Patti showing good DSLR camera holding technique of her Nikon D3000, though she said it was uncomfortable . . .
I started off this week with a morning lesson with new DSLR Photography student Patti in downtown St. Petersburg. The weather was about as ideal as you can get in Florida, just warm enough, minimal humidity, and a decent breeze all around. As you can see in the portrait above, there was not a cloud in the sky either.
Patti had taken a photography 101 class recently, so she knew her photography vocabulary pretty well and also her way around her Nikon D3000. So during our first lesson I showed her how to put all those definitions and menu knowledge to practical use in a variety of common shooting situations. We practiced good camera techniques as well, including just how to best hold a DSLR (left palm under the lens barrel, elbows firmly against one's sides) and how to set the focus and recompose using the rule of thirds.
I also showed Patti how to really pay attention to stray objects getting into the frame because not all DSLRs have 100% viewfinders, which means just because you do not see any tree branch poking into the right of the frame in the viewfinder, does not mean the camera does not see it. Check your review screen on the back of the DSLR carefully to see if any intruders made their way in.
Not only was it a photography lesson, but it was also a bit of a sightseeing lesson as Patti is still somewhat new to Florida and lives in Tampa. I hope she returns to visit beautiful downtown St. Petersburg soon, perhaps for our next lesson?