Your personalized Study Kit:

We believe curiosity and a desire to learn are continuous, not something to turn on for class and off when you go home. And with our Study Kit, you don't have to be in the classroom to benefit from our course.

In your Study Kit, you'll find:

• Your course book, laid out in chapters for easy reference

• Your C1M Academy Student ID, which will allow you to get discounts on computer equipment and editing software

• Your Quick Reference Card, with tips to help you remember how to take a perfect shot every time

• Your C1M Gray Card, which we teach you how to use in week 4

• Your C1M Whitebalance Target, which we teach you how to use in week 5

• A DVD containing each class in video format; if you miss a class, you can review the material at home

• 3 cards to share with friends, entitling them to a free two-hour Intro to Digital Photography class

• Your emergency cookie pack; we feel one can never be too prepared in this area

There's a method to our madness. C1MAC1 Course Syllabus:

Class 1:

Introductions, introducing your Study Kit, camera systems,  exposure modes.

Demo: Tripods, heads, monopods and when you need them.

Assignment: Take 3 images in Program mode and note aperture, shutter and ISO.

Class 2:

Using your autofocus like a pro. The shutter, how it controls light entering you camera and how you can use it to control motion in your photos.

Demo: How to use the shutter to show motion. Shooting in shutter priority mode.

Assignment: Take 2 images at different shutter speeds, showing how a slow shutter can show motion and a faster shutter stops it. Using panning to create dramatic motion effects.

Class 3:

The aperture, how it controls light entering your camera and how you can use it to control the depth of field. What the numbers on your lens mean.

Demo: How to use the aperture to control the depth of field. Shooting in aperture priority mode.

Assignment: Take 2 images, one with a large depth of field and one with a shallow one.

Class 4:

ISO, metering systems and how they work with aperture and shutter to control exposure. Elements of composition and how to use them to take better photos.

Demo: How your cameras metering system works. Shooting in manual mode.

Assignment: Use the elements of composition to take some stunning photos.

Class 5:

The 4 properties of light that you should be aware of. Lighting and how to use it in your photos. How to use the Whitebalance setting on your camera.

Perspective: The difference between zooming in and getting closer. Lenses and their focal length.

Demo: Different lighting styles. How to tell if your Whitebalance is off and what to do about it.

Assignment: Take 3 photos using perspective.

Class 6:

Bringing it all together. Walking you through the process of How to Take a Photo in manual mode. Leading with the shutter or leading with the aperture, we'll show you how you can tell the difference and how to set your camera controls for a perfect exposure either way.

Graduation! Handing you your Certificate of Completion (if you didn't miss more than 3 classes).

See you at class. This will be fun. We can't wait! -