In the days before mirrors, baseball players would collect their own baseball cards so that they'd always know what they looked like, regardless of slugging percentage. Enjoy the preservative nature of photographs with today's Groupon: for $49, you get a two-hour point-and-shoot or DSLR photography field trip from Chimpsy (a $125 value).

Learn to wield the power of the point-and-shoot or DSLR and unloose your inner Ansel Adams with one of Chimpsy’s two-hour workshops. During the field trip, professional photographer Claire Drummond will provide hands-on tutoring to eager amateurs and advanced hobbyists, covering the general anatomy, functions, and favorite Enlightenment thinkers of their individual cameras. She’ll also offer artistic tips and techniques, possibly detailing the ways photographers translate shutter speed, natural and artificial lighting, and angles into expertly poised portraits and stunning ’scapes. Drummond’s adept explanations aren't encrypted in jargon or Elvish, so students of all experience levels can easily apply the lessons to their own photo-taking excursions. Classes at Chimpsy include a walking tour of the Birmingham area that serves as an invigorating photo field trip.

Tours are given by Chimpsy's founder, Mark Cafiero, a wedding photographer with more than 15 years of experience. He was also a former guest-speaker at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International convention in Las Vegas. Chimpsy keeps class sizes small to avail pupils of the instructor's laid-back, yet attentive, guidance. The lineup of upcoming workshops has yet to be determined, so keep an eye on the schedule and visit Chimpsy's website to book your class.