Shutterbugs Converge on Library

A handful of patrons, with cameras at the ready, attended a recent workshop titled, "Digital Cameras 101" in the Large Meeting Room of the Shrewsbury Public .

Due to the interactive nature of this hour-long course and the wide diversity of participants’ individual cameras, the library intentionally keeps enrollment low for this popular, frequently run class.

“We keep it small,” said Dennis Holtgrefe, class facilitator and Electronic Resources Librarian. “We limit it to eight (participants).”

The class itself is “built in a workshop style,” Holtgrefe said, with the first half devoted to basic digital photography information presented in a lecture format and the second to hands-on, individual assistance by the instructor.

Using slides with accompanying handouts, Holtgrefe highlighted the different types of digital cameras available and defined common terms useful for participating photographers to know. To familiarize his audience with various  camera indicators, he displayed icons such as those showing red-eye reduction and flash.

A portion of Holtgrefe’s presentation focused on photo editing software capabilities. He  demonstrated with Google Picasa which is free to users. Choosing this software for its ease and accessibility, he said most software packages, even those that are camera specific, though different in name and appearance, tend to be very similar in capabilities and terms used.

As the presentation began, Holtgrefe emphasized one particular slide, which may sum up Digital Cameras 101 and its popularity, saying, “It’s easy to get lost when trying to use a digital camera. Taking pictures can be easy, but all those extra options can be tricky.”

Addressing this ‘trickiness’ toward the end of the hour by focusing specifically on individual patron questions, he moved from person to person, taking time with each to solve problems and explain camera specific options.

The next Digital Cameras 101 course is scheduled for Wednesday, March 30 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Registration with a $5 (refundable upon attendance) deposit is required.

Contact Dennis Holtgrefe with any questions at 508-842-0081 x4076 or E-mail: dholtgrefe@cwmars.org.

For more library events, visit their calendar.