Our instructor said that at the end of the course we should ask ourselves two questions: Did we enjoy the course? and Was it a worth our time? I would answer a strong yes to both questions. Our class was filled with eager, friendly people who really wanted to learn. Despite the fact that the skill level of the class stretched from novice to a former professional film photographer, everyone worked together to learn and enjoy the class material and the lessons. Each question was integrated into the lesson so that no one hesitated to participate. The venue, The Trinity Center, was perfect. Rustic, scenically beautiful, more than adequate facilities, great meals, and a wonderfully accommodating staff made every day special. The location is perfect for coastal photography with a private beach area and is located within a few minutes drive of an historical site and several historical coastal towns and villages. Two field trips were offered to entertain us and to sharpen our photographic skills. They were well coordinated and added a lot to the enjoyment of the class. I recommend this class for anyone new to photography or, like myself, trying to transition from film to digital photography.

I found this program to be outstanding! There were 24 of us ranging from experienced amateur photographers with fancy SLR's to those with point and shoot cameras or SLR's that we never let out of the AUTO setting. It seemed great for all of us! I did not shoot on AUTO the entire time.....scary....and exciting! I would attend this one again in a minute!!!! What a great place! My son is stationed at Camp Lejeune, only about an hour from Pine Knoll Shores. That is why I picked this program....who knew the Outer Banks of North Carolina were so wonderful!!! The ONLY drawback: now I want a wide angle lens for my SLR (not cheap; I've already got it on a "wish list") AND I want to upgrade my point and shoot to a Nikon P500!!!!!!