Going to a Photography Workshop at the weekend.

Rocker

Read all about it here: http://www.iop.ie/workshops/canon_workshop.htm

I have a Canon digital camera for a number of years but never really got the hang of using it.  The recent acquisition of a zoom lens gave me the impetus to come to terms with the camera.  If the course covers everything listed in the Course Content on the website, I should have a reasonable handle on my camera.  Will report back on the course sometime next week.

TTony

Where's that "this thread is useless without pics" smiley when you need it?

I'm in a similar place.  I'm sure the camera is capable of way more than I ever ask of it, or even know that it could do if I did ask ... so, be interested in what you learn and think of the course.

strumjoughlamps

That sounds like a lot of stuff for 1 day, I have been on day course for just flash/lighting although that did involve studio work too.

No doubt you will pick up lots of info.. if you want to read aswell get Understanding Exposure.

boogieman

I agree, that does sound like a massive amount of info to absorb in a single day. :-O  Hope you enjoy it and get some useful tips though.

I've done a couple of specialised courses with a company called Frui...night photography and street photography. They were great fun and I got some nice shots. Groupon do deals with them fairly often so they work out pretty cheap.

Rocker

Back home and feeling a bit knackered.  The course instructor explained all the functions of the camera [mine is an EOS 400D about four years old give or take] as per the instruction manual and verbatim on actually using these bells and whistles.  A problem was that all the cameras on the course were different models but three were almost identical firmware wise.  One was extremely complicated [expensive too] and others were some way in between.  The instructor pitched for the middle ground while giving hands on help to the owner of the expensive camera.

On digital cameras knowing the menu system is more than half the battle.  Bracketing was covered in great detail as was flash photography.  Also use of the ISO setting.

A long day but I feel I now know a little more about the black box in the camera bag.  Hopefully that knowledge will translate into better pictures......

ChrisMusic

Hi Rocker, glad you enjoyed the course (if enjoyed is the right word).

Just like the guitar, the camera is a means of expression.  There is so much you can do with it, either creatively or just in recording.

You have to get an understanding of it as a tool to achieve your vision, and hopefully that is what your workshop has laid before you.

Get out and enjoy taking photographs / enjoy making pictures.  That will cement the techy stuff and make using the camera itself more intuitive.  You need to get beyond thinking about the box, and how it works, and just do it.

Then you can concentrate on letting your imagination take creative control.  Again just like the guitar, learn the tools and the theory, then you can express yourself freely.  Dare I say your imagination is the only limit ? A bit 'cheesy', but oh so true.

Look at loads of images, just like listening to loads of music.  Take the camera out and play - and above all have fun.  

boogieman

What he said ^

I think the most important lesson I've learnt in all my years of taking pictures is to get yourself thinking beyond what the camera is actually doing. It should get to be automatic after a while, like driving a car without having to think what gear you're in or playing the guitar without having to think what position on the neck you are. When you've got to that stage, you start to see what's actually in the viewfinder and start composing the shot rather than worrying about F stops, ISO settings etc. Also, try looking for unusual picture angles, try different things and don't always stick to the rules.