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. 

( First, a heads up that the Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class—Starts tomorrow! )

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I’ve been working with a photographer, and we've been doing a series of private lessons.
 

However, since he’s been traveling and putting his photography studies and practice to use, we haven’t met lately.
 

But he’s been sending me pictures.

Recently, he sent me a picture of a peacock.
 

Not a peacock in a zoo.
 

It was a peacock in the wild.

And to be clear, it wasn’t the peacock that was problematic, but rather the light the photographer was working with.

When I say the light he was working with, beyond the light being provided by the sun (which is a transmitting or illuminating light source), the peacock and everything else in the picture (which are reflective light sources) while I’m critiquing the photograph i’m bringing my attention to how the intensity of the reflective light sources reproduced as tonalities in the picture.

The light the photographer was working with was primarily problematic because the difference in light intensity between the background and the peacock was significant.
 

To an inexperienced photographer, especially one relying on an automatic exposure mode, the picture probably would’ve been a disappointment.

In this case, the picture wasn’t a disappointment; instead, it was a skillfully made photograph that had the best compositional outcome possible.

The photographer thoughtfully metered strategic areas of the Peacock to achieve a tonality that held detail in the bird while holding its dark blue color.
 

They also used their focusing modes and focus areas thoughtfully and skillfully.

Not to mention aperture, shutter speed, and ISO choices, which prevented any blur from the movement of the peacock and achieved a shallow depth of field to isolate the peacock from the background.
 

In a nutshell, because the photographer was working in manual exposure mode and understood how the relationships between camera operation, composition, and light influence each other, they had total control of the outcome of this picture.

Helping you create thoughtful and skillfully composed photographs that effectively communicate what you wanna communicate is what I’m here to help you do.
 

And if you’re wondering why I’m not showing you the picture of the peacock, it’s because it’s not my picture to show.
 

Without the photographer's written permission to reproduce, display, and distribute the picture, I’d be committing the seriously illegal act of copyright infringement.

And if you knew me and my background as a professional photographer, you’d understand how I think and feel about copyright infringement and those who commit it.

 When you participate in my
Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class, you’ll learn to make the best pictures possible even under problematic light conditions.

But if the group  schedules don’t work for you, you can schedule
private photography lessons for a more personalized approach.

Or join my Online Learning Platform; you’ll have a bunch of photography lessons at your disposal anytime and anywhere you want.

However you choose to learn  me, I’ll help you be a better photographer-study and practice photography with me.

If you’ve got questions or want to talk about the best way for you to learn, don’t hesitate to reach out.

There’s more ways to learn with me below.

The Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography classes are starting soon.
 

If you can’t make any of those schedules, Private Lessons would be the way to go.

If none of my in-person ways of learning work for you, then you can study and practice at your own pace and schedule by joinining me on my Online Learning Platform for Photographers.

It’s the next best thing to taking an in-person class with me; you could even ask me questions, and members get exclusive access to all the other member-only educational content created to help you be the best photographer you can be.  

As one member told me, their monthly membership is cheaper than their weekly coffee habit, and more useful than any YouTube videos they’ve watched, especially since they could ask me questions.

Access to this content and other content related to the photography classes I teach in person requires a membership, which costs $25 a month. (You can also join for free and get access to content that’s available to everyone.) 

Here’s the link: Online Learning Platform for Photographers 

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 in-person scheduled group classes? Then, in-person Private Lessons suited to your schedule are always an option.