Description:

Greetings and Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greet Participants: Welcome everyone into the workshop & introduce yourself.
• Set Expectations: Define workshop structure and key objectives.

Understanding Your Camera (10 minutes)

Camera Types

• Dissect Camera Models: DSLR, mirrorless, compact.

• Features: Briefly show features like the lens, viewfinder, and dials.

Settings and Modes

• Basic Camera Settings: Describe ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.

• Shooting Modes: Explain Auto, Manual, Aperture Priority, & Shutter Priority.

How to Explain ISO, Aperture & Shutter Speed (20 minutes)

ISO

• Definition: Explain that ISO measures the camera’s sensitivity to light. Lower ISO means less sensitivity for bright settings, and higher ISO is used for low light.

• Practical Example: Show how increasing ISO brightens an image but may introduce noise and affect picture quality.

Aperture

• Definition: Specifically define aperture as the opening in the lens that controls how much light reaches the camera sensor. It is expressed in f-stops (e.g., f/1.8, f/16).

• Practical Example: Use visuals to demonstrate that a wider aperture (lower f-stop number) creates a shallow depth of field for portraits, while a narrow aperture (higher f-stop number) captures more of the scene.

Shutter Speed

• Definition: Shutter speed refers to how long the camera shutter is open, allowing light to enter the sensor. Fast speeds freeze motion, while slow speeds create blur.

• Practical Example: Photograph something moving at different shutter speeds to show how sharp, frozen motion differs from dynamic, artistic blur. Reinforce understanding through experimentation with participants’ own cameras to reinforce concepts.

Composition Basics (15 minutes)

• Leading the Viewer: Discuss the most important rule in photography – leading the viewer. This is achieved via standard photography rules and editing.
• Rule of Thirds: Explain how the rule of thirds might help you compose photos. Examples show how to position subjects along grid lines to achieve balanced images.
• Leading Lines: Describe how leading lines draw attention to the focal point. Give tips for spotting natural lines like paths or rivers in the environment.
• Framing and Perspective: Fuse shots creatively with nature – teach techniques for framing shots.

Post Processing/Editing

• Dark to Light

• Cool to Warm
• More Contrast versus Less Contrast

Conclusion/Next Steps (10 minutes)

• Wrap-up: Recall key points from the workshop.
• Call to Action: Encourage participants to keep practicing and exploring photography.
• Q&A Session: Last question/comment: Open the floor.
• Optional Handout: Give a handout highlighting key points and resources for further learning.

Presented by:  Jeremy Vesely, For more info visit Jeremy Vesely Photography