365 Days of Bliss: Day 43- Outdoor Photography Class
Ever thought about taking a photography class?
Ever thought about not using the pre-sets on your DSLR and trying things manually for a change? Me too!
Ever since I got my first DSLR camera years ago I have wanted to learn how to be a “real” photographer. Now, don’t get me wrong the new Sony Alpha camera my husband got me for my birthday this year has so many scenes and modes and options as pre-sets that I could be happy for life. But there are those times when you really want your image to stand out and
do what you want it to do and for that you have actually know how to come out of Auto mode and program the camera to do what you want.
My husband and I are planning a two week trip to Vancouver and Alaska this summer. As part of the trip we are looking forward to all the animals and wildlife we are going to see and of course photography all the beautifulness is a top priority. So much so that my DH got himself a nice new lens so he can zoom in closer for some great shots. For our anniversary we decided to treat ourselves to a photography class that specialized in taking photos of animals and landscapes with a focus on learning how to get your camera off auto and taking some control for ourselves.
We each took a half day off of work to attend the class and field photography session afterward. The instructors were full time professional nature photographers and I’ll have to say that the class was pretty simple. It focused on Fieldwork (knowing the animals you are photographing, their behaviors, their environment), Mechanics (knowing how the basics of aperture priority vs. shutter priority and ISO), and Composition (how to construct a good picture by positioning yourself and using a little bit of editing). Right upfront the instructors talked about getting the shot you want through the lens vs. having to do a lot of post work in Photoshop.
The class ended with a photography session at a local beach during the hour just before sunset. While everyone else was trying to track down some birds to photograph I decided to tackle the landscapes. Here’s a few (very lightly edited, if at all) pictures I took post class.
Taking a photography class was a fun experience, especially since my husband and I did it together. Now I have him as my expert backup to remind me what settings I need and to get his perspective on the shots I’m taking. I think I’d like to find a class that teaches photography of people and taking shots that show relationships. Those are the kinds of pictures I most like to scrap, but for now I’ll settle with some great nature photos…who knows I might even come back from Alaska with a picture of a bear!
Now it’s time for LOTW!!!!
Congratulations to haydensmommy217! I just love her layout titled ABCs of You – the use of the template mixed with the idea to put an attribute for each letter of the alpha is just genius – I love it!!! Congrats to you – watch your PM for your code.
