Week 1 Wednesday - Lesson 1
Getting to Know Your Digital SLR Camera
In this lesson, you'll explore the basics of your DSLR camera. We'll take a tour of the DSLR, examining the different parts, buttons, and controls, and we'll also explore the exposure mode options you can select for different shooting situations. We'll discuss some general maintenance and housekeeping issues with memory cards, batteries, and cleaning—and by the end of this lesson, you'll feel empowered to get started with your DSLR camera!
Week 1 Friday - Lesson 2
Zooming In on Lenses
Today we'll explore DLSR lenses. One of the most important features of the DSLR is the ability to change lenses based on shooting conditions. You'll find out how lenses work, and we'll discuss some of the most common DSLR lenses and in what shooting conditions those lenses can help you get the best photos. We'll also talk about common lens filters and how they can help protect your lens and improve your photos.
Week 2 Wednesday - Lesson 3
Seeing Clearly: Exposure, Focus, and Metering
Do you know how your camera sees a photo? In this lesson, you'll learn about the three components of exposure—aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. You'll also learn about metering modes and how your camera uses these to determine the correct exposure for a photo. We'll discuss autofocusing and how your DSLR determines focus, and you'll find out how to manage autofocus and solve some common focusing frustrations!
Week 2 Friday - Lesson 4
Going Deep: Using Aperture
We've talked briefly about aperture in earlier lessons, but in this lesson, we'll go deep into aperture. You'll learn how this aspect of exposure controls how much light enters the camera, and you'll discover how to control this light to affect the quality of your photos as well as certain focusing effects. We'll discuss how aperture is measured and how to use the Aperture mode on your camera, and before you're finished with this lesson, you'll have a chance to take some photos and practice using aperture!
Week 3 Wednesday - Lesson 5
Speeding Up and Slowing Down With Shutter Speed
Today we're going to talk about shutter speed—a second aspect of exposure. Shutter speed controls the amount of time that light enters the camera when you take a photo. You probably equate shutter speed with fast-action shots, such as sports photos. A fast shutter speed can stop action, but a slow shutter speed also offers a world of shooting opportunities. We'll explore both fast and slow shutter speeds in this lesson, as well as the Shutter Priority mode.
Week 3 Friday - Lesson 6
Getting Bright With ISO
In this lesson, we'll explore how ISO settings affect camera exposure. ISO manages the camera's sensitivity to light—the higher the ISO setting, the more sensitive. While ISO appears to be an easy fix for potentially dark photos, it can be a tricky setting to use. Today, you'll learn all about ISO solutions, as well as potential ISO problems, and you'll see how to manage ISO on your DSLR.
Week 4 Wednesday - Lesson 7
Making the Most of Flash Photography
I promised we'd talk about flash photography, and here we are! In this lesson, you'll explore your DSLR's flash options. You'll learn about using and controlling the on-board flash, and you'll also learn how to use an external flash with your DSLR's hot shoe. You've likely heard that professional photographers use natural lighting, but professionals also know how to use a flash when they need it. We'll discuss how to get the best photos using your flash, and you'll learn the professionals' tricks as well!
Week 4 Friday - Lesson 8
Managing Photo Files, Editing, and Movies
This lesson is all about editing photos and shooting movies on your DSLR. Your camera organizes photo information and stores the photos you take on memory cards. This way, you end up with a digital photo you can use on a computer or print. But how does this work, and what options do you have? What about resolution? What if you take a shot you love but just need a quick editing change to it? Your DSLR can help you with all of these issues, so today we'll spend some time in the DSLR's menu options!
Week 5 Wednesday - Lesson 9
Working With Manual Mode
Manual mode is an exposure mode on your DSLR that lets you make all of the decisions. You get to choose the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO . . . basically, anything you can configure or change, you can do it in manual mode. The good news is that manual mode gives you complete control over your camera. The downside is that there's a bit of learning curve that comes with control. In this lesson, you'll learn how to master manual mode and use it in a variety of shooting situations. To be a great DSLR photographer, manual mode is a must!
Week 5 Friday - Lesson 10
Getting Better Exposure
Your DSLR is a sophisticated tool that can help you take great photos. But the DSLR can only capture what you choose for it to capture. As such, a poor photo through the viewfinder will be a poor photo it its final form. For all of the bells and whistles, your DSLR needs a human—a photographer—to capture great photos. In this lesson, you'll explore how to get better exposure through composition, managing available light, and working with a few additional DSLR features: the histogram and exposure bracketing.
Week 6 Wednesday - Lesson 11
Shooting HDR Photos
In the previous lesson, you learned about a helpful feature called exposure bracketing. With exposure bracketing, you can take several identical photos using different exposures. This way, you can choose which photo looks best. Exposure bracketing also offers another option—shooting high dynamic range (HDR) photos. With an HDR photo, you combine all three exposures from the bracketed shots, creating a photo with a higher range of color and exposure than you could capture otherwise. We'll explore this in today's lesson, and you'll have lots of opportunities to practice as well!
Week 6 Friday - Lesson 12
Mastering Difficult Shooting Situations
Even though your DSLR is a wonderful camera, there are a few specific shooting situations that are always difficult to master. In this final lesson, we'll explore the three kinds of photos that give DSLR photographers the most trouble: fast-action shots, macro shots, and low-light photography. The good news is your DSLR can help you master these shooting situations if you know how to use the camera's tools and features, and in this lesson, you'll see how to put these features to work!