Photography 101

Learn how to create, edit, and share stunning digital images.

To a photography beginner, the gleaming complexity of a new camera seems to demand an arsenal of expensive equipment and a long legacy of training. This is a common misconception – beautiful, professional-grade shots are within reach to any with a mastery of the basic mechanics of photography.

Join Pye Jirsa of SLR Lounge for a thorough, practical exploration of the fundamentals. Photography 101 teaches you how to use standard, inexpensive equipment to:

• Explore the inner mechanical workings of your camera
• Learn how to recognize good light and modify it to your needs
• Make the elements of manual mode - aperture, shutter speed and ISO - work for you

Take advantage of the flexibility and control offered by your camera’s manual mode by shadowing Pye on 5 days of shooting at 8 different locations. You’ll learn how to capture both crisp action shots of moving subjects and classic portraiture with posed models. You’ll also gain a sense of what makes a great photograph, and how to mix professional staging with candid, humanizing moments.

You will walk away from Photography 101 with SLR Lounge's Pye Jirsa as a better photographer, and you’ll have the creative and practical skills to create, edit, and share stunning digital images; all with no more gear than you started with. 

• Introduction
• The Camera is Simply a Tool
• How Does a Camera Work?
• How to Adjust Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO
• Exposure Triangle
• What is a Stop of Light
• Reading Exposure Via the Histogram
• Blown Highlights or Clipped Details
• White Balance & Color Temperature
• No Such Thing as the Correct Exposure
• How To Measure or Meter Light
• 8 Key Points to Understanding ISO and Image Quality
• Understanding the 3 Primary Metering Methods
• How to Get Perfect Exposures in One Shot
• Equivalent Exposure but Different Images
• Compensating for Light and Dark Scenes
• Starting with Automated Modes
• Auto Mode and Flash-Off Mode
• Portrait Mode on a Fashion Shoot
• Landscape Mode on the Beach
• Sports or Action Mode
• Macro Mode with Food Photography
• Creative Effects Mode - Floral Photography
• In-Camera Processing
• A Glimpse into RAW Processing
• 15 Tips When You’re Having Trouble Focusing
• 3 Primary Types of Autofocus
• Single Shot with Portrait Session
• Single Shot with Action Shots
• AI Servo with Action Shots
• Focus Recomposing vs. AF Point Selection
• Shutter Speed and the Reciprocal Rule
• How to Hold a Camera and Panning Tutorial
• What Makes a Great Photograph?
• How to Capture Candid Moments
• How to Find the Right Light Direction
• 5 Basic Compositional Theories
• The Power of Cropping
• Color Schemes
• Diving into the Narrative
• If It’s Not Working With, It’s Probably Working Against
• More About Your Camera and Lenses
• Understanding Megapixels
• Crop vs. Full Frame Cameras
• Crop vs. Full Frame Cameras Demonstration
• Prime vs. Zoom Lens
• How the Lens Affects Composition
• Dynamic Range and RAW vs. JPEG
• 5 Tips on Memory Cards
• 10 Tips on Buying Gear
• Conclusion
• The Good Karma Jar
• Posing and Action Shots with Female Model
• Posing and Lighting with Female Model
• Posing and Lighting Couples Portraits