Description:
As photographers, we're all striving to improve our work. Every project provides opportunities to excel at what we do. And we hope (expect?) that over time our work will become more engaging and effective. The right gear and technical skill can help. But what about your design skills?

When you're making a photograph or other image, do you conscientiously use visual devices to create a specific impression on the viewer? Are you considering how color (or lack of it) affects your audience psychologically? When was the last time you purposefully employed the principles of photographic composition?

Most importantly: does your work effectively express your intentions?

To advance your art takes understanding and application of essential principles of graphic design. In this workshop, you will learn how to compose images that grab your audience and don't let go.  You will learn what makes strong images strong and weak ones weak. How geometry and color affect the viewer's thought process and determine their response. How proportion and dominance make or break an image. This class will focus mostly on photography, with photographic examples, but the principles of design taught here can be applied to graphic design and fine art as well.

This workshop will cover:

• The fundamentals of effective composition
• Psychology of color
• Foreground/Background, Figure Ground and Depth of Field
• Guiding your creative process through conscious intention
• The image as communication
• Seeing creatively and more!

You will come away from this class with the knowledge of how to design your imagery with intention and direction. As a result, you will begin to see dramatic improvement in your photography.

The second half of the workshop will involve a critique of student images.  Bring your photos on a Flash drive or CD if you want to participate.

Course Photograph © Nathaniel D. Coalson. To see more of Nat's work, please visit NatCoalson.com.

Presented as a Lecture-Style Workshop:
These are our most affordable training programs, designed to introduce a subject quickly and efficiently. Students can take notes from the instructor's projected computer screen, and/or bring their own computer to follow along. Lecture-style workshops are normally held on weekday evenings from 6 pm – 9 pm and contain a maximum of 30 students (average is 8-20).

Who Should Take This:
Any photographer who wants to take better pictures, especially if you're not sure what's missing! Students should have taken Introduction to Professional Digital Photography or have basic experience with a camera.

Instructor:
Nat Coalson is a travel and fine art photographer and experienced teacher and writer based in Denver, Colorado. He has worked professionally in photography, digital imaging and printing since 1987. His work has been exhibited extensively, received national awards and is held in numerous private and corporate collections. Nat is sponsored by Adobe and is an Adobe Certified Expert in Lightroom and Photoshop. He is a top-rated instructor who has taught thousands of photographers at all stages of development. Nat is the author of two best-selling Lightroom books, including Lightroom 3: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process, published by Wiley in 2010. He has written instructional articles on Lightroom for magazines including Great Output and Photoshop User and is a contributing writer at TheLightroomLab.com. Nat presents seminars, teaches classes and leads photo workshops throughout the United States and abroad. For more information and to see Nat's work visit www.NatCoalson.com.

BDA Member Cost: $59.00 ($69.00 after Friday, September 10, 2010)
Non Member Cost: $79.00 ($89.00 after Friday, September 10, 2010)
Become a member to save $20.00