Digital SLR Photography 1 (FLEX)
An intensive 4-week course exploring and practicing the key components of masterful photography from camera mechanics and exposure to composition and technique. Intended to be followed by Digital SLR Photography 2 (an additional 4 weeks).
Alex Zuccarelli
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(4)
What's included
Homework
4+ hours per week. MANDATORY PHOTO ASSIGNMENTS Students will complete and submit: - (3) technical / practical photography assignments - (3) creative photography assignments - (2) image analysis assignments Technical assignments will take 15-20 minutes to complete. Creative assignments may require several hours over the course of a week with the exact time determined by the student's dedication to creating the best work possible. In other words, you decide how much time to spend on your art. The more time, the better the photos will be. Image analysis assignments will take anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour. These assignments are extremely important and should be taken seriously by learners who wish to get the most out of their learning experience. SLIDESHOW CONTENT Each week's interactive slideshow introduces the topics in short, concise chunks of text -- about 170 words per subject. Text is accompanied by photos, diagrams, illustrations, and animations. A typical weekly slideshow will take 20-30 minutes to read.Assessment
Students will be given in-depth, structured feedback on each and every assignment. They will also complete two self-check mini-quizzes.Class Experience
This 4-week course is intended to be followed by Digital SLR Photography 2, which is an additional (4) weeks. The two courses together will cover all of the fundamental aspects of digital photography and are designed for complete beginners. THE PHOTOGRAPHIC TASKS ARE KEY It should be clear from the outset that the photo assignments in this class are ESSENTIAL to the learning process. A lot of information is provided through the video lessons and other materials, but it will be nearly impossible to absorb and learn that information effectively without putting time and considerable effort into the assignments. If I was to put some numbers to it, I'd say that the assignments make up about 70% of the learning process here, while the reading and watching is only 30%. You need both, of course, and they're linked, but no aspiring photographer can move forward without getting out and taking the pictures and getting feedback from more experienced artists. The learning experience is fundamentally a practical one. Each assignment should be submitted on time one week from the date it's assigned (every Monday) to ensure that I can give the feedback that will help the student improve. WHAT THE COURSE COVERS In Digital SLR Photography 1, students will: (1) be introduced to the basic theory and mechanics behind photography (2) learn about the components, features, settings, and options offered by their digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera and how to use them effectively (3) apply and practice the most fundamental compositional rules in photography (4) explore and make use of the first two mechanisms that influence exposure (shutter speed and aperture) (5) learn to visually represent motion in different ways, both by freezing and blurring action (6) examine and learn to utilize both shallow and maximum depth of field as compositional tools (7) analyze professional photographs (8) develop a process of analyzing and criticizing their own photos (9) complete and submit (3) practical / technical assignments (10) complete and submit (3) creative assignments TEACHING APPROACH Many years of instruction and tutoring in diverse situations and with many age-groups has taught me the importance of having a varied approach to teaching. Particularly with visual art, I make it a point to provide methodical instructions, demonstrations and ample photographic examples to inspire my students. Each week the learners will be given an interactive Google slideshow, which will cover the topics in detail and also include quizzes, photo analysis, and assignments. These will be complemented by nearly a dozen video lessons that go into even greater detail on many of the more complicated topics. Learners will be required to meet briefly with me on Zoom in the first week of the course to make sure we're all on the same page regarding class structure, communication procedures, submission guidelines, and the importance of the homework assignments. Weekly office hours will be scheduled so that students can meet with me to discuss topics and concepts, ask questions about the lessons and assignments, and get help and advice when needed. CURRICULUM WEEK-BY-WEEK WEEK 1 What Makes a Good Picture? Making Choices You Make the Pictures The Decisive Moment Developing a Photographic Eye Camera Mechanics Familiarizing Yourself with Your DSLR Digital Image File Types: JPG, RAW & TIF Composition: The Rule of Thirds Through Lines Balance Framing Horizontal Vs. Vertical Camera Orientation Homework: Analyzing Images #1 Creative Task 1: Composing *This week's materials include (6) video lessons in addition to the interactive slideshow materials. WEEK 2 Unpacking Exposure Stops & Light The Peculiar Nature of the Stop The Holy Trinity of Exposure Shutter Speed: Light Time The Shutter Speed Scale Shutter Speed & Motion Camera Shake Tripod Use & Tips Shooting Modes / Shutter Priority Mode Auto Focus Modes Motor Drive Settings & Shutter Remotes Practical Task 1: Shutter Speed Reference Guide Practical Task 2: Camera Shake Reference Guide *This week's materials include (10) video lessons in addition to the interactive slideshow materials. WEEK 3 Freezing Motion Blurring Motion The Panning Shot Zoom Blur Rotational Blur Isolated Blur Shutter Speed Limitations Adjusting the Viewfinder Diopter Using Your Light Meter When the Meter is Wrong Exposure Compensation 18% Gray & Tonal Values