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Remember, I'd like to know what you want to know about photography. So, if you have any questions, email me at sam@samdamico.com. And for what it's worth. When you send me an email, unless someone's lookin' over my shoulder, I'm the only one that sees it.

How fast are we when it comes to making a picture?

If we're working in automatic exposure mode, we'll cut our time considerably.

However, what we gain in time saved, we lose in creativity, camera control, and compositional control.

Another factor is the type of work we're doing; if we do work that requires some additional light, like a flash or more extensive multiple light set-ups, we'll spend some time figuring out how to configure our lighting.

But let's get back to the automatic exposure mode and loss of creativity thing.

Working in manual exposure mode takes more time, but what we lose in time making the picture we gain exponentially in creativity and compositional control.

How much we lose in time depends on how experienced we are with working in manual exposure mode.

When I begin working with someone who wants to learn to work in manual exposure mode, the goal is to work the camera intentionally, efficiently, and effectively so we can get the picture we want on the first exposure.

Photography ain't a race, but getting the picture on the first exposure saves a lotta time.

However, getting the picture we want on the first exposure requires understanding the cause-and-effect relationship between camera operation, composition, and light; of course, we've gotta take the time to learn that.

But once we learn that and with consistent and persistent studies and practice, our photography becomes second nature.

When our photography becomes second nature, we learn to use the elements of photographic composition and camera operation to express facts, opinions, feelings, etc., in a picture as quickly as we express those facts, opinions, feelings, etc., in words.

Photography ain't a race; it takes us as long as we need to make an intentionally composed picture, but as we become more adept photographers, the time we need to make a picture becomes less because we understand more.

The Introduction To Photography class starts soon. 
  
More ways to study and practice photography with me are below.

Call me if you need help determining the best course for you.

I'll help you be a better photographer—study and practice photography with me. 

Currently scheduled classes are below.

Smaller classes mean better learning, so class sizes are limited to 5 participants plus me.

But smaller classes also mean spots fill up quicker, so sign up soon. 

And what if the timing doesn't work for you in any of my scheduled group classes? Private in-person lessons suited to your schedule are always an option.

And remember, we learn and improve by doing, so practice making at least one picture daily.