Philosophy

## Brick the shapes of the New Year! As we step into a new year, we’re welcomed by a fresh landscape of opportunities, ambitions, and challenges waiting to be shaped. It’s the perfect moment to refocus, redefine our goals and re-energize the way we work together. Starting 2026, we’re using **LEGO® SERIOUS GOALS®** @ the **Scrum Facilitators** to help us transform ideas into tangible results. LEGO enables us to visualize our thoughts, explore possibilities with our hands and build shared understanding within yourself. By turning abstract goals into something physical, we create clarity, alignment, and space for creativity. **What can you expect from the event?** * Craft your concrete goal for 2026 * Powerful coaching of yourself done by you and by others * Help keeping yourself accountable of your goals * Metaphors & visualizations * Curiosity & reflection * Lots of fun :-) **Evening Plan:** 17:30 - 17:45 Walk In, Network 17:30 - 18:30 Intro and getting into it 18:30 - 19:00 FOOD 19:00 - 19:50 Goal Building 19:50 - 20:40 Note to Yourself, Make goals concrete 20:40 - 21:00 Walk Out, Network 21:00 Please go home you lovely people :)

Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://www.shutupwrite.com). **Other Important Details:** WiFi name/password: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS] Travel / Parking info: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS]

De vraag naar data en informatie neemt explosief toe. Het netwerk vormt daarbij het fundament: het verbindt systemen, verplaatst data en bepaalt in toenemende mate prestaties, beschikbaarheid en security. Maar hoe verandert de rol van het netwerk in deze context? Welke technische uitdagingen zien we op het gebied van schaalbaarheid, latency, security en beheer? En welke keuzes bepalen onze route op de digitale ***yellow brick road***? In deze kennissessie kijken we naar de evolutie van netwerken. We analyseren waar we vandaag technisch staan en schetsen een middellange-termijnvisie waarin automatisering, observability en AI een steeds centralere rol spelen. Het programma zal deze avond (ongeveer) als volgt zijn: * Vanaf 17.15 u: inloop * Rond 17.30/18.00 u: eten * 18.30 u: start kennissessie * 20.00 u: afsluiting We zien jullie graag dan!

Hi all! First of all: Happy New Year!! 🍾 We’re super excited to kick off 2026 with our first PuXu meetup of the year! And we are very happy that it will be around a much coveted subject: **The Design System**. Our event brings together three experts from public service organisations to share practical approaches across key areas around research, design, vision, experimentation, and implementation of design systems. We're really excited about this one, as we have had many requests from the community to host an event about this topic! **Speakers:** **[Anton Olivier](https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonolivier1/) \|** Sr UX Designer **@ [Logius](https://www.logius.nl)** Anton explores how the Dutch Government interacts with citizens today and how this evolves into a smoother digital experience. In his talk he’ll share lessons from ongoing research, will demonstrate current prototyping, and show off implementation of a government-wide design system, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities in creating a single digital gateway for citizens. Anton is a UX Strategist at [Logius](https://www.logius.nl), a subsidiary of the Dutch ministry of internal affairs, where he is responsible for the UX side of government notification, messaging and personal data available at MijnOverheid. **[Jeffrey Lauwers](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreylauwers/)** \| Sr\. Designer @ [NLDS](https://www.nldesignsystem.nl) from [Valsplat](https://valsplat.nl) Jeffrey has a strong passion for design systems, accessibility, and Ajax. He is currently part of the core team behind NL Design System. In this talk, Jeffrey shares his experience with design systems, focusing on the NL Design System. He explains what the system is, how it works, and how designers can contribute at different levels. The talk explores the design side of NL Design System, including design tokens, components, patterns, templates, and tools like Figma, illustrated with practical examples. Additionally, Jeffrey highlights the importance of community, accessibility, research, and sharing knowledge across teams **[Joshua Grootveld ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-grootveld/)**\| UX Design Engineer @ [KVK](https://www.kvk.nl) I am a Designer with a curious mind and a big heart for people. I love bringing structure to creative chaos and I guide individuals and teams toward clarity through structure, empathy, and collaboration. When I’m not wrangling figma components or explaining why card variants are a philosophical debate, I’m probably grinding korean on duolingo, building my own flashcard app, or building APIs that screenshot things for reasons that made sense at the time.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The talk: Design Systems, maintenance and AI-integration 5 years into working on design systems, I’ve realized something uncomfortable: the way we build systems is killing the human thinking we need most. AI is eating both discovery and delivery work at a quick pace… But instead of panicking, what if we used this moment to refocus on what humans are actually good at? This talk is about design systems in 2026, product/UX collaboration when robots do the grunt work, and why experimentation beats fear every single time. I’ll share what I’ve learned so far and hopefully inspire you to start experimenting yourself. **What to expect:** 🌟 **Inspiring Speakers:** Hear from inspiring speakers as they share real-world insights on **Design Systems** (More details to follow!); 🤝 **Connect & Network:** Meet like-minded individuals passionate about design systems; 🍹 **Drinks & Networking:** Enjoy casual conversations over drinks in a relaxed setting. **RSVP now** to secure your spot and join the conversation! See you the 22nd! **Details:** 💶 Price: **Free** 📅 Date & Time: Thursday January 22nd - 18:00 - 22:00 📍 Location: Acato Digital Creative Agency \| Oudegracht 231 \| Utrecht 🎟 Limited to 50 spots!! 🇬🇧 Event will be in English 🏆 Main event sponsors: [Acato](https://acato.nl) & [Visma ProActive](https://proactive-software.com/nl/) 📧 Questions or Feedback? questions@puxu.community 📢 We are open for future collaborations & speaking engagements.

