What would you teach?

[MarkBarbieri]

Some neighbors with new DSLRs have asked that I teach a beginner class. What should I teach?

Here's is what I've thought of so far:

1) Exposure basics - light, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO

2) ISO it's relationship to noise and dynamic range

3) Shutter speed and it's relationship to camera shake and subjection motion

4) Aperture and it's relationship to DOF

5) Basic Composition
A) Fill the Frame
B) Rule of Thirds
C) Balance
D) Horizon position

6) Perspective
A) Long lenses vs wide lenses
B) Zooming with your feet
C) Positioning the camera high or low

7) Quality of Light
A) Soft vs Hard
B) Light color / White Balance
C) Time of day

8) RAW vs JPG

9) Flash
A) Bounce vs direct
B) Diffusers
C) Balancing flash with ambient light

 

[wenrob]

I think you about have it covered Mark! I'd love to be there for section 9, I'm having a hard time learning to balance my flash.

I would encourage people to slow down, stop and think. I know when I get in a situation where I don't have a lot of experience everything goes right out of my head if others are waiting on me. If I'm by myself knowing what I need to do is almost instant.

 

[DVC Jen]

Sounds like you have it covered. I have a student for you - was at DDs dance recital on the 20th and there was a very nice lady behind me struggling with her camera. Didn't know how to set the camera for the recital - was going to use flash - didn't know how to turn the flash off She asked me a few questions about exposure and I ended up setting her camera manually for her. Then she went on to tell me she is a "professional photographer".

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Where do I sign up? (Said in jest, but wondering if you've ever considered making it an online tutorial?)

I think it would be helpful to make doing "assigments" part of your program, ie having to go out and practice after learning a lesson.

 

[Merrywheather]

Wow - your neighbors are so lucky! I would've loved to have had this opportunity to learn when I was first figuring things out. I really think that you will give them a great foundation with all that information. [I would also second what Pea-n-Me said about an online tutorial ].

 

[brack]

5 then 1

 

[YesDear]

Mark:

Great list and organization as usual. My suggestion would be add the megapixel myth to the the raw/jpg section. Show them a great 3mp image and a bad 12mp image to show it is the photographer and using the other skills you are showing them and not just how many pixels you buy in the camera.

Also some section on selection of camera and glass. Explain you cannot take a picture of Jack Sparrow in pirates with a new DSLR and a kit lense in a moving boat. Or you daughter's inside the gym volleyball match with a kit lense and freeze the action, or that dance recital hand held with a kit lens. The $$$$ relationship between a 1.4 prime lens and a 3.5-4.6 kit lens.

These are the two main misconceptions I hear from new DSLR owners that do not understand photography basics.

 

[pjacobi]

Measure focal length of magnifying glass and calculate f/stop.

Show diagram of chromatic aberration of simple lens and how it corrected by complex lens.

Use magnifying lens to build a "Camera Obscura". Explain how the word english word "camera" is taken from the Italian words for "dark room".

Note that the upside-down and backwards image was originally traced by an artist, later chemically processed on film, then finally digitized on modern camera.


-Paul

 

[wkrider]

I wish I lived near you so that I could attend the classes. I learned today that I have a lot to learn with indoor shots. I took a bunch of pics of my wife's friends new kittens and they stunk. I tried different lenses, shutter speeds, apertures and such. I need to do a lot of reading and practicing.

 

[Merrywheather]

What about how to clean a sensor...

-How you know when it needs to be cleaned
-The appropriate products to use
-The precise steps you take
-What NOT to do

This is a topic that I would know nothing about if it wasn't for this board!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Measure focal length of magnifying glass and calculate f/stop.

Show diagram of chromatic aberration of simple lens and how it corrected by complex lens.

Use magnifying lens to build a "Camera Obscura". Explain how the word english word "camera" is taken from the Italian words for "dark room".

Note that the upside-down and backwards image was originally traced by an artist, later chemically processed on film, then finally digitized on modern camera.


-Paul

Interesting idea, but I don't think this is the approach I'll take. These are non-photographers that just want to learn how to take better pictures. If I go off into lens theory, I'll lose them completely.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

5 then 1

Hmmm...should composition be taught before exposure control or should it be the other way? I'll have to think about that. Maybe I'll interleave the two.

I was thinking about starting with a still life lit by several lights. I was going to use half the lights, get them to set up their camera in manual mode, and take a picture. Then I'll add light and have them take another picture to show the change. Then I'll take away light and have them take another picture. Then we'll adjust each variable (shutter speed, ISO, and aperture) to see the effects.

What about how to clean a sensor...

-How you know when it needs to be cleaned
-The appropriate products to use
-The precise steps you take
-What NOT to do

This is a topic that I would know nothing about if it wasn't for this board!

That raises and interesting question. How much should I teach about the basic camera mechanics as opposed to photography fundamentals. Should I get into subjects like sensor cleaning, AF modes, timer modes, and that sort of thing? They are important, but they are also distractions from the basics. I almost want to do two classes - how to take good pictures and how to work your camera.

 

[rtphokie]

This material seems a bit more than "beginner". Maybe half of that would be appropriate.

 

[mabas9395]

Sounds to me like you could have up to four sections:

1) The artistic side (composition, rule of thirds, balance, etc)
2) The technical side (iso, aperture, shutter speed, DOF, white balance, etc)
3) Camera mechanics (sensor cleaning, aperture priority, full manual, EC, metering modes, which lenses for which situation, etc)
4) After the click (software options (lightroom/PS/OEM provided), file types (raw/jpg/tiff/dng), DAM, backups, what size file to print a good 8x10, etc)

btw, if you like sharing your photography hobby with others, think about signing up to be a boy scout merit badge councelor for the photography merit badge. My son's new troop needs all the help they can get so I'll be signing up next week for this and a few others.

 

[blackears]

Mark, like others have said, this is a great idea, and it looks like there are almost endless possibilities. As a new and according to the wife, avid photographer, I am interested in all of the listed topics. I think you should start w/ the camera mechanics, because if they (we) don't know what the buttons, dials, etc are in our hands, then they are just going to waste. But, if we know what they do, then that might help w/ the basics of taking/creating pics. And, don't forget, the more your students learn, the more they will want to learn.

 

[boBQuincy]

Zone System,
so they start out knowing what "proper" exposure is, and how (and why) to get it. This will also teach your students why they can not successfully capture both highlights and shadows in one exposure.

 

[sluggozmom]

I could really use your classes! I just don't get it.
And I am afraid you would need a drill to get this all into my head though

I tried a photography class a few years ago with hopes of absorbing just a little of what you are offering your LUCKY neighbors.

I got the "teacher" that demonstrated formatting a card with some poor womans DD birthday pictures Yup...lost em all

Everything you have listed interests me.
I wish I could use my camera in manual mode

I think I am forever doomed to auto mode....

 

[MarkBarbieri]

This material seems a bit more than "beginner". Maybe half of that would be appropriate.

Which half? I'm finding that the hardest thing is knowing what is enough without doing too much.

 

[Steve's Girl]

For a beginner class, I think you should go to about #5. #6 and up seems to be more intermediate. Maybe save that for the 201 class.

 

[wen-tom]

Mark, what lucky neighbours you have... i dont suppose you fancy a trip to the UK to teach me all of this... I seem to have hit a brick wall.. like my brain is full and just wont take any more in...