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

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.

Homework Offered
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.
4+ hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Students will be given in-depth, structured feedback on each and every assignment. They will also complete two self-check mini-quizzes.
Grades Offered

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.