While many people may have received a digital camera as a holiday gift, the lights on the back of the camera body may outnumber the bulbs decorating the Christmas tree under which it was found.
 
Chances are the camera does a whole lot more than point and shoot.
 
Central Arizona College’s Maricopa Center will help unravel the mysteries of digital cameras on March 5 and 12 with a class entitled Basic Digital Photography.
 
The class will be taught by Maricopa resident Jake Johnson, a commercial business photographer for the past five years. The class will be held on consecutive Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon and costs $37. Participants are required to provide their own digital camera.
 
The class is designed for novices and those who desire to expand their photography skills. Tips on lighting and terminology will be discussed.
 
Johnson studied photography at a time when commercial photography was based on film and digital photography was just emerging. That background has given him a solid foundation in shooting and processing film, which has been advantageous in the digital age.
 
Upon completing his degree, Johnson was employed as a studio manager for a year and a half before striking out on his own for the last five years.
 
In that time he has served clients such as Paradise Bakery, Pearson Publishing, Cutter Aviation, NBC Universal, U.S. Airways Center and dozens of other businesses, magazines and organizations.
 
Johnson recently traveled to Ghana, Sweden, Puerto Rico and Canada on assignment and has worked with photographers from all over the world.
 
Students may register for this class through the city of Maricopa website at www.Maricopa-az.gov, or in person at city hall, located at 45145 W. Madison Ave.
 
For more information, please contact Maria Billingsley at 520-316-6962 or Verl Long at 520-494-6405.
 
Submitted photo