At Creative Eye Workshops™, we teach the fundamentals so you can think for yourself. Our goal is to build your confidence and knowledge so that you can take control of your camera and set your photography free. Ultimately, we give you the tools and guidance to help you discover and express your creative eye. Read what students have said.

Our photography classes are held in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of Downers Grove with many class dates to accommodate your busy schedule. Photographers of all levels come far and wide to take our photo classes, from nearby Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, and Plainfield to downtown Chicago, Orland Park, Schaumburg, and as far away as Barrington, Evanston, Woodstock, Manhattan, and Indiana.

All of our beginning photo classes are perfectly suited to learning photography, no matter what your favorite subject matter may be. This applies to just about everything: children playing, travel photography, special event photography, sports, closeups of flowers (macro photograph), architecture, cityscapes, nature photography, landscapes, wildlife photography, you name it.

To start with, we offer a series of beginning photography classes on such topics as how to use and overcome the fear of your digital camera, how to make more creative pictures through good photographic composition, how to make consistently good exposures, and many other essential photography techniques and skills. These hands-on photography classes are designed so that you learn the fundamentals and put them into action.

What's more, our photography courses are designed to address the most important issues in a very efficient manner. We focus on learning, not force feeding you loads of information. Each photography class concentrates on the most important and confusing topics, so you learn the information once and for all. This will then free you up to focus on what's most fun: being creative!

Your instructor, coach, and the creator of Creative Eye Workshops™ is Mike MacDonald. Self-taught, Mike started out taking pictures like everyone else. But, eighteen months later, he turned himself into a nationally published photographer with an article called "Frozen Images" in Outdoor Photographer Magazine.

Mike has a deeply insightful grasp of the technical and creative aspects of photography and he knows how to teach. The information he presents and the way he presents it will take your photography to the next level. But, if there is a warning, it's this: "Prepare for the passion!" Passion is at the heart of Mike's teaching and his passion is contagious.

With degrees in mathematics and physics and careers in scientific computer programming and, since 1987, professional comedy, Mike has rare and symbiotic credentials for a photographer and a teacher. This is what makes him stand apart from the rest. For instance, his technical lessons are simply presented and easier to absorb. Mike uses his unique knowledge and background as development tools to create simple lessons that help students to better visualize, imagine, and absorb even the most complex material.

Here are some ideas that define our philosophy about photography and, really, life:

• The more mistakes you make, the better you'll be at photography (or anything). So, get out there, make lots of mistakes, and embarrass yourself!
• Knowledge + Confidence = Creative Freedom
• Success is proportional to Hard Work.
• Practice makes perfect.
• Excuses = Failure
• Passion, enthusiasm, and love will propel you in whatever you do.
• If you believe what we believe, then Creative Eye Workshops™ is for you.

If you have further questions about Mike MacDonald photography courses and workshops or Creative Eye Workshops™ Gift Cards, just email us or give us a call at 630-852-8448.

Our photography classes are held in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of Downers Grove and we offer the following photography classes and workshops for beginners to the advanced photographer:

ALL LEVELS

Photo Feedback: 1 Session
(Learn as Mike gives valuable feedback about your photographs)

ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES

Art of Digital Printmaking: 1 Session
(Take your digital imagemaking to a whole new level!)

INTERMEDIATE PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES

Art of Landscape Photography (Hands-on): 2 Sessions
(Forever change how you see, experience, and photograph the landscape!)

Light & The Landscape (Hands-on): 2 Sessions
(Literally, SEE THE LIGHT with this tranformative hands-on workshop)

Split Grad Filter Secrets (Hands-on): 1 Sessions
(Learn Mike's secrets for using this essential landscape photography filter)

Art of Digital Printmaking: 1 Session
(Take your digital imagemaking to a whole new level!)

FUNDAMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES

Get to Know Your Camera (Hands-on): 3 Sessions
(Learn how to operate your camera)

Make Great Pictures, Now!: 2 Sessions
(Transform your photography in just 2 hours)

Complete Exposure (Hands-on): 4 Sessions
(This course will prepare you for any outdoor exposure situation)

Digital Photo Basics 1: 1 Session
(Learn lots of practical photography tips)

Photoshop Elements Essentials: 4 Sessions
(Learn how to prepare your images after you take them!)

Photoshop Elements Applied 1: 2 Sessions
(Apply your knowledge of Photoshop Elements!)

Photoshop Fundamentals 1: 4 Sessions
(Learn the fundamentals of Photoshop)

NATURE & LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES

Art of Landscape Photography (Hands-on): 2 Sessions
(Forever change how you see, experience, and photograph the landscape!)

Light & The Landscape (Hands-on): 2 Sessions
(Literally, SEE THE LIGHT with this tranformative hands-on workshop)

Split Grad Filter Secrets (Hands-on): 1 Sessions
(Learn Mike's secrets for using this essential landscape photography filter)

WORKSHOP PACKAGES

Workshop Package 1: 2 Classes
Get to Know Your Camera
Make Great Pictures, Now!
(SAVE $20 over classes taken individually)

Workshop Package 3: 3 Classes
Get to Know Your Camera
Make Great Pictures, Now!
Digital Photo Basics 1
(SAVE $27 over classes taken individually)

Workshop Package 4: 3 Classes
Get to Know Your Camera
Complete Exposure
Make Great Pictures, Now!
(SAVE $49 over classes taken individually)

Workshop Package 5: 4 Classes
Get to Know Your Camera
Digital Photo Basics 1
Complete Exposure
Make Great Pictures, Now!
(SAVE $59 over classes taken individually)

Workshop Package 6: 5 Classes
Get to Know Your Camera
Digital Photo Basics 1
Complete Exposure
Make Great Pictures, Now!
Photoshop Elements Essentials
(SAVE $79 over classes taken individually)

Workshop Package: Landscape Photo Camp: 3 Classes
Art of Landscape Photography
Light & The Landscape
Split Grad Filter Secrets
(SAVE $58 over classes taken individually)

DIGITAL DARKROOM CLASSES

Photoshop Elements Essentials: 4 Sessions
(Learn how to prepare your images after you take them!)

Photoshop Elements Applied 1: 2 Sessions
(Apply your knowledge of Photoshop Elements!)

Photoshop Fundamentals 1: 4 Sessions
(Learn the fundamentals of Photoshop)

Art of Digital Printmaking: 1 Session
(Take your digital printing to a whole new level!)

LEARNING ADVENTURES / OUTINGS

Chicago Winter Quest: 2 Sessions
(Capture the natural marvels of winter. No snow required!)

Starved Rock Spring: 2 Sessions
(Photograph flowing waterfalls and spring wildflowers in the canyons of Starved Rock State Park!)

Chicago Area Spring Wildflowers: 2 Sessions
(Photograph some of the Midwest's best wildflower displays!)

Summer Prairie: 2 Sessions
(Shoot the summer prairie with the prairie photography master!)

Starved Rock Fall Color: 2 Sessions
(Capture the colors of autumn in canyons with flowing waterfalls)