Een avond in een ontspannen sfeer voor alle leeftijden. Geniet van een drankje van ons en ontmoet nieuwe mensen. Je kunt alleen komen of samen met een vriend(in). Tijdens de avond maak je makkelijk contact met anderen die ook op zoek zijn naar betekenis. Meld je aan en kom bloeien! Tijdens deze avond behandelen we zowel de praktijk als de theorie van onze onrust. Alles in onze samenleving is gericht op groei. Maar is hollen en vliegen wel zo’n vooruitgang? We willen alles uit het leven halen, maar het gevolg is dat we onszelf gemakkelijk overvragen. Rust begint bij een stuk bewustwording. Daarom staan we tijdens deze avond letterlijk stil. Doe je mee? Meer weten of hiervoor aanmelden? Bezoek de onderstaande link: https://www.dekwekerij.org/bloeiklas/utrecht-rust-ritme/

¡Compartamos juntos con el grupo de personas más divertido de la ciudad!... ¡en español! No necesitas ser un hablante fluido o nativo.... ¡Solo atrévete a compartir! Te esperamos a las 20hrs.... ¡Entrada gratuita! ¡Nos vemos! ¡Hasta entonces! 😃 Let's share together with the funniest group of people in town!... in Spanish! You don't need to be a fluent or native speaker.... Just dare to share! We wait for you at 20hrs ....Free entry! Nos vemos! Tot dan! 😃 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/habladores/ Meetup Link: https://www.meetup.com/nl-NL/los-habladores/ Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/los_habladores_utrecht/ Los Habladores!

