Photography Basic Course - Session 1

2. CAMERA HANDLING
The most common problem
new photographers have:
Camera Shake
• Images blurred
Camera not held still while the
shutter was depressed.
• Adding to camera shake
Camera at arms length when taking
shots.

3. Tripods are the best way to stop camera shake.
But if you don’t have one then at least hold on with both hands.
1. Right hand grips the right side of the camera.
Forefinger should sit lightly above the shutter release, your other
three fingers curling around the front of the camera.
2. Left hand supports the weight of the camera
Hold underneath the camera or under/around a lens if you have a
DSLR.
3. Steady stance
Stand with feet a shoulder width apart.
4. Add extra stability
By leaning against a solid object like a wall or a tree or by sitting or
kneeling down.

4. 5. If you’re shooting using a view finder
Line up your shot with the camera nice and close to your
cheek which adds extra stability. Tuck your elbows into
your sides
6. If you’re using a LCD
Don’t hold your camera too far away from you. Tuck your
elbows into your sides and hold the camera out a little
from your face (around 30cm).
7. Hold your breath
Before you take your shot take a gentle but deep breath, hold it,
then take the shot and exhale.
8. Squeeze, not jab
Gently apply pressure to shutter button rather than jabbing at it.

5. Give your digital camera
tender loving care
Your camera should last a long time if
you follow some basic steps:

6. • DO…
• Use the strap!
• Use lens covers – when lens is on camera, when lens is
in camera bag or in storage.
• Use UV & Skylight Filters, Hoods (SLRs) to protect lens.
• Regularly clean the camera body.
• Check the LCD and clean it whenever necessary.
• Handle all moving parts of the camera with care. Never
force hinges, buttons or dials if they seem stuck.
• Turn off the camera before removing or disconnecting
the power source or a cable, or removing the battery or
memory card.

7. • DO NOT…
• DO NOT subject your camera to knocks, vibration, magnetic fields,
smoke, water, steam, sand or chemicals.
• DO NOT subject a camera to extreme hot or cold temperatures.
• DO NOT leave it in direct sunlight for long periods or in a car when
it is hot.
• DO NOT point the camera lens towards strong sunlight for a
prolonged time; it can ruin the sensor…as well as your eyes.
• DO NOT apply lens cleaning fluid directly to the lens. If fluid must
be used, place a few drops on a lens tissue or camera cleaning
cloth. Microfiber cloths are recommended
• DO NOT use canned air. Most consumer digital cameras are not
air-tight. Canned air may blow dust into the inside of the lens. Use a
blower or blower brush.

8. • CLEANING LENSES
• The best way to preserve a lens is
not to touch it with your fingers.
• Before wiping lens, hold the
camera upside down and gently
blow off any grit and dust particles
with a blower
• You can use a few drops of lens cleaning fluid to clean the lens
but it is not always necessary.
• Place the fluid on the lens cleaning paper or cloth, not directly
onto the lens.
• Gently wipe the lens from centre outwards.
• The best camera cleaning cloth is made of microfiber. Store in
a plastic baggie when not in use. Special lens tissue is also
recommended.

11. BPS BASIC
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
Session #2
Seeing LIGHT:
• Backlight
• Front Light
• Side Light
• Using Light - Rules To Remember
• (Take some photos)

12. Seeing light:
1. BACKLIGHTED IMAGE

13. Seeing light:
2. SIDE LIGHT

14. Seeing light:
3. FRONT LIGHT (Actually in “shade”)

15. REVISION of Session #2
Seeing light:
RULES TO REMEMBER:
1. If the Sun is shining on your back,
then it will be falling on the front of
the object or person you wish to
photograph.
2. CAMERAS ARE STUPID…
PEOPLE ARE SMART!
We have to think for the Camera.

16. Let’s go and take some photos
with:
1. BACK LIGHT
2. SIDE LIGHT
3. FRONT LIGHT
4. “in the Shade”
(NO DIRECT LIGHT)

17. Submitting your photos for review
• Either (preferably) e-mail your 4 photos (e-
mail sized, please) carefully labeled, like:
- “yourname-backlight-pix.jpg”
- or “yourname-frontlight-pix.jpg”
• To wpedghill@sunbeach.net
• Or bring on CD or Flashdrive to next
session

19. BPS BASIC
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
Session #3
Seeing:
• Form
• Pattern
• Texture
• Using Light (Sunlight & Other Light)
• (Take some photos)

20. BPS BASIC
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
Session #3
Seeing:
Our eyes (and our brain)
love Visual Effects.
Perhaps all animals do because
that would explain the patterns on
Tigers and Zebras.
Good Photography (Image Making)
uses these Visual Effects for impact

21. BPS BASIC
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
Session #3
Seeing:
• Form
• Pattern
• Texture
• Using Light (Sunlight & Other Light)
• (Take some photos)

22. Seeing:
1.Form
FORM =
• Shape
• Outline
• The Look of an
object that tells
us whether it is
flat or a cube or
rounded.

23. Seeing:
1.Form
FORM =
• Shape
• Outline
• The Look of an
object that tells
us whether it is
flat or a cube or
rounded

24. Seeing:
2.PATTERN
PATTERN =
• A design that is
repeated: lines,
bars, checks,
grids, etc.

25. Seeing:
3.TEXTURE
TEXTURE =
• A surface that
has holes, cuts,
grooves, etc.,
that would
make it feel
rough to the
touch.

26. Seeing:
TEXTURE & PATTERN
TEXTURE =
• A surface that
has holes, cuts,
grooves, etc.,
NOT
NECESSARILY
SMALL.
• PATTERN will
quite often also
have texture.

27. Seeing:
4.USING LIGHT
FORM
TEXTURE
PATTERN
can only be seen when light
falls on an object in a way
that this visual effect can be
highlighted.
Good photography is
about seeing light and
taking a photo of an object
when the light falling on it
shows its FORM, TEXTURE
and/or PATTERN at its
best.

28. Seeing:
4.More on USING LIGHT
FORM
TEXTURE
PATTERN
can only be seen when light
falls on an object in a way
that this visual effect can be
highlighted.
Good photography is
about seeing light and
taking a photo of an object
when the light falling on it See the shadows? That’s seeing light!
shows its FORM, TEXTURE Those shadows tell us things…
and/or PATTERN at its
What?
best.

29. Let’s go and take some
photos of:
FORM
PATTERN
TEXTURE