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Cameraschool is one of Toronto's most established schools for photography education offering courses, workshops, and guided photo walks.
Our courses have been refined over the past two decades to accommodate changing technology, learning styles and aspirations. Your success is what drives us.
Don't miss another shot! Join us today.
- Computer with an internet connection
- Web camera (optional but recommended)
- Microphone (mandatory)
- Earphones/headphones (recommended)
- ZOOM online meeting software (free)
(Download instructions provided in advance)
- Your camera (DSLR or mirrorless interchangeable lens)
- Tripod (ideally full size, but table top model is ok)
- Well lit area for hands-on activities
- Instructions for accessing the class and tips for getting ready will be provided by email
Photo 201 - 4 Weeks (Live interactive online learning)
proudly sponsored by
For interchangeable lens cameras (DSLR or Mirrorless)
Photo 201 is the pinnacle learning experience. The ultimate goal of this course is the mastery of your cameras MANUAL shooting mode.
Like our Photo 101 course, each class is two hours in length and continues for a total of four consecutive weeks. The Photo 101 course is a highly recommended prerequisite. The core fundamentals of aperture and shutter speed control are necessary to realize the full benefits offered in Photo 201.
Each lesson is designed to deliver a key component needed to fully understand how your camera operates with respect to exposure mechanics. How does the camera deal with light? What goes into the decisions the camera's on-board computer makes? Why does the camera sometimes overexpose or underexpose a photograph? Once these mysteries are solved, you will be armed with the knowledge of how to take over these essential camera functions for yourself. This is the essence of the manual shooting mode.
Homework assignments for this course are essential as you will be required to set up and execute low light/darkness photography assignments for maximum understanding of the benefits of the manual shooting mode. A tripod is required to be able to successfully complete these assignments.
Homework assignments are uploaded to our FLICKR photo sharing group for review and to ensure that you are on track and grasping the essential concepts.
This course includes all of, but is not limited to:
An essential review of aperture and shutter control (creative effects)
- Exploring how aperture and shutter speed both contribute to how the camera ingests light for 'proper' image exposure
- Deep dive into ISO, and its essential role in providing light to the camera in various scenarios
- Summary of how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO form the essential "exposure triangle" for exposure mechanics
- Exploring your camera's metering modes for greater control of the results when the scene is particularly challenging
- Camera exposure behaviour: exploration of the 18% grey methodology, and how this leads to understanding the tendency of the camera to over- or underexpose
- Manual mode: turning the camera's brain off and taking over!
- Manual mode: shooting for consistency of exposure, and getting the manual exposure perfect the first time
- Manual mode: shooting for creative purposes, including fireworks, painting with light, long exposures for motion effects in daytime or night
- Exploring your camera's built-in light meter and how to use it in manual mode
- Exploring how you can use flash in manual mode to easily take control over foreground and background exposure
Who Should Attend?
Full understanding of your camera's aperture and shutter priority modes are considered a prerequisite for this course, as well as understanding how to focus and control your camera's ISO settings. Attending the Photo 101 course for these essentials and more is highly recommended before you consider the 201 course.
This course is designed for users of digital interchangeable lens cameras (DSLR and mirrorless types). If you are unsure if your make/model of camera would be suitable, please get in touch with us here and inquire.
Please note, our courses are designed for adult learners. We welcome all participants 18 years of age and older.
Course fee: $199, all-inclusive.
(Complete set of downloadable student notes provided)