DSLR Photography Day Camp: Week 1 (5 Sessions)
Part 1 of a 10-session summer workshop for motivated teens interested in mastering digital single lens reflex (DSLR) photography
Alex Zuccarelli
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(4)
What's included
5 live meetings
6 hrs 15 mins in-class hoursHomework
4+ hours per week. Learners will be given targeted photography assignments every class day that they will be expected to shoot and submit by the following morning. Assignments will be completed individually by each learner. The amount of time needed to complete the assignments will depend on the learner. On average, a motivated learner should expect to spend a couple of hours per day shooting.Assessment
Learners will receive detailed feedback on every photo submitted. In some cases, learner submissions may be critiqued by classmates during the live zoom sessions. No formal grades will be given.Grading
includedClass Experience
This course is designed as a day-camp learning experience with learners attending 1 hr 15 min Zoom sessions each morning from Monday through Friday. Each day a new set of practical, technical or compositional concepts is introduced in class. After class the students go out and complete photography assignments that specifically relate to the lesson, submitting their work to the instructor by the following morning for feedback and peer critique. CLASS STRUCTURE Zoom sessions will include lecture, photo analysis, group discussion, Q & A, and peer critiques of student work. I like to give lots of visual examples of every concept so that students have a very clear image in their mind of what they're working toward. Each class will conclude with descriptions and instructions of the day's assignments. Learners will also have access to numerous Google slideshows and pre-recorded videos that go into additional detail on select topics. They can explore these in their own time outside of class if they wish. LEARNER EXPERIENCE Learners do not need to have any previous photography experience. All they need is the required equipment items, a strong motivation to learn, and the drive to do the work required to improve. ASSIGNMENTS The assignment work outside of class is essential. I'd say it's 70% of the learning process, and learners can't hope to progress without it. Each learner must be committed to put in the time and effort to complete the assignments to the best of their ability each day. The amount of time spent on assignments is variable. For some it will take less time and others more. To get the most out of the class, I would expect to put in a couple of hours a day shooting. Photography is like any art: it requires a lot of practice and attention to detail. DAY 1 - MECHANICS & VISUALIZATION Camera Mechanics Familiarizing Yourself with Your DSLR Digital Image File Types: JPG, RAW & TIF Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment Shooting Modes Switching to Autofocus Using the Auto Focus Modes The Auto Focus Grid Reading your Settings What’s in Your Viewfinder Attaching and Detaching Lenses Using the Motor Drive Settings What Makes a Good Picture? Making Choices The Decisive Moment You Make the Pictures Developing a Photographic Eye DAY 2 - COMPOSITION The Rule of Thirds Through Lines Balance Framing Horizontal Vs. Vertical Orientation Room to Move / Look Into Watching Your Background Tilting the Frame Filling the Frame The Subtractive Art DAY 3 - EXPOSURE Unpacking Exposure Stops & Light The Peculiar Nature of the Stop The Holy Trinity of Exposure Using Your Light Meter When the Meter is Wrong Exposure Compensation 18% Gray & Tonal Values Using the Camera's Meter Modes DAY 4 - SHUTTER SPEED Shutter Speed: Light Time The Shutter Speed Scale Shutter Speed & Motion How to Use Shutter Speed Camera Shake & How to Avoid It Tripod Use & Tips How to Approach Action Photography Shooting Modes / Shutter Priority Mode Shutter Speed Limitations DAY 5 - FREEZING MOTION Lens Basics Understanding Angle of View / Field of View Telephoto Lenses Isolation & Compression Lenses & Motion Choosing the Right Auto Focus Mode Modifying the Auto Focus Grid Choosing the Right Motor Drive Setting Freezing Motion Shooting Sporting Events Shooting Cars, Planes & Trains Photographing Animals
Learning Goals
By the end of the 5 sessions, learners should:
(1) Have developed a familiarity with the essential features of their DSLR camera
(2) Understand the three main image file formats and their strengths and weaknesses
(3) Have a strong sense of the fundamental components of a successful photo
(4) Have made significant progress in developing a photographic eye
(5) Understand and be able to use the Rule of Thirds, through lines, balance, framing, and horizontal and vertical orientation
(6) Have made marked improvement in constructing cleaner more deliberate compositions
(7) Have a clear sense of exposure, stops, how to use the camera's light meter, and exposure compensation
(8) Be able to make effective use of the camera's meter modes
(9) Have a very strong understanding of shutter speed, its purpose and limitations, and how to use it to freeze and blur motion
(10) Be able to make effective use of the camera's shooting modes
(11) Be able to competently operate a tripod when needed
(12) Be able to avoid camera shake
(13) Be able to make effective use of the camera's auto focus modes
(14) Be able to make effective use of the camera's motor drive settings
(15) Be able to adjust the viewfinder diopter as needed
Other Details
Supply List
A DSLR camera (any make or model) At least one lens compatible with the camera above At least one memory card compatible with the camera above A basic full-sized tripod Access to a computer to submit assignments and attend zoom sessions Stable broadband internet service
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined September, 2020
5.0
4reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I'm a San Diego-based educator, focusing primarily on photography, model building, and other visual arts. I've been teaching in a variety of contexts (and age groups) for 25 years and have led classes in a diverse range of subjects including web development, graphic design, animation, videography, digital imaging, photography, and art documentation.
I believe the key to learning a skill--particularly an artistic one--involves a combination of basic theoretical and practical concepts, tools, and hands-on experience. Whenever I'm teaching, my goal is to lead students toward a habit of experimentation, innovation, and self-discovery. You can't teach creativity or artistic vision, but you can give learners the toolbox to develop it.
My style is to approach learning from lots of different angles so that students can hear, see, and experience the subject first-hand through practical and creative assignments. I also like to involve the rest of the class in the process of teaching though discussions and peer critiques.Reviews
Live Group Class
$150
for 5 classes5x per week, 1 week
75 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
1-10 learners per class
