QUESTIONS FOR YOU...

  • When you use a digital camera, do you leave it on “automatic” and just accept the image that the camera gives you?

  • When you have used the camera on “automatic”, have you been disappointed in some of the resulting images?

  • Do you ever wonder what all the buttons, dials, and controls do?

  • Have you tried reading the several hundred-page owner’s manual and just put it aside due to confusion?

  • Would you like to learn to use the camera properly and utilize those buttons and dials to improve your images?

  • In general, would you just like to take better photographs?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, this course will help you.

THE PURPOSE AND TARGET AUDIENCE

This essential online course is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about the operations and controls of a digital camera. You will learn what the various controls do, and more importantly, why you use them or one versus another.

Even though the course is all about the "essentials",  you will be learning some complicated subject areas. Even if you have been using cameras for some time, I believe your will benefit from this course and gain a better understanding of things like:

  • Proper camera set up procedures
  • Exposure compensation
  • Depth of field issues
  • Lens distortion
  • The exposure triangle and use of reciprocity

The Need

Most people that use a camera just leave it in the “Automatic” mode and let the camera do the work.  And honestly, that works a lot of the time.  However, anyone who has done this will tell you that some of those images were not very good.  Some were too bright, too dark, or blurry.  

If you wanted to fix these problems, you should use the camera’s various features and controls manually.  If you are not taught properly, and in an understandable way what those controls do, you press buttons and hope to fix the problem.  Guessing your way to a solution is not the way to fix things.  

 With this course, you will learn how to control the brightness and clarity of your images.  There are several ways to fix these problems and you will learn which are your best options for various lighting conditions.

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS COURSE

  • External camera controls, their names, locations, and functions
  • Camera modes including Automatic, Program, Manual, Shutter