July Classes for Photographers Writers

Ashland Community and Technical College is offering adult personal interest classes in July to put a new spark into your summer routine. Several youth camps are also offered to give young people new types of summer experiences that build skills through enjoyable activities.

The classes are held at ACTCs College Drive Campus. To register or for more information, contact Lifelong Learning, 606-326-2072, 800-928-4256 ext. 62072, or email: as_LLL@kctcs.edu.

Couponing: Frugal Living for Big Spending

Times are tough and money is tight, but that doesnt mean you have to sacrifice everything. In this couponing class, instructor Melinda Hester will provide tips and strategies to stretch each dollar to its maximum potential. Hester is an experienced couponer, and she has a new couponing column in The Independent.

Participants will learn how to organize and build their coupons, when and how to use them, and how to keep up with changes to couponing rules. Participants will also find out how coupons can help pay for vacations and other extras all year long. These tips are ready to use right after each class and sometimes can even be used during class.

Those who have dabbled in couponing can learn to build a routine that saves them money every week. People who do not normally use coupons for themselves can learn about couponing as a way to help community food banks, church food pantries and other community service organizations.

Held Thursdays, July 19 to Aug. 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the class is $19. Tips from this class might help you save that much the first week.

Intro to Photography

Are you baffled by your camera or struggling with the manual settings? Learn how to use all of your digital or SLR camera features in this Intro to Photography class. J. Bird Cremeans, a local wedding and portrait photographer, will give one-on-one instruction, detailed notes and fun homework assignments designed to help you learn how to use your camera.

The class will be held Mondays, July 16 to Aug. 20, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The fee is $69 plus any film processing costs.

Intro to Photography Part 2

Once you've learned how to operate your camera in manual mode, move on to the next level with this more advanced class. Instructor J. Bird Cremeans will give you tips and homework assignments to help you develop a more creative eye. You'll also learn how to pose individuals and groups of people in your own home studio that the instructor will show you how to make.

The class will meet Tuesdays, July 17 to Aug. 21, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The fee is $75 plus any film processing costs.

Photoshop

Don't let Photoshop intimidate you! You can learn what you need to know through hands-on training with J. Bird Cremeans, a local photographer and artist who has been using Photoshop since 1999.

With Photoshop, you can crop, add text, add borders and frames, create textures, change colors, combine parts of different photos, add graphics and create artistic effects. You can improve the appearance of your photos or create one-of-a kind designs for note cards, invitations, labels, photo albums, newsletters or web postings.

This class is ideal for anyone interested in photography, graphic design, photo restoration, scrapbooking or desktop publishing. The class will meet Wednesdays, July 18 to Aug. 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the fee is $75.

Writers Workshop

Are you looking for inspiration to spruce up your characters or trying to polish that pesky first draft? Writers of all fiction types and genres can find help and support in this Writers Workshop held Mondays, July 9 to 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Participants will learn strategies for developing in-depth characters, building scenes and plotting critical story points. They will also get important feedback on their writing through interactive workshop sessions. The class fee is $29.