Sydney Community College

Are you ready to move from autopilot to total control? This Course teaches you how to use your Film or Digital SLR camera manually, with skill and confidence.

Using a mix of technical theory, practical assignments, looking at Photographer’s work and feedback from your tutor and fellow students, by the end of this course you will understand the manual functions of your camera and how to apply them effectively.

Each week will involve an assignment, either

1. Outside of class time, or
2. In two practical sessions during class

(one of which may involve shifting the class to accommodate a night shoot or a weekend shoot, the day and time to be negotiated with students).

This course is not for Compact Digital Cameras (manual or automatic) – see Compact Camera Basics.

Examples of SLR Cameras
If you want to learn about digital or film SLR photography in Sydney, then this course is for you.

Need:

• No experience required
• SLR Manual Camera (Film or Digital)

Next:

• Creative Skills

Agenda

During this course the intention is that the following topics will be covered, but not necessarily in the order given. Due to the variable nature of Adult Education classes, parts of the curriculum may be adapted to suit the needs of the class.

• How an SLR works
• Aperture and Depth of Field, Aperture Priority
• DoF Control – AP, Distance, Lens, DoF Preview, DoF Scale
• Shutter Speed and Movement, Shutter Priority
• Camera Shake, Tripods and Self-timers, Bulb and Night Photography
• Built in Flash, Flash Compensation, Red Eye, Front Vs Rear curtain
• The Photographic Triangle AP/SS/ISO, What is a Stop, EV Steps
• The Light Meter – Correct, Under and Over Exposure
• Focusing – Manual, Auto, Focus Points, Single/Continuous
• ISO – sensitivity, Film Speed grain and Noise
• Contrast and the Tonal Range
• Metering Systems – Matrix, Centre Weighted, Partial, Spot
• Exposure Systems – General, Grey Card, Incident, Skin Tone, Shadow, Highlight, Bracketing, Auto Bracketing
• Situations that give inaccurate light readings
• Exposure for Digital vs. Exposure for Film
• The Histogram – Dynamic Range and Exposure Latitude
• Lenses Types – Prime, Zoom, Bright/Fast Lenses, Length, Angle of View, Magnification, Perspective and Distortion
• Digital Lenses, Sensor Size, Crop Factor and DoF issues
• Resolution and File Types – Film Types, Bits, Bytes, Dots and Pixels – Grain
• White Balance

Objectives

The intended Learning Outcomes for this course are as follows:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Use their SLR Cameras manually with skill and confidence
• Identify the standard functions and features of an SLR Camera
• Understand and put into practice the creative use of Aperture and Depth of Field and Shutter and Motion
• Understand and put into practice the creative use of Wide Angle and Telephoto Lenses
• Use the appropriate metering and exposure systems to correctly expose the image
• Identify difficult lighting situations that result in incorrect exposures
• Understand the basic principle of the Photographic Triangle
• Select the appropriate ISO, Resolution and White Balance settings

Other Information

• Please bring your camera to class with the User Manual if you have one.
• If using a Film SLR you will need to purchase your own film for the practical exercises and have them processed and printed at a lab.
• Digital SLR users will need to pay for printing their images only.
• For the practical shoots you will need to bring your own camera, lenses, batteries, tripods and if you’re using a film camera, at least one roll of film. The safety and security of your equipment when on the street is your responsibility.

PLS NOTE: All classes need a minimum number of students to go ahead. If your course does not have enough students it will be cancelled and you will be informed. ***Please be aware that you may be informed of a cancellation &/or change via SMS or E-mail.

Design & Technology Ctr, cnr Gordon St & Victoria Rd, Rozelle. If driving, no left turn into Gordon St, so turn left into Lilyfield Rd, then first right into Gordon St.

Location

Design and Technology Centre

Room

Photography Room

Address

Corner of Gordon Street and Victoria Road Rozelle 2039

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