Photography 101 is just what it implies – a series of articles and tutorials on photographic principles.
I teach two digital photo courses: Photo Fundamentals and Photo Techniques. Photo Fundamentals introduces the novice photographer to the principles of photography. I learned in the days of film cameras, wet darkrooms and chemicals. Today it is all about file formats and computer software. But the new technology hasn’t really changed the basic principles of the camera.
Creating pictures still requires a camera body, a lens and a light sensitive substrata. (Okay here is your first technical term: light sensitive substrata use to be film.) Today it is the CMOS or CCD sensor. Film reacted to light; the sensor records the records the photons hitting the pixel sites. Essentially, it is the same thing.
Point-and-Shoot and the digital SLR cameras come with pre-programmed settings that take all the guess work (and a lot of the fun) out of taking pictures. For most of you, the pre-programmed settings are just fine. You’ll never have any desire to explore that other side of the mode dial. And that is fine.
However, if you should change your mind and for all those budding photographers who have a passion to learn more, this series is your gateway to knowledge. Throughout the series I’ll use simple, plain English to explain all the technical photographic principles. Any technical terms (see light sensitive substrata above) will be explained. And where a picture is a better solution, I’ll use them. After all, this is a visual medium. So I assume a lot of you are visual learners.
I welcome your comments and questions. All will be answered. And if the answered still doesn’t meet your information needs, send me another email or post another comment. I will answer.
As I say in my course, some of the content will eventually make sense as we move through the sessions. I’ll present each principle/concept in simple terms and provide some creative exercises you can do on your own. By shooting the exercises, you’ll learn about the principle involved.
I’ll also post sample images that I have taken to for each exercise. If your images do not resemble mine, then post them or email them to me and we’ll discuss what might have gone wrong.
I tell all my students, “Photography is all about give and take.” As you progress through the articles/tutorials, you’ll begin to see what I mean. Also, remember the sooner you make your first 1,000 mistakes the closer you are to learning more about photography. As much as I teach I also learn every day about photography.
“Our personal growth can fuel our photography and our photography can fuel our personal growth.” - Brooks Jensen.
I hope you enjoy the journey as much as much as I do.
“Leap into the boundless and make it your home!” – Chuang – Tzu
