What would you want to learn in a beginner photography class

I am teaching an adult ed course and of course I am waiting until the very last second to write my classes out. I have the basic ideas/concepts building ppt's and a website with all my stuff on it since I do not have a smart classroom but I just figured to ask so I really can make the class successful.

So what would you want to learn? I am guessing I will have point and shoots and SLRs.

Re: What would you want to learn in a beginner photography class

I took a beginner photography course.
The biggest problem is everyone wants to know their own camera better, so you'll have to nip that one as soon as possible.

Most people wanted to learn "how to take a better picture". While they really meant composition, there were a few people that wanted to learn how to get off Auto & were actually committed to learning it.

Also indoor photographer is key because most people don't have a problem with natural light, but indoors is tricky.

Re: What would you want to learn in a beginner photography class

I would want to learn to take a pic out of the auto mode.

What does the term apertude mean? Shutter speed? Which should I use, when and how?

I think wanted a good pic is all of that.

But I find it hard to try it out on your own when you really don't have a clue on basics.

I think having a camera with you to class is important. I think homework is important.

Re: What would you want to learn in a beginner photography class

This was a great book I read about understanding photography and your camera. The best thing about it was showing the side-by-side photos of examples of:

Affects of shutter speed
Affects of aperture/depth of field
Composition
Including undesired elements like power lines, etc.

How much time do you have per class & overall? I think for the auto people maybe the focus should be learning composition and shooting in different light and with/without flash. The basics of what shutter speed and aperture are would be helpful to understand.

Re: What would you want to learn in a beginner photography class

Like Sophie said, homework would be good also. What about a scavenger hunt, ask them to photograph three subjects. Like something shiny, something curved, something green.

Re: What would you want to learn in a beginner photography class

Everyone covered a lot of what came to mind when I saw the topic.

I think real examples help a lot.

Can you take a picture and then take it correctly and show them how the right aperture setting can make it better?
How the right shutter speed could make it better?
How the right composition could make it better?

I think a lot of people just snap away but never think of what they could do before taking the picture to make it better. Sadly a lot of folks just say I'll make it better in Photoshop, iPhoto, etc.

This is my favorite resource for all things photography

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

Those folks are excellent! They might even have the best answers to this question.

Message edited 9/22/2009 11:13:14 AM.

Re: What would you want to learn in a beginner photography class

Re: What would you want to learn in a beginner photography class

Thank you for all the ideas! I am really finding it hard to write this class because it seems like some people are going to not know how to use a computer and some may, some might be grandma's and some just new parents. So I have to make it general but not so general that is blah.

It is 4 classes 2 hours each. The problem I have is balancing point and shoot vs slr owners. My plan is to have the first class on knowing your camera and basic setup of the menus on your camera. How to pick out the best model for your needs, accessories, programs to use for photographers, correct uploading and saving methods, archiving photographs, etc. If i have time how to upload photographs online (this was a request by the school), oh and what a pixel is.

Second class is shooting. How to use the settings on a point and shoot and how to use the "basic" settings on a SLR. Meaning the pre-programed dial settings. Composition is really going to be the bulk of this lesson (examples of what is a good picture vs a bad one), then i will lightly go into manual modes, if the class has more slr users then point and shoot I may make it more focused on manual modes shutter speeds vs aperture, ISO and white balancing (which i may put white balance in there regardless since many point and shoots have that feature now) and i will give an assignment out.

Third Class - will be a review/critique of how to shoot. I may run out of time on the second class so i will carry over the lesson then to this class. I will then go into real low light situations and how to shoot using a tripod, flash, etc. I will show some basic retouching with online applications vs programs. Just how do you fix red eyes, how to brighten a photograph correctly etc. Another shoot assignment will be how to do low light situations with your camera.

Four Class - review/critique and then i am sketchy on what else to teach, i will have to see about maybe opening it up to a class of going to each student and looking at their camera and going over any questions.

Re: What would you want to learn in a beginner photography class

That is a really ambitious plan! I wouldn't be surprised if one ran into the next and that last class would be for catch up. If not, you could always go into a Q&A session.

For people who are learning everything for the first time, printed materials or an online download somewhere would probably be very helpful. It's a lot to take in.

Good luck with it!

Re: What would you want to learn in a beginner photography class

Thanks, I plan on using ppts that i will put up on a share site along with notes, links all resources I find for them. Building the site tonight. I am also creating a sign in form for them to all sign in online to which Iwill have a comment section to put what they want to learn and what type of camera they are using so i can take that info and apply it to the class. I am thinking really only half of the stuff I am going to be able to cover but i am trying to keep things brief and not too deep just more intro's to many concepts so they have the idea of it and hopefully can research it or take another class to expand on it. I hope I do well! Thank you all again!