We are excited to announce our first Utrecht JUG meetup in 2026, featuring talks from **Soroosh Khodami** and **Alexander Chatzizacharias**. First we will explore whether we’re prepared for the next Log4Shell-scale cyber security crisis, learning practical strategies to defend against supply chain attacks, modern AI-era threats, and CI/CD vulnerabilities through DevSecOps and SBOM-driven security practices. After the break you’ll learn how to build a playful, sarcastic, and deliberately absurd AI pair programmer while gaining practical insights into agentic LLM workflows, RAG, vector search, and deep integrations that let your assistant mischievously meddle with your code and environment. Join us for an evening of practical insights, real-world lessons, and community connection! The meetup will be hosted by **adesso**, Jaarbeursboulevard 294, Utrecht. Please join us and RSVP! Because of the limited number of seats, please keep your RSVP up-to-date, so we can welcome someone else of you can't make it. Timeschedule: 17:30 Doors open 18:00 Food & Drinks 19:00 Are We Ready For The Next Cyber Security Crisis Like Log4Shell? by Soroosh Khodami 20:00 Break 20:15 How to build your own fun and absurd pair programmer by Alexander Chatzizacharias 21:15 Drinks **Giveaway** 1 JetBrains licence **Talks** **Are We Ready For The Next Cyber Security Crisis Like Log4Shell?** "AI era is bright, but full of terrors!" In a world where vulnerabilities like Log4Shell, Spring4Shell, and the XZ Backdoor make headlines, securing our software ecosystem has never been more critical. In this session, Soroosh, a hands-on architect with experience working on security platform services for large enterprises like Rabobank, will share practical strategies and best practices for securing the software development process, applicable to both small startups and large organizations. Key takeaways and questions that will be answered in this session: * [Live Demo] What is a "Supply Chain Attack," and how dangerous can it be? * An example of lateral movement that begins with a basic SQL injection attack and escalates to gaining root access to a Kubernetes cluster * Exploring new attack vectors in the AI era and the defense strategies to detect, prevent and mitigate them * Most effective practices to secure your CI/CD process * Practical strategies on how Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) help us prepare for the next Log4Shell crisis? * What does DevSecOps mean, and what is its main objective? **How to build your own fun and absurd pair programmer** Tired of AI assistants that are always so boring and soulless? Alexander was. So, he decided to build his own. An AI assistant with personality, flair, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. Imagine a pair programmer that offers sarcastic feedback, makes absurd suggestions, and threatens to blow up your code when it disagrees with your changes. And when things get too quiet, it might even challenge you to a game of tic-tac-toe. This session is for anyone who believes the best way to learn new technologies is by playfully breaking them. If you’re curious about LLMs and agents beyond the typical use cases, this talk is for you. You’ll leave with practical insights into building your own agentic LLM workflows using Spring Boot, vector databases, and locally running models. Alexander will talk about Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) flows that feed LLMs the right context, multi-vector search for fast context retrieval, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations that let the assistant directly meddle with your file system. Come to learn, chuckle, and get inspired to create your own dysfunctional digital sidekick. **Speakers** **Soroosh Khodami** Soroosh is a software engineer and software architecture enthusiast, passionate about building simple but impactful solutions. With over 10 years of experience in diverse domains, including Telecom, Media & Entertainment, and E-Commerce. He has worked with small startups and large enterprises serving 80 million active subscribers. Currently working as a Solution Architect at Rabobank via Code Nomads. Soroosh strongly believes in the power of collaborative learning and enjoys sharing his experiences and insights with other developers. **Alexander Chatzizacharias** Alexander, a 35-year-old Software Engineer at JDriven, holds dual Dutch and Greek nationality. He earned his master’s degree in Game Studies from the University of Amsterdam, where he discovered his passion for gamification and software engineering. Alexander aims to bridge the gap between game development and software engineering, believing that both industries have much to learn from each other. He is dedicated to integrating technologies and methodologies from both fields. Additionally, he enjoys experimenting with new technologies and cutting-edge sdk's.

## 🎨**Activity for EXPATS & English Speakers** ☕ Are you an art enthusiast living in or around **Amersfoort, Hilversum, Utrecht, Nieuwegein, IJsseltein, De Bilt and the rest of cities of the Utrecht's province** who love painting or drawing? Maybe you've felt the joy of creating but struggled to find others who share your passion and speak **ENGLISH**? **You're not alone! 😉** ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## 🖌️**About this event** You will meet other Art Lovers like you to Draw, Paint and have some drinks Together ! Our events are not just about sketching or creating art—they’re about building connections. Every two weeks, we meet at a café to have a relaxing time drawing a painting. Please keep on mind that **ENGLISH i**s the official language we will use to integrate everyone in our conversations. ⭕⭕⭕➡️ **IMPORTANT ⬅️** ⭕⭕⭕⭕ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**Book formally your Seat 🪑via [WHATSAPP](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** **If you want to confirm officially your attendance and separate your seat🪑. Book your seat in meet-up, and contact us via [WHATSAPP HERE](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f) to receive more information on the address of our activities.** **Thanks a lot for your understanding!** 💐🥰 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**How Does It Work?** This event is simple, this initiative takes 2 Hours. Most of the participants use pencils, water pencils or watercolours. Main aim is to socialize while we draw. There will be plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. We have to mention that this event is suitable for all levels. Many have started to draw in our event actually. Also it is very important that you **[JOIN US AT OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f),** to stay up to date on our upcoming events and participate in our Drawing and Painting Contests! **👉: [https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** 🍀 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### ☕**Where?** We will meet in different cafes mainly in the *center of Amersfoort ( and some occasions in other cities around)*. I will inform you of the exact place some days in advance this event. The place will depend on the number of attendees. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### **🎟️ What is included?** 🟢 **2 HOURS TO HAVE FUN!** 🟢 **15 mins warming-up creative activity and paper material**🖌️🎨 🟢 New friendships and **conversations in ENGLISH** in a relaxed atmosphere 🟢 **Souvenir picture** with you and the rest of Art Lovers 📷 🟢 Exclusive **access to our Art Lovers Community** on which you will receive: ***\~\~\~ Drawing challenges,*** ***\~\~\~ Training content,*** ***\~\~\~ FREE Entries only to members*** ***\~\~\~ Drawing Competitions*** 🟢 Time to **create alongside fellow artists and amateurs** 🟢 The freedom to **work at your own pace** 💃🕺🎈 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 🖼️**Art Materials?** Bring your own practical art materials to be adaptable to sketch on a coffee table. Like your sketchbook, pencils, watercolor, markets, pencils, your Tablet..etc ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## **See you to Paint, Draw, and drink together!🌟☕🍷🍪🍰**

