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. 

Special Notice(s)

(My email to keep you thinking about your studies and practice is below any special notices)

Kick off the new year by becoming a better photographer. The Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography classes start in early January. (or you could do it as a series of Private Lessons.)

And don’t forget that a gift certificate for photography instruction makes an excellent gift for a photographer.

End of the Special Notice(s)

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Regardless of the camera we use, when we have a good, solid understanding of photography, we can make some complex, creative pictures.
 

As I’ve said before, it’s not the camera that makes the picture, it’s the photographer who does.

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Trees photographed from a moving train while traveling from Washington DC to Greensboro North Carolina.  Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 16:10
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This picture is a perfect example of the level of understanding we achieve during our studies and practice in the Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class, or in private lessons that cover the same stuff.

This is a complex picture made with a simple camera.

What made this picture possible was understanding the light and the conditions I was working in.

When we’re working with low light and a moving subject, like when shooting from a moving train, our smartphone’s camera will naturally pick a slower shutter speed.

That slow shutter speed means that the train's fast movement relative to the landscape that’s not moving will create an impressionistic photograph caused by blur.

If we don’t understand photography, we might think this is a mistake. Still, once we understand photography, we can do this intentionally, even with a simple camera like the one on our phone.

Let me be clear: we don’t work with iPhones or any other smartphones in the Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography. ( If you’re interested in a smartphone, Class I’ve got one listed below)

The intro is for more complex cameras like DSLR, mirrorless cameras, or any other camera that can be operated in fully manual exposure mode.

Understanding how and why this happens is just one of many things we cover throughout the class.

We don’t just talk about camera settings.

We cover and gain a solid understanding of the relationship between camera operation, composition, and light.

And that’s the kind of understanding we’re able to carry into any type of camera, including the one on our phones.

I teach photographers of all levels how to use camera operation, composition, and light to create thoughtful, skillful, and unique images.

Whether it’s in a group class, a private lesson, or online, my approach is about helping you develop your own way of seeing and creating photographs that are uniquely yours.—No rigid rules, just real understanding.

Got questions?

Email me at sam@samdamico.com or call 202-531-2344.

There’s ways to learn photography with me listed below.

Remember, keep studying and practicing, and make at least one picture a day.

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.

I keep my group classes small 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.