The Next Level – Beginner Digital Photography 2010
THE NEXT LEVEL: Online Photography Workshop for Beginning Digital Photographers beginning Saturday, Feb. 20th, 2010
Maximum of 5 students. Cost: $179 Register now to insure your place in this one of a kind photography education experience.
You enjoy taking landscape and portrait photographs, or shooting events. You’ve been using a point and shoot camera. You now have a Digital SLR camera and want to really grow your passion for photography, understand the elements of a photograph and build your confidence. You want a solid foundation delivered to you by a professional photographer with significant teaching experience.
Begin learning how to make that camera work for you and take your images to the next level of quality. Over the course of four weeks we’ll work through four assignments, all done on your schedule and at your pace. Each assignment is focused around your photographs and each assignment will help build the mindset to create beautiful, more compelling and provocative images.
Build your confidence, understanding and passion for photography. Learn at your pace and on your schedule. Learn from a professional photographer and teacher. Let me help you get TO THE NEXT LEVEL, beginning Saturday Feb. 20th, 2010. Register now or continue reading below for more course information. Questions? email me: alec@acjohnsonphoto.com
Course Content:
You’ll be given four assignments over four weeks.
1. The first assignment is Manual Mode. With this assignment you’ll learn the difference in shooting in Manual Mode versus Aperture Priority (the other most popular mode). You’ll learn the 
concept of equivalent exposures, concepts of subject and competing subjects, and to control depth of field to isolate your subject. You’ll also have an opportunity to shoot long exposures, experiencing the amazing world out there when we capture things at a pace that differs from the human eye and brain. To get comfortable with manual mode and all it can do, you’re required to meet the first session at my studio where will learn Manual and Aperture Priority modes.
2. The second assignment introduces you to the basics of image composition. This education alone will dramatically alter the dynamic quality of your images. You’ll get a video tutorial introducing you to compositional guides with a number of popular subjects, including landscapes, portraits, etc.
3. The third assignment asks you to spend time seeing light, shooting in different light, playing with light. By now you’ve probably heard someone say, “Photography is about seeing light.” If you haven’t before, now you have. Its also the most difficult part of photography to grasp. You won’t master it here…that takes years, but you’ll start training your eye to see all the wonderful, mystical qualities and personalities of light.
4. Assignment 4 asks you to pull together the lessons learned in the three previous assignments to produce a group of refined images. We’ll address the details of this at a later date.
5. What This Class Isn’t: Many of you are new to operating a digital SLR camera and the OPERATION of it can be daunting, but this course isn’t intended to teach you how to OPERATE your camera. I trust you have an owner’s manual and can figure out how to operate it. I’ll guide you on what features to use and when, but its your responsibility to know how to locate and implement these features. I will try to answer questions where I can, but I assure you I’m not an expert on every brand and model of camera.
The Online Process:
The online process allows you to work at your own pace and for the most part on your own schedule. After each assignment I’ll review your photographs, provide you with a personal video-based photo critique (see example here), and together learn from the critiques within our small group. Nervous about being critiqued? Part of photography is becoming comfortable with yourself and the critiques provided will help you feel more confident as a photographer, but also provide critical feedback to help you become a better technical photographer. The first session is held live at my studio in Edina, MN and is required.
Who should register: The ideal candidate considers him/herself a novice and a hobbyist. You want to be inspired and challenged to shoot more and shoot better. You’re interested in learning some of the basics of photography, exploring new subject matter and want to consistently create better images. You also are able to attend the first session at my studio in Edina, MN.
Necessary Equipment: A digital SLR, a camera that provides for interchangeable lenses. You should also own or borrow a basic tripod, have a computer and card reader so you can view your images and email them to me.
Optional Equipment: Variety of lenses, image editing software (Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Elements, or Adobe Lightroom). If you don’t have image editing software, you can use free online image editing tools like Pixlr.com, Aviary.com or Picasa (picasa.google.com) to re-size images to send to me.
What This Class Isn’t: Many of you are new to operating a digital SLR camera and the OPERATION of it can be daunting, but this course isn’t intended to teach you how to OPERATE your camera. I trust you have an owner’s manual and can figure out how to operate it. I’ll guide you on what features to use and when, but its your responsibility to know how to locate and implement these features. I will try to answer questions where I can, but I assure you I’m not an expert on every brand and model of camera.
Communication: Most questions and comments are handled in an online forum specifically for the class. In the forum you’ll be able to post questions with sample images for each assignment. I’ll check the forum frequently to provide timely responses. Using a forum will allow all participants to benefit from each individual’s question.
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