Welcome

FIRST: Read everything here so
that you may come back and find it when you need it!

Notes to the class

First, I want to let you know that I am very happy to teach you.   I love photography, and have been puzzling over how to make better images for over 50 years.   While you might be a beginner, there is always more for us all to learn in this exciting medium.   I started when I was about 11, and clearly remember doing on my own what I am going to ask you to do when we begin this class.   I sat down with my new Minolta SRT101 and it’s manual and tried to figure out how to make it all work.   I very clearly remember reading the part about lens openings (apertures) and how they affect Depth of Field.   I closed the book, and decided to look at this again later!   You may have a similar experience, except I’ll be here to help you understand, I hope, such puzzles as we move through the class.

Nuts and Bolts

To take this class, you need to have a Digital SLR or Mirrorless camera.   There are a few other cameras that will work, for instance 4/3rds cameras usually have the controls we want, but no point and shoots are allowed.  

You need to be able to manually set the cameras f/stop, ISO, and shutter speed, and shoot it in RAW, and make other changes that such cameras allow.   You do not , though, need a lot of gear.  If you are buying a camera for this class, I’d prefer you get a lower end Canon or Nikon SLR, and a fixed focus fast lens, like a 28mm f/1.8, and perhaps an attachable flash for your camera (same brand).   The kit zooms that often come with the SLR kits will work, but they aren’t able to shoot in very low light, and zooming adds another variable to what we are trying to learn.   Better to zoom with your feet for now.

You will also need have some familiarity with an Adobe image editing software.   Specifically Photoshop and/or Lightroom.   I will write most assignments from a Photoshop point of view, but this is easily translatable to Lightroom.

All of your assigments are in Canvas, and each week you have an assignment due at 10pm on Friday.   You’ll be able to look ahead, though further assignment explanatory materials will be added each week.   Attendance will be counted by your assignment being in on time.   Please only ask for extensions with valid medical or travel excuses, and you need to do so before the assignment is due, not after.   Else it won’t count.

I will attempt to always get your video feedback to you by mid-week so you can apply my words of wisdom to the next work you turn in.  Once or twice a semester I might miss that deadline.  But it is my solid goal.

I hope you enjoy the class!

Charles