Dramatically improve your pictures and learn how to get the most out of your DSLR, compact, or phone camera.

 

Overview:

Everyone wants the pictures they take to be the best they can be. There's nothing more disappointing than thinking you've captured a stunning scene, only to find that the image on your camera is nowhere near a lovely as what your eye saw. In our Getting Started and Enjoying Your Camera class, we'll show you how to avoid some common pitfalls and teach you how to get the most out of your camera's capabilities.

 

A digital camera sees the world differently than your eye does. A DSLR camera (the ones where you can swap lenses) allows you more flexibility to adjust your images, making the scene more vivid - more like your eye saw it. Most compact and phone cameras don't have quite the same range that DSLR cameras offer. That doesn't mean you should avoid them. In fact, we often say that the best camera is the one you have on you when you want to take a photo. And many times, that means the camera in your phone.

 

If you can learn to anticipate what will make a good photo and what won't, you can significantly increase the "wow" factor in your pictures, no matter what kind of camera you're using. Learning what you can do within the constraints of the technology you have in your hand can make all the difference.

 

What you'll learn:

• How to take better pictures

• How your camera sees the world

• What scenes and lighting conditions will make for a great picture

• What scenes and lighting conditions won't make for a great pictures

 

Class 1:

The first step in taking better pictures is understanding your camera, and that's what class 1 will focus on. We'll talk about photographic exposure, and how your camera adjusts to achieve proper exposure. We'll also take a look at lenses and the impact they can have on your images.

Class 2:

Automatic features are great, but only when you know how to work with them, rather than trying to force them to do things they just don't do. (That way madness, or at least a lot of frustration, lies.) We'll start class 2 by showing you how to use your autofocus like a pro. Then we'll talk about where to stand, relative to your subject, to get the best possible image. We'll wrap the session up by talking about what makes for a great photo.

Class 3:

Nothing improves your photography more than practice. Well, let's make that informed practice. Class 3 will be a hands-on photo shoot with your camera, so that you get ample opportunity to use the knowledge and helpful tips you learned in classes 1 and 2. With plenty of guidance, should you need it, to reinforce your new skills.

Included with your class:

• Your class booklet, with all the material covered in class

• Images to compare; a handy reminder of what will and won't work in terms of lighting conditions

• Tips for what makes a great photograph

 

What you will need to bring to class:

A generally pleasant attitude will be helpful. ;)
Your DSLR, point-and-shoot,  or smart phone with a camera (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Panasonic, iPhone, Android Phone, etc.)  
Charged battery for your camera, if applicable
Storage Chip Card for your camera, if applicable
The manual that came with your camera.
A notebook and writing utensil.

Your quick wit and sense of humor. :)

 

If, after taking this class, you find that you've really been bitten by the photography bug, you can upgrade to our Basics Lite or Photography 1 courses at a reduced rate, provided that you do so within one week of taking Getting Started and Enjoying Your Camera.