Any photo enthusiast would enjoy the photo ops at the Art and Culture Center even if it were only the venue itself, a tribute to the historic structures of lovely arched promenades and mosaics on the face of the building that can be a photographic study of repeating patterns. Contrast the history by photographing the futuristic building that neighbors the museum. And inside are colorful paintings that are showcased against gleaming flooring and dramatic lighting.

And, just block from the Center, find the Arts Park, with wonderful sculptures, winding paths, grand trees, flowers and other landscape photos. There is even a bubbling fountain that will be an opportunity to use your slow shutter speed control, rendering a photo of the flowing water, in stop-action and completely motionless. Change the Shutter Speed and capture a velvety smooth flow of water, reminiscent of old impressionist paintings.

Your Digital Photo Academy instructor will demonstrate a leading lines composition strategy that will entertain the viewers of your images leading their eye from the lower right of the frame, diagonally up and to the upper left of the frame, back toward the right and back down diagonally to the left.
There are charming store fronts side by side as well as many colorful wall murals.

Learn the art of panning as a bicyclist or skate-boarder zips by and your photo can show a blur of colorful action, either the moving individual with the buildings behind the bicyclist or focus on the person and blur the buildings behind him Your instructor will demonstrate and after 3 or 4 attempts you will conquer the technique.

Our DPA instructor will be happy to engage pedestrians, dog-walkers, fashionistas and others to stop in front of a colorful painted mural for a portrait. It is actually not very difficult to find volunteers. Or capture a street portrait in a quick and casual manner with a longer lens. Watching the instructor engage people, you likely will discover that encouraging people to pose for their photo is a fun process, adding whimsical energy to the day.

Using a large patch of grass as a uniform background, learn the composition strategy called Negative Space, positioning a small group off in the distance, sitting around a checkered table cloth spread on the ground. The simple green grass dominates the photo, significantly, but place the far off picnickers to the upper left of the frame and create a story-book like scene of family and friends making memories that are universal in theme.

Then there are massive trees, plants, park creatures like squirrels, rabbits, birds and other wildlife. The possibilities are endless.

Meet in the front of the Art and Culture Center at: