DSLR Photography

There are 30 buttons and dials on my camera body, five main menus, and 68 main menu items to choose from!

I need to be able to work with these settings to get the picture I want without confusing myself or leaving my camera working unpredictably.

I never want to miss the shot, because my camera isn't set the way I need it.

The DSLR Photography workshop series will make you a better photographer.

You will be practiced in using your camera to capture the drama, emotion, and beauty that made you want to click the shutter on the subject in the first place.

DSLR Photography Classes in San Diego

This DSLR Photography workshop series comprises eight individual 2-hour sessions that make up a complete and comprehensive introduction to DSLR photography.

The first four workshops are designed to put you in control of your camera, while workshops five through eight are designed to build on your knowledge as a digital photographer. You can attend each workshop individually, buy a four-workshop certificate at a substantial discount, or purchase a certificate for all eight classes in this series.

Multi-workshop certificates can be applied to any workshop date advertised.

Some of the skills you'll learn in the DSLR Photography series include:

• Find your way around the many buttons, dials, and controls on your camera.
• Add a “wow factor” into your pictures with simple rules of composition.
• Take your camera out of Full Auto and control exposure settings for different types of shot.
• Set the white balance in your camera for different lighting situations and change the color settings creatively.
• Focus your camera accurately even when the subject is moving.
• Properly incorporate flash into your exposures.
• Choose the right lens for your camera.
• Display, print, and share your pictures with friends and family.
• Practice capturing pictures in different lighting and creative situations, so that you can capture action, sports, landscapes, portraits, and close-ups with confidence.

The weekly classes run for two hours each and are offered over weekends and some Wednesday afternoons. We will attend different locations, indoors and outdoors, with the main teaching area being in Balboa Park.

PART 1: CAMERA SKILLS (Four classes total)

Workshop 1: Getting to Know Your DSLR

This lesson details the basics: You will learn to see like your camera sees to find the best light. Most importantly, you’ll learn many useful tips on composing better pictures. You will learn how shutter speed and aperture can be manipulated to create different looks in your pictures. By the end of this class, you will be able to get out of auto.

Workshop 2: Understanding Exposure

Building on the first workshop, you’ll find out how you can manipulate shutter speeds, apertures, and ISO settings using Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual exposure modes. You will use these advanced exposure modes to create properly exposed pictures that contain creative elements, such as motion blur or a shallow depth-of-field. You will be able to recognize situations when the normal exposure needs to be adjusted for better pictures.

Workshop 3: Working with Color

One of the big advantages of digital photography is that you can manipulate the way your camera renders colors. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to set the white balance, so that colors look right in different lighting situations, select a working color space for your camera, and use the picture styles to adjust the way colors look.

Workshop 4: Getting Fancy with Focus

Your DSLR contains a sophisticated autofocus system that allows you to capture a sharp image in any shooting situation. This lesson will help you focus your camera on any autofocus point in the viewfinder and stay focused on your subject, whether it is stationary, like a landscape shot, or moving quickly, like the players in a basketball game. You will learn how to set up your camera and practice capturing fast-moving objects, such as birds in flight. You will also learn the secrets of back-button autofocus that allows you to focus your camera in any situation like a pro.

PART 2: CREATIVE SKILLS (Four classes total)

Workshop 5: Using Your Camera Flash

Flash photography brings a whole new dimension in creativity to your photography, by allowing you to take sharp pictures in low light, fill in shadows on sunny days, or add special effects into your pictures. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use your camera’s built-in flash or accessory speedlight to get the best results in your portraits.

Workshop 6: Learning about Lenses

One of the big advantages of your DSLR is that you can change the lens for different kinds of photography. This lesson introduces you to different types of lenses and explains standard lens terminology to you. You’ll also learn about some of the many lens accessories available that enhance your photography and allow you to capture the shot you want. The class discusses different kninds of lenses and attachments, how they affect your pictures and concentrates on the techniques for macro or close-up shooting.

Workshop 7: Transferring, Sharing, and Workflow

Now you've captured all those images, what do you do with them and how do you make them look even better? This digital photographyclass teaches the importance of workflow using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, MacPhoto, and other Windows photo editing software. You will learn some tricks for touching up portraits, adjusting color and exposure, and cataloging your valuable pictures. You will learn how to prepare your pictures for emailing, printing, or uploading to a photo sharing website.

Workshop 8: Capturing the Shot

Aimed primarily at the outdoor and landscape photographer, you will practice different kinds of action and landscape shots. The lesson is based at the coast where you will practice slow shutter techniques to capture movement in the waves.

Assumptions

I’m assuming not only do you want to get to know how to use your DSLR, but you also want to get the best out of it. Most likely, you have used cameras before to take holiday snaps or capture fun moments, maybe with a point-and-shoot camera. Now, you have purchased a DSLR, because you want to improve your photography by bringing technical precision and creativity to the pictures you take. In making this assumption, this series of digital photography classes will introduce you to the terminology and practice of digital photography in general and apply it to using your DSLR like a pro.

Since digital photography is computer based, I assume that you have at least a basic knowledge of computers. You will need to know how to use the programs on your computer, how to navigate the Worldwide Web, and how to use your email application.

Workshop format

The DSLR Photography workshop series is made up of three two-hour workshops. We will meet in fun locations around San Diego with a range of shooting subjects. Each workshop starts with an explanation of the lesson plan, in which we discuss what we are trying to achieve that day. We will then all work on a number of practical exercises with short breaks for explanation and summaries. At the end of the workshop we will come together to discuss what we have learned. The workshop is based on the contents of Digital SLR eLearning Kit For Dummies with additional exercises and information. Class sizes are small to enhance your learning experience.

Individual workshops cost $75 each. Purchase a certificate for all eight classes at a substantial discount (8 x 2-hour classes) = $450 or four workshops  (4 x 2 hour classes) for $250.