Photographs provide the only evidence that the past existed, aside from the outdated swear words used by grandparents, such as “huckster” and “aw, chestnuts.” Make history with this Groupon.

The Deal

• $49 for one 3-hour introduction to digital photography workshop (a $150 value)
• $149 for four 2-hour introduction to digital photography classes (a $299.99 value)
$179 for the 3-hour workshop and four 2-hour classes (a $449.99 value)

The outdoor digital-photography classes takes place at Eagle Point in North Smithfield. Indoor classes take place at Photo Barn Studios, and tend to focus on more in-depth technical skills. See the schedule.

Students bring their digital SLR cameras and meet their instructor, Gary Detonnancourt, in the parking lot of the North Smithfield Library before embarking on an outdoor odyssey to hone their moment-capturing skills. In Eagle Point's bucolic wonderland of waterfalls and woodlands, Gary kicks off the adventure with a crash course in manipulating each camera’s controls and functions. The lesson also covers white balance and offers everything a layman needs to know about the physics of light, followed by a section on composition and getting the most from different lenses and tripods. The day's final exercise reveals a world of potential creative effects through exposure manipulation.