One advantage of working with me during a series of private lessons is that you have a direct line to me through text or email.
It’s not that you don’t have that with me in a group class; the only thing I require is that you’ve gotta include the whole group with your question.
And although I’ll do my best to answer the question if it’s sent to me through a text or an email, sometimes the question is best answered in person.
It’s best to answer in person because if part of the issue is not understanding camera operation, because hands-on instruction is the way to address that.
I’ve included a recent text exchange with a photographer who is taking private lessons with me to better explain what I'm talking about.
——
“Sam. I’m struggling with Depth of Field. Do you have a blog post or a newsletter that can help refresh my memory until we meet on Friday?”
——-
“Trisha,
Off of the top of my head I can’t think of anything in terms of an email I sent or a blog post that goes deep enough into depth of field that might help you.
Do the best you can.
On Friday, we’ll talk about whatever struggles you were having and do what we can to clarify things when it comes to the depth of the field.
The only thing I
could say that might help is depth of field is connected to aperture and;
Smaller number/bigger opening results in a more shallow or less depth of field.
Bigger number/smaller opening results in a deeper or more depth of
field.”
———-
“Oh, and the other thing: when you’re studying and practicing with the depth of field, make sure you have a lot of distance in the background.
And make sure you don’t focus too far away.
I would say arm's length or maybe no more than 5 feet away should be the farthest distance to focus on to see the effects of the depth of
field”.
———
“Explaining the focus helps a-lot. I think when practiced I had my focus on an object that was too far away. “
——
That may have been a good explanation intellectually, but in terms of knowing something intellectually and understanding how it practically applies to making a picture or two different things.
Don’t get me wrong; knowing is
essential, but what’s more important is the practical application (the doing) of what we know because the only way we gain understanding is by doing.
As I’ve said before, we can know a lot but understand little.
Knowing could be achieved through sources of information, such as videos, books, etc..
The understanding comes through the doing.
I’ve worked with and continue to work with a lot of photographers who know a lot but understand a little.
When I work with them, we concentrate on the doing, so they’ll understand how what they know relates to
creating photographs.
The Photography Basics (Introduction To Photography)
group classes starts soon.
If you'd like a personalized way to learn, there's always Private
Photography Lessons made to fit your schedule and way of learning that'll cover the same material you'd get during the Introduction to Photography class.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need guidance on choosing the right course.
And remember, we learn and improve
by doing, so practice making at least one picture daily.
