Digital Photography I

[Nikonzen]

Tonight was the last session of a 6 week once per week photography class that I enrolled in at the local camera store. As the thoughts come to me I will post them here.

Generally speaking it was all about teaching exposure using manual mode.

I highly recommend to anyone who is serious about their photography to take such a class.

 

[Nikonzen]

Syllabus

Session 1
Your camera's meter and dials. Emphasis on metering in the middle.

Session 2
Aperture, White balance, Composition

Session 3
Shutter speed

Session 4
Window light portraiture

Session 5
Equipment, filters, pop up flash

Session 6
Storyboard and histogram

 

[Nikonzen]

Anecdote 1. During the first session we had a segment where the instructor talked about how to hold your camera. Elbows in, barrel of lens resting firmly in left palm, etc. Well this girl raises her hand and when called upon she asks how do you hold a camera one handed. The instructor paused for a minute and looked somewhat confused. Then said girl raised up both her arm and her other arm which was but a stump...everything elbow on gone. I busted out laughing so did everyone else. The girl actually shot her camera one handed she already had a technique. I told her to get a wrist strap and try it out.

Metering in the middle was interesting because for many years now I don't work with the meter. I use sunny 16 to get me in the ballpark and then my flashing blown highlights screen to tune it to the exposure I want. Before the Df I used the histogram also but the Df does not have one as far as I know. So in a way metering in the middle took me back to film days where I used to use the meter most of the time...except for when shooting the F2 with eyelevel finder (which is a no meter finder for those who don't know). A good review for me and a reminder of another tool in the toolbox. I shall try to use it more often now as the Df wants you to slow down anyways.

I guess I should add that the instructor emphasized exposure exposure exposure. Manual mode. Exposure triangle. The one thing he wanted us to comprehend and understand thoroughly by the end of the course. Bumping up ISO during the day is the one that always screws me up. I think it is done in order to be decrease your shutter...see I hate that one...

 

[thoongeng]

Nikon Df should have histogram and highlight warning screens... I checked out the manual from Nikon (http://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/28/Df.html) pages 190 to 191. If you don't see the screens, they might be turned off in the 'Playback Display Options', see page 232 of manual

 

[Nikonzen]

Thanks thoongeng. Always learning which is a good thing.

 

[Nikonzen]

For my installment tonight I will mention a novel little website the instructor told us about to help folks learn about exposure triangle relationship. It is called camera sim. I believe the app costs a very small fee to upload but it is well worth it if you wish to explore the concept of exposure and what your aperture, shutter, and ISO do when you make snaps.