Digital cameras were a huge innovation in photography.
But with that huge innovation came a huge headache.
We went from mechanical SLRs, which are comparatively simple machines that are simple to operate, to digital cameras with operating systems that need upgrading and a plethora of camera functionality that are well beyond the basics needed to make a thoughtfully, uniquely composed photograph.
Learning to work a digital camera is akin to learning a computer's operating system.
On top of learning the operating system, if we're new
to photography, we gotta learn about camera operation, composition, and light, too.
So we need to sort out the stuff we gotta learn to learn photography, from the computer-generated stuff that can alter our picture and hinder our learning
process.
And we can find it all categorized and sorted in the menus.
And even the menus are sorted.
We usually have a main menu and a quick menu.
The trick is to sort the functionality needed to make an intentionally composed picture from the functionality that'll add computer-generated effects that alter our picture without our compositional intent.
That's what we do at the beginning of the Introduction to Photography class, and then we shut off the computer-generated effects.
When we do that, we can be sure that the outcome of our photograph is a direct result of our camera operation alone, and that's how we learn the relationship between our camera operation and our resulting composition.
For example, I ask photographers who work with me to turn off all forms of noise reduction and vibration reduction/image stabilization because I want them to see how ISO affects noise and how the relationship between focal length and shutter speed can lead to a blurry picture.
We've gotta understand photography.
The best way to do that is to simplify our camera operation and functionality by sorting out what we need to do
to create a picture from what we don't need the camera to do, that'll alter the picture we're making.
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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.