In the camera basics course students will learn the basic operating principles common to all cameras. The course is geared toward digital SLR cameras, but the principles apply to film, mirror-less, and point-and-shoot cameras as well. This class is open to all students ages 15+, from novice to intermediate users.

Camera Basics

In the camera basics course students will learn the basic operating principles common to all cameras. This course will be geared toward digital SLR cameras but will focus on the principals that apply to film, mirror-less, and point-and-shoot cameras as well. While this is not an art class, this is a "drivers ed for the camera" and focuses on the mechanical operation of the camera, the knowledge gained from this class is required for higher level photography classes which focus on the art. This class is open to all students ages 15+, from novice to intermediate users.

We will touch on the following topics.

• Basic camera care
  • Lens cleaning
  • Sensor cleaning
  • Actions not to take
• Digital exposure science
  • Sensor light accumulation
• Exposure
  • Light metering functions
• • Shutter speed, aperture, and ISO functions
  • Sports vs scenery vs night portraits and more
  • Remote shutter and shutter timing operations
• Ditching scene modes and why
• How to use (and knowing when not to use) a flash
• Memory cards, importing, organization
• Adobe Lightroom preview
• Data backup
• Photo presentation

This class will require a minimum of 4 participants.

Students are required to bring their own cameras and the camera’s manual (at least locate it on-line), a notebook, and a writing tool.

Students are also asked and required to read their camera's owner's manual before the class.