Photography can feel like a complicated hobby. There’s nothing more frustrating than having a beautiful camera, but not knowing how to get the best from it. If you are a beginner photographer and you want to master the manual capabilities of your DSLR or Mirrorless camera as a hobby, for work or to build a new career, then our foundational photography course will help you get started. We aim to deliver a fun, user-friendly and practical beginners photography course that demystifies the functions of your camera first so you can focus on the scene you want to capture.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this beginner's photography course, you should be able to:
Use their DSLR Cameras manually with skill and confidence
Identify the standard functions and features of a DSLR Camera
Understand Aperture, Depth of Field and Shutter and Motion
Use the appropriate metering and exposure systems to correctly expose their 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
Understanding the physical equipment important to a photographer
The composition dimension of photography – what looks good in a frame and why
Build foundational photography skills relevant to freelance or media roles.
Course content
What will be covered in this photography course?
Introduction: camera anatomy & settings
How a mirrorless camera and a DSLR work
Main features of most cameras
Modes of your camera and how they work: Manual Mode, Aperture Priority Mode, Shutter Priority Mode
File types: RAW vs JPEG
Exposure, focus & depth of field
The Exposure Triangle: Aperture, ISO & Shutter Speed
Depth of Field (DoF) Control – Aperture Priority, Distance, Lens, DoF Preview
Shutter Speed and Movement
White balance & colour
White Balance
ISO and image quality
The Histogram – Dynamic Range and Exposure Latitude
Contrast and Tonal Range
Light & metering
The Light Meter – Correct, Under and Over Exposure
Metering Systems – Matrix, Centre Weighted, Partial, Spot
Situations that give inaccurate light readings and how to problem solve
Direction of Light
Composition
Rule of thirds
Leading lines
Perspective & angle
Backgrounds
Equipment
How to build your camera kit
Tripods
General camera care
Please note that individual teaching styles vary – there is scope for some flexibility, and your tutor may prioritise particular content listed above dependent on the class needs. If there is anything specific you would like covered, please ask your tutor at the beginning of class.
Intended audience
Who is this photography course for?
This course is for participants with any digital camera that has the capability of shooting in manual mode (DSLR and Mirrorless cameras). This is not suitable for compact 'point & shoot' cameras or smartphones. This course is also suited to individuals exploring photography careers.
2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)
Course materials
What to bring to class
Manual Camera + lens
Camera manual (manual is important as different cameras have slightly different ways of operating the controls, you will need to locate these with your tutors help)
<p>Learn digital photography with our <a href="https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/courses/audio-video-photography/photography">photography short courses</a> in Sydney.</p>
Public transport is available from Victoria Road and Darling Street. We cannot guarantee that there will be parking available onsite due to the limited number of spaces. On weekdays, there are 11 onsite car spaces available for free parking. On weeknights and weekends, 15 onsite car spaces are available for free parking. There is also free council parking on the corner of Evans Street and Victoria Road. The surrounding street parking is limited as it is a residential area. Please be mindful of residents if parking on the surrounding streets.