⚠️🦖 **IMPORTANT**: You need to be a registered attendee to get access to Bitbash. **Get your free ticket at**: https://www.bitbash.nl/tickets Dutch Azure Meetup is partnering with Info Support to bring you **Bitbash**; an exciting FREE conference that will cover the latest Microsoft technologies and innovations. Whether you're interested in .NET, Azure, Data platforms or AI, Bitbash will let you take your skills to the next level! Inspiring community speakers will present you with insightful sessions, real-world experience, and compelling demonstrations. Check the full agenda at https://www.bitbash.nl/agenda! Bitbash is an in-person event that's held on Saturday January 24 at Info Support in Veenendaal. Additional pre-conference workshops are organized on Friday January 23. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn and network with like-minded professionals. See you at the event!

Offroading ride in Diermen, Meerveld, Lunteren. Our usual easy "get back into riding" route. Meeting at 10am, will ride +-120km of a mixed road and offroad. Should be a 40/60 mix, the route (as usual...) may be a bit outdated and sections may need to be circumvented. The route is relatively easy and flat with moderate hardpacked sand stretches (unless rainy, then expect mud ;) ). Will ride unless there are thunderstorms, so if it's just rain, bring your rain gear... Also bring snacks. We will stop for food if there's a nice place to do so. All skill level riders welcome to join. Our experienced riders have patience to teach and help you get accustomed to adventure riding if you are new to it. ADV tires are required (knobbies, preferably at least 40/60). See you then! 0623215213 PM me for the route gpx.

**Real Estate** is a new series dedicated to exploring villas, estates, and remarkable buildings across the Netherlands — places that are often overlooked, not because they lack beauty or significance, but because they still exist quietly within the fabric of everyday life. The first event of the series takes us to **Kasteel Groeneveld**, an elegant 18th-century country estate in Baarn with a distinctly international character. Built as a buitenplaats for the ruling elite, Groeneveld offers a rare opportunity to explore how architecture, landscape, art, and daily life were once woven together. During our visit, we will explore both the **castle itself** and its vast **130-hectare estate**, discovering how regents lived, how the gardens and kitchen plots functioned, and how nature and culture were carefully shaped to coexist. The park is full of quiet details and unexpected corners that reveal a different perspective on Dutch history and landscape design. This is not a rushed visit or a checklist of highlights, but a slow exploration of a place designed to be experienced through movement, space, and time. ### Practical information * **Meeting point:** 13:00 at bus stop *Drakenburgerweg*, Baarn * We will walk together from there to the estate and begin the exploration * Comfortable shoes are recommended due to the size of the park ### After the visit After exploring the estate, we will stop at **Grand Café Groeneveld**, located on the grounds of the castle. The café offers a small but interesting selection of beers from local microbreweries such as **Swarte Os** and **Gooische**, providing a relaxed moment to reflect and exchange impressions after the walk. **Real Estate** is about discovering places that quietly shape the cultural landscape of the Netherlands — buildings and estates that tell stories not through spectacle, but through presence.

