use backdrops, umbrellas, soft boxes, and grids, to direct light where you need it.  Every week you will be photographing something different so you can learn a different technique each time. Students should be very confident using the camera in manual mode and not in the automatic setting. Students should bring a film or digital camera that has a manual mode with adjustable settings.

Darkroom Photography $155

Take your love of photography to the next level by learning basic black and white darkroom skills and how to “see photographically.” You will learn to process film, make photograms, contact prints and enlargements. The course also covers mounting, touch-up, contrast filters, and darkroom craft. Advanced students may also enroll for additional darkroom time to complete projects. Lab hours are from 7 to 10 p.m. Prerequisites: You must be familiar with and have access to a working 35-mm camera (not disposable) with manual exposure controls. If you are not familiar with using a 35-mm camera, the Beginning Photography course is highly recommended.

Hello everyone,

Well, the darkroom class is once again in full swing.   Students are busy developing film that they shot either here in the USA or abroad, as is the case of a couple students. Regardless of where they shot their film, now they have to develop it and make sure they develop it correctly. Some students also print some of the negatives using fiber base paper, creating some very good images. So, how did you spend your summer? Shooting hundreds of digital images hoping that they look as good as the ones you see on the internet? If that is what you do and you like doing it, more power to you. But, if one day you get tired of shooting indiscriminately hoping for one good picture, maybe that will be that day that you decide to actually learn photography.

There is nothing wrong if you don’t know anything about photography, long ago I was in the same boat. Then, one day I purchased a film camera, learned how to use it and I end up owning my own photography studio and business for 26 years. But before I could do that I needed to learn what photography is. You and anyone interested can learn photography as well, either with a digital camera or a film camera. But it is important to learn from someone that knows and has been teaching for a long time! Yes, you can look at videos on the internet and do what they tell you to do, but, do the people that uploaded the video know what they are talking about? Or are they just re-posting something they themselves found on the internet?

Photography as we all know it has not changed in the last 200 years, what has changed are the cameras that we use to capture images. Do you know that you can capture a photograph using nothing but a shoe box? Yes! You can. But that is not how we all capture images nowadays  Now we use computerized cameras that come with a 200-page manual so you can learn how to use them.

Film photography is easier and way more rewarding. You finally get to create something with your own two hands and not by trying to find the right app that edits the photos the way you like them. I hope you give yourself a chance to learn photography the way ALL the great masters of photography did.  Become the next Ansel Adams!

Thank you.

Ignacio Alvarez