Meter Modes Composition: Room to Move / Look Into Watching Your Background Tilting the Frame Exposure Compensation Mini-Quiz Creative Task 2: Freezing & Blurring Motion *This week's materials include (11) video lessons in addition to the interactive slideshow materials. WEEK 4 Aperture: Light Window The f-Stop / Aperture Scale Aperture & Depth of Field Depth of Field & Lens Length Maximum Depth of Field Shallow Depth of Field The Depth of Field Preview Feature Aperture Limitations Aperture Priority Mode Composition: The Subtractive Art Filling the Frame Homework: Image Analysis #2 Practical Task 3: Depth of Field Reference Guide Creative Task 3: Depth of Field *This week's materials include (6) video lessons in addition to the interactive slideshow materials. LEARNING ASSESSMENTS / FEEDBACK The (6) photography assignments will be submitted to me through shared Google Drive folders or attached to messages sent through the classroom message feature. Though traditional grades will not be issued, students will receive detailed and constructive feedback on each of their assignments -- photo by photo. In the case that a class has multiple learners, students may be encouraged to also view and critique their classmates' work. This part--the actual photo work--is without question the most important part of the class. For image analysis assignments, students will also study and analyze a series of professional photographs and submit their written responses to me on two occasions. They will do this in conjunction with the Week 1 and Week 4 lessons. CONTINUING THE SERIES Students who complete all (4) weeks of this course have the option of continuing the series by enrolling in Digital SLR Photography 2 for an additional (4) weeks of FLEX lessons.
Learning Goals
By the end of the 4 weeks of instruction, learners should:
(1) feel confident utilizing shutter speed and aperture both aesthetically and as a means of achieving desired exposure levels in their compositions while shooting in the Shutter Speed Priority or Aperture Priority Modes
(2) be able to capture unique high-action moments by freezing motion with fast shutter speeds
(3) be able to use slow shutter speeds to effectively and attractively blur motion in different ways
(4) be familiar with and comfortable using the camera's motor drive settings and auto-focus options and be able to choose the right modes in the right situations.
(5) be able to use the in-camera light meter to determine proper exposure, use all of the meter modes effectively, and also override the meter using exposure compensation when lighting situations call for manual corrections
(6) have a strong grasp and practical, working knowledge of the most fundamental compositional rules and guidelines in photography -- the rule of thirds, through lines, balance, framing, different camera orientations, calculated tilts, and more
(7) be competent at using a basic tripod when needed, know how to attach and detach lenses from the camera body, and work with different types of digital image files
(8) be able to look at photographs and analyze them in detail, identifying important techniques, compositional approaches, strengths, and weaknesses
(9) have a good foundation in understanding the building blocks of exposure and light and have made significant progress toward shooting in full manual in the future
(10) have begun to develop a discerning photographic eye and their own unique visual style
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Content-wise, there is nothing in this class that's controversial or of concern. However, no one becomes a good photographer without a lot of practice, and students will need to go out and shoot. As the photographic art is largely a solitary one, it will be necessary for learners to be out on their own and have the freedom to wander a bit in search of good situations and light. Serious students should expect to spend a minimum of 3 and as much as 8 or 10 hours a week on photo assignments.
Supply List
WHAT I'LL PROVIDE Interactive slideshows (Google Slides) will be provided each week, which will include text lessons, mini-quizzes, photographic examples, assignment instructions, images to analyze, animations, etc. Occasionally, these lessons may include links to external websites. Students will also be provided with 30-50 minutes of video lessons each week, designed to complement the written materials. WHAT STUDENTS WILL NEED (1) Digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera. Any make and model is fine. (2) Lens. Most people will just have the lens that came with their camera kit, and that is sufficient to begin with. But if you have other lenses, by all means, put them to use. (3) Memory card. (4) Tripod. A cheap, mass-market tripod will be fine for this course. (5) Access to a computer. Assignments will only require JPG files, so these can be downloaded and submitted straight from the camera without any editing required. (6) Access to the internet. You'll need this for the slideshows, videos, and other content I'm providing, which is all web-based, as well as to submit your assignments and communicating with me.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Most course content is contained in the slideshows and videos. A free Google account will be needed to easily share collections of images with the instructor.
Joined September, 2020
5.0
4reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I studied photojournalism at the Brooks Institute of Photography and have worked as a freelance photographer off and on throughout the years, having been involved in this art form for about 25 years. I've spent most of my adult life teaching in a variety of contexts (full-time and part-time) and working with students of many different ages, but especially learners in the middle school and high school range.Reviews
Live Group Class
$20
weekly4 weeks
Completed by 8 learners
No live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
