Exploring Digital Photography and Alaska: The Last Frontier
$1,295 | IN-PERSON | 72 Hours (equivalent to 6 credits)
DAY 1: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
DAY 2: 7:00AM – 6:00PM
DAY 3: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
DAY 4: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Offered in collaboration with Hudson County Community College
Photography Instructors: Sara Abbassi & Craig Stokle
Class Coordinator: Agnes Brandin & Vanessa Hornedo
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED, SO REGISTER EARLY!!
**We reserve the right to change any of the activities listed below, should any of them be unavailable due to inclement weather.
2024
May 18 – 21
This class starts in Anchorage and ends in Fairbanks!
August 24 – 27
This class starts in Anchorage and ends in Fairbanks!
August 28 – 31
This class starts in Fairbanks and ends in Anchorage!
(Will open if first August class fills up)
Next Winter classes in Alaska will take place in February & March 2025!
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this Photography + Destination Combination class, you will learn about basic digital photography and apply your new knowledge and skills during a trip to Alaska. The course is for anyone who loves nature, learning about new places, and is interested in improving their photography skills, using any digital camera or smart phone, so that you can take exceptional pictures when traveling.
Please note that this class will be on the move! It will start in Anchorage and finish in Fairbanks OR start in Fairbanks and finish in Anchorage. Activities for this course will vary based on season, please check below. Also note that in order to take this course you must be able to:
– Do easy to moderate hiking
Alaska is by far the largest US state by area, comprising more total area than the next three largest states (Texas, California, and Montana) combined! During this 4-day hands-on class, you will get to experience many aspects of Alaskan life. You will learn that native cultures strongly influence their way of life, from names of rivers, mountains, and communities on traditional lands to art, architecture, and culture in their cities. You will experience the culture, history, wildlife, and of course, its glorious landscape.
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SUMMER CLASS: (May – September)
Key activities will include visiting and learning about:
– The City of Anchorage – Kincaid Park, Earthquake Park and Anchorage Museum, where we will learn the real story of the North – a story that weaves together social, political, cultural, scientific, historical and artistic threads. We will get to appreciate the rich diversity of Alaska Native cultures, including masterworks of Alaska Native art and design.
– Alaska Native Heritage Center – we will take a tour of life-sized village sites, watch Alaska Native dance performances and games, listen to Alaska Native stories, watch films, and view exhibits.
– Denali National Park – learning about dog mushing, meeting Alaska Huskies, hiking and taking lots of nature shots
– Seward – going on a wildlife cruise on the Kenai Fjords and visiting Exit Glacier
– Fairbanks – Visit to Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center, Antler Arch. We will also go to a local reindeer farm where you will meet reindeer up close and learn about carabou.
** Please note, that you will most likely NOT get to see the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, during the summer class! **
**Make sure you bring comfortable shoes (there will be plenty of walking and hiking), weather appropriate clothes, water and of course camera/phone!
Your post-assignments will consist of editing your pictures from the trip to Alaska, as well as assignments demonstrating your knowledge of the state and all the places you visited.
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WINTER/SPRING CLASS: (January – April)
Key activities include visiting and learning about:
– The City of Anchorage – Kincaid Park, Earthquake Park and Anchorage Museum, where we will learn the real story of the North – a story that weaves together social, political, cultural, scientific, historical and artistic threads. We will get to appreciate the rich diversity of Alaska Native cultures, including masterworks of Alaska Native art and design.
– Reindeer Farm – you will not only meet and pet reindeers on this farm, but many other animals as well!
– Matanuska Glacier – The Matanuska Glacier is Alaska’s largest glacier accessible by road, and offers the most accessible areas to walk on of any glacier in Alaska.
– Denali National Park – Time and weather permitting, we will make a stop on our way to Fairbanks and enjoy the beautiful snow covered landscape.
– Dog mushing – You will not only learn about Alaska Huskies, but also go on a 15-minute dog sled ride!
– Fairbanks – Visit to Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center, Antler Arch.
– Chena Hot Springs – you will get to soak in this famous geothermal hot springs water
– Aurora Borealis – One evening in Fairbanks will be dedicated to chasing the Northern Lights.
Alaska can be very cold in March, and you MUST be prepared for the weather in order to take the class. Bringing warm clothing is essential and required. Here is a list of necessary clothing:
- –> base layers
- –> warm, heavy down jacket
- –> insulated snow pants
- –> wool socks
- –> snow boots
- –> Scarf and warm hat
- –> warm gloves
- –> ski goggles recommended for some activities
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PRICE INCLUDES
– Tuition fees
– 3 x nights of shared accommodations with another au pair at a Clarion Suites, Extended Stay OR similar Hotel
(SUMMER: 2 nights in Anchorage, 1 night in Denali or Fairbanks. WINTER: 2 nights in Anchorage, 1 night in Fairbanks)
– 3 x continental breakfast
– Local transportation costs to and from all activities and from Anchorage to Fairbanks or Fairbanks to Anchorage
– All activities including entrance fees to museums, cultural centers and national parks
– Registration fees
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
– Airfare to/from Anchorage and to/from Fairbanks
– Transportation to/from airport
– Lunches or Dinners
ASSIGNMENTS & COMPLETION CERTIFICATE
In addition to the in-person meetings, this class will include pre-assignments and post-assignments as part of the 72-hour class.
You will be invited to join Google Classroom about 2 months before class starts, which is the platform we use for the course. Check your spam folder, as invitations to join Google Classroom sometimes end up there. Please make sure you register for the course with a valid email address, since this is where you will receive the invitation and later, your certificate. Your email has to be Google compatible, so it’s best to use gmail, outlook, hotmail or yahoo. If you do not receive a notification to join Google Classroom, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to contact us.
The pre-assignments will be posted on Google Classroom 2 weeks before class starts. Make sure you join Google Classroom early and complete the assignments BEFORE coming to class. It will take you approximately 18 hours to complete
The follow-up assignments will be posted on Google Classroom on the weekend of class, and also consist of 18 hours. You must complete them in order to receive your course completion certificate. Course completion certificates will be emailed to you, a few days after the class has officially ended. You will have 4 weeks to complete the assignments. If you need your certificate earlier, please indicate it during the registration process and we will email it to you as soon as you successfully complete all assignments.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance IS MANDATORY all days during the class in Alaska. If you are late or leave early, your will risk not receiving your certificate. Please note, that this is a long weekend intensive class and the days are long. Bring comfortable shoes, appropriate clothing, water & snacks. We expect you to come to class rested and ready to participate, learn and have fun!
SCHEDULE
DAY 1: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
DAY 2: 7:00AM – 6:00PM
DAY 3: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
DAY 4: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
** Detailed agenda, schedule and information will be shared soon Google Classroom 2 weeks prior to class start date. All registered students will connect via WhatsApp, giving an opportunity to get to know each other before the trip and make plans to share a taxi from the airport.