Creative EyeTM
Digital Photography Workshops & Classes
Helping to Discover & Develop Your Own Personal Style
Mike MacDonald offers beginning digital photography classes and
Private Photography Lessons,
and
Money Saving Workshop Packages
to photographers who are serious about improving their artistic and technical ability. Our beginning classes apply to the
photography of all subject matter because they cover essential fundamental principles.
Whether you take pictures of your children or nature photography, our classes can help.
Creative Eye Gift Cards are also available.
Located in the Chicago, Illinois area, our photography classes are targeted and efficient. They are designed for people who have a true desire to learn the craft of photography.
SEE MIKE'S CLASS SUGGESTIONS &
MONEY SAVING WORKSHOP PACKAGES
Here is a list of photography classes and learning adventures in the Chicago, Illinois area (click course title for description):
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ALL LEVELS
Photo Feedback: 1 Session
ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES
Art of Digital Printmaking: 1 Session
INTERMEDIATE PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES
Art of Landscape Photography (Hands-on): 2 Sessions
Light & The Landscape (Hands-on): 2 Sessions
Split Grad Filter Secrets (Hands-on): 1 Sessions
FUNDAMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES
Get to Know Your Camera (Hands-on): 2 Sessions
Make Great Pictures, Now!: 2 Sessions
Complete Exposure (Hands-on): 4 Sessions
Digital Photo Basics 1: 1 Session
Photoshop Elements Essentials: 4 Sessions
Photoshop Fundamentals 1: 4 Sessions
NATURE & LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES
Art of Landscape Photography (Hands-on): 2 Sessions
Light & The Landscape (Hands-on): 2 Sessions
Split Grad Filter Secrets (Hands-on): 1 Sessions
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DIGITAL DARKROOM CLASSES
Photoshop Elements Essentials: 4 Sessions
Photoshop Fundamentals 1: 4 Sessions
Art of Digital Printmaking: 1 Session
WORKSHOP PACKAGES
Workshop Package 1: 2 Classes
Workshop Package 2 Classes
Workshop Package 3: 3 Classes
Workshop Package 4: 3 Classes
Workshop Package Landscape Photo Camp: 3 Classes
LEARNING ADVENTURES / OUTINGS
Chicago Area Spring Wildflowers: 2 Sessions
Summer Prairie: 2 Sessions
Starved Rock Fall Color: 2 Sessions
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Mike's approach to photography education is to offer training that goes beyond the mere fundamentals: to help you discover and develop your creative eye as a photographer, and to superimpose your personal style into the photograph.
Technical photographic knowledge and skills are essential for executing your creative vision, otherwise you won't be able to bring home the goods. But, with time and persistence, it can all be grasped. Simply put, all you have to do is follow certain concrete steps.
But, how many times have you taken a picture of a fabulous landscape only to discover that what you captured did not properly represent what you saw or what you felt? If you answered "yes," you're not alone. But, what are the steps and can this even be taught? Our answer is a resounding, "Yes!"
For years, Mike has been analyzing his actions, decisions, and techniques while he is photographing in the field. This self-awareness has allowed Mike to actually invent a series of tangible steps for creative processes, such as capturing the emotion and the awe of a moment.
Currently, Mike MacDonald is offering the following instructional photography classes that take place in the Chicago, Illinois area (click to learn more):
CURRENT WORKSHOP & ADVENTURE SCHEDULE
SEE PRICES
WORKSHOP
DATES
LOCATION
STATUS
Art of Digital Printmaking
Email us
if you have
an interest in this class.
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Art of Landscape Photography
LECTURE & FIELD SESSION:
8/8 (Sun.)
2:30PM to After Sunset
ANALYSIS
8/25 (Wed.) @ 7:00 PM
LECTURE:
Downers Grove, IL
FIELD SESSION:
To Be Determined
ANALYSIS:
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Complete Exposure
10/20, 10/27, 11/10, 11/17 (Wed.)
7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Complete Exposure
1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10 (Thurs.)
7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Digital Photo Basics 1
11/16 (Tue.) @ 7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Get to Know Your Camera
8/12 & 8/19 (Thurs.) @ 7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Get to Know Your Camera
9/13 & 9/20 (Mon.) @ 7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Get to Know Your Camera
10/12 & 10/19 (Tue.) @ 7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Get to Know Your Camera
11/4 & 11/11 (Thurs.) @ 7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Get to Know Your Camera
12/1 & 12/8 (Wed.) @ 7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Light & The Landscape
LECTURE & FIELD SESSION:
7/31 (Sat.)
3:00PM to After Sunset
ANALYSIS:
8/25 (Wed.) @ 7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Make Great Pictures, Now!
9/27 & 10/11 (Mon.) @ 7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Make Great Pictures, Now!
10/26 & 11/2 (Tue.) @ 7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Make Great Pictures, Now!
1/5 & 1/12/2011 (Wed.) @ 7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Make Great Pictures, Now!
MORE WINTER 2011 DATES
(Stay Tuned)
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Photoshop Elements Essentials
10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8 (Mon.)
