New Session Begins: Week of February 22, 2010
With Free Parking – Map our location here
What Are the Classes Like at Chicago Photography?
The dress is casual, but you won't be overdressed if you come straight from work. (If you're coming from a wedding, well, you'll stand out). Classes begin promptly, as soon as the teacher starts talking, so BE ON TIME!
Bring something to write on. You'll want to take notes. Bring food or drink, but not anything too crunchy, so everyone can hear.
The classes last from two to three hours. If there are more students, there will be more questions, and more questions take a longer time. The teachers have a habit of not leaving anyone behind. No helplessness or whining tolerated. (If you get everything the first time, God loves you, but you'll still have to be patient.)
The big guy (Richard) uses anecdotes when teaching his classes. (He believes they are lessons in disguise, and sometimes the disguises are so good you may not recognize the lessons.)
After 40 years of teaching, Richard's still not perfect. He gives every student his phone number and encourages them to call any time with questions. They do. Some might consider Richard sarcastic. He says he's not sarcastic; he's IRONIC. You'll get the hang of it.
He works very hard at using humor when he teaches (not hard enough) and expects students to laugh and have a good time as they learn. His gallows humor will leave you shaking your head, if it all wasn't so serious, it would all be so funny. And after all these years, there's no chance of changing him, so just enjoy the ride.
(Richard's former film students keep coming back to learn digital, and even worse, they keep sending their spouses and adult children to learn from him. So something's working.)
One thing that works well is that Richard encourages people to learn from each other. For those of you who "get it" quickly, for example, you could try helping other people in the class. Students learn as much from their experiences in the class, and with each other, as they do in their weekly assignments.
Nobody has to be perfect. Just do your best.
Check out the Photo I Curriculum.