Assignment #2

In order for me to plan interesting and productive lessons, I need to know what you already know and what experience you have had in photography. Please copy the following questionnaire, answer the questions and either paste them back into the photography blog or, if you are shy, email your questionnaire directly to me.


1. What brand and model of camera(s) will you be using for this class?
2. Is your camera digital or film (you know where you go to the store and buy it and load it into your camera and take a bunch of pictures and then take it back to the store and then pick it up later and then FINALLY get to see what pictures you took!)
3. Do you have, or can you get, a copy of the manual for your camera?
4. On a scale of 1-10, how familiar are you with the features of your camera?
5. Do you have, or have access to a camera with interchangeable lenses? If so, what lenses to do have?
6. Do you have any photo editing software (like Photoshop or Photo Elements)?
7. Do you have a tripod for your camera?
8. What percentage of the time do you use your camera on “auto everything” mode
9. Do you know how the following terms apply to photography: just Yes or No - if you don’t know, don’t try to find out – I’m just trying to figure out where to begin.
a. Aperture
b. Shutter speed
c. ISO/ASA
d. Focus
e. Depth of field
f. Composition
g. Quality of light
h. Exposure
i. What other photographic terms can you think of?
10. What is your photographic experience?
a. Took a class or two in high school
b. Took a class or two in college
c. Have studied some on my own
d. Have studied a lot on my own
e. Trial and error – I know what I like when I see it
f. I’ve taken some pictures I really like, but I’m not sure how I did it!
11. How much time per week are you willing to spend on these photo assignments?


One can take wonderful, creative images with ANY camera! However, if YOU want to take wonderful, creative images with YOUR camera, you must be thoroughly familiar with it and know exactly what it has been programmed to do.

This lesson requires you to find the manual to your camera and keep it handy. You’ll be referring to often. Since we all have different cameras, you may have to dig into your manual and figure out how to apply the principles with your camera.