FREE COURSE

Fundamentals of Photography

Saturdays from 11:00 – 12:30 starting May 20.

Fundamentals of Photography

A FREE COURSE offered by Spencer Cable Access

This 4-session course offers a concise and engaging introduction to photography, designed for beginners who want to gain essential knowledge and skills in a short duration. Participants will explore various types of photography, understand camera functionality, and master the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter, ISO). The course will also delve into the importance of composition, lighting techniques, and working with different sources of light.

Each session builds upon the previous one, with hands-on photo assignments to help students apply the concepts learned in real-world scenarios. In the final session, students will have the opportunity to showcase their best work, receive valuable feedback through a review and critique process, and learn from their peers.

This course is ideal for those who are new to photography or looking to enhance their understanding of fundamental photography concepts and techniques in a supportive and interactive learning environment.

The Introduction to Photography course will help students:

Take better photos: By mastering essential photography techniques and principles, students can improve the quality, composition, and impact of their photographs, resulting in more visually appealing images.

Feel confident with their camera: Understanding camera functionality and settings empowers students to make informed decisions when taking photos, boosting their confidence when handling their equipment.

Capture memorable moments: The course equips students with the skills to effectively capture life’s important moments, from family gatherings and vacations to special events and milestones, preserving cherished memories in the form of beautiful photographs.

Enhance social media presence: With improved photography skills, students can create more engaging and visually appealing content for their social media profiles, blogs, or websites, attracting more followers and enhancing their online presence.

Elevate personal or professional projects: Whether it’s for a personal hobby or a professional assignment, the skills acquired in this course can help students create more compelling and polished visual content for their projects.

Overcome challenging lighting conditions: By learning how to work with various lighting situations, students can tackle difficult shooting conditions and produce better-quality images regardless of the available light.

Enjoy photography as a creative outlet: The course encourages students to explore their creativity and express themselves through photography, providing a satisfying and enjoyable outlet for self-expression.

Space is limited to 12 students. Register now.

Requirements

  • Participants must be at least 18 years of age or have guardian’s permission
  • Participants must bring their own camera to each session. Cameras should have manual control over aperture, shutter, and ISO to get the most out of this course.

Registration

Thank you for your interest. Registration is closed for this session. However, we will be running this free course again. Please fill out the form below to be notified when we run the class again.

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Course Schedule

This course meets in person on Saturdays from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm at the SCA studio (310 Main Street, Spencer, MA).

Saturday, May 20: Introduction and basic operation

  • Types of photography (portrait, street, event, food, photojournalism)
  • Camera functionality (how it all works)
  • The exposure triangle (aperture, shutter, ISO)
  • Assignment: Get familiar with your camera’s functions

Saturday, May 27: Understanding Exposure and Focus

  • Aperture
  • Shutter
  • ISO
  • Focus
  • Assignment: Depth of field

Saturday, June 3: Composition and Lighting

  • Rules of composition
  • How light works
  • Soft light, hard light
  • Sources of light
  • Assignment: Follow the rules and break the rules

Saturday, June 10: Review and critique

  • Students will share up to 5 photos for review and critique
  • Final thoughts
  • Future courses