A picture is worth a thousand words, making photographs and stick-figure sketches the easiest solutions to looming dissertation deadlines. Take advantage of efficient visual-communication strategies with today’s Groupon: for $20, you get a two-hour digital SLR photography class at Unique Photo in Fairfield (a $45 value).

Unique Photo’s Unique University invites amateur and pro snappers alike to develop skills from the ground up or polish existing abilities in a spacious learning space. Students can shoot superior soul-stealing stills using a digital SLR camera after one of three two-hour introductory classes, each taught by professional photographers. The basics session suits beginners and amateurs, covering fundamentals such as depth of field, ISO, and aperture before turning attendees loose to flex their newly eager shutter fingers. The intermediate exposure and metering class delves a few clicks deeper, exploring the relationship between f-stops and shutter speeds, how your own camera’s metering system works, and image file formats. During advanced composition, participants further examine the art, learning to improve images through techniques such as the rule of thirds, perspective, and luring errant photobombers out of the frame. Check the schedule for times.