Join us for a beautiful late Autumn Hike on the Ginkelse Heide. * We **start at 12:00** Parking at train station Den Dolder Dolderseweg 99, 3734 BC Den Dolder https://maps.app.goo.gl/JgZrj2oW96tB11837 * Length: \~15,3 km (4 - 5 hr hiking) * What to bring: lunch, water, snack. * For whom: As always, sporty folks that like to combine social event with being active in nature. **Getting there by Train:** * To train station: Den Dolder https://maps.app.goo.gl/bPv95S3vFa8bxW6u9 **Getting there by Car:** * Free car parking at train station Den Dolder Dolderseweg 99, 3734 BC Den Dolder https://maps.app.goo.gl/JgZrj2oW96tB11837 **Note:** * Please **pay a small fee (3 euro)** to help us cover the (increased) yearly Meetup contribution of 240 euro. We'll ask you to pay before the start of the hike (can be on the day itself). No refunds, but in the unlikely event that hike would be cancelled and you already paid, you don't need to pay for your next hike. Thank you so much! Use the **safe link** here: https://betaalverzoek.rabobank.nl/betaalverzoek/?id=vezo1ouZS0yORJXINF58jA * Keep in mind that the hike can be canceled when the weather is very bad (**always check the event before you go**). * If you RSVP 'yes' we expect you to show-up. Please do not cancel less than 24 hours before the hike. **No-shows** will lead to your removal from the group. Thanks for the understanding. * By signing up for this event, you agree to release the organizers from any responsibility and liability in all claims. As the participation is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves.

Ben jij gefascineerd door de wereld van hacking en cybersecurity? Goed nieuws! Wat ooit een exclusieve serie workshops was voor studenten van NOVI, is nu toegankelijk voor iedereen met een passie voor hacking. 🚀 **Hack Friday** is jouw wekelijkse dosis cybersecurity praktijk. Elke vrijdagochtend duiken we samen in de diepe, duistere wereld van een nieuwe machine of challenge, onder de deskundige begeleiding van een van de cybersecurity experts van NOVI. Het is de perfecte manier om je skills te testen, te verbeteren en iets nieuws te leren in een vriendelijke en ondersteunende omgeving. 🛠️💻 ### Wat heb je nodig? * **Een werkende Kali Linux installatie**: Zorg dat je klaar bent om de uitdaging aan te gaan met je eigen Kali Linux setup. * **Een nieuwsgierige geest**: Heb je zin om te leren en uitgedaagd te worden? Dan pas je perfect in onze Hack Friday! ### Waarom meedoen? * **Leer van de besten**: Onze cybersecurity experts staan klaar om hun kennis te delen en je door de challenges te begeleiden. * **Wekelijkse uitdagingen**: Elke week bieden we een nieuwe machine of challenge aan, zodat je je vaardigheden kunt blijven ontwikkelen. * **Ontmoet gelijkgestemden**: Sluit je aan bij een community van enthousiaste hackers en cybersecurity professionals. ### Details: * **Wanneer**: Elke vrijdagochtend * **Waar**: op locatie in Utrecht * **Voor wie**: Iedereen met een interesse in hacking en cybersecurity, van beginners tot gevorderden. Ben je klaar om je hacking skills naar een hoger niveau te tillen en deel uit te maken van onze groeiende community? Sluit je dan aan bij Hack Friday en daag jezelf elke week uit met nieuwe en spannende cybersecurity avonturen! 🌟🔒 Registreer nu en laat zien wat je in huis hebt! Wij kunnen niet wachten om je te ontmoeten.

Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Optional topic for this meet up: Is life a dream? Is life a simulation? Dreams feel real while they last. Could life work the same way? How do we know we’re awake, and what follows if we can’t be sure? Let’s kick that around over a around of drinks: • What makes something feel real: continuity, shared evidence, or meaning? • How do we know we're not in a simulation? • How would you tell you’re awake (reality checks, memory, other people)? • If life is dreamlike, what becomes of free will and responsibility? • Is identity a story we keep telling—who’s the narrator? • Are we author, actor, or audience in our dreams and how would you tell? • Does art/film reveal reality or replace it? No lectures. Friendly crowd. Drop in for one drink and stay if it’s fun.

Let’s meetup at Cafe Istanbul for the last day of Restaurant Week. You get three courses for $30. This is the menu: https://614now.com/rw-menu/cafeistanbul-easton

You can also join the meeting by Conference Call at (518) 263-8851.

