4-Week Photography Course: From Auto to Manual

Objective: Equip beginners with the knowledge and confidence to shoot in manual mode, understanding key concepts like exposure, composition, and creative control.

Format:

• Duration: 4 weeks
• Frequency: 1 lesson per week (2 hours each)
• Methodology: Hands-on activities, demonstrations, and assignments

Week 1: Introduction to Photography and Manual Settings

Goal: Understand the fundamentals of the camera and how manual mode works.

Topics Covered:

• Understanding the exposure triangle: Aperture (f/stop), Shutter Speed, ISO
• How to switch from Auto to Manual mode
• Overview of camera settings and controls
• Using the camera’s light meter
• Hands-on activity: Practice adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to achieve correct exposure

Week 2: Mastering Aperture and Depth of Field

Goal: Learn to control depth of field and achieve creative effects with aperture.

Topics Covered:

• What is depth of field?
• Aperture priority vs. manual mode
• Choosing the right aperture for portraits, landscapes, and macro shots
• Bokeh: How to create beautiful background blur
• Hands-on activity: Experiment with different apertures to isolate or include background details

Week 3: Shutter Speed and Motion Control

Goal: Understand how to freeze motion or create motion blur with shutter speed.

Topics Covered:

• How shutter speed affects motion
• Creative techniques: Panning, light trails, and long exposures
• Common mistakes and how to avoid them (e.g., camera shake)
• Using a tripod for long exposure shots
• Hands-on activity: Freeze a moving object and create intentional motion blur

Week 4: Balancing Exposure and Creative Control

Goal: Combine aperture, shutter speed, and ISO for full creative control in manual mode.

Topics Covered:

• How aperture, shutter speed, and ISO interact
• Recognizing and troubleshooting exposure issues
• Introduction to metering modes and white balance
• Creative applications of manual mode (low light, high contrast, and backlit scenes)
• Hands-on activity: Shoot in manual mode, adjusting all three exposure settings to achieve desired effects

Materials Needed:

• Camera with manual mode capability
• Tripod (recommended for Week 3)
• Notebook and pen
• Access to natural light and basic indoor lighting setups

This course structure ensures that each week builds on the previous one, empowering participants to confidently use manual mode by the end of the program.