Camera class

Although many of you are content to use your cell phones, I know that some of you have received digital cameras as presents this year. 

Or maybe you have had one for a while and never got around to figuring it out.

Maybe you are not quite sure how to use it but are too embarrassed to say so.

So you will either plod along in an automatic or program mode and let the camera make all the significant choices for you or worse still, will put it on the shelf and never use it at all.

I can't tell you how many people have asked me to help them figure out their cameras. A lot.

Never fear, I would like to help you. As good as your cell phone might be I want to share with you the joy that can come from a more hands on photographic experience with an actual camera.

I would like to offer a free one time zoom class for beginners and teach you the basics of photography including the exposure triangle, priority modes and basic camera settings, irrespective of brand. We can talk about shooting portraits and landscapes and the best ways to approach both of them.

The sooner you stop relying on automatic settings the better and more satisfying the whole experience will be, believe me.

It's not as hard as you might think it is.

Although there are many types of cameras out there, digital photography still comes down to three things, the size of the aperture opening, the speed of the shutter and the strength of the signal you choose to receive from the camera sensor. By figuring out the first two variables you can get proper exposure, decide how you want to portray your depth of field for a particular image and also what kind of background you want to achieve.

Let me demystify the experience for you and try to make it simple. Later we can talk about things like post production, the rule of thirds and basic composition. You will leave the first class with the ability to take both a closeup photograph of a person and a landscape.

Email me if you have an interest in this and if enough people are interested we will set a date. We will try one session and see how it works out. All that I ask is that you have a notebook handy, camera in hand and read the manual for your specific camera prior to the class and be familiar with what your particular buttons do beforehand.

Later the local folks can all meet up for a masked hike at Los Jilgueros Preserve and we can put our newfound skills to work together during a short walk. If you find the class helpful you are encouraged to make a small donation to the charity of your choice or buy me a shrimp and garlic skillet at Rosas's.