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Workshop 102: Focal Length and Aperture
Learn all about the lens and discover the creative possibilities of the depth of field.
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$841$73.50 when purchased as part of the 4‑course bundle. • 3‑hour workshop • Limited to 5 students • Pro instructor
We’ll dispel the common misconceptions and teach you everything you should know about lenses, from focal length and exposure to perspective and depth of field.
A camera is nothing without a lens. This workshop introduces the detailed features and artistic possibilities of lenses. Learn about the aperture and its effects on exposure. Discover how to manipulate the depth of field to achieve selective focus with a blurry background.
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Learn about focal length, f‑stops, and depth of field
Description
What you’ll learn
- How to identify and describe the essential characteristics of any lens
- How focal length and image sensor size affect the angle of view
- How to use aperture priority (A or Av) exposure mode
- How to manipulate depth of field
- How to take photos with blurry backgrounds (selective focus)
- How to take photos that are sharp throughout (deep focus)
In-depth
In this photography course, you’ll discover the main photographic features and creative potential of your lens. The workshop will start by explaining how your lens’ focal length, in conjunction with your camera’s sensor size, determine the angle of view. Then, we will review how the aperture influences exposure and use that as a springboard into a discussion of its secondary characteristics, such its effect on perceived sharpness, aberrations, and vignetting. Lastly, you’ll learn about depth of field, and it’s used to isolate sharply focused subjects against out of focus backgrounds or increase the perception of sharpness throughout the entire composition.
During the practical half of the workshop, you’ll be briefed about using aperture priority mode (A or Av exposure mode) to explore and apply the concepts learned in the first half of the lesson to real-world photography.
Important details
This is part two of four in our series of photography courses for beginners. You’re welcome to take one, some, or all of the classes at your leisure; however, we recommend taking multiple classes in their correct order.
Enrol in Workshop 102 as part of our Intro to Photography for Beginners 4‑course package and save.
Workshop 102 is also available as a private photography course for 1–2 people.
Meeting Location:
In front of The Royal Conservatory of Music.
Accepted cameras:
- We accept all cameras capable of manual mode.
- We accept all brands of digital cameras.
- Contact us if you’re unsure about your camera’s suitability for this course.
What to bring:
- Camera
- An assortment of lenses. If you can only bring one, bring your most versatile lens.
- Battery (fully charged)2If you’re participating in more than one workshop, please bring either your battery charger or a second battery to ensure you can operate your camera throughout the day.
- Memory card (emptied)
- Camera manual
- Notebook and pen
- Questions and a thirst for knowledge!
Recommended prerequisites
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Workshop 102: Focal Length & Aperture
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What to wear
Most of our photography workshops feature outdoor exercises to apply the theoretical concepts into practice. Monitor the weather forecast and ensure you dress appropriately for the conditions—especially on cold days.3Please note that the lithium batteries powering your camera may exhibit diminished power output in cold conditions. When subzero air temperatures are forecast for the day of your workshop, we recommend bringing two or more camera batteries.
Meeting point and workshop location
Our classroom-free workshops take place outdoors, involve walking and feature locations that may not be fully accessible. Currently, we meet in front of The Royal Conservatory of Music (273 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W2).
We reserve the right to change the meeting location and will notify you at least 48 hours in advance of such changes. A modified meeting location will always be within 500m of a TTC subway station.
Cancellation and refunds
Satisfaction guarantee
We want to ensure that you fully understand the materials covered in our photography courses. If you aren’t completely satisfied with your learning experience, please let your instructor know immediately after your workshop concludes. We’re more than happy to address any points of confusion on the spot or to offer you the opportunity to repeat the same workshop on a future date (pending availability).
Cancellations
Our full cancellation and refund policy is found in the Terms of Sale. The following summary is for your convenience:
- We accept cancellations for a full refund up to four (4) weeks in advance of your initially-scheduled course.
- We accept schedule modifications up to seven (7) days in advance of your initially-scheduled course.