These emails come with the intent of helping you be a better photographer.

But if you're tired of hearing from me, unsubscribe.

And if you want more photography stuff to read, there's a place on the interwebs where past emails I wrote are stored.

You'll find 'em in the "Newsletter Hub."

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 who sees it.

A couple of days ago, a photographer asked me why photographers wouldn’t work in automatic exposure mode since manual exposure seems so difficult.

While I understand why someone would choose to work in an automatic exposure mode, I disagree with their reasoning, especially if they tell me they want to be the best photographer they can be.

Operating our camera is a physical experience.

Creating/composing a photograph is a mental experience.

Camera operation allows us to select exposure modes: fully manual or automatic.

When we select an automatic exposure mode, our mind is less involved in physical experience with the camera (because there’s less camera operation needed) and in compositional thought processes, because there’s no need to think if the camera is doing 99% of the work for us.

Fully manual exposure mode allows us the most camera functionality, which enables us to have the most creativity, and creativity begins in the mind.

We can rely on a machine to compose our picture for us, or we can rely on our mind to compose a picture.

As photographers, if we want to express ourselves fully, we want to operate our cameras in manual exposure mode to have the most creative controls available to us on our camera.

When we do that, coupled with a strong understanding of photography and light, we know how to use our minds to operate the camera to get the best photographs we can.
 

In other words, when working in manual exposure mode, we work our cameras intentionally, thoughtfully, efficiently, effectively, and confidently, and wind up with the best pictures we can because we understand the relationship between camera operation, composition, and light.

Understanding Photography makes the act of making a photograph an enjoyable endeavor.

Misunderstanding photography makes the physical and mental acts of making a photograph frustrating and confusing.

Our choice Is to understand or not to understand.

Although working in manual exposure mode looks more difficult because of the learning curve involved, once we understand what we’re doing, photography becomes easy.

The Introduction To Photography classes are starting soon.
 

If the schedules don’t work for you, we could arrange a series of private lessons covering the same material.

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Become a better photographer by joining my Online Learning Platform for Photographers – Study and practice at your own pace with access to exclusive content, assignments, and feedback.

The Photography Basics (Introduction To Photography) group classes starts soon or you can learn the same stuff as a series of Private Lessons.
  
More ways to study and practice photography with me are below.

Call me at (202) 531-2344 if you need help determining the best course for you.

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A note about group class sizes: Did you know that some places that teach photography have up to 25 students in each class? 

Bigger ain't always better.

That's why I limit my group classes to no more than five participants because smaller classes make for better, more effective, and more efficient learning experiences.

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

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

Currently scheduled classes are below.

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.