Ole' Course
Stretch Your Skills with Photo Assignments
Facilitated by T. Bart Quimby
Strengthen and expand your photography skills through assignment photography. Tasks for the coming week are announced at the end of each session. Class members then take photographs that fulfill the assignment and upload their best image for class discussion. All participants have the opportunity to share and discuss their work.
This course is conducted via Zoom. It typically draws participation from both within and without Alaska.
After each class the powerpoint slides are posted (in PDF form) so that you can download them if you like.
Each week, class members are to upload their images using the links provided by the time specified in the assignment. Images that come later MAY still be included, but there are no promises.
Enrolled participants receive class Zoom links from their respective programs.
Images from past course offerings:
Upload Links for Winter 2026
Wednesday Class: https://www.dropbox.com/request/RkD8ble2o75QghFRZV3M
While I much prefer that you upload your images using the links, as an alternative you can email them to me at alaskaphotochat@gmail.com
Click here for instructions for uploading.
Ole' will email you the Zoom Links to attend
the meetings each week.
Or you can get the link by logging into the Ole website, click on "My Ole" and
find the class. The link will be there.
Winter 2026 Assignments
Each week, class members are asked to upload ONE thoughtful/stunning/tasteful image that meet the assignments given below. If you upload more than one, I will pick which one that I like best and show it during the main presentation. Any additional images will be shown at the end of the presentation (if we have time!) but won't be discussed as thoroughly as the images chosen for the main discussion.
If you wish to have your image captioned, please rename the image file to include the caption before you upload it.
Since the section is moderately sized this term, PLEASE SUBMIT ONE IMAGE FOR EACH ASSIGNMENT!
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Your vehicle often serves as an extension of your personality, signaling your priorities, lifestyle, and financial status to the world. It acts as a form of non-verbal communication, with choices in model and, at times, condition, revealing traits ranging from reliability and practicality to a desire for status or adventure.
Our first challenge of the term is to capture one engaging image of your vehicle(s) (or a vehicle that you occupy during the week) that tells something about who you are (without showing yourself, or any part of yourself)
Creative post processing is encouraged for those of you who know how to use your photo editors (either on computer, tablet, or mobile device).
Feel free to see what others have done in the past (see links above) for ideas.
The picture must be taken between when you receive the assignment and when they are due the evening of Sunday (2/8)
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Make one fun image related to Valentine’s Day.
Consider images of:
Your Valentine
Valentine decorations
People in Love
Web search for: valentines photography ideas
The picture must be taken between when you receive the assignment and when it is due the evening of Sunday (2/15)
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Make one fun image that speaks of heat.
Capture the intensity of heat through themes of water, light, and in-the-moment action. Key ideas include photographing melting ice cream, sweating, in vibrant, high-contrast scenes. Utilize golden hour (sunrise/sunset) for warm, soft lighting, or shoot at night while capturing urban life.
The picture must be taken between when you receive the assignment and when it is due the evening of Sunday (2/22)
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My Favorite Things
Pick one or more item(s) from the Sound of Music’s “My Favorite Things” and make ONE compelling image for use as an album cover for the song. Consider cropping the image to be square and feel free to add text!
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver-white winters that melt into springs"
The picture must be taken between when you receive the assignment and when it is due the evening of Sunday (3/1)
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Spring Break
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Before 3/15/2026, look for an image that will impress the class. Particularly look for an image that someone would be happy to hang on the wall. Think about subject, composition, lighting, and other factors that add ‘WOW’ factor to your image.
The picture must be taken between when you receive the assignment and when it is due the evening of Sunday (3/15)
Wednesday Slides
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To be announced at the end of the prior session.
The picture must be taken between when you receive the assignment and when it is due the evening of Sunday (3/22)
Wednesday Slides
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To be announced at the end of the prior session.
The picture must be taken between when you receive the assignment and when it is due the evening of Sunday (3/29)
Wednesday Slides
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To be announced at the end of the prior session.
The picture must be taken between when you receive the assignment and when it is due the evening of Sunday (4/5)
Wednesday Slides
Other Links of Interest
Alaska Society of Outdoor & Nature Photographers (ASONP)