This course is not about teaching you how to be a Professional Photographer. We spend a good chunk of change on our cameras and it is important to know how to get the most out of your camera.
"Throughout my years as a Photographer I have taken several Photography courses developing my skill. I remember in the beginning really wanting to get out there and take awesome photos and let the world see WHAT I was seeing and HOW I was seeing it! It's exciting and VERY frustrating at the same time to see a moment and not be able to capture it. This is where I hope this beginning level Photography course will help you and the other students understand how to tell your visual stories with your camera. The course is designed to be basic and break down step by step the process on how to use your camera and how to SEE the image before you take it." - Gina Zhidov
Beginner Photography
Level 1 course
A 5 week course, Tuesdays 2 hour class. Limit 7 students. $150.00
Required: minimum of 4 students signed up for class to make. Students will be notified.
Sign up deadline is 3 days before first class.
FYI: We offer studio camera rentals to Beginner Photography students who do not have gear and want to see if photography is an interest.
This course is for Photographers shooting in AUTO and want to learn MANUAL mode.
Students receive a PDF course booklet and instructional handouts.
• 1st week Class & Studio introduction, Student Q&A
Meet the studio team and let us know about your photography and equipment.
Students will be asked to fill out a questionnaire with their most need to know Photography goals.
Overview of course and how you can get the most out of this class.
• 2nd week PROPER EXPOSURE: Manual Mode: Shutter|Aperture|ISO
Shoot in Manual Mode: your camera does not know what kind of image you are trying to create. Shooting in Manual will allow you control and better image results.
Proper Exposure is getting the correct amount of light using the Shutter|Aperture|ISO
1) Shutter controls motion and ambient light
2) Aperture controls depth of field and light
3) ISO controls how sensitive the sensor will be to light.
•3rd week Depth of Field and field trip *venue may change due to weather and or sunset time.
Depth of Field (DOF) is a range of distance that appears sharp. Depth of Field is determined by 2 main things: Aperture and focusing distance from subject.
1) A shallow DOF will allow a blurred background. Smaller f-stop f 2.8 = wider aperture = more light.
2) A deep DOF everything in the image will be sharp. Bigger f-stop f 22= smaller aperture = less light
3) Your focal distance and distance from subject will affect your DOF.
• 4th week Beginning Composition
Knowing the elements of basic Composition will allow you to create stronger visual stories.
BASIC COMPOSITION:
Horizon Lines work best when they are straight.
Moving Objects should enter not exit the frame. The human eye will try and follow the path of the object. You want the eye of the viewer to stay within your image. For example: Catch someone walking into your frame.
Rule of Thirds try and visualize your frame divided into thirds and place your subject at the intersecting points. Placing your subject off center usually creates a more pleasing image.
Leading Lines help drive the viewer’s eye toward the important elements in your image.
Using frames placing objects around the edge of the composition creates a natural frame around the subject.
Foreground interest Add something in the foreground to help lead to your subject and creates depth.
Patterns and Repetition people are drawn to patterns and repetition. They find them visually pleasing.
Fill the frame this allows the viewer to see the details of the subject, especially emotions.
POINT OF VIEW: this concept is critical for me. Point of view is the photographer’s position. This is powerful at creating a strong visual story with your image. Are you laying on the ground looking up at your subject? Are you up on a ladder or on top of a building looking down at your subject? Are you standing and looking straight at them.
Birds eye view: When the photographer is up high and shooting down at the subject it can give the viewer a sense of power or superiority over the subject. The subject will look diminutive.
Become the subject: If you are photographing someone cooking food, take a photo of the food with the cooks hands in the frame, think about your perspective, how you would document this story so that the viewer feels like they are experiencing it?
EYE LEVEL: we see the world on our eye level and we make connections. When photographing animals or children it is important to get on their level. You want to make connection to your subjects. Get down onto their level to tell their story. NEVER shoot from up high and down onto a child unless you are wanting to make that child appear vulnerable. Shoot at eye level or UP to connect and or give importance.
Shoot UP to give importance. Shooting up at your subject will make it appear large. You can make a blade of grass seem like a skyscraper. This also can make your viewer feel intimidated.
THINK about what emotion you want to evoke and make sure your angle|perspective conveys the story you are wanting to tell!
• 5th final week Constructive critique: A Slideshow of the students images created throughout the course with emphasis on the positive aspects and recommendation on how to improve
Discuss “What do I do with my Photographs?” Talk on the importance of being a Photographer, Photography creates a visual narrative, it tells a story and makes a connection. And it documents HISTORY.
We will watch a short Ted X video on How Photography creates connection.
Courses are held at the Gina Zhidov Photography Studio 327 North 6th, Chickasha
Gina Zhidov Photography | 327 North 6th, Chickasha | www.Z-Artscene.com | contact@Z-Artscene.com