Build on your understanding of basic photography, reinforce your application of photography fundamentals and increase your visual awareness and photographic composition skills.
Have you been working your camera in manual exposure mode? Do you have an understanding of how to use aperture, shutter speed and exposure as basic elements of composition and feel that you're ready to take your studies and skills to the next level?
Have you been working your camera in manual exposure mode but still have some "rough spots" to iron out?
Do you feel that your compositions could be stronger?
Would you like your experience of working in manual mode to be more fluid or "second nature"?
Would you like to gain more technical skills?
Would you like to be more creative and and expressive in the craft of photography?
While it's important to keep paying attention to working your camera in manual mode, It's time to start paying attention to what you're REALLY photographing.
Remember, your camera is only a tool for recording light....
Whether you're photographing things that are relatively static (landscapes, sitting portraits, a still life,etc) or things that are in flux (sports, your children playing, street scenes, news photography, etc.) you're ultimately photographing the same thing....
Light....
Light has characteristics and when you learn to identify and observe those characteristics you can begin to use your understanding of photography basics and manual camera operation to fine tune your compositions...
"I almost never set out to photograph a landscape, nor do I think of my camera as a means of recording a mountain or an animal unless I absolutely need a 'record shot'. My first thought is always of light." - Galen Rowell
While photography is a creative process, photography is also a craft.
The more skills and technique that you gain the better the crafts-person you will be...
The better the craft-person you are, the more you have to bring to your creative process...
The more you have to bring to your creative process, the better the photographer you will be...
If you are struggling with the application of a skill or technique, make sure to study and practice it until it becomes a more fluid part of your creative process... (get help if you need to)
"As an artist, I work to gain technical skill in order to become more fluid, more expressive and more creative in my craft. Technique is always at the service of creativity." - Evan Chong
Course Description
Build on your already acquired basic SLR technique while adding skills and increasing your visual attention. You'll strengthen your understanding and application of the craft of photography.
The intent of the class is to deepen the participant’s visual vocabulary and sensitivity while making personal and distinctive photographs. Already having acquired basic SLR camera photography skills, participants in this class will continue to reinforce the fundamentals and hone their technique by producing and examining photographs on a weekly basis. Some of the topics to be explored will be: deepening your compositions, characteristics of light, effective use of flash, difficult metering situations; creative use of color balance/white balance and color temperature. Film or digital capture O.K.
4 meetings/3 hours each meeting/12 hours total.
Limited to 8 registrants.
You'll learn about...
Developing your photography as a craft...
Developing your photography as a creative process...
Developing your photography as a means of personal expression...
Light...
The basics of flash photography...
The relationship between color temperature and the white balance settings on your camera...
The characteristics of light...
Effective photographic composition...
and more...
"Photographic technique must become second nature - like driving a car. The knowledge of the craft aspects has to sink into your muscles and fingers, your eyes and mind so it becomes an intrinsic part of you; like breathing..." - Martha Cooper
You Should Take This Class If You Want To...
Reinforce your basic photography skills and techniques...
Learn new skills and techniques...
Understand and observe light...
Be more precise in the creation of your photograph...
Have the process of creating a photograph become more second nature...
Learn about basic flash photography...
Learn the basics of color photography...
Create thoughtfully composed photographs that are uniquely yours...
If you have not taken the Introduction To Photography Class with Sam D'Amico, please take the Basic Photography And Basic Camera Operation test and then please contact Sam to discuss the results of the test.
A score of at least 90% on the test and a discussion with Sam regarding your photography practice is required to be considered for participation in this class.
Here's the link for the Basic Photography And Basic Camera Operation test----->TESTS
A SLR or other type of camera that can be operated in fully manual mode...
You should be primarily working your camera in fully manual mode....
You'll need to bring the "full version" of your camera owners manual to class...
The ability to bring in 4" X 6" prints to class for weekly discussions...
A pop-flash on your camera would be helpful but not required...
The ability to manually select a white balance setting would be helpful but not required...
“Sam D’Amico’s teaching style gently balances his experience and technical expertise with his ability to draw out a student’s own initiatives and interest. He leads without pulling and yet he pushes his students to try new approaches both technically and visually within their photography just for the sake of doing so. Sam shares the love of his own work while being open to learning from his students. All this and he’s just plain fun too.” Karen Elliott Greisdorf, Professional Photographer
Please bring no more than 6 (six) 4"X6" prints of your work to the first class for discussion. No laptops or other display devices please.The prints should be of three pictures that you like and three pictures that you don't like.
If you are registering for this class on the day that it is scheduled, you must bring a copy of your receipt as your proof of payment in order to be admitted.
Depending on the time and day the class is scheduled, classes meet at one of two locations in the Chinatown area of Washington, DC. If you have any questions about the meeting location of a specific class that is scheduled please contact Sam ( https://samdamico.com/contact-sam/ ) with the class name and specific schedule.
