If you're sick of shooting in the auto modes and relying on your camera to figure out your settings, it's time to take control of your photos and learn how to take pictures in full manual with confidence, accuracy and predictability.

I've organized this 6-week online course to teach you manual control in words anyone can understand. With my easy 3-step process for manual metering, tons of helpful examples, illustrations, diagrams and videos, you'll be taking pictures like a photographer who actually knows what they're doing by the time you're done - and that goes for any type of photography, not just nature shots.

• Week 1: Exposure Fundamentals, Stops & Shutter Speed
  • Exposure fundamentals
    • What exposure really is and how you can control it
    • How you can create different effects with different combinations of settings
    • What your 3 exposure tools are and where they are located in your camera
    • Video Presentation: The Inner Workings of Your Camera
  • Stops
    • What a stop is
    • Why stops are so important to understand in photography
    • What stops have to do with the shutter speed, aperture and ISO
  • Exposure Tool #1: The Shutter Speed
    • What the shutter speed is
    • How the shutter speed is measured
    • What stops have to do with the shutter speed
    • How the shutter speed affects the image
    • How the shutter speed impacts exposure when shooting in Manual
    • What shutter speeds you should use
    • What shutter speeds you can use
    • What shutter speeds are acceptable to handhold your camera (it's not 1/60!)
    • Video Presentation: The Shutter Speed Explained
• Week 2: The Aperture: An In-Depth Explanation
  • The aperture explained
    • What the aperture is
    • What the heck is an f-stop?
    • What stops have to do with the aperture
    • How the aperture affects the image
    • How the aperture impacts exposure when shooting in Manual
    • What depth of field is and how to change it
    • What 2 other lesser-known variables affect depth of field
    • What the depth of field preview button is and how to use it
    • How to get those blurry backgrounds
    • How to get everything in focus
    • Video Presentation: The Aperture Explained
• Week 3: The ISO & Putting it all Together
  • ISO explained
    • What the ISO is and why it's called the ISO
    • What stops have to do with the ISO
    • How the ISO affects the image
    • How the ISO impacts exposure when shooting in Manual
    • When to change the ISO and what to change it to
    • What ISOs you should use
    • What ISOs you can use
    • Video Presentation: The ISO Explained
  • Putting it all together
    • How to "juggle" the shutter speed, aperture and ISO when shooting in Manual
    • How the shutter speed, aperture and ISO interact with each other
    • How to use one of them to get the others where you want them
    • Getting the combination of shutter, aperture and ISO to create the image you envisioned
    • Video Presentation: Bringing it all Together
• Week 4: Your Camera's Light Meter & Its Limitations
  • Your Light Meter
    • The difference between incident and reflected light meters
    • Why reflected light meters can get "fooled"
    • How your camera's light meter thinks
    • How to use your camera's light meter correctly
  • The Crux of Metering: Middle Tone
    • What middle tone is
    • Why middle tone is important to manual metering
  • Reading Your Light Meter
    • What your light meter is really telling you
  • How to read your light meter indicator
  • How to move the light meter indicator
  • What the "zero" point on your meter really means
  • Video Presentation: How Your Meter Works
• Metering Modes
  • What Evaluative or Matrix metering mode is and when to use it
  • What Center-Weighted Average metering mode is and when to use it
  • What Spot metering mode is and when to use it
  • What the metering mode symbols on your Nikon or Canon camera mean
• Week 5: How to Find the Correct Settings in Full Manual
  • Dynamic Range
    • What the dynamic range of your camera is
    • Why your camera can't record a scene like you see it with your eyes
    • Why skies often blow out and shadows turn black in pictures
    • How to use your camera's narrow dynamic range to your advantage
    • Video Presentation: Dynamic Range
  • How to Find the Correct Settings
    • What is a technically "correct exposure"
    • How to get a correct exposure - the 3 steps to manually metering any scene
    • Tons of examples of the manual metering process
    • Where to line up your light meter indicator when manual metering
    • How to use spot metering when shooting in Manual
    • How to figure out which combination of shutter speed, aperture and ISO to use for your picture
  • Video Presentation: The 3 Steps to Manual Metering
• Week 6: Advanced Tips & Techniques for Shooting in Full Manual
  • Checking Your Exposure
    • How to check your exposure before you take the shot
    • How to check your exposure after you take the shot
    • How to read a histogram
    • How to use the histogram to catch incorrect exposures
    • What are "blinkies" and how to use them to catch incorrect exposures
    • Video Presentation: Checking Exposure Before You Take the Picture
  • How to get the slowest or fastest shutter speed possible
  • Quickly set up your camera to freeze or blur motion in any scenario
  • How to meter for backlit scenarios
    • How to make the foreground of a backlit scene look correct
    • How to create a silhouette

  Back to Top

   

Intermediate to Advanced

This course is designed for those who wants to take their photography to the next level by learning how to shoot in full manual. This course is marked for Intermediate to Advanced shooters, but that really just means you be relatively comfortable with your camera and that you aren't brand spankin' new to DSLR photography. If you consider yourself a beginner, please see the note in the "Requirements" section below.

This course teaches you how to shoot in full manual regardless of subject matter - landscapes, portraits, travel, nature, macro, cityscapes, anything. It's not restricted to only nature photography.

This course covers shutter speed, aperture and ISO in-depth, so you don't need to know what those are before starting this course. If you do already have a pretty good grasp of shutter speed, aperture and ISO, don't worry, you won't be bored with the material. I go into shutter, aperture and ISO more in-depth than most and it's always good to review the information until it becomes second nature. Plus, I get in to much more advanced material of manual metering after covering these things. Shutter, aperture and ISO are only the first half of the course, and unless you're a seasoned pro already, you'll learn something new about each one of these.

If you’re uncertain whether or not this course is right for you, please drop me a line at .

Note:
If you're looking at doing the "Filters for Nature Photography" online course at some point in the future, keep in mind that completion of this "How to Shoot in Full Manual" course is a prerequisite. If you plan on doing both, check out the package deals here for discounted enrollment fees.

Back to Top

• DSLR camera
• Tripod recommended
• No prerequisites required, but completion of the "Introduction to DSLR Photography" Online Course strongly recommended for beginners - buy both together and save!

There are no prerequisites for this course, but if you are brand new to DSLR photography, I'd recommend you complete the Introduction to DSLR Photography online course before doing this one.

A digital SLR camera is required for this course. The brand of your camera doesn’t matter, but I specifically address only Nikon and Canon cameras in the course materials. All of the principles discussed, however, apply to all DSLR cameras (regardless of brand) and can be used by anyone with any DSLR. I strongly recommend you have a tripod. A lack of tripod will greatly limit your ability to complete assignments and play with the new tools you've learned.

Back to Top

This course is composed of:

• 6 weekly lesson guides
  • 139 pages in all
  • 34,345 words in all
  • 218 example images total
  • 136 illustrations and diagrams
  • 6 assignments
• 9 video presentations
  • 90 minutes in all
• Unlimited email support from Nick Carver
• Image feedback and critiques

Although this course is “6 weeks,” you can take the course at whatever pace works for your schedule. All 6 weekly lesson guides will be available to you from day 1. Study as fast or slow as you wish and complete assignments whenever you’re ready. To learn more about how the course works, visit this information page.

Throughout the course, you will have unlimited email support with a direct address to Nick Carver. Emails are typically answered within 2 business days depending on my volume of emails. Phone and/or online chat support is also available for an additional charge. Drop me a line for rates at .

Back to Top