7:00PM
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Photoshop Fundamentals 1
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Split Grad Filter Secrets
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Private Lessons
By Appointment
Custom
Email Us
ADVENTURE
DATE
LOCATION
STATUS
Chicago Area Spring Wildflowers +
Photo Analysis Session
SPRING 2011
(Stay Tuned)
S. Chicago Area Location
(specifics TBA)
ANALYSIS:
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Summer Prairie +
Photo Analysis Session
OUTING:
8/7 (Sat.) Late Afternoon
ANALYSIS:
8/11 (Wed.) @ 7:00PM
Prairie in Cook County
(specifics TBA)
ANALYSIS:
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Fall Colors at Starved Rock +
Photo Analysis Session
OUTING:
10/23 (Sat.) @ Dawn
ANALYSIS:
10/28 (Thurs.) @ 7:00PM
Starved Rock State Park
(specifics TBA)
ANALYSIS:
Downers Grove, IL
OPEN
Mike MacDonald is a internationally published, professional photographic artist, specializing in the rich nature, wildlife, and landscapes of the Chicago area. His work has been published extensively in Chicago Wilderness Magazine and his photographs and how-to articles have been featured nationally in Petersen's Photographic Magazine and in Outdoor Photographer.
If you have further questions about Mike MacDonald workshops, just email or phone 630-852-8448.
Chicago, Illinois area Photography Classes, Workshops, and Courses that serve the following Chicago, Illinois suburbs: Naperville Illinois, Schaumburg, Lombard, Addison, Alsip, Wilmette, Winnetka, Winfield, Western Springs, Westmont, Wheaton, Wheeling, Willow Springs, Woodridge, Wood Dale, Willowbrook, Worth, Westchester, West Chicago, Warrenville, Warrenville, Wayne, West Chicago, Glenview, Naperville, New Lenox, Niles, Norridge, North Aurora, North Barrington, North Riverside, Northbrook, Oak Brook, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Highland Park, Hillside, Hines, Hinsdale, Hodgkins, Hoffman Estates, Hometown, Homewood, Park Ridge, Plainfield, Prospect Heights, River Forest, River Grove, Riverside, Rolling Meadows, Romeoville, Roselle, Rosemont, Streamwood, Thornton, Timber Lake, Tinley Park, Vernon Hills, Villa Park, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, Batavia, La Grange Park, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lake Zurich, Lansing, Lemont, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, Lisle, Lockport, Long Grove, Lynwood, Thornton, Bridgeview, Broadview, Brookfield, Buffalo Grove, Burbank, Burnham, Burr Ridge, Darien, Deerfield, Dolton, Downers Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Elgin, Elmhurst, Skokie, Saint Charles, Mount Prospect, Elmwood Park, Evanston, Evergreen Park, Flossmoor, Forest Park, Forest View, Frankfort, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Glencoe, Glendale Heights, East Dundee, Glenwood, Hammond, Indiana, Hanover Park, Harwood Heights, Hazel Crest, Hickory Hills, Highland, Indiana, Orland Hills, Orland Park, Palatine, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Park Forest, Inverness, Itasca, Joliet, Justice, Kenilworth, La Grange, La Grange Highlands, LaGrange, Bedford Park, Bensenville, Berkeley, Berwyn, Bloomingdale, Blue Island, Bolingbrook, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, Lisle, Lockport, Long Grove, Lynwood, Thornton, North Chicago, Northlake, Matteson, Maywood, Medinah, Melrose Park, Merrillville, Indiana, Midlothian, Mokena, Morton Grove, Mundelein, Munster, Indiana, South Elgin, Calumet City, Calumet Park, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, Channahon, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Chicago Ridge, Cicero, Clarendon Hills Countryside, Crestwood, Crete, Crystal Lake, Stickney, Sauk Village, Schererville, Indiana, South Chicago Heights, South Holland, Steger, Summit, Streamwood, Shorewood, Schiller Park, Dolton. Dyer, Indiana,
Creative Eye Workshops teaches photography techniques and topics including:
Beginning Photography: Photography Exposure, Photography Composition, Digital Photography,
How to Use Your Digital Camera, etc.
Digital Photography: Using the Histogram, Exposure, Metering, Digital Printing, File Formats
RAW, TIF, JPG, etc.
Nature Photography Techniques: Creative Use of Natural Light (in the Landscape), Landscape
Photography, Hyperfocal Distance, Fundamentals of Exposure, Perfecting Exposure, Exposure Compensation, Light Metering,
Spot Metering, How to use Split Grad Filters, Controlling Contrast, Exposing to the Right of the Histogram.
Digital Darkroom Techniques: Digital Printing, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements,
Photoshop: Curves, Layers, Layer Masks, Adjustment Layers, Selections, Selective Color,
Shadow/Highlight Filter, Color Management, Color Profiles.
Creative Photography Techniques: Telling the Story, Putting Your Feelings on Film or Senses on Your Sensor,
Finding Your Own Personal Style (your Creative Eye), Advanced Composition, Restoring the Third Dimension,
Creating Order from Chaos.

All images on this website are the property of Mike MacDonald. Embedded in each image is an invisible copyright watermark to guard against theft. If you have an interest in any of the photographs contained in this website, contact Mike MacDonald at the number above.
COPYRIGHT 1999-2009 MIKE MACDONALD PHOTOGRAPHY