Photography 101

Get Past Automatic Mode

Today’s cameras put an amazing amount of power in the hands of amateur photographers, but it’s not always easy to make use of it. All those buttons, dials, and settings can be pretty intimidating. In this workshop, expert photographer Joseph Linaschke helps you understand what’s going on inside your camera, explaining fundamentals like what an aperture is and how shutter speed works. You´ll learn basics such as how to hold the camera, what various modes mean and when to use them, and even how and when to use the camera’s flash. There´s also creative instruction to guide you towards becoming a better photographer. As you become more comfortable with your gear, you’ll find that many new creative possibilities open up for you and the quality of your photography improves.

Trainer: Joseph Linaschke

Publication date: Mar 23, 2012

$34.99

Duration: 2 hrs 10 min

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Welcome to Photography 101

This chapter covers the most basic things you'll do when you pick up your camera, looking at the right way to carry, hold, and handle your dSLR. A few simple tips can make carrying a heavy camera all day long a pleasure and not a burden, and can keep the camera safe from drops, loss, or theft.

Carry and Hold That dSLR Like a Pro
- In this lesson you'll get an introduction to the topic of this chapter, which is how to correctly carry, hold, and handle your camera.
  
  Introduction
  
  00:29
- There are few things that are either "right" or "wrong" in photography - but how you carry your camera is one of them. In this video you'll learn how to separate yourself from the tourists and look like a pro carrying that dSLR wherever you go!
  
  Carrying the Camera
  
  04:49
- Lens caps are there to protect your camera, but they don't make for good photos. And if you have to take your lens cap off every time you want to fire a shot, chances are you'll miss more than you'll catch. In this lesson we'll discuss how to protect your lens while you're out shooting without having to keep the lens cap on.
  
  Walking and Shooting
  
  03:45
- In this video we'll discuss "chimping" - constantly checking the LCD on the back of your camera - and why you don't want to be a chimp.
  
  Don't Be a Chimp
  
  01:00
- Many of us wear corrective eyeglasses, but they can get in the way of shooting. In this lesson you'll learn how to make a correction in-camera so you don't need glasses to shoot.
  
  Do You See What I See?
  
  01:59
No matter what you're shooting, if the camera moves, the shot will be blurry. This chapter covers a myriad of ways to stabilize that camera!

Stabilizing the Camera: From Hands to Water Glasses to Tripods
- This lesson walks you through the basic concepts of camera stability and what they mean to your photographs.
  
  Introduction
  
  00:36
- Most of your shooting will be done handheld. In this lesson you'll learn that how you stand, hold, and handle the camera can make a huge difference in how stable the shot really is.
  
  Handheld Shooting
  
  05:15
- Sometimes it's simply not possible to handhold a shot, but you may not always have a tripod available. Look around; there are loads of ways to stabilize the camera with a little creative thinking, as you'll see in this lesson.
  
  Stabilized Shooting
  
  06:21
It's tempting to leave the camera in fully automatic mode since you're almost guaranteed to get a good shot that way. But you didn't buy a dSLR to get good shots, you bought it to get great ones. In this chapter we'll try to do just that by stepping out of the safety of fully automatic.

P Is Not for Perfect
- This lesson introduces you to the basic concepts of manual and semi-automatic shooting modes.
  
  Introduction
  
  00:42
- This lesson explores the automatic modes that you'll find on most dSLRs, like P, or the green square, or action, or portrait, or nighttime. These can be a great way to teach yourself how to adjust for a particular situation, and also to ensure a good shot when you hand the camera to someone else.
  
  Fully Automatic
  
  02:46
- Aperture priority is by far the most common "semi-automatic" mode that professional photographers use. It gives you control over only depth of field, letting the camera figure out the rest. What's an "aperture" and what's "depth of field," you say? This video will explain.
  
  Aperture Priority
  
  04:56
- Shutter priority mode allows you to dictate the shutter speed while the camera sorts out the rest. In this lesson you'll learn what's happening inside the camera in this mode and how it affects your photos.
  
  Shutter Priority
  
  03:28
- Full-manual mode is the best choice for certain situations, and it's also the best way to truly learn how one change affects your photos. In this lesson we'll play with the settings while doing non-critical shooting; you may be surprised at how quickly you learn the ins and outs of technical photography this way!
  
  Manual
  
  01:58
- Back in the days of film, the ISO (or ASA) was an important choice when buying a roll. Today we can change that on the fly in the camera. But what are the tradeoffs of a high or low ISO? This lesson explains.
  
  ISO (ASA)
  
  04:47
In this chapter we'll explore how to use aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to achieve creative effects in your photography.

Settings in the Real World
- This lesson provides an overview of the semi-automatic modes that will be covered in the lessons, including Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority, along with a discussion of ISO.
  
