January Film Project-Framed

As we draw close to a full year of pandemic and quarantine I can’t help but feel like I am no longer breathing OR seeing reality. I am breathing through a filter and mask, the air is not free. I am seeing life through windows and imagining life outside the frame of my house. Living in California is both a dream and a nightmare this year. I decided to take on this month’s project of FRAMED to share a little of my life through the viewfinder of my Hasselblad 500c/m. This is the walk from my home to the beach with my son to pick up some surf wax for his skim board, with TWO taco stops sandwiched in the journey. The views are almost tangible, but separate from actual reality. The streets are empty, the shops are shuttered. When I am able to venture outside my home, these views are what I am typically doing…or wishing I was experiencing, more often and with more people. The little twist here is all these views are flipped, feeling just as backward as I do.

Thanks for walking with me. Jolene Redfern is another California photographer who also took on the FRAMED challenge this month-click here to see her work!

KIDS & Cameras Series 2017 Dates

The 2017 dates for my Kids and Cameras series are now available for booking.  These are project-based photography classes designed for all ages and levels of abilities. We learn about camera operation and using advanced modes, focusing, composition, perspective, lighting, and expanding our creativity all while doing hands on photography projects. Learn how to take stellar photographs, get them OFF your camera, printed, and IN your hands.  There are three series of classes ready for booking.  

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Kids And Cameras is open for 4th and 5th grade students, and runs for 4 Saturday dates, classes are an hour and a half. Assignments are given each week. $100. Budding photographers will need a digital camera, either a Dslr with lens or a 'point and shoot' model is acceptable for this class.

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Teen Photography Club is for students aged 13-17, and class is held for 5 Saturday dates for an hour and a half each meeting.  $125  There will be homework, but no quizzes, I promise.  Photographers will obviously need to bring a camera to each class.  It is highly recommended to use an SLR for this class (digital) as opposed to a 'point and shoot' model. ** 

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Coffee and Cameras is the often-requested class from parents.  Some of the questions we will master are "what are all these buttons and menus for and which ones really matter?" "how do I take better pictures of my kids?" "why are my photos dark or blurry?" "why can't I get good sports photos?"  "how do I get these photos off my camera and actually use them?"  You get the idea...  There will be 5 classes to begin with and you have the flexibility to sign up for 1 class or all 5 depending on what aspect you need to learn.  There is also an opportunity for individualized continued education to expand on creativity and project completion. Dates and times are flexible.  Let's chat about your needs in person.  Camera required! **

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**We will be learning to shoot on manual mode from the first 5 minutes , all the way to the last 5 minutes.  While digital is a more effective learning tool for immediate feedback, I am a film shooter and will be open to the use of a film SLR too.  Chat with me when you sign up.  I have one Dslr available to loan for the class duration, on a first come first served basis.  I do have resources for renting cameras and lenses, but honestly find it cost prohibitive for a 5 week duration. I also have some reputable resources for purchasing used camera gear.

SO, what now?!

To sign up for a class or get more information, send an email to denarobles@gmail.com with the name of your desired class series in the subject line.  Payment will be accepted at time of registration via paypal or check payable to Dena Robles.  

Christmas holiday gift vouchers are available for the perfect 'give an experience' gift or to go along with that fancy new camera under the tree!

Color Colour Lovers and Yellow

When I teach photography classes I always do a project-based lesson.  It is one thing to sit in a hard chair and have formulas and light ratios and camera manuals and beautiful examples thrown at you just to go home and pick up your camera and say "wha?"  

Each of my classes is based on a start to finish project involving story, composition, perspective, exposure, editing, saving, archiving, artwork creation, printing and displaying.  Along the way, you actually master your camera and the art form and have something to show for it.  Win win. One of my first project-based lesson results in a lovely color collage on a photo field trip, similar to this one.

If you are interested in joining one of my photography classes, please contact me at denarobles@gmail.com  I currently have a middle school group forming, a high school group, and an adult group.

Color Colour Lovers

After returning from a technicolor tropical paradise I am living in a cold, cold world covered in snow, everything around me is wet, white, mostly grey and sometimes icky brown and slick.  I am craving warmth and color!  I stumbled across this tumblr from Xanthe Berkeley and took her challenge to inject some color into my winter.

Here is one week of my hunt for RED RED RED.  All iphone captures, keeping it simple and quick!  I did take waaaaay more than 9 photographs, but this project (for me) was meant for a great little Instagram grid.  :)