Life is just one giant photo op thanks to the proliferation of iPhones and other camera-equipped cell phones.

Whether it’s a family gathering or a spectacular sunset, anyone can point, shoot and share their images in seconds with friends, family and co-workers.

But, while the technical quality of cell phone photographs is constantly improving, the creative skills of the photographers are typically mired in the dark (room) ages instead of the digital age.

Jesús Manuel Mena Garza, who has more than 40 years' experience in commercial and documentary photography, can help you turn simple, smartphone snapshots into elegant images.

His course, "iPhone and iPad Photography," will teach you not only how to take better photographs with your smartphones and iPads but also how to store, edit, print, send and display them on blogs that Garza will help you create. The class offered through UCR Extension meets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 21, 28 and Feb. 4.

The trick to turning snapshots into treasures is to visualize and analyze the scene before shooting to determine the best way to capture the image. Students will evaluate photographs by masters such as Ansel Adams and Annie Leibovitz and compare them to their own. They will learn how to use composition and lighting to their advantage.

Each student will open a free blog account where they can post their photographs and share them with the class. Then, everyone will have the opportunity to honestly evaluate their work.

Garza encourages his students to critique each other's work offering positive feedback and exchanging ideas.

"Sometimes students don't listen to the instructor but they will listen to other people in the class," said Garza, who taught at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco before moving to Riverside several years ago. He maintains several photography blogs and a website at www.jmmgarza.com.

"In this new class, I expect every student to get better and have fun along the way."

For further information, call 951-827-4105 or e-mail arts@ucx.ucr.edu.

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