flamingos

© Irene Hinke-Sacilotto

Lecture: 20, 27 Oct; 3, 10 Nov 08 (7-9:30 PM)
Field Practice @ Baltimore Zoo: 1 Nov 08 (1:30-4 PM) Zoo

Whether you already own a digital camera or are planning to purchase one, this class is designed to help you understand how digital cameras operate, how they differ from their traditional film counterparts, and how to optimize their use. Terms such as resolution, pixels, compression, CCD, white-balance, ISO, histograms, and meta data will be discussed. Participants will gain an appreciation for various storage media, file formats, power sources, monitors, auto-focus features, and menu options. New innovations such as image stabilization, electronic viewfinders, and touch screen menus will also be considered. To help images better match expectations, the class will review basic photographic principles--metering, aperture and shutter-speed settings, depth of field, focal length and filter selection, lighting, and composition. The class will conclude with a discussion of the basic principles for sizing images for web use, e-mail transmissions, and printing, plus a brief overview of image processing. Lectures will be augmented by hands-on practice in class and at home, a field exercise at the Baltimore Zoo, classroom discussions, and critiques.

giraffe

© Irene Hinke-Sacilotto

Field: The class includes an opportunity to practice camera skills at the Baltimore Zoo. Within its 160 acres are a variety of subjects to photograph. The zoo's animal collection includes more than 1,500 birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, representing nearly 200 species. Many animals are displayed in settings that replicate their native habitats so that photos look like they were shot in the wild. In this setting, students can ask questions about their individual cameras and interact one-on-one with the instructor.

Bring to class -- camera manual, digital camera, freshly charged batteries, storage media, and memory card reader with USB connector. Zoo entrance fee is not included in the price.

Register at Roland Park Country School (Kaleidoscope).