Beginner's Photography Class: Take Better Photos and Get Out Of Auto
It has always been a dream of mine to teach. Before attending college I was split between becoming a teacher or pursuing photography. I'll spare you all the details, but I followed my bliss, and have a BFA in Creative Photography from the University of Florida.
When the teacher is ready, the student appears. Ok maybe that's not how the saying goes, but it's how it happened for me. I kept having conversations with people that had cameras and didn't really know how to use them. They had spent a good amount of money on these cameras and wanted to be able to take photos on vacation, or of their families, or just of the beauty in the world--they wanted the skills that I have cultivated over many years of education and practice.
This my friends was a problem that I could solve! So here's how it went, I organized a beginner's photography class: Take Better Photos & Get Out Of Auto.
Regardless of what camera you have, when you understand the principles of proper exposure, you will take better photos!
The 6 week course's home base was in Orlando's Antique district, Ivanhoe Village at a shop called Bluebonnet. We also met up at Washburn Imports to switch up the scenery a bit and Foxtail Coffee in Winter Park.
Each of the students happened to all own Nikon cameras, and even though I own a Canon, I do have experience shooting with Nikon too. so regardless of camera brand; each student was able to learn what it takes to properly expose an image!
Exploring depth of field and composition Photo by student Jen D'ambra
In case you don't know, exposure is based on the combination of ISO, F Stop (aka Aperture) and Shutter Speed- the 3 elements that allow light into the camera. (read more about exposure here)
Experimenting with long shutter speeds and panning. Photo by student Frank Paradiso
Playing with neon lights at night. Photo by Student Kimberly Chiozza Bridges
Practicing composition and white balance techniques. Photo by student Kimberly Chiozza Bridges
once a week we met and talked about these elements, experimented with the settings, became familiar with our cameras, and had fun taking photos in manual mode with varying lighting situations.
Exploring leading lines and depth of field. Photo by student Kimberly Chiozza Bridges
Every student received hands on learning experience with their cameras in class and had mini homework assignments to help reinforce what they learned!
Playing with mirrors. photo by student Frank Paradiso
Practicing with depth of field. photo by student Frank Paradiso
Experimenting with long shutter speeds and panning. Photo by student Jen D'ambra
By the end of the course, each student became more familiar using their cameras, and were taking better photos. The student's progress was impressive! (Look at all these cool photos they took in class.)
Practice with capturing the light as our eyes see it. photo by student Jen D'ambra
So if you would like to learn more about exposure and how to use your camera, come join me for my next Beginner's Photography class starting October 1st.
In the class you will learn about proper exposure, white balance, composition and how to change the settings on your camera. Get out of auto and into Manual mode!
Warmly,
Kimberly
Want to learn more about the class?