Hi Sam – I’m looking to sign up for your intro to photography class (Wednesday evening June). I do not have a fancy camera, as I’m not sure which one to buy yet…DSLR or mirrorless. Do your classes require us to bring our own camera or do we practice with a “class” camera?
Thank you for your interest in my photography classes.
If you were to register for the Introduction to Photography class, you would be required to bring your own camera.
And you’d get the most benefit from the Introduction to Photography class if that camera had “manual exposure mode” functionality.
While I’m reluctant to make recommendations on what camera you should get, I can offer you some guidance in the form of a post on my website.
I do offer a class, titled Learn To Think Like A Photographer, that requires nothing more than the camera on your phone (no “fancy” camera needed). This may be a good start for you if you’re reluctant to purchase a new, “fancy”, camera.
Hey Sam,
I’d like to sign up for your Wednesday night group photography class, but I know I’ll be late to one of the meetings. Do you allow for late arrivals?
I would like to take the class on Mon Feb 11, 11:30-2:30. Do you take Paypal? If you share an e-mail address, I can use Paypal w/ that. Alternatively, will you let me bring a check to the session?
I’m interested in the Nov 18th Intro to Photography course but I’m not sure I understand the end date. It has it listed as either Dec 2, 9th or the 16th. Can you please clarify when the class ends or do students choose their end date at time of enrollment?
My apologies for the confusion. When looking at the abbreviated description of the class here I can see where the confusion arises. Thank you for pointing this out.
The class starts on Nov. 18 and ends on Dec. 16.
The class meets on four Sundays from 10am-1pm on Nov. 18, Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16. We skip Nov. 25 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
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Hi Sam,
My wife loves photography and I wanted to book a class with you for her as a gift. Is your session on September 28th still available?
Hi Erik,
Thank you for your interest in my photography classes.
If you’re referring to this class https://samdamico.com/learn-to-think-like-a-photographer-a-dc-photography-class/, then yes, the September 28th class is available.
Best Regards,
Sam
Hi Sam – I’m looking to sign up for your intro to photography class (Wednesday evening June). I do not have a fancy camera, as I’m not sure which one to buy yet…DSLR or mirrorless. Do your classes require us to bring our own camera or do we practice with a “class” camera?
Hi Therese,
Thank you for your interest in my photography classes.
If you were to register for the Introduction to Photography class, you would be required to bring your own camera.
And you’d get the most benefit from the Introduction to Photography class if that camera had “manual exposure mode” functionality.
While I’m reluctant to make recommendations on what camera you should get, I can offer you some guidance in the form of a post on my website.
I do offer a class, titled Learn To Think Like A Photographer, that requires nothing more than the camera on your phone (no “fancy” camera needed). This may be a good start for you if you’re reluctant to purchase a new, “fancy”, camera.
Hi, will you be offering this class in April? And if so, when will you post the schedule? Thx.
Hi Rob,
Thanks for your interest in my photography classes.
Yes, I will be offering the Learn to Think Like A Photographer class ( https://samdamico.com/learn-to-think-like-a-photographer-a-dc-photography-class/) in April.
I’m in the process of scheduling that class now and it should be scheduled by the end of the day tomorrow.
I’ll send you a follow-up email when the schedule is complete.
Hey Sam,
I’d like to sign up for your Wednesday night group photography class, but I know I’ll be late to one of the meetings. Do you allow for late arrivals?
Hi Jess,
Thanks for your interest in my photography classes.
If you’re, talking about the Introduction to Photography class, arriving late would be fine, although I wouldn’t recommend that for our first meeting.
Best Regards,
Sam
I would like to take the class on Mon Feb 11, 11:30-2:30. Do you take Paypal? If you share an e-mail address, I can use Paypal w/ that. Alternatively, will you let me bring a check to the session?
Hello Jeffrey,
Thank you for your interest in my photography classes.
Checks are not accepted, however you can you Paypal as a means of payment.
Best Regards,
Sam
Hello,
I’m interested in the Nov 18th Intro to Photography course but I’m not sure I understand the end date. It has it listed as either Dec 2, 9th or the 16th. Can you please clarify when the class ends or do students choose their end date at time of enrollment?
Thank you
Hello Jennifer,
Thank you for your interest in the Introduction to Photography class that starts on Nov 18th.
My apologies for the confusion. When looking at the abbreviated description of the class here I can see where the confusion arises. Thank you for pointing this out.
The class starts on Nov. 18 and ends on Dec. 16.
The class meets on four Sundays from 10am-1pm on Nov. 18, Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16. We skip Nov. 25 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Please contact me if you have further questions.
Best Regards,
Sam
Name: Bridget Gonzales
Course: Getting To Know Your Camera: SKU GTKYC-AM-Thu-Mar8
Date: Thursday, March 8, 2016; 11:30am – 2:30pm
Email: bgonzales@mbda.gov
Phone: (202) 482-3774
Thank you for your reply, Bridget.
I’ll see you on Thursday morning.