Online Photography Courses

VA Beach Girl

I am looking for advice on online photography classes. I'd prefer one that has at least some live discussion of some sort rather than just a cd/dvd series. I learn better being able to ask questions of a real live person. I recently purchased a Canon D40 and want to start from the ground up. Thanks for your help! kim:barb

DoctorIt

Hey there,
Welcome to Dgrin

I've moved your post over to the Technique forum, flea market is really more for swapping gear.

So you say you learn better by asking real live people? and by live discussion? Hmm, seems like you're not too far from a solution!

We've got whole forums full of both live people and discussion! This particular forum is all about shooting technique. I recommend browsing through the stickies (this "best of thread" is a great primer: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=56682) as well as a few threads, try searching for some particular questions you might have. We have several regular posters who are always friendly and helpful. It's not an official class, but definitely full of real live people.

Give it a try

AlbertZeroK

I woudl highly recomend you purchase the Magic Lantern DVD for your camera. And if you get a flash, you may want to check out the Nikon School Lighting DVD.

There are a ton of cameras out, and there are VERY few teachers who can help you with how to use your camera. Each camera's settings are just a little different.

You may also want to check into local photography clubs in your area.

Justiceiro

I agree with the above posters that here is one of the best places to ask questions, and to learn. It can seem intimidating at first, because there is a lot to learn about what are, ultimately, complex machines. And the folks around here know quite a lot about them. But don't freak- unlike other online photoforums, folks here tend to play well with strangers and behave in a civilized manner.

I'm going to assume that you are a complete n00b, and know nothing about the shiny new toy that you just purchased. I started out there, as did everybody else, and getting a basic grip on it can be tough. I just recently drew up a basic photography class for a few friends, so I'll set out the intro material. Then go shoot stuff, and return for more in depth questions.

Basic Technical Elements of Photography

The word “Camera” comes from the Latin Camera Obscura, or “dark room.” this is a translation of the word البيت المظلم , Al-Bayt al Muthlim.” The Camera Obscura was first concieved of by Ibn Al-Haytham, known in the west as Alhazen, a Cairoene Mathematician who lived from 965-1039, and invented the Camera Obscura as well as the Pinhole Camera. He used these devices to prove that light travelled in straight lines. Unfortunately his discoveries predated the invention of film, so for almost 1,000 years the Camera Obscura remained a novelty.


Part 1: What is a Camera, exactly


Camera Obscura

Do you need to know this? Probably not. But it is quite cool, and can impress your friends at parties.
How Does A Camera Function?

1. Light passes through a small hole into a totally darkened chamber, in this case, your camera.

2. It is "focused" by a pinhole or a lens and projected upside down on the opposite wall of the chamber.

3. It is then recorded onto some sort of permanent media: film or digital sensor. All cameras, digital, pinhole, camera obscura, etc. are exactly this.


Lens function, as described by Alhazen

Part 2: Parts of the Camera

A camera consists of five parts:

1. Light Proof Box

2. Storage Media (Film, Sensor)

And three others, which are the ones you should be concerned with:

3. Lens

4. Aperture

5. Shutter

All photographic effects rely on manipulating the relationship between the lens, the aperture, and the shutter.Each of these will be described in detail, and once you have mastered them, you will have mastered the technical elements of your camera. These three things determine the type of image that is cast upon the focal plane, and thus what your picture looks like.


THE LENS

The Lens determines the extent of the image that is captured at the focal point, or how “far away” the frame of the picture is. Lenses are divided into three major categories:
1. Zoom Lenses

2. Prime Lenses

3. Special Lenses (Tilt/Shift, Fisheye, Etc. Don't sweat these yet, they typically cost massive amounts of money.)

The focal length of the lens affects what you see in your lens as the image, or the picture, this is your Field of View. The field of view of the human eye normally approximates that of a 50mm lens.





THE APERTURE
The Aperture is the hole through which the light passes. It affects how much of a shot is in focus, or “depth of field.” The size of the aperture is controlled through setting the “f-stop.” The higher the f-stop, the smaller the aperture. Note: The smaller the f-stop number, the bigger the hole. The aperture is just like the Iris in your eye.



Big and small apertures

THE SHUTTER


The shutter is the “door” that opens and closes to let light passing through the lens and aperture hit your film or sensor. The Shutter is critical because it determines the time of the exposure, and hence whether your picture is too dark, blown out, or just right. There are two types of shutters, leaf shutters, or curtain shutters. You probably have a curtain shutter.



Curtain shutters, as featured on your DSLR



THE LENS: PRIME VS. ZOOM

Prime Lenses
Have a “fixed” focal length and do not move in or out.
Are optimally designed for sharpness at their fixed focal length.
Are typically “faster” lenses which trap more light.
Tend to be Cheaper (relatively). the canon 50mm f1.8 prime, or it's Nikon equivalent (should you be foolish enough to use a Nikon) should definitely be in your bag. Awesome, and around $100.


