Resource Center

The Resource Center of the Livermore Valley Camera Club was designed to give members access to information and tools to assist them in improving their art. Here you'll find articles written by, or of interest to members, as well as a listing of books and tools available for lending through the club's library program and more.

Classes

One of the purposes of the camera club is to help you improve your images. Current members will personally assist you to improve your photos. We also offer classes as fundraisers that are free to club members in exchange for set-up and other assistance. Many of our members are "graduates" from our Livermore Area Recreation and Park District classes, since it is an excellent way to get our photographic feet wet.

Here are the classes we're offering in 2012. For more information please contact the Education Coordinator

Photography Fundamentals

Thursdays starting January 19 through March 1, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturdays, February 4 & 25
Robert Livermore Community Center (RLCC), 4444 East Ave, Livermore (map)
Fee: $58 (free to members, willing to help carry equipment and set up)
Coordinator: Barbara Mallon

This photography course is designed to make big improvements in your photos! We will uncover the mystery of light, composition, f-stops and shutter speeds. We’ll show how to take different types of photos and use different lenses.

The purpose of this class is to show owners of all digital cameras and 35mm SLR film cameras how to take excellent photographs. Smaller cameras are welcome but will miss a few techniques. We will project digital images because it is easier to share pictures using a projector. Please bring your digital images to share on a flash drive or a cd. Please share your photos, as your ability will improve with class participation. We will comment on your work and suggest ways to improve it.

There will be seven Thursday evening meetings at RLCC (all classes will meet in The Sycamore Room from 7-9 PM unless otherwise noted) and two Saturday field trips.

Registration: Livermore Area Recreation and Park District

Introduction to High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photography

Thursday, March 15, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Robert Livermore Community Center (RLCC), 4444 East Ave, Livermore (map)
Fee: $18 (free to members, willing to help carry equipment and set up)
Instructor: Garry George

This class is designed for photographers who wish to explore HDR (which allows both the shadow and highlight detail of an image to be captured and combined in a single image). If you are new to HDR, or feel you need to understand HDR better, this class is for you. We will demonstrate how to capture images using manual techniques, auto-bracketing and computer-control. Students are encouraged to bring their own cameras to experiment with. We will also provide guidance on, and examples of, HDR software, processing options and computer workflow for HDR.

Registration: Livermore Area Recreation and Park District

PhotoShop Intermediate

Thursday, March 22, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Robert Livermore Community Center (RLCC), 4444 East Ave, Livermore (map)
Fee: $18 (free to members, willing to help carry equipment and set up)
Instructor: Barbara Mallon

This class will cover techniques to improve your photographs with any PhotoShop or later Elements program. Subjects will include transferring your image, layers, cropping, curves, levels, contrast, saturation, making selections, rubber stamp, image size, email resizing and saving for maximum detail retention.

Registration: Livermore Area Recreation and Park District

Portrait Studio

Thursdays, April 12 & 19, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Robert Livermore Community Center (RLCC), 4444 East Ave, Livermore (map)
Fee: $42 (free to members, willing to help carry equipment and set up)
Instructor: John Lankes

The first class will provide an overview of studio lighting including setting up a live studio in class, by assembling a backdrop, lights, props, etc., as well as posing and photographing a model.

The second class, using Photoshop, will show students how to retouch portraits to enhance, skin, teeth, eyes, hair, etc., to produce the most flattering images.

Registration: Livermore Area Recreation and Park District

Articles

The following articles make use of Adobe's PDF format. If you do not currently have a copy of Adobe Reader, you may download a free copy by clicking on the logo below.

Titling Your Images for Competition – 41K PDF
Adapted from "Entering Images Into Competition - Definitions & Titling"
by Ellie Webster & Claudia Bodmer

Junk Cars Are Fun – 1.5M PDF
From the July 2006 issue of the PSA Journal
by Joseph Hearst
COPYRIGHT 2006 Photographic Society of America, Inc.

Digital Photography on the Fly, While Hiking in Switzerland – 1.06M PDF
From the June 2006 issue of the PSA Journal
by Barbara Mallon
COPYRIGHT 2006 Photographic Society of America, Inc.

Photographing Point Lobos – 508K PDF
From the January 2006 issue of the PSA Journal
by Joseph Hearst
COPYRIGHT 2006 Photographic Society of America, Inc.

Getting Started in Photography – 719K PDF
From the August 2005 issue of the PSA Journal
by Barry Grivett
COPYRIGHT 2005 Photographic Society of America, Inc.

Guide to Critiquing Your Own Work – 106K PDF
by Lon Overacker

Composition Checklist – 58K PDF
by Lon Overacker

Lending Library

The club has a library of photography-related books, videos and other materials to help you learn from the experts and improve your images.

To request an item, email the club librarian. The club librarian will bring the requested item to the next scheduled meeting.

Policies

Club members in good standing may borrow library materials for a period of one month.

If library material is lost or stolen, it is the responsibility of the borrower to replace it.

Last updated September 2011

Books

The Photograph: Composition and Color Design
Author: Harald Mante BK016

Chasing the Light: Improving Your Photography
with Available Light
Author: Ibarionex Perello BK015

Color Management in Digital Photography:
Ten Easy Steps to True Colors in Photoshop
Author: Brad Hinkel BK014

Professional Portrait Retouching Techniques
for Photographers Using Photoshop
Author: Scott Kelby BK013

Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots
Authors: Laurie Excell, John Batdorff, et. al. BK012

Mastering Landscape Photography:
The Luminous Landscape Essays
Author: Alain Briot BK011

Art of Black and White Photography:
Techniques for Creating Superb Images in a Digital Workflow
Author: Torsten Hoffmann BK010

Canon EOS Rebel T2i/550D:
From Snapshots to Great Shots
Author: Jeff Revell BK009

Speedliter's Handbook:
Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites
Author: Syl Arena BK008

Photoshop CS4 Photographer’s Handbook
Author: Stephen Laskevitch BK007

Adobe Photoshop CS5 Book
for Digital Photographers
Author: Scott Kelby BK006

Real World Digital Photography BK005
Author: Tim Grey, Sean Duggan, Katrin Eismann

Adobe Digital Images How-Tos:
100 Essential Techniques for Photoshop CS5, Lightroom 3, and Camera Raw 6
Author: Dan Moghamian BK004

Zen and the Magic of Photography:
Learning to See and to Be through Photography
Author: Wayne Rowe BK003

Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 3:
A Photographer's Handbook
Author: Stephen Laskevitch BK002

Photographing Nature:
A photo workshop from Brooks Institute's top nature photography instructor
Author: Ralph Clevenger BK001

Photographic Possibilities: The Expressive
Use of Ideas, Materials and Processes
Author: John Valentino, Robert Hirsch BK100
Note: CD-ROM not in the book

Coming Soon! The Art of Photography:
An Approach to Personal Expression
Author: Bruce Barnbaum

Audio / Video

CD2001 : Short Talks on Art and Photography
Author: Brooks Jensen AUDIO101
Published 2001 by LensWork publications

Software / Hardware

GretagMacbeth Eye-One Display TOOLS501
Hardware measuring device, with software, to calibrate the color of the computer's monitor.
http://www.i1color.com
Note: Please also contact the projected image chairperson to schedule a loan of this item.