Digtial Photography Class - Digital Single Lens Reflex
Congratulations, you are in the big league.
Your digital camera has a removable lens. When you look through the viewfinder you are looking through the lens. That is why they are called Single Lens Reflex. These cameras can help you take great photographs. However, you need to learn about how to use the digital camera so that you can take advantage of all of its capabilities.
The class is a very hands on class. There will be exercises which will help you better understand your camera. This class schedule may be a little aggressive and may change once we get in the class. Over the time of teaching these classes I have found that each class has its own characteristics in skill level.
Outline – This will change.
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Day 1
- Getting Acquainted
- Art's Background
- Each student talks about their:
- Cameras
- Software
- Favorite Subjects
- Photo frustrations
- What drives them crazy?
- Students will tell three things they want to get out of the class.
- What do you currently do with your photos?
Have more fun with pictures and learn how to really use
your camera's features. In other words: There is life beyond automatic!- Better understanding of how your camera works
- Composition
- Using your camera in various settings
- Better understanding of composition
- Basic Photo editing
- Printing
- File Handling
- Archiving
Photography Terminology
- Basic List (On this site)
- More Involved List (A new window will open to For Photography.com)
The basic list of terms is scaled down to apply to basic digital cameras and this class. The more involved list covers topics for more advanced photographers.
Your Camera - Parts
- Electronic Flash
- Focusing
- Batteries
-
Media Cards
Your Digtial SLR
- How your digital camera works.
- Mechanically
- Electronically
- Software - It is really just a computer
- Camera limitations - When your camera will work for you and when it won't.
- Camera Types
- Common Camera Features, Options, Modes
- What is a DSLR or SLR
- An SLR is a still image camera that uses a single lens reflex mechanism.
Two main differences in DSLRs and standard digital cameras are the Removable Lenses and the fact that when you look through the viewfinder you are looking through the lens.
- An SLR is a still image camera that uses a single lens reflex mechanism.
Shooting Film V Shooting Digital
- Contrast issues
- Importance of Exposure
- Over vs under exposure
- Workflow
Camera Modes - What are all those settings
- Review various camera modes, sports, portraits, Auto, Program and more See Camera Modes
- Fill flash, red eye
- Changing your ISO
Review Photos brought by students.
Exercise
- Take photos of a subject using the various camera modes
- Follow the Flash and Portrait Mode exercises
- Take notes
- Share next week.
Day 2
Review exercise photos and discuss how the camera settings changed the images.
Camera Care
- How to deal with sensor dust.
- Hot Days
- Shooting in the cold
- Battery Care
Camera Lens
- Camera Lens Terminology
- Working with your lens. We will explore what camera settings are best for which lens. Understanding these principals will improve your photographs.
- Understanding the difference in lens specifications. Why is one lens $200 and one is $1,000 when they have the same zoom range. Are the pictures that different?
Using the adjustment setting on the camera. (See digital camera adjustments page.)
- Todays exercise will continue with using the flash. You will photograph an object and see what you have to change on your camera to improve the image. The purpose of the exercise will be to learn what type of scenarios may cause a problem with your flash.
Day 3
Photography Basics
- Exposure - Shutter Speed, ISO Detail and Exercise Outline
- White Balance
- Quality Settings
- Depth of Field
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Day 4
Taking Pictures
- Night time and low light photography
- Basic portraiture techniques (Lens Selection Notes)
- Basic wedding and event photographs.
- Close up photography.
I am still re-writing the class at this point.
Day 5
Composition - Learning to see
- General Rules of Composition
- Backgrounds/foregrounds
- Bright objects
- Lines
- What makes good composition
- (ForPhotography) Rule of Thirds
- (ForPhotography) Rule of Thirds
- Complimenting your subject
- Camera angles
- Wide angle vs telephoto
Day 6
Review Student Photos
After the Photo
File Formats
- JPG
- Gif
- Tif
File Handling
- Copying your files
- Backing up your files.
- Great deals on CDs. (Not)
- Image Handling/Inventory
- Google's Picassa and ACDSee's Program Suite
- Visit forphotography How to and click on (ForPhotography) Review of Google's Picassa and ACDSEE Software
- Photoshop Cost $600
- The best
- Pros and Cons
- Buy Photoshop
-
Adobe Elements Cost $90
- Features
- Buy Adobe Elements
- Gimp Cost Free
- Open source
- ACDSee $50
- Paint Shop Pro
- Pros and Cons
- Buy Paint Shop Pro
Digital Editing
-
General Terminology
- Levels
- Contrast
- Clone
- Sepia
- B&W
- White balance
- File Format
- Monitor/printer calibration
- Color Management
- Resizing
- When to resize?
- Why to resize?
- Software options
- Attaching photos
- Imbedding Photos
- Emailing Photos
