CS2 class at senior center

[lesged]

I hadn't been to the local Callahan Senior Center's computer center for nearly two years. The last course was in digital processsing, but wasn't well presented. Starting last month they offered a free course in digital processing using CS2 for four 1.5 hour sessions. I have PS7 which has most of the tools of CS2, but not all. This instructor is much better and the class was small, only six seniors.

He asks the students to use their own work, but choose examples with some technical flaws, i.e. poor lighting, too prominent a background, blemishes, wrinkles on face, excessive red-eye, etc,  He asked students to email or  give him a copy of such a photo, which he "fixed," at his home. In the next class, he used a projector using a laser light to indicate the area(s) he reworked, then showed the before and after on the same projection screen, and explained how he did it. For the remaining time of our class, he had each student make another copy of the original and try to correct the flaw. He came by each person's machine to help them  one on one, explaining the way he achieved his results. He stressed his fix was done to his taste, which has been shaped over the years by competing in photo contests.  (Example: There is a preference which direction a face should be positioned.) However, he encouraged each student to personalize their own cropping and choices of degree of correction.

After the first session, he asked the students to do their own before and after and give or email them. I like his teaching approach, but the four sessions flew by and individual attention unfortunately ate up a lot of the class time, albeit very valuable instruction. The good news is he is continuing with another 4 week session with the same gang of six. No one else signed up for his beginners classs.

This afternoon we will continue where we left off.

In the next 4 weeks, I'll show some examples in this thread, of some of my before and afters, and ask other Nelsonfotogs how they would have personalized the "fix."  If this is not interesting or too basic, the thread will die a quiet, natural death, without any need for resuscitation.

[martolod]

good stuff les .
there is bound to be something for everyone, so i'm looking forward to your continued posts.
:thumbsup2:

[Zen Librarian]

So cool that your senior center is doing this, Les!  The community where I work has a gorgeous senior center, makes me want to retire there.  I'm up there a lot doing book discussions, giving talks, etc.  Their offerings never cease to amaze me.

Can't wait to see your results!

[lesged]

martolod and Zen Librarian,

Thanks for your comments and encouragement.

Well, I have a big, embarrassing confession to make. I apparently was a master of a misunderstanding about our local senior center's  second series of classes: "Digital processing using CS2."

I went to the class yesterday, which was filled to the brim with new students and I was the only student from the first class. All the PCs were being used except the one assigned to a registered student, who told the instuctor he would be able to attend yesterday's class.

I was allowed to sit in the class, though I'm not officially in it. It is a repeat of the same course I took in early April. I was told if the absent student returns next week, I am welcome as an auditor, but won't have access to a PC with CS2. Another mixup on my part: it was not the first of the four classes, it was the second.

So, I won't attend the last two classes, nor will I be able to do what I promised above, i.e. show in this thread examples of my before and after compared to the instructor'sbefore and after when he would use my after as his before and see what he comes up with as hisafter  These jumble words must be just about as clear as mud.

One of the motivations to put up this thread, in the first place, was to get rid of my previous thread "Tear down the wall, Mr G.!" which has withered on this forum for far too long. And now, I've done it again. So sorry! mille pardons!

Please, someone give this thread the coup de grace by putting up something interesting that will get rid of this thread's title, which otherwise may remain displayed as one big embarrassment for perhaps a very long time. Pleeeeease!

[martolod]

well...........i'll have a wee root around and see wot schtuff i can post for our mutual consideration:thumbsup2:

[lesged]

Thanks martolod for considering the possibility of a replacement thread.

There may be a chance to continue my project. The instructor wrote me an email saying one student may drop out of the class. Crossing my fingers.

[melek]

Les, I hope that this class works out for you. Photoshop can be a big complex monster.

[martolod]

Photoshop can be a big complex monster.

HAH....Photoshop is for pussies:nana:
...





that'll put the cat amongst the pidgeons

[lesged]

Mike,

Thanks for your apt remark. I feel like Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the hill, daily. Then sure as the sun come up each day,  I find the rock back at the bottom the hill the next morning.

martolod,

So, that's why I'm having such a difficult time with PS. Guess I'm not macho enough. Hells bells! It's been a long time since I've been able to pee over a 3 foot (~ 1meter) fence.

BTW, I'm starting a new thread in this forum with my big problem scanning color slides. I certainly would appreciate your inputs.

[head zoo keeper]

I found an interesting site that offers very well-made video instructions for using programs like Photoshop. The offer the videos on a monthly subscription basis and the cost isn't too bad, $25/month.

I don't know if you got into the PS class, lesged, but maybe the videos offered here will be of interest to you:

http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modListing.asp?pid=183

Some of the instructional videos are free to view so you to try it out.

And for a laugh once in awhile, this is one of my favorite blogs, Photoshop disasters:
http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com

[lesged]

head zoo keeper,

Yes, I got back into the class, but it's a repeat of the CS2 course I took  3-4 weeks ago. Although it's the same instructor, new issues come up which called for tools not discussed the last time round.

I don't have CS2 on my laptop, but do have PS7, which has most of the features offered in CS2. The last class is this coming Thursday, however,  I can use one of the 9 PCs that have CS2 installed at the Callahan Center's computer room. They are available from 10AM to 4:30PM Tueday through Friday. There's always at least one not being used and the senior center is nearby.

I took a peek at the trial items offered for help with CS2. Thanks for the tip, and link to PS disasters.