Photo I: A Seven Week Class
$480.00
DESCRIPTION
Photo I is a comprehensive class about the fundamentals of photography. The Photo I Class will meet once a week for lecture and labs, both available online as well.
Every week of the class you may float to a different day & time so that it will work with your schedule.
In Photo I, you will learn about correct exposure, what makes the “right exposure” and why. You’ll discover the meaning of shutter speeds and f-stops and how to stop motion or let a “subject’s motion” blur in just the right way. You will also learn about depth of field: how much of the picture you should have in focus and how to use “out of focus” in just the right way.
In the Lab (In-Studio or Online), you will learn the right way to organize and save your images. You will learn how to convert your color images to black & white and how to print using a high-quality, archival inkjet printer or email and export correctly sized images. The software we use to catalog and edit photographs is called Adobe Lightroom. It is an affordable program, and it is much less complicated than Photoshop (we do not teach Photoshop in either Photo 1 or Photo 2). There will be at least one teacher for every five students in the lab.
In Photo I, you will also learn about composition for photography and ways to approach the “critique” of photographs – your own and the work of others.
Each week, you’ll get a “shooting” assignment, and in each Lab, a corresponding “print” assignment.
After completing Photo I, each student who attended all of the classes and Labs should be able to reliably photograph and print with success and confidence.
Photo I lays the proper foundation for the more technical Digital Photo II and Photo III classes.
If you are able to, please attend one of the Intro to Photography Classes (available In-Studio & Online) prior to beginning your Photo I class. Doing so will introduce you to the basics of camera operation and a number of shooting basics, including f-stops and shutter speed. You’ll also have a chance to meet our instructors and ask questions about your camera.
Here is a little sneak peek into the Photo I online class!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the classes online or in-person?
Most of the classes may be taken either online or in-person (refer to each class) and some may also provide a hybrid-type learning.
How long are the classes?
Typically classes are about 2 hours in length (with breaks) each week.
I have taken classes at other schools, do I need to begin with Photo I?
No, if you have prior experience with photography, contact Nick Sinnott (nick@chicagophotoclasses.com) and you can have a discussion on the most appropriate class to begin with based on your experience.
Can I change my scheduled class?
Yes, every week of the class you may float to a different day & time so that it will work with your schedule.
Will I get assignments?
Yes, every week, you will receive and assignment which will strengthen your knowledge of the lecture.
About how many hours outside of class will be needed?
About 2-3 hours outside of class each week is suggested.
Are the classes recorded?
All of our online classes are recorded and can be available upon request.
Multiple Instructors
8 reviews for Photo I: A Seven Week Class
03 Customer(s) recommended this item
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Excellent way to learn photography
I learned so much from this class but never felt overwhelmed by the information. It’s fun to take photos now and know the basics of how to use my camera to get the photo I want, and also how to edit those photos to make them even better. The homework assignments each week helped tie everything together too. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to master photography in a non-intimidating way. And Vanessa was an amazing instructor. Thoughtful, encouraging, thorough, and explained things in a way that just made sense! Learning a new skill can be challenging, but this class and Vanessa as an instructor made it really fun.
October 26, 2022 -
Amazing class!
This class was absolutely amazing in teaching the fundamentals of how to use your camera! Vanessa taught the class with extreme patience and knowledge. The class included both hands on activities and lectures to better understand the concepts being taught. The bonus was the Lab which also taught Lightroom and how to use it properly for photo editing. I highly recommend this class and Vanessa as an instructor. I look forward to Photo II.
October 25, 2022 -
What an amazing Class!
What an excellent class! I took Photo 1 from Richard Stromberg’s Chicago Photography Classes with Dan, my instructor. we went over all the basics of the camera. He went over a lot of material in a very kind and instructive way, so personable and friendly. We went over Aperture, ISO and Shutter speed, Light and composition. Nick is an other amazing trainer! If you’re a beginner, want to brush up or enjoy learning more about photography, he can fine tune it to your level. He’s a great professional and really knew his stuff. You can tell he enjoyed the subject and wanted to share the knowledge. I’ve had my DSLR for a few years, and in a few hours of classes, this opened a new world of possibilities for me. I am no longer afraid of the other seeting on my camera. Excited to do Photo 2.
July 8, 2022 -
I cannot say enough good things about Chicago Photography Classes, Nick, and this class. This class teaches you how to use your camera beyond clicking “shoot” in auto mode, as well as many functions of Adobe Lightroom. The ultimate best part is Nick. He is incredibly patient and cares so much about each and every student getting the most out of the class. I started out as someone who just wanted to take better pictures and understand f stops and shutter speed to someone who has been bitten by the photography bug!
March 4, 2021Verified Review -
Photo 1 made me comfortable with my camera and got me to get over my fear of the technical side of photography. I loved that the weekly assignments encouraged creativity, but were also carefully structured to systematically teach key concepts and components from exposure to shutter speed and aperture to composition. I learned a lot, but never felt overwhelmed since Danny and other instructors were always so helpful and supportive. I also appreciated the collaborative environment, which helped me connect with my classmates outside of class. I highly recommend this course to all beginners out there!
November 3, 2020Verified Review -
Photo I was an amazing in-depth introduction to all of the features of my camera I never knew how to use. Nick and Danny made learning Lightroom fun and exciting and did an incredible job of moving our in-person class online when it was necessary. I recommend to anyone who has a camera sitting around and has the desire to use it! I am excited to take more classes through the school and continue to learn with this knowledgeable and supportive community.
April 8, 2020Verified Review -
Photo I will teach you everything you need to know about aperture/f-stop, shutter speed, ISO, and how to get a good exposure in your pictures. Perhaps more useful, however, is the lab work with an overview of Lightroom and how to make your photos look great. I’m looking forward to Photo II.
August 24, 2018Verified Review -
This is such a great course. The instructors are knowledgeable, patient and truly care about helping students understand all of the concepts taught in Photo I. I feel like my photos have improved tremendously over the past several weeks and I feel so much more comfortable behind my camera. Classes were informative and engaging. I would recommend to anyone looking to expand their knowledge and improve their photography in a heartbeat. Thanks, Chicago Photo Classes Team! See you in Photo II!
February 20, 2018Verified Review
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Jen, Thank you for your review of the class and school. As you know, we love our students and the community!