Joel Heffner to Present PHOTO TIPS FROM THE MONA LISA at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, 8/17

On Sunday, August 17 at 2 p.m. at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, writer, photographer and historian Joel Heffner will present "Photo Tips from the Mona Lisa." Heffner will show how, by exploring and understanding this immortal painting, 21st century photographers can learn to take better digital photographs.

Leonardo Da Vinci was arguably the greatest artist of all time -- his iconic Mona Lisa has been revered for over 500 years! Heffner's PowerPoint presentation explains how Da Vinci's artistry can be applied to today's technology. He will teach you 12 Ways the Mona Lisa Can Help You Become a Better Photographer -- no matter if you use a high end DSLR, a point-and-shoot camera, or your Smartphone. In addition, you'll learn some of the secrets and legends surrounding the painting. Did you know, for example, that the Mona Lisa is not painted on canvas? You'll learn in whose bedroom the painting once hung, why it was stolen, and how a major crack was fixed.

Joel Heffner has given presentations at the Alice Austen House Museum, Historic Richmond Town, Professional Photographers of Greater New York, Gateway Photographers of Staten Island, Staten Island Camera Club, Tech-to-Go Conference, Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, and more. He has spoken on such divergent subjects as iPhoneography, Preserving Your Family, Pinhole Photography, and How a Wooden Box Can Make You More Creative.

The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, located at 420 Tompkins Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305, was the home of Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, and a refuge to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the legendary hero who championed the unification of Italy. For over 50 years the museum has fulfilled its mission to preserve the legacies of these great men, and to promote understanding of the Italian-American heritage through cultural, artistic and educational programs and classes. The historic Italian landmark on Staten Island, the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is owned by the Sons of Italy Foundation and administered by the NYSOSIA-GMM-Board of Commissioners.

Regular museum hours are 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is $5 per person, members and children under 10 are free. Call ahead for groups of 10 or more. The first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible, but the restroom is on the second floor. Admission of $10 or $5 for members, includes a light reception.