BASIC DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
BASIC DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
INSTRUCTOR: MICHELLE MONDRAGON
Recommended for adults and teens. In this beginners photography course you’ll learn the basic functions of your camera: how to bring together the elements of manual mode to create intriguing images using shutter speed, aperture, and which ISO to use in different lighting situations. Also covered will be classic compositional approaches and how to use them to express your creative vision.
An introduction to digital processing will round out the course and show you the basics of how to maximize the potential of your digital images for output to web and print. Explore your instructor’s portfolio here.
MATERIALS
Please bring your digital camera—any model with manual control capabilities. Most students will have DSLR or Mirrorless 35mm, but a medium format would work as well. NO PHONE CAMERAS!! You may want to bring note-taking materials as well. Questions? Email Michelle at michelle@mdragonart.com.
2024 dates coming soon!
The schedule below is subject to change.
Bring your camera and manual to all classes!
Week One: Basic Operations - Get to Know Your Camera
1. Parts of the camera and lenses.
2. Important things to know about your camera - setting up Quality & Color Space.
3. Shooting modes and Exposure Triangle.
4. Assignment #1: Practice exposures shooting something you love.
Week Two: Taking creative control
1. Presentations of Assignment #1. Have your images ready to share!
2. More on exposure.
3. Working with Manual Mode - equivalent exposures.
4. Depth of Field and Motion.
5. Assignment #2: Taking creative control.
Week Three: Compostion
1. Presentations of Assignment #2. Have your images ready to share!
2. Composition - Rules - telling a story.
3. Assignment #3: Examples of different compositions.
Week Four: Processing your images
1. Presentation of Assignment #3. Have your images ready to share!
2. Processing
3. Sharing with others
4. Wrap up
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Michelle Mondragon has been a photographer, graphic designer, and educator in Colorado Springs for over 20 years. Starting as a consumer and event photographer she changed her focus in 2012 to concentrate on fine art still life photography. Her work has been published in several international magazines. Eye-Photo Magazine, Universe d”artistes, Shadow and Light, GSPmagazine, Living the Photo Artistic Life, Awake Photography, and VoyageDenver.
In her creative process she combines the digital and organic art worlds. Often times she will overlay and composite hand painted textures with the digital images. This allows her to take both painting and photography to a different place.
Michelle teaches a variety of classes including fundamentals of photography, digital processing, and digital compositing.