Basic Photography with Peter Bennett (In-Person Learning - Six Sessions)

In-Person Learning Class at LACP

In this beginning workshop, students will learn all the controls and functions on their digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras, basic camera operation (including f-stop, shutter speed and ISO), fundamental concepts of photography, and how to control the photograph’s final look. Discussions include composition and light, how to get the background in or out of focus, how to stop or blur motion, why to use one ISO over another, when to use a tripod, and how to use the camera’s light meter to provide the best exposure. Other topics covered include using the appropriate lens for a desired effect (the difference between a prime lens and a zoom lens), how to hold the focus on a subject if changing camera positions (exploring auto focus modes and manual focus), and how to properly hold the camera.
 
Digital camera technology will be covered thoroughly, such as how to adjust the camera’s white balance, how to view and delete images, the difference between shooting RAW and JPEG, choosing the appropriate memory card, and how to transfer the image from the camera to a computer. The goal is to provide each participant with the technical information needed to operate his or her digital SLR camera properly and with the confidence and ability to shoot consistently in manual mode.
 
Students will work in both black-and-white and color while learning how to “see” in the chosen mode. Weekly assignments will be given followed by critiques during the next class session.
 
Open to students who own a Digital Single Lens Relfex (DSLR) or Mirrorless camera.
 

Peter Bennett (http://citizenoftheplanet.com/) Born in Queens, New York, and growing up in Greenwich Village, Peter Bennett picked up his first camera and took his first darkroom class at the age of twelve. Peter has spent his career primarily as an editorial photographer, in recent years focusing his camera on a variety of environmental subjects and stories. He has been photographing the Los Angeles River since 2008 which can be seen in his latest book: The Los Angeles River – Photographs by Peter Bennett, published in late 2021. Peter has also been documenting local wetlands since 2018, as well as covering environmental justice stories in Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley. From 1998-2014 he owned and ran his own photo agency, Ambient Images, which specialized in travel images of New York and California. Peter’s work has appeared in hundreds of publications including the New York Times, Sierra Magazine, Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, Sunset Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, and New York Magazine. He has worked with a number of organizations including the Sierra Club, Greenpeace and Friends of the LA River. His prints hang in the California State Capitol, California Science Center’s permanent Ecosystem exhibit, and many other museums, private institutions, and collector’s homes.