At Eden Prairie Schools, we believe that you are never done learning. That’s why our Community Education program offers hundreds of classes on topics from cooking to yoga!
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Eagle Zone
You are your child’s first and most important teacher! Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes help you be the best parent to your child.
For enrolling others in a Community Education Program
Junior Eagle Zone for Preschool Students
Little Eagles Preschool provides an innovative classroom where creativity and imagination soars! Our diverse classrooms help students discover a love for learning in an interactive, stimulating, and academically rich environment.
Secure an hour of time with Our expert Parent Educator Kathy Matthews. Kathy will customize your hour to fit your needs and topic. Rate of $35 is per hour.
*This class can be taken by itself, but it is a part of a 4-part series. Class 4 has two sessions
5/8/25-Session 1: These assignments aim to refine your photographic eye by exploring compositional rules and guidelines, the elements of art, principles of design, and an understanding of lighting. Additionally, you will experiment with different photographic genres and styles. The goal is to help you see, comprehend, and create purposeful, intentional, and personal images.
Lessons are organized by simple basic themes based on areas of discussion, starting with elements of art and principles of design which both influence and create good composition. Then moving on, lessons include the exploration of lighting, exposure, and motion, all of which exist due to the basic camera functions of Aperture and Shutter. Next mood and visual interest are introduced, and the lessons go from photographing things to places, then people, then ending on intent, message, voice and communication.
5/22/25-Session 2: The Critique. After completing Part 1 assignments, we will either digitally collect or share student images to perform a casual critique of the work. The assignments have been designed to refine your photographic eye by exploring compositional rules and guidelines, the elements of art, principles of design, and an understanding of lighting. Additionally, you will experiment with different photographic genres and styles. The goal is to help you see, comprehend, and create purposeful intentional, and personal images
Assignments will be critiqued in class using a rubric scale of identifiable criteria and subjective based dialogue. Each individual critique has the goal of opening our eyes, our minds, and learning to make our image even better.
Course Materials:
Preferred: Everyone has a digital camera (10 plus Megapixels minimum). That said, I am used to accommodating a wide range of cameras from simple point-and-shoot, DSLR’s, and how to simulate basic camera operations using smartphone cameras.
Prerequisites: Though not necessary, enrolling in or understanding the content of The Photographic Eye (Class II), is suggested. Having that knowledge is the easiest way to take better photographs.
*Course Images were taken by the instructor Brad Perrin-Smith.
My college education was in Fine Arts and Media Arts, where I concentrated in drawing, illustration, design, photography, and filmmaking, both on the east coast and here in Minnesota. After receiving a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD), I worked there for over 20 years, as Film Technician, Media Center Director, and then Director of Academic Support, supporting the film and photography curriculum and teaching sound production. I then went on to teach digital photography, video production, and computer applications in high school for another 19 years. My personal work has primarily been travelogue and fine art photography, as well as short experimental films early in my career, and freelance work in various mediums.
Brad Perrin-Smith
