Beginning DSLR Photography - Take Better Photos Today!

Name: Beginning DSLR Photography - Take Better Photos Today!
Rating: 4.3 (33 reviews)

Beginners guide to creating better photos. Learn in 2 hours what it takes most photographers 2 years to learn.

Created byMark Richardson

Last updated 3/2016

English

What you'll learn

Control your camera on manual mode to take better photographs.
Understand each critical control of your DSLR so you can feel confident using your camera.

Course content

6 sections • 28 lectures • 1h 40m total length

Introduction1:21
An introduction to the things you can expect to learn inside this course on begining DSLR Photography.
What is a DSLR?1:47
Quick instructor & class introduction and DSLR defined.
The Exposure Triangle2:02
Quick overview of the Exposure Triangle and light meter.
Understanding Shutter Speed6:02
An explanation of shutter speed.
Understanding Aperture & Depth of Field4:57
One of the most common questions I get is "how do I get that cool blurry background in my photos?" In this lesson I'll teach you the proper aperture settings for a shallow depth of field. No you can get that "blurry background" too!
Understanding ISO4:52
Ever wonder how to get photos with that "blurry background?" This discussion explains your camera's aperture and how it effects exposure and depth of field.
Settings Overview on a Canon DSLR3:34
A quick recap of what we covered in the previous lectures on shutter speed, ISO, and aperture controls.
The Exposure Triangle Quiz

Understanding Focus Modes5:16
If you are shooting with a recent Canon DSLR, you will notice that you have three autofocus modes: One-Shot, AI Servo, and AI Focus. Here is a brief explanation of what each of these modes does:

One-Shot. Use this mode when your subject is stationary. I use this mode most often when shooting landscapes or product photography in the studio. Sometimes this mode is called single autofocus. When in One-Shot mode, the camera will lock in a focus point when the shutter button is pressed halfway and will hold that focus point until you either release the shutter button or press it all the way down and take a picture.

AI Servo. AI Servo focus mode is most useful when photographing moving subjects, like sport, or a race. In this mode the camera locks on a focus point when the shutter button is halfway pressed, but continues to monitor and refocus automatically if the subject or camera is moving.

AI Focus. AI Focus mode combines One-shot mode and AI Servo Mode. In this mode, the camera will automatically switch from One-shot mode to AI Servo Mode if the subject or camera starts moving. Canon documentation states that this mode is great for photographing a subject that might move unexpectedly, like a child or wildlife. (Same thing right?)

I find myself shooting in One-Shot or AI Servo focus mode the majority of the time.
Back Button Focus3:04
The camera usually focuses when the shutter button is pressed half way down, and then the photographer takes the picture when the button is pressed in fully. Back button auto focus makes it so the shutter button doesn’t control the focus activation at all, but instead assigns another button on the back of the camera (hence the name) to activate focusing on the camera.
Focus Points2:37
Learn about focus points on your DSLR.

Rule of Thirds5:30
What makes a good composition? The rule of thirds is a great basic element of composition that will improve your photos almost instantly.
Depth and Layering6:45
Examples of how to create depth in your photographs.
Landscape Photography in Teton National Park4:17
In a recent photography trip to Teton National Park, I show a couple of my favorite spots to take pictures and demonstrate looking past the obvious shot to create more unique, interesting photos. I also show how I like to find depth and use layering in my shots to create dimension in my compositions.
Leading the eye4:55
Commonly called "leading lines" this lecture talks about and shows examples of this element of composition.
Balance4:31
Balance is important both in diet and in art. We'll learn some elements that make photo feel more "balanced."
Cropping4:51
Cropping can be a very strong element of composition.
Rhythm3:56
Learn how Rhythm can be a visual element of composition.

Freeze Motion & Show Motion3:00
In this exercise, your goal is to use shutter speed to show motion, either frozen or with some motion blur. Download the PDF, complete the assignment, and then upload your photos to the Camera Stupid Photo Sharing Facebook Group to share and get feedback.
Shallow & deep depth of field3:00
In this exercise, practice using aperture to show shallow or deep depth of field. Download the PDF, complete the assignment, and then upload your photos to the Camera Stupid Photo Sharing Facebook Group to share and get feedback.
Night Long Exposure6:00
Download this PDF guide to long exposures, complete the assignment, and upload your photos to the Camera Stupid Facebook Group to share them and receive feedback: https://www.facebook.com/groups/668777229885086/
Photographing Waterfalls3:00
Download this PDF guide to photographing waterfalls, complete the assignment, and upload your photos to the Camera Stupid Facebook Group to share them and receive feedback: https://www.facebook.com/groups/668777229885086/
Light the Eyes - Catch Light Exercise3:00
Complete the two parts of this exercise and upload results to the discussion section of this course or to the Camera Stupid Photo Sharing Facebook Group.
Freeze a Splash with Flash6:57
This tutorial shows a cool technique for freezing a liquid with flash photography. Give this technique a try and upload your results to the discussion section of this course.
Nighttime Landscape Photography - Delicate Arch - Moab, Utah11:37
Here's a short tutorial where I show you how I shot one of my favorite landscape photographs.

Requirements

Having a DSLR or camera that allows for full manual control will be helpful, but not required to benefit from this course.

Description

Welcome to Beginning DSLR Photography. Do you have a DSLR camera but have no idea how to use it? Maybe you've heard terms like shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, but don't have a good idea about what they do or how to control them?

Maybe you've started taking photos but they always turn out blurry and you can't figure out why so you put the camera down in frustration?

Don't worry! In this course we're going to cover all the essential basics. This course is a great foundation that will teach you the basic principles of how a camera works so you can start practicing and begin taking better photos right away.

In the first section we will cover each point of the exposure triangle and how they work together to create an image. Each video lecture demonstrates the topic and shows example photos to help drive home the information.

In the next section, we'll go over focus, various focus modes, focus points, and back button focus. You'll learn how to nail the focus every time!

Section 3 will cover composition, rule of thirds, leading lines, leading the eye, and balance. Once we understand the technical aspects of exposing a photo correctly, it's time to start getting creative with composition and crafting a shot that will stand out and be something more than just a snapshot.

Section 4 is all about light. We'll discuss and demonstrate the different qualities of light and how to harness light to craft an image.

Section 5 is about applying your knowledge and getting out to practice! I provide several exercises that utilize what we've learned in the previous lessons and will help you get well on your way to becoming an amazing photographer.

Every concept is explained and demonstrated in a way that is simple and easy to understand. Still have questions? I'm available through the wonderful Udemy platform to help you out.

Even if you've been taking photos for a while now, this course will cover foundational items that you may have not picked up on your own.

I teach this curriculum at my local technical college and I'm excited now to bring this course online!

Who this course is for:

This course is meant for anyone looking to get started taking better photos and understanding their camera. This course covers photography basics and is aimed and beginner or intermediate photographers looking to refine their understanding of their camera and photography.

Beginning DSLR Photography - Take Better Photos Today!

What you'll learn

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Course content

Exposure Basics7 lectures • 25min

Focus3 lectures • 11min

Composition7 lectures • 35min

Crafting Images with Light3 lectures • 9min

Special Projects7 lectures • 37min

Displaying Your Work1 lecture • 3min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: