This basic intro course starts with an overview of the image capture process. It covers camera, lighting and support equipment, emphasizing how to choose the right tool for the
job. This is followed by a basic introduction with demonstration of using the histogram to attain perfect exposure every time. We will then break out into groups of twos or threes
and begin to explore available light composition using tabletop floral and model setups. The instructor will give a demonstration of several simple classic lighting setups using a north facing window (or soft box) as the key, a reflector and a backdrop. Students will each get to pose and shoot in this exercise.

We will introduce the off camera wireless strobe and demonstrate its power and flexibility. The instructor will demonstrate and explain how to attain perfect exposure using flash and camera set to manual. Use of the camera's histogram shows you under- or over-exposure immediately with gradations marking stops. Adjusting the aperture and/or the strobe's power easily attains the desired exposure. We will add diffusion and reflectors to our toolkit to go out and tame wild light and will gather up our tools and head out to a field of wildflowers by a brook.

Finding an attractive gathering of floral display we will set up our tripods and cameras and begin by choosing attractive compositions. We will review with each student what particular
lighting problems exist in each composition and what the remedies might be. We will show how many problems of extreme contrast can be solved with diffusion scrims and reflectors.
After giving everyone a chance to balance their scene with simple tools we will begin to add light with our wireless strobes, being aware of how we want to use the sun's light in our scene. We will then load all our images into the computers and record the images onto DVDs.

We will load images into Adobe Bridge or Lightroom and examine their histograms so students see what latitude there is with exposure in digital capture and how critical it is to "expose to the right". We will explore tools in the Adobe Suite that allow us to optimize color temperature, contrast, and highlight and shadow balance and discuss sharpening and various enhancements for printing.

In this course we will help the student understand what has to be achieved in the image capture, and what can be remedied in post.