DSLR Photography for Beginners

Are you a newcomer to using a digital SLR camera - or coming back to photography after a few years? Come get a solid understanding of your camera's modes and use them to your creative advantage. Enjoy a mix of theory and practical techniques and get started on your photographic journey.

Learn the importance of shutter speeds, apertures and ISO and how to use them to create photographs – not snapshots.

You will learn how to achieve effects such as minimum and maximum depth of field, selective focus, freeze the action, blurred movement, artistic lighting, and composition.
PLEASE NOTE: A DSLR camera is essential for this course
Enrol
  • Half day mornings - Monday to Friday - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
  • Suitable for ages 16 to adult
  • Beginner, Intermediate
  • Join waiting list

Course Info

Day One
Learn how to set up your camera to capture images.
Camera maintenance and care.
Shutter speeds – control shutter speeds to affect motion blur and freeze subjects.

Day Two

Aperture – learn how to isolate and tell stories using aperture.
Using manual exposure and understanding ISO.
The usefulness of tripods and camera releases.
Using polarising and ND filters.
Focal length and how it affects perspective and depth perception.

Day Three

Learn creative composition.
Focus modes, learn about AF systems and how your camera uses them effectively.
Timers, drive modes and creative white balance.

Day Four

Metering systems and exposure composition.
How to set your camera for black and white photography.
Using flash creatively.

Day Five

Out in the field practicing your newly learnt skills.

No prior experience required

Please bring the following on your first day of class:

  • Digital SLR camera
  • Charged batteries & charger
  • Empty memory card
  • Notebook and pen

Happy Camper Reviews

Paul is an absolutely fantastic tutor. He was extremely well prepared, knew his subject inside out, the course was well structured. Paul was very patient. He was passionate and motivational. To be honest I find it hard to imagine there being a better teacher anywhere in Australia. I really didn't expect the teacher to be so good. I knew nothing about my camera but now know so much.
Paul Is an excellent tutor. Patient, passionate, knowledgeable, and has a special gift in imparting his knowledge and skills.
Paul's in-depth knowledge based on years of experience, combined with his enthusiastic delivery, clarified the key concepts involved in the picture-taking process in a logical sequence that built each week. Then being shown directly how the settings were applied on my camera was the real gold for me. The exercises set also directly consolidated the lesson in a meaningful way. As an 'older' photographer with a new camera, I also gained a lot of insight into technological capabilities I was unaware even existed. Thank you, Paul.
Previous
Next
Paul Tidey
Course Tutor

Paul Tidey

Photography is about capturing a moment in time that may never happen exactly the same again. We record our lives, history and emotions through images. So to be ready, learn how to use your camera correctly.

Paul Tidey has worked in the photographic retail industry for the past thirty-five years and started Fundamental Photography twelve years ago.

Paul is a passionate and inspiring teacher who still gets excited about educating you on the joys of capturing that once-in-a-lifetime image. To make sure when it happens you are prepared and ready to go. Know your camera and have the ability and confidence to create your own masterpieces.

At Fundamental Photography, Paul offers digital SLR camera courses that cover everything you need to know about your camera.

How your camera works, how to set it up correctly utilising shutter speeds, apertures and ISO’s and how to get the results you are LOOKING FOR! It’s not just about cameras – this is a photography class, where you are taught about reading the light and composition and much much more.