Courses

Do you love taking photos but wish the images could be more beautiful and dynamic? Do you want to know how to use lighting and composition to your advantage? Are you trying to become more comfortable with camera settings like zoom range, aperture, and light exposure (ISO)? This one-day workshop is designed to upgrade your photography skills in a quick, easy, and enjoyable format.

Together, we will learn how to use natural light to improve photos of people and of still-life compositions. Using DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras, we’ll shoot outdoors to take full advantage of the scenic Stanford campus. First, we’ll watch a slideshow of professional photographers’ work for inspiration and so we can emulate some of their lighting techniques (such as using a fill card, using harsh shadows to your advantage, and shooting in the shade). Then we’ll practice those techniques by photographing our classmates and setting up our own simple still-life images. Camera basics—including which lens, f-stop, and shutter speed to choose for best results in different circumstances—will also be covered. To wind down our day, we’ll download our photos and review effective tools for editing and processing using Adobe Camera Raw. The instructor will briefly demonstrate basic retouching techniques using Adobe Photoshop. You will leave the session with improved skills for taking and editing fabulous pictures in a variety of outdoor lighting situations and more confidence in your understanding of both your camera and its settings.