Our Photography Class

*Play song, "Sunday Morning" with this post

Steve and I took a 5 week photography class that just finished up a couple weeks ago. It was just a community course to teach those who buy DSLR cameras how to use them. We of course read our owner's manuals, see things online and we both took our share of photography courses in high school and college... but still, there is always things to learn! Especially with all the new technology coming to light!

We had assignments each week when we learned something new, they weren't required, but we got rewarded if we turned them in (by email) each week. Our instructor showed them in slideshows at the beginning of class each week.... sadly we only made it on time for one of these though... so we never really got to hear what he had to say about our pictures (it was tough getting Em to a babysitter and then to the class on time at 6:30 when Steve wouldn't get home from work until after 5:45 each time! And try to eat dinner before too!). 

All in all, we had a lot of fun, and here's a few examples of the photos we captured for each week's assignment. Oh and it is important to know that most of these photos were also edited with Photoshop, but were not turned in this way!

Week 1- Shutter Speed

Alisha's Pictures

Fast shutter. Set at 1/2000, camera was on full manual, but focus was automatic

 This is the panning shot. Shutter set at 1/25, and tracked the movement as she was pushed by her daddy. We do have an image stabilization lens and I'm not sure how well a shot like this would work without it!

Slow shutter shot. Shutter set at 15 seconds. This was taken using a tripod (not possible without the camera sitting on something stable), 2 second delay as well, so that me pushing the button didn't cause any shake. This is taken on the overpass of Carterville Road crossing over University Parkway (facing South), it was around 6 pm (before DL savings).

Steve's Pictures

Shutter set at 1/2500

Shutter set at 20 seconds

Week 2- Aperture

Alisha's Pictures

 Shallow Focus or Large Aperture. F/1.4 (largest opening that our portrait lens has, largest that most lenses go), automatic focus, automatic shutter.

Small Aperture, camera set at F/22, automatic focus and shutter, custom white balance. Taken up Provo Canyon, past Sundance, right after the checkpoint (at the point where they stop plowing in winter). 

Steve's Pictures

Shallow focus of Steve's, set at f/1.4

f/22

Week 3- Perspective

Only trick here is that I was holding a little miniature Prius in my hand right in front of the camera.


And Steve's picture

And yes that's my leg...


These were our rewards for turning in our assignments :) Between the 2 of us, I'd say it was around $50 worth of stuff for free! Almost made one class free!

That's 4 8x10 high quality prints and 2 photo books!

All in all, we had a lot of fun practicing and can't wait to go to the intermediate class!