Photography Camp: Take Control of Your DSLR Camera (12-16)

Want to know how to take more professional-looking photos? Want to know how to get sharp images that are in-focus and not blurry? Want to know how to blur the background while keeping the subject of your photo nice and crisp? Want to know how to freeze a hummingbird's wings or show a runner in motion? Want to be able to pick up your camera and know what settings you need to change to get the effects you want? If so, read on!

PLEASE NOTE: This class is about DSLR cameras, although some comparable mirrorless cameras are suitable as well. Probably the easiest way to find out if yours is a DSLR is to do a Google search for "Is the [insert camera make and model here] a DSLR?" Please feel free to contact me prior to enrollment if you are not sure if your camera is right for this class. You can get in touch by using the Ask a Question button under my teacher profile. 

This 5-day hands-on class is a deep dive into how to use your DSLR camera to help you achieve your creative vision. It's for you if you have a genuine interest in photography and are honestly serious about learning how to use your camera as the powerful tool that it is. 

***I request that all students leave their webcam on during class so I can make sure you're understanding everything. You will get much more out of this class if you're willing to leave your webcam on during class.***

Photography is an amazing hobby where there's always something new to learn and always something new to photograph. The possibilities are endless, but a grounding in the fundamentals is a crucial starting point. I'd love to be the one to help you get started!

BEGINNERS ARE WELCOME in this class, as I assume zero prior knowledge. Even if you just took your camera out of the box yesterday, this class is for you. That doesn't mean the class is a cakewalk, though! We'll start from the very basic how-tos and move into more technical concepts as we proceed through the week. The class is very hands-on, and you'll be picking up your camera and changing all sorts of settings to try out different camera features.

Everything builds on everything else, so if you come to class, pay attention and participate in the in-class hands-on exercises with your camera, you'll do great! There will also be assignments you can do between classes or after the course is over, because ultimately, the only way you’ll retain all of this knowledge is by using it.

You'll receive a PDF packet that you'll need to print prior to the beginning of our first class. This document includes the outline for the class as well as space for guided note-taking, along with each day’s homework assignments. It will be an awesome reference for you to use after you’ve completed the course.

*Please note: As some topics may take longer than scheduled due to students' questions and interests, certain topics may spill over into the following session, altering the schedule a bit. Also, I reserve the right to change the order of the topics.

DAY ONE
-Student and teacher intros
-Auto mode and scene modes
-Focusing

DAY TWO
-Intro to the creative exposure modes
-Depth of field
-Aperture and f-stops
-Exposure compensation

DAY THREE
-ISO
-Shutter speed
-Drive modes (continuous shooting and self-timer)

DAY FOUR
-Exposure triangle
-Manual mode

DAY FIVE
-White balance
-Review
-What’s next? 

WHAT THIS CLASS IS NOT:
We won't be covering the details of photo editing, lighting, or composition in this class, but I will be offering additional shorter classes covering some of these subjects and more. Photography is a very deep subject, so there is a lot to learn and we can't cover it all in one class!