If your photos look a bit blurry, off-centre and a tad too dark, you may consider taking a four-session workshop with a veteran photographer to spruce up your shooting skills.
Novice photographers hoping to hone their camera skills can do so through a workshop with local photographer Cindy Cardiff at a seminar starting Wednesday (May 5).
Each session will focus on one particular area of interest for budding photographers, such as people, scenery, low-light situations and action shots.
"Each week, I'm going to go something different," said Cardiff.
"We're working more on composition. When you're taking pictures in low-light situations, what kind of things can you do to make your pictures turn out? Or if your trying to take pictures of your kids flying by on their bikes, how do you actually get those shots?"
The most common problems Cardiff said she sees in amateur work are photographers not paying attention to the entire image.
"They may be taking a picture of somebody but they aren't looking to see that there's garbage cans behind them or tree branches stick out from the back of their head."
Cardiff has lead similar adult workshops in the past but opened this one up to young teens as well. The non-technical, hands-on seminar is open to any individual who is willing to participate, she said.
"I dropped the age down because there has been some teens that are very keen on photography that are very capable of joining in with the group," said Cardiff who holds a certificate from the New York Institute of Photography.
"If the kids are responsible enough they can come right in."
The workshop can accommodate up to 10 participants but everyone has to bring their own digital camera and know how to use it.
Some technical discussion on ISO settings and apertures will probably crop up during the workshop, but Cardiff said the sessions will focus on teaching basic photography skills in an interactive setting.
"On the night that we're doing action [photos] we'll go find some action and take pictures. We'll take some pictures, talk about the pictures and whatever kind of problems people are having we'll try and solve them in the field."
Classes run from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Brennan Park Recreation Centre each Wednesday in May.
Registration for the four-session workshop costs $60 per person. To register, call Brennan Park Recreation Centre at 604-898-3604.
