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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/i56.photobucket.com\/albums\/g182\/jubeefish\/driftwood.jpg\" "\\"driftwood\\"")
<\/p>\nEver thought about taking a photography class?
\nEver thought about not using the pre-sets on your DSLR and trying things manually for a change?\u00a0 Me too!<\/p>\n
Ever since I got my first DSLR camera years ago I have wanted to learn how to be a \u201creal\u201d photographer.\u00a0 Now, don\u2019t get me wrong the new Sony Alpha camera my husband got me for my birthday this year has so many scenes and modes and options as pre-sets that I could be happy for life.\u00a0 But there are those times when you really want your image to stand out and
\ndo what you want it to do and for that you have actually know how to come out of Auto mode and program the camera to do what you want.<\/p>\n
My husband and I are planning a two week trip to Vancouver and Alaska this summer.\u00a0 As part of the trip we are looking forward to all the animals and wildlife we are going to see and of course photography all the beautifulness is a top priority.\u00a0 So much so that my DH got himself a nice new lens so he can zoom in closer for some great shots.\u00a0 For our anniversary we decided to treat ourselves to a photography class that specialized in taking photos of animals and landscapes with a focus on learning how to get your camera off auto and taking some control for ourselves.<\/p>\n
We each took a half day off of work to attend the class and field photography session afterward.\u00a0 The instructors were full time professional nature photographers and I\u2019ll have to say that the class was pretty simple.\u00a0 It focused on Fieldwork (knowing the animals you are photographing, their behaviors, their environment), Mechanics (knowing how the basics of aperture priority vs. shutter priority and ISO), and Composition (how to construct a good picture by positioning yourself and using a little bit of editing).\u00a0 Right upfront the instructors talked about getting the shot you want through the lens vs. having to do a lot of post work in Photoshop.<\/p>\n
The class ended with a photography session at a local beach during the hour just before sunset.\u00a0 While everyone else was trying to track down some birds to photograph I decided to tackle the landscapes.\u00a0 Here\u2019s a few (very lightly edited, if at all) pictures I took post class.
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/i56.photobucket.com\/albums\/g182\/jubeefish\/lifeguardstand.jpg\" "\\"Lifeguard\\"")
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/i56.photobucket.com\/albums\/g182\/jubeefish\/sunset2.jpg\" "\\"sunset\\"")
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Taking a photography class was a fun experience, especially since my husband and I did it together.\u00a0 Now I have him as my expert backup to remind me what settings I need and to get his perspective on the shots I\u2019m taking.\u00a0 I think I\u2019d like to find a class that teaches photography of people and taking shots that show relationships.\u00a0 Those are the kinds of pictures I most like to scrap, but for now I\u2019ll settle with some great nature photos\u2026who knows I might even come back from Alaska with a picture of a bear!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/i56.photobucket.com\/albums\/g182\/jubeefish\/ABC-of-You.jpg\" "\\"LOTW")
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