  Introduction
  
  00:34
- Aperture controls depth of field, but when do you want the focus shallow, and when do you want it deep? What is too much focus and what is too little? This lesson explores and demonstrates different apertures in various environments so you can see the effect this choice has on your photos.
  
  Changing Aperture
  
  01:56
- A fast shutter speed freezes action; a slow one blurs it. As this video demonstrates, there are creative choices to be made here, and finding the right shutter speed to get "that look" is a matter of experimentation and experience.
  
  Changing Shutter Speed
  
  01:58
- Usually you'd only adjust the ISO if you found yourself in a very low-light situation - but you may be surprised at just how little light there is indoors. This lesson will show you how keeping an eye on other settings can tell you when to kick the ISO up (or down).
  
  Changing ISO
  
  01:56
- When you change the settings in an automatic or semi-automatic mode, the camera compensates to try to "fix" the exposure. This lesson shows you how to make a scene lighter or darker than the camera thinks it should be by overriding the settings with the Exposure Compensation dial.
  
  Exposure Compensation Dial
  
  01:51
Modern dSLRs have more buttons than a particular dark-helmeted bad guy's bathroom, and some aren't even labeled! This chapter will walk you through the most important buttons on multiple camera types.

Pushing Your Buttons
- This lesson will introduce you to the panoply of buttons on the modern dSLR, which are often are flanked by acronyms and abbreviations that mean nothing to the common man.
  
  Introduction
  
  00:34
- Finding the "right" depth of field for the image you're trying to create is mostly trial and error, but this lesson will teach you about one button on the camera that can show you exactly what to expect - albeit with some caveats.
  
  Depth of Field Preview
  
  01:52
- Want to expose as if you're pointing here, while actually pointing there? There's a button for that, as this lesson explains.
  
  AE (Auto Exposure) Lock
  
  02:15
- Every dSLR has a series of autofocus modes. Understanding the difference between them can spell the difference between an unrecognizable blur and a razor-sharp photo, as this video demonstrates.
  
  Autofocus Modes
  
  04:09
- When you push the button to take a picture, do you want it to fire once, or keep on firing as long as you hold the button down? How about if you want to be in the photo yourself? This lesson will show you how to do all of these.
  
  Motor Drive Modes
  
  03:37
- Every dSLR has a variety of metering modes, and understanding what each funny little pattern means can make the difference between a photo that is properly exposed and one that isn't. This lesson will help you learn the patterns and control your exposure.
  
  Metering Modes
  
  03:52
- What is white, anyway? Is the light above your head right now white, or is it yellow, or blue? Modern dSLRs have remarkable auto white balance control, but in this lesson you'll learn when and how to take over and show that camera who's boss.
  
  White Balance Options
  
  05:02
No one wants to look at blurry photos, and having what's in the middle always be the thing that's in focus gets boring fast. In this chapter, you'll learn how to take control of the autofocus in your camera and shake things up a little bit.

Manually Controlling Your Autofocus
- This lesson introduces the key concepts behind the autofocus feature on your camera so you can understand how it works and how to control it.
  
  Introduction
  
  00:53
- You know all those squares that show up in the viewfinder and light up when they focus on something? Did you know that you could control which ones the camera will use to focus? Now you do, and in this lesson you'll learn how.
  
  Autofocus Point Selection Control
  
  03:40
- Modern dSLRs are remarkably good at focusing, but when you focus AND meter AND actually take the picture with the same single button, it's easy to lose control. In this lesson you'll learn how to reassign autofocus to a different button.
  
  Manual Autofocus
  
  03:33
Some dSLRs have a built-in flash, and all can have a flash added to them. The flash can be the most horrible thing ever to happen to your photos, or the best - it all depends on how you use it, as you'll see in this chapter.

Flash Lights
- This lesson provides an overview of the lighting concepts that will be covered in more depth in the other videos in this chapter, including different types of flashes and techniques for using them.
  
  Introduction
  
  00:32
- There's a basic premise to flash photography that can be a bit of a head-scratcher, but once you "get it," it will forever change how you view flash photography. This video explains it once and for all so you'll never be confused again.
  
  Size Matters
  
  03:24
- That tiny pop-up flash on many dSLRs isn't exactly great. But with a little modification, you can get quite a bit out of it, as you'll see in this lesson.
  
  Pop-Up Flash
  
  02:40
This chapter educates you on the pros and cons of the different flash lighting options available to you, including on-camera vs. off-camera and using multiple flashes.

Upgrading Your Light
- Leaving the flash on-camera can be a bad idea, but there are many options to make it better. This video explores several of them, from the totally free to moderately expensive.
  
  On-Camera Flash
  
  06:39
- The quickest way to improve your flash photography is to get the flash off of the camera. In this video, we'll look at the difference this makes and the easiest (and cheapest!) ways to achieve it.
  
