Digital Photography - The Basics in Four Parts

By Alice Boyd, OLLI at Fredericksburg, Coordinator

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at TTU, Fredericksburg hosted a four-part course on digital photography in September and October. It was great to have members from all our locations join the course via the Zoom video platform. OLLI members listened to Rodger Fisher teach the basics of digital photography and learned how changes to exposure, aperture and shutter speed can improve picture taking. No expensive cameras or lenses were needed, just equipment which allows one to choose image capture settings.

During the first session OLLI members learned about understanding exposure, camera setup, ISO, aperture and shutter speed. They discussed exposure meters and the understanding of depth of field. For homework they were given a photo assignment involving depth of field. The members enjoyed being able to ask questions and get answers to all the technical issues of operating a camera.

During the second session the class reviewed the photo assignment from the previous week. It was fascinating to see all the different types of photos submitted. This session focused on the camera lenses and light meter. The members learned about bracketing shots for excellent images. The photo assignment for this session was on backlit and silhouette compositions.

For part three, Mr. Fisher showed everyone the students' photo assignments and explained techniques used and how the exposure and shutter speed all came into play in their photos. All the photos turned in for the assignment were so stunning!

Following the review of homework, Fisher taught about photographic composition and the rule of thirds. Composition techniques and the use of manual and auto focus settings were discussed. The photo assignment for the next week was on composition.

The fourth and last session consisted of a review of white balance and flash photography and flash exposure compensation. Black and white photography and what comes next were discussed.

"I do not know much about photography and struggle to take a decently formatted photo, but this course was so interesting and presented in such a way that I am planning on buying a real camera (besides the one on my phone) and attending Rodger Fisher's next presentation, said one of the attendees.

Rodger Fisher teaches digital photography in the Frisco Lakes Lifelong Learning program located in Frisco, Texas. He taught digital photography at Collin College after his retirement and is a certified photographer from the New York Institute of Photography.

We look forward to more courses from him in the spring. He is currently working on more presentations for our OLLI community.