Improve Your Photography Skills with Four Workshops in Michigan

Many people have taken up digital photography both as a hobby and as a profession. The state of Michigan has assembled a collection of photography classes or workshops to benefit photographers from amateur to advanced levels. This photography club is part of the state's "Pure Michigan" program. These photo workshops teach a variety of photography skills from underwater photo taking to nature close-ups. While the classes are held in Michigan, they are open to people from anywhere, drawing them in from across the United States and sometimes other countries.

Attendance at these workshops is limited, offered on a first come - first served basis. They are not free, but reasonable. Here are four photography courses offered during the summer of 2010.

1. Photographing the Great Outdoors - Saturday, May 22, 2010 in Jackson, MI, from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Located at the Dahlem Center in Jackson, Michigan, this five hour long workshop targets beginners by captures interests of the intermediate photographer as well. The photography class teaches basics of camera operation, landscape photography, close-up photography of wildlife, and how to capture outdoor action including birds. The course includes a field trip after the class on the Dahlem Center grounds for hands-on practice. The Dahlem Center is located at 7117 S. Jackson Rd., Jackson, MI 49201. Call 517-782-3453 for more information. Cost: $50

2. The Creative Edge Workshop - June 19, 2010 in Glen Arbor, MI for 8 hours (Time: TBA)
Led by photographer Robert (Bob) DeJonge, photographers will learn how to add artistic flair to their photos without overdoing it. The goal of the course is to break an intermediate level photographer out of his or her old habits, taking them on a creative voyage into a new eye for photography. Cost: $120

3. Telling Stories with your Photography - June 26, 2010 in Glen Arbor, MI for 8 hours (Time: TBA)
Intermediate level photographers will study how to use research, observation, and listening skills to get to know their subject. Telling the subject's story will be the focus of the workshop and will lend itself toward visual storytelling through photography. Cost: $120

4. Beginning Underwater Photography - July 17, 2010 in Glen Arbor, MI from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Participants must be certified divers. Led by professional photographer Chris Doyal, this underwater photography class teaches members during lecture and demonstrations about lighting, composition, camera care, and various underwater camera systems. After the lecture, the class continues with a local dive where photographers can practice their new shooting skills. Cost: $225

The networking these courses provide could create professional opportunities. Deepening one's skill set could potentially increase demand for their work. In essence, knowledge is power, even in the photographic world.