Workshop On Basic Camera Control Techniques For Street and Portrait  Photography

Instructor: Ryan                                   Contact Info: Ryan (AKA Metrix X)

Level: Basic (see note below)

Brief Description

Short interactive lesson on what lens to use for what, aperture versus shutter speed priority versus manual mode, hyperfocal distance focus and zone focus techniques. Some basic knowledge on these techniques can be very useful for everything from day and night handheld street to portrait photography.

Prerequisite knowledge

You should already be familiar with your camera controls (read the manual) This is more about technique then about equipment so if you can't control your camera manually this is not for you. It really about going the next step from fully automatic to having more control over your camera.

Equipment needed to participate

  1. Bring a camera that you can manually set focus, aperture and shutter speed.
  2. A lens or two (prime if you have one a zoom if you don’t) with a focal length between 28 -100mm (35 to 55mm might be best) preferably that is F2.8 or faster

Workshop Outline

Interactive lesson

  1. what lens to use for what
  2. aperture versus shutter speed priority versus manual mode, what are the trade offs
  3. slower and higher speed handheld shots
  4. when to use a tripod
  5. DOF
  6. hyperfocal distance focus and zone focus technique
  7. Followed by some in the field practise

Note level is related to the level of knowledge the participant has in the specific topic not to the overall skill level in photography:

  1. Beginner level is for people that have little or no experience in the workshop topic
  2. Basic assumes you have some knowledge and experience but would like to expand your knowledge
  3. More advanced assumes you have a good working knowledge
  4. Advanced is for specialized topics and peer group seminars

© 2012