Zoom Lenses
Have a “movable” focal length
Tend to be sharpest in the middle, soft at zoom extremes.
Typically “slower” lenses which trap less light.
Quality zoom lenses are expensive.



What to look for when you look at a lens
If the lens is a zoom lens, it will have a range expressed in millimeters.
All lenses have a aperture value expressed as well.
On a zoom, the aperture often changes depending on the position of the zoom lens. To the right is a 18-250mm zoom. At 18mm the, largest aperture is 3.5. at 250mm the largest aperture is 6.3. On a prime lens there is only one number, as it does not zoom.
Most lenses can be closed down to at least f22, regardless of max aperture.

The Zoom in operation


Zoom lenses need to be large and expensive to maintain wide apertures consistently throughout the zoom range. If you can afford this, that’s great. If not, check out some prime lenses.

What does Zoom Range really mean:
A super telephoto can go from this: (70mm)



to This: (300 mm)

That's some reach.
Part 3: Actually Using All This Stuff


The Aperture

What does “f stop” mean?

The f stop is a number that indicates the size of the opening of the aperture. Stops are labeled on your lens, or on you camera’s viewfinder (or both).



This can be confusing because the smaller the number, the larger the opening. The size of the aperture controls the intensity of the light hitting the film- thus the wider the aperture, the “quicker” a shot needs to be. There is a direct relationship between shutter speed and f-stop. Every “stop” up on your lens (for example, from 2.8 to 4) doubles the amount of light available, and thus cuts your shutter speed in half. A shot that would need to be at 1/50th of a second at f 4, would only need 1/100th of a second to properly expose at f2.8. Think of the “lower” f stops meaning “less” time of exposure.


Aperture control, along with shutter speed, affect the two most important technical concepts you must master in photography:

Depth of Field (aperture)
Motion Control (shutter)

Depth of Field (often called DOF)

Depth of Field has to do with Focus. The depth of field indicates how “deep” the area of the shot is that is in focus, and how large the area of the shot is that is not in focus. The “length” of the depth of field is measure not in width, but in depth from the perspective of the viewer. The DOF is either “Shallow” or “Deep.” A smaller aperture (higher f stop number) makes more of the picture in focus

Shallow Depth of Field # 1. Notice that the subject in the foreground is in focus, but the background is out of focus. This concentrates the attention of the viewer on the subject. This was shot at a very “wide” f1.8 People shots are typically made at wider apertures, so as to get rid of distracting background elements.




Shallow Depth of Field # 2- Notice that choosing a shallow depth of field doesn’t necessarily make the foreground object in focus, and the background objects blurred. It simply makes the zone of focus smaller. Here objects in the middle distance are in focus, while objects in the foreground and background are not.




This is a landscape shot made at f18. Notice that much of the foreground and background are in focus. The DOF is “deep” here Landscapes are often shot at f18 or greater.


Next, the Shutter....

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Justiceiro

USING THE SHUTTER

The Shutter, in combination with the Aperture, is the most important element in the body of the camera. Shutter speed determines the “fluidity” of the picture, and if it is properly exposed.
There is a direct relationship between aperture and shutter speed. In most Cameras, aperture stops and shutter speeds are linked. One stop wider on an aperture usually means one setting faster on the shutter speed control.
The Shutter speed affects primarily:
Stopping or unstopping motion (freeze frame or fluid).
Blurriness from “hand shake”
Exposure


Motion Control with the Shutter
Choosing a fast shutter speed “freezes” the action, whereas choosing a slow shutter speed “blurs” it, or makes it appear to be in motion.

Shutter at 1/1600th of a second. This "freezes" the action.


Shutter at 1/15th of a second. Objects in the image appear to be in motion.

Controlling Motion: Panning

Occasionally, we want the object in motion to be sharp, and the background to be “in motion.” This gives us an idea of motion from the perspective of the subject and not the observer. This is done by “panning” the camera to follow the subject. Focus on the subject as it moves across your field of vision, and follow it- keeping the speed of the camera and of the subject relatively equal. Then press the shutter.





An example of panning to blur background


Lock the camera on the subject as it moves across your field of vision, and follow it- keeping the speed of the camera and of the subject relatively equal. Then press the shutter.



The object will not “move” relative to the film, but the background will.

REVIEW

Camera Parts
-Lens
-Aperture
-Shutter

Camera Functions
-Feild of View
-Depth of Field
-Motion in Field

KEY RULES

[FONT=&quot]•[FONT=&quot] [/FONT][/FONT]The smaller the aperture number, the smaller the depth of field.
[FONT=&quot]•[FONT=&quot] [/FONT][/FONT]The faster the shutter, the more “frozen” the motion.


This is far from a complete description of Cameras and what they do, but think it over, go out and take some shots, and then post them for critique.

Good Luck!