  Off-Camera Flash
  
  08:55
- Once you get the flash off-camera, why not add a few more? Multiple-flash photography is an entire training series unto itself, but this video will give you a sense of what the possibilities are.
  
  Off-Camera Multiple Flash
  
  04:15
Now that you know how the camera works, it's time to start thinking creatively. This chapter explores three basic aspects of better photography: perspective, angle, and detail.

Changing Your Point of View
- In this video we'll start thinking outside the box, looking at photography in different ways.
  
  Introduction
  
  00:34
- The easiest thing to change is your perspective. Changing your point of view can make all the difference in every aspect of life, but in this lesson we will focus on how it affects your photography.
  
  Perspective
  
  05:18
- The angle at which you view something can make a mundane object seem interesting. Whether you're tilting the camera, the subject, or simply the direction you're looking at it from, the angle can make or break a photo.
  
  Angle
  
  03:56
- Life is in the details - and so is photography. As this lesson shows, this doesn't necessarily mean breaking out the macro lens for extreme close-ups, but can be as simple as paying attention to - and focusing on - subtle details that others may have missed.
  
  Detail
  
  03:34
This chapter offers you advice on how to stock your arsenal of camera gear, with a focus on long-term planning for a continued rich and rewarding photographic experience.

Buying New Gear
- So you have a pocket full of money and are itching to buy some new gear. How do you make the most out of your investment? This video looks at different types of gear, where to invest your money, and how to do your research when it comes time to buy.
  
  Lenses and Bodies and Tech, Oh My!
  
  07:45

Welcome to Photography 101

In this workshop you’ll learn the basic skills you need to get most from your dSLR camera. The contents of this course include:

Carry and Hold That dSLR Like a Pro
This chapter covers the most basic things you’ll do when you pick up your camera, looking at the right way to carry, hold, and handle your dSLR. A few simple tips can make carrying a heavy camera all day long a pleasure and not a burden, and can keep the camera safe from drops, loss, or theft.

Stabilizing the Camera: From Hands to Water Glasses to Tripods
No matter what you’re shooting, if the camera moves, the shot will be blurry. This chapter covers a myriad of ways to stabilize that camera!

P Is Not for Perfect
It’s tempting to leave the camera in fully automatic mode since you’re almost guaranteed to get a good shot that way. But you didn’t buy a dSLR to get good shots, you bought it to get great ones. In this chapter we’ll try to do just that by stepping out of the safety of fully automatic.

Settings in the Real World
In this chapter we’ll explore how to use aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to achieve creative effects in your photography.

Pushing Your Buttons
Modern dSLRs have more buttons than a particular dark-helmeted bad guy’s bathroom, and some aren’t even labeled! This chapter will walk you through the most important buttons on multiple camera types.

Manually Controlling Your Autofocus
No one wants to look at blurry photos, and having what’s in the middle always be the thing that’s in focus gets boring fast. In this chapter, you’ll learn how to take control of the autofocus on your camera and shake things up a little bit.

Flash Lights
Some dSLRs have a built-in flash, and all can have a flash added to them. The flash can be the most horrible thing ever to happen to your photos, or the best - it all depends on how you use it, as you’ll see in this chapter.

Upgrading Your Light
This chapter educates you on the pros and cons of the different flash lighting options available to you, including on-camera vs. off-camera and using multiple flashes.

Changing Your Point of View
Now that you know how the camera works, it’s time to start thinking creatively. This chapter explores three basic aspects of better photography: perspective, angle, and detail.

Buying New Gear
This chapter offers you advice on how to stock your arsenal of camera gear, with a focus on long-term planning for a continued rich and rewarding photographic experience.

The lessons are wrapped in a feature-rich interface that lets you jump to any topic and bookmark individual sections for later review. Full-Screen mode provides a hi-def, immersive experience, and Watch-and-Work mode shrinks the video into a small window so you can play the videos alongside your application. Also included are exercise files that give you an easy way to try out the techniques you learn.

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Broadband internet connection
Up-to-date browser with Flash plug-in
Screen resolution 1024x768 or higher
Sound card with speakers or headphones attached
Pentium 4 2.6 GHz or higher, or Apple Mac G5
512 MB RAM

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Project Files (Downloadable Feature)

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This course features video2brain’s interactive interface. As you navigate the course, rolling over a chapter or video brings up text describing that item.

Full-Screen mode provides a hi-def, immersive experience. And Watch-and-Work mode puts the video into a resizable window that you can shrink so you can watch the lessons on one side of your screen while you’re following along and applying what you’ve learned on the other.

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Available in the downloadable version of our courses, this feature makes it easy to create a custom bookmark in any lesson to mark where you left off or to make note of something you want to refer back to later. You can even add a name or short note to remind yourself what the bookmark is for.

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