Local Photographer to Offer Photography Classes

Award-winning photographer Sue Balk will share her knowledge and love of photography in special classes for local residents this month.

Balk, a Pinckney resident has been dabbling in photography for the past six years and has won 21 Best-in-Show awards and more than 200 blue ribbons in local fairs and festivals.

Balk said she began holding classes out of her home about a year ago when somebody found out about her festival entries.

"I like sharing the knowledge," she said about photography.

Balk gleaned all of her knowledge on her own from books and magazines that were "too wordy" to be really helpful, and any classes she took moved too fast, with too much information.

"My favorite thing about teaching is when the light comes on," Balk said. "Their enthusiasm and how they get excited."

Balk will offer and classes through September in Brighton.

The photography classes focus on teaching people the basics of using their digital cameras as well as composition tips. The Photoshop classes will teach basic photo editing tips, like removing red-eye, cropping and more.

Balk said her classes aren't just for people with fancy DSLR cameras and she's taken award-winning photos from point-and-shoot cameras.

"It starts with becoming familiar your camera," she said.

Brighton resident Cathy Stanley has taken both of Balk's classes.

"Sue's a very good teacher and the classes were a lot of fun," she said. "She gives handouts and homework."

The most helpful thing Stanley said she learned was when to use her flash and when to turn it off. Stanley said it has helped her take pictures in dark auditoriums of her grandchildren plays and other performances.

Balk's classes are three sessions long and last around an hour and a half to two hours, depending on discussion. The classes cost $75, plus a $5 material fee.

For more information or to enroll in in a class, contact Balk at fotos_effects@yahoo.com.