Digital Photography Classroom: Photography Projects & More

Course details

Hello & welcome to my Digital Photography Classroom.  My name is Chris Parker and I've been a pro photographer for 28+ years.

This is more than just another photography course... it's a photography classroom.

EVERY month new lessons and/or projects will be added.  Take a quiz after each section to test your retention.  Stuck?  No problem.  Ask your personal photography instructor (Chris Parker).  I'll do my best to answer as quickly as possible.  Plus, submit your projects for feedback!

More photography content is scheduled for later this month and December (even more content is scheduled for next year).

What you'll learn with existing content...

Get to know your camera...

• Getting to know the basics of your camera
• Focusing Modes - which ones to use and why
• Shooting Modes - which ones to use and why
• Drive Modes - when and why to use which ones
• Quality Modes - what they are and my recommend mode
• Metering Modes - the basics (explained in detail in the Exposure section)
• White Balance - what it is and my recommendation

Get to know your photography lenses...

• New vs. Old - should you buy new or used?  Find out.
• Off Brand vs. Name Brand - should you buy name brand or Sigma, Tamron, etc..?  Find out.
• Parts of lenses - the different parts of your lens
• Focal length - learn what it is
• When to use which lens - learn to use which focal length when
• Cropped sensor - learn what it is and how to determine which lens to buy
• Types of lenses - learn the different types of lenses
• Prime lenses - learn why this is my favorite type of lens
• Zoom lenses - learn about the different types of zoom lenses
• Macro lenses - learn which one you should buy and why
• Fish eye lenses - learn why I returned this lens
• Tilt/Shift lenses - learn how to use this lens for creativity and/or for architecture
• Lens Baby lenses - learn about this cool, creative lens option

Master & understand light...

• What is light & where does it come from
• Do you really know what light is?
• Visible light spectrum
• How your eyes see things and how they have color
• How your eyes see light vs. your camera
• The 3 behaviors of light
• Tones & dynamic ranges
• HDR photography basics
• Understand the 4 types of contrast
• Learn the 4 characteristics of light

Master your camera settings to ditch auto & shoot  manually...

• Learn the exposure triangle and the missing element
• Master aperture
• Master shutter speed
• Truly understand and master ISO
• Understand exposure
• Learn 2 analogies (better than the exposure triangle) to help you master the 3 camera settings to shoot manually
• Learn a built-in (in your camera) secret tool to help you shoot manually
• Learn about the exposure value

Composition... coming soon... by November 20th...

• Learn what composition is and means
• Learn what the "rule of thirds" is and how to use it for better compositions
• and much more

I'll share with you everything you need to know about shooting manually.  By the end of this course, you'll be able to ditch Auto and shoot in Manual Mode.

This course will start off with the basics of photography;  Understanding the Exposure Triangle.  We'll also go beyond the "triangle" and learn about it's limitations and why it's so complicated.  

Next up, learning about what an Aperture is, Shutter Speed and (the accurate and semi-technical - that most people don't teach - explanation of) ISO.

Then, you'll learn an easier way to understand (photography) Exposure (say good-bye to the Exposure Triangle) with 2 different analogies.  At this point, you'll almost be ready to start shooting manually.  But first, you'll learn about a cool tool in your camera - the Light Meter.  Plus, you'll learn about the Exposure Indicator (and EV).

Once you've reached this point of the course, you'll begin practicing what you've learned: in Manual Mode!

Throughout this photography classroom, there will be additional projects and supporting documents to help you understand (and retain) what you've learned.