THE BASICS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
take control of your camera to bring forth your vision with confidence
NEXT SESSION: 1/27/25 TO 3/2/25
(with the week of 2/17 off to work on assignment)
Alumni Student? We’d love to have you back. Email Celina and she’ll send you a link!
Class Overview:
Learning the fundamentals of photography will not only help you to take photos that you’ve always envisioned but to do it confidently. Understanding how your camera works will allow you to consistently take perfectly exposed photos in any situations and allow for more creativity in your work. To do so, you need to learn how to shoot in manual mode and take informed decisions on ISO, shutter speed and aperture. Knowing what focus mode to use and how to meter in-camera to take well exposed images, are just a few of the things you need to learn to take full control. Understanding light and how it’s color (white balance) affects the end results are key principles of photography. The technical part of photography allows for more creative control and consistant results that match your vision. When the science meets the arts is when the magic happens, let me help you do that!
What you will learn:
Knowing your camera and it’s limitations
The difference between a crop sensor and full frame
Shooting jpeg vs raw
Understanding the different focus modes
Understand the different camera modes
Introduction to Exposure
Understanding ISO
Understanding Shutter Speed and how it affects motion
Understanding Aperture
Learn to meter in-camera
Understand The Exposure triangle and going fully manual
Tools to help you get the right exposure
Learn how to read a histogram
Learn to meter with the zone system to get the right exposure every time
Learn to use the concept of stops
Learn to recognize different types of light and how to meter/shoot for
Learn how the color of light (white balance affects your photos)
Knowing the difference between different lenses and what type of photography they are good for
Learn about different types of photography
Basic editing tools to help you enhance your digital images
Class Mechanics:
This four week online interactive workshop will include:
daily interaction from me answering any questions you might have about the materials presented
a weekly video Zoom meeting to supplement each of the lessons
weekly assignments due each week with individual feedback from me on each assignment via screen capture video
weekly bonus exercises to help reinforce the lessons (detailed feedback will not be given on bonus assignments)
a video will be provided where you will be able to watch me upload photos to my computer and see how I archive and save my photos
a video where i walk you through an edit of an image to show some very basic editing tools and how to save your images for the web and for print- this is not an editing class.
silent students will be provided a section of the classroom to interact with one another but should not ask questions outside that area or submit assignments
alumni students will be allowed to submit assignments in a group thread for brief group feedback from me as well as ask questions and participate in group discussions.
an informal, live Q&A where all active & alumni students in the class will have to opportunity to chat, interact, and ask questions live.
silent students can to submit one question for me to answer during the live Q&A
a recording of the live Q&A will be presented for the silent students and the active and alumni students who could not attend the live meeting
Student Reviews:
“Hands down this was the best photography course, virtual or in person, I’ve ever experienced and the best value. The daily instruction plus recommended exercises to immediately put those principles into practice is a winning combination. Celina provided answers and feedback along the way thru the discussion threads and offered live group meetings as another way to connect, discuss and learn. Also, the assignments with video feedback were invaluable for reinforcing what was learned or course correcting when things weren’t quite right and pushed me creatively to go further. Celina has pour her heart and soul into the course and it shows! And it was fun interacting with and learning from other students as well. Most importantly, the course has transformed my photography, and I’m confident about how to shoot to get the results I want.” -Coco
“I have a passion for photography and have been taking pictures for some time now, always self taught and always exhausting the thousand questions that come behind the technical part of photography. I had been wanting, for the longest time, to take a course which showed me the basics of photography to fully understand what I am doing, taking away that guessing game to achieve what I am seeing and know that what i am doing is correct without having that eternal doubt. I never found any course that spoke to me until I stumbled across Celina’s. Not only was it exactly what I was looking for but better than I could have imagined thanks to the true care Celina has put in to preparing this workshop and for her guidance and all her knowings. She is so inspiring, a fountain of knowledge and an open book that has so generously shared more than what she had prepared. Answering every question and clearing every doubt and from the heart. An inspiring month that went too quick and was full of AHA and WOW moments.
It has been a true privilege to have met Celina and shared this time learning from her. I am so going to miss her and her guidance.
Without doubt one of my best decisions ever. A true and wholehearted thank you Celina.” -Monique
“I absolutely feel the feedback was conscientious and positive. Celina highlighted the techniques I got correct then followed with different choices I could have made and why they would improve my photo. Celina created a technical course that is also creative, motivating and personal. I looked forward to class every morning and her photo examples are so engaging that I am inspired to continue to practice. Celina is an excellent instructor.” -Kay
“I have taken workshops and watched countless tutorials. After years of taking photos, I had not mastered manual mode. Celina’s course was so motivating and she paced the assignments so that I was able to make connections among aperture, shutter speed, and metering. I feel I am ready to take my photography to the next level. The technical information was delivered with discussion of artistry as well. I looked forward to class each day to see what Celina and other students were sharing. The assignments were interesting, enjoyable and a way to be accountable for my progress. I learned so much more about how my camera works while completing assignments. I highly recommend Celina’s class.” - Gillian
To read more student reviews go HERE.
Prerequisites:
A DSLR or mirrorless camera that can shoot in manual mode
Cost:
Active Seat $250 | Silent Seat $200
To learn more about the different types of seats offered, go to our FAQ section.
Questions:
Please message me with any questions
To learn more about the different types of seats offered, go to our FAQ section. Alumni Student? We’d love to have you back. Email Celina and she’ll send you a link!