Exploring Digital Photography and Nevada: The Silver State
$995+ | IN-PERSON | 72 Hours (equivalent to 6 credits)
DAY 1: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
DAY 2: 6:00AM – 9:00PM
DAY 3: 8:00AM – 7:00PM
DAY 4: 8:00AM – 4:00PM
Offered in collaboration with Hudson County Community College
Photography Instructor: James Edens & Becca Ruschell
Class Coordinators: Vanessa Hornedo, Anna Z. & Agnes Brandin
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED AND FILLS UP QUICKLY, 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.
March 12 – 15, 2025
May, 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 Las Vegas and Grand Canyon. This course is for anyone who loves to travel, learn 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.
During this 4-day hands-on class, your instructor and professional photographer will teach you the basic skills of photography, including the concept of exposure, color balance, composition, basic editing, retouching techniques and more.
You will get to experience the beautiful state of Nevada and while most people associate Las Vegas with gambling and partying, it is so much more than just that. It’s a desert city with beautiful landscape that includes state parks, hiking trails, rock formations, and even lush wetlands. Nevada has a rich history of Native Americans, who continue to shape the history and culture of the state, which you will learn about at the Nevada State Museum.
In order to learn about the mafia’s history in Las Vegas and how organized crime transformed the city from a dusty train stop into the gaming capital of the world, you will visit the Mob Museum, officially called the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. The Mob Museum provides a world-class, interactive journey through true stories. From the birth of the Mob, to today’s headlines.
At the Neon Museum, dedicated to preserving Las Vegas’ most iconic art form, you will be able to take some unique pictures, while learning about the history of Las Vegas through neon signs.
You will get to explore Springs Preserve, which is a 180-acre cultural institution designed to commemorate Las Vegas’ dynamic history and to provide a vision for a sustainable future. It also makes for a great backdrop for some amazing pictures. Another great spot that you will visit for cool photos, is the Seven Magic Mountains, a colorful art installation in the middle of the desert.
This class will also include a trip to the Hoover Dam and one of the great wonders of the world, the famous Grand Canyon West, where you will learn about the geological history while taking breathtaking pictures.
There will also be some time to explore the Las Vegas Strip, including the famous Las Vegas sign, Ceasar’s Palace, the Bellagio Fountain, Fremont Street and more.
Your post-assignments will consist of analyzing and editing your pictures from the trip as well as assignments demonstrating your knowledge of Nevada and all the places you visited.
*We reserve the right to change any of the activities if any of them are unavailable due to inclement weather or any other reason.
PRICE INCLUDES
– Tuition fees
– 3 nights at Circus Circus Hotel, Excalibur or similar in Las Vegas (sleep in your own Full/Queen bed in a shared room with other au pairs)
– Local transportation costs to and from all activities
– Day trip to Hoover Dam & Grand Canyon West
– All activities including entrance fees to parks and museums
– Registration fees
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
– Airfare to/from Las Vegas
– Airport transportation to/from first lecture and hotel
– Meals
ASSIGNMENTS & COMPLETION CERTIFICATE
In addition to the in-person class hours in Nevada, this course will include pre-assignments and follow-up assignment as part of the 72-hour class.
You will be invited to join Google Classroom 3 weeks before class starts, which is the platform we use for all our assignments. Check your junk or 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. Your email has to be Google compatible, so it’s best to use gmail, hotmail or yahoo. If you do not receive a notification to join Google Classroom, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to contact us.
Pre-assignments will be posted on Google Classroom 3 weeks before class starts. Make sure you join Google Classroom early and complete the assignments BEFORE coming to class. It will take you approximately 14 hours to complete them.
Follow-up assignments will be posted on Google Classroom on the weekend of class, and also consist of 14 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 assignment deadline. You will have 4 weeks to complete the assignments. If you need your certificate earlier, please indicate it during the registration process and upload proof of deadline.
All assignments must be completed in order to receive your course completion certificate!
ATTENDANCE
Attendance IS MANDATORY all days during the class in Nevada. 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, water, snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen. We expect you to come to class rested and ready to participate, learn and have fun!
DAY 1: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
DAY 2: 6:00AM – 9:00PM
DAY 3: 8:00AM – 7:00PM
DAY 4: 8:00AM – 4:00PM
** Detailed agenda, schedule and information will be shared on 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 an Uber from the airport, which is approximately $20-30.