Exploring Digital Photography and Nevada: The Silver State
$995
+ registration fees
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: Sara Abbassi & Craig Stokle
Class Coordinators: Vanessa Hornedo & Renata Cap
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.
February 5 – 8, 2026
March 26 – 29, 2026
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This Photography + Destination Combination course introduces students to foundational digital photography skills and applies them through guided fieldwork in Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding areas like Valley of Fire and Grand Canyon West. Designed for students using any digital camera or smartphone, the course emphasizes both technical proficiency and visual storytelling in real-world settings.
Through hands-on instruction and location-based practice, students will explore key concepts including exposure control, composition, color balance, and post-processing, along with introductory editing and retouching techniques. Coursework is supported by structured shooting assignments and instructor feedback throughout the trip.
Students will photograph a wide range of subjects—from urban culture and historic landmarks to desert landscapes and large-scale public art—while examining the region’s cultural and geographic development.
Key Experiences:
– Mob Museum (an interactive look at organized crime, known as the mafia, and law enforcement history)
– Fremont Street (a vibrant historic district known for classic neon and live entertainment)
– Seven Magic Mountains (a large-scale desert art installation)
– Hoover Dam (a major engineering landmark on the Colorado River)
– Valley of Fire (Nevada’s oldest state park, known for red sandstone formations and petroglyphs)
– Grand Canyon West (a dramatic viewpoint of one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders)
Post-course assignments include photo selection and editing, written reflection, and short learning activities that connect photographic work to the cultural and geographic context of the destinations
*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
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
– Airfare to/from Las Vegas
– Airport transportation to/from first lecture and hotel
– Meals
– Registration fees (platform and processing fees)
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.