Enough to teach others about it?
Whereas my grandfather was a professional photographer, and I love taking pictures, I don’t know nearly enough about the finer details of digital photography to make money teaching others about it. Yet, a few weeks ago I was approached by a former colleague (who happens to be a professional videographer) to assistant him with a digital photo workshop he was putting on at a local community college. I declined due to a scheduling conflict, but I kept the outline he designed, which included the following basic points of discussion.
In regards to the benefits of digital photography, my pal stressed that it helps teach fundamental decision-making skills: Once an individual gets his hands on a camera he must make conscious decisions in regards to lighting, angles, subject matter and a host of other factors.
In addition, digital photography is the gateway to other artistic endeavors. A person, who enjoys taking pictures, may also learn to appreciate other forms of art, including painting and architecture. Moreover, if you find that you excel at digital photography, you may also do well with videography and photo editing, as proficiency in one often begets skill in related fields.
By learning the basics of digital photography you can use your camera to further other interests or professions. For example, if you are an advanced photographer you will be able to take incredible images of sea life (if you are a marine biologist) or ancient artifacts (if you are a museum curator).
As part of the workshop, my friend also covered some basic digital photography terms, such as zoom. He used samples he took in nature to illustrate close-up shots versus panoramic photos. Then, he had workshop participants roam around to capture shots from different distances.
Do you have what it takes to teach a digital photography class?
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