ASH is Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists of First Unitarian Universalists of Columbus Ohio TBD Snacks are usually available, and you are welcome to bringing something to share!

**Photography 101: Discover The Photographer Within** **Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your camera? Then this beginning photography course is perfect for you!** This beginner-friendly photography class is your gateway to unlocking the power of your camera and developing a confident artistic vision. This course offers an engaging and practical approach to essential techniques and creative principles for impactful photography. We will explore the use of camera settings, composition, and light to tell a story that evokes emotion in the viewer. **Through hands-on exercises and insightful lessons, you will learn to:** * **Master Your Camera:** Learn fundamental camera functions, including aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, so you can confidently control exposure and creative effects in any lighting situation. * **Compose Captivating Images:** Explore and apply classic composition principles like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing to create visually appealing and impactful photographs. * **Harness the Power of Light:** Understand how different light sources (natural and artificial) affect your images and learn to manipulate them to create mood, texture, and enhance the overall quality of your photos. * **Control Focus and Depth of Field:** Discover how to effectively utilize depth of field to isolate your subject and achieve captivating background blur (bokeh) or ensure sharpness throughout your landscape shots. * **Work with Lenses and Filters:** Explore the impact of various lens types and focal lengths on photographs and learn how filters can add creative control and protection. **This class provides the foundation needed to confidently create high-quality images and begin a photographic journey, regardless of the camera used.** **Prerequisites:** * A camera (film, DSLR, or mirrorless) that has manual controls is required. Hands-on exercises make having the camera in class highly beneficial. You will need at least one lens to evaluate the results of control exercises. * You may attend this class in one of two ways: 1. With a class voucher provided by your retail camera store 2. Purchasing a seat in the class

Let’s meet and discuss whatever comes to mind about one of Tennesse Williams’ most famous plays.

**Photography 102: A Deeper Dive Into Photography** **Are you ready to dig deeper into photography? Then this intermediate photography course is perfect for expanding your knowledge of photography!** This intermediate photography class builds upon the foundational knowledge acquired in the Photography 101 class. It focuses on empowering students to move beyond automatic camera modes and take greater creative control over their images. This course uses an engaging and practical hands-on approach to reinforcing these newer and more advanced photographic concepts. **Through hands-on exercises and insightful lessons, you will learn:** * **Master More Advanced Camera Settings** * **Aperture and F-stops:** Understanding how aperture controls depth of field and using it to create blurry backgrounds (shallow depth of field) for portraits or sharp focus throughout a landscape (deep depth of field). * **Shutter Speed:** Learning to utilize shutter speed to freeze fast action or intentionally blur motion for artistic effects. * **ISO:** Exploring ISO settings for optimal image quality in different lighting conditions, understanding the trade-off between sensitivity and potential image noise/grain. * **Exposure Modes:** Beyond "Auto", understanding and utilizing manual (M), aperture-priority (A or Av), shutter-priority (S or Tv), and program (P) modes for specific shooting scenarios. * **White Balance:** Learn how to effectively set white balance controls to represent colors in varying lighting conditions properly. * **Metering and Exposure Compensation:** Understanding how the camera measures light and how to use exposure compensation to fine-tune exposure for desired results. * **On-Camera Flash Basics:** Gaining a basic understanding of when and how to use the built-in flash or external flash units effectively. * **Advanced Concepts and Techniques** * **Composition Beyond the Basics:** Looking at some more advanced composition concepts and taking a deeper look at the Elements of Design, learning to use space more effectively, controlling the elements of the scene that are drawing attention, and mastering visual weight. * **Lighting Beyond Natural Light:** Introduction to artificial lighting, such as off-camera flash, reflectors, and softboxes, to control and shape light for different effects. * **Basic Image Editing:** An introduction to photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, covering essential tools for adjusting brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness. * **Developing a Personal Style:** Exploring ways to refine a unique artistic voice and create a consistent photographic style. **This class provides the next step in the path to becoming a more proficient and artistic photographer, allowing for more advanced usage of the camera system.** **Prerequisites:** * A camera (film, DSLR, or mirrorless) that has manual controls is required. Hands-on exercises make having the camera in class highly beneficial. You will need at least one lens to evaluate the results of control exercises. * You may attend this class in one of two ways: 1. With a class voucher provided by your retail camera store 2. Purchasing a seat in the class