Heather with her new Pentax K-5 during our first 1-on-1 DSLR Photography Lesson in St. PetersburgHeather contacted me about my 1-on-1 DSLR Photography Lessons for help with her new Pentax K-5 DSLR. Like many of my past students, she had upgraded from a point and shoot camera and tried studying using books and videos, but there is nothing like getting direct, real time feedback for learning DSLR photography. We met in the usual downtown St. Petersburg spot and had all the sun we wanted from mother nature. Soon, I will have to only have lessons from 9am as the midday sun will just be too strong.
Heather had done some research into photography terms and what not, which was helpful when I explained my 4-step process for setting up a well exposed and in focus shot. Since she had just a 18-55mm variable aperture lens, I advised her that for now all she needs to worry about are apertures f/5.6 f/8 and f/11 and when shooting in broad daylight like we were mostly, for still subjects, stick to f/11.
Actually Heather is having doubts about whether to keep her Pentax K-5 or switch to a Nikon D7000. I like some of the ergonomics of Pentax bodies, but after a few minutes of searching both for a button and in the menus I could not find a way to change the drive mode, which I had never failed to do before with any of the dozens of DSLRs I have hands on during hundreds of lessons.
Today was just our first of four lessons, as Heather chose the discounted 4-pack of lessons so I will be seeing her again soon. I look forward to seeing the photographs she takes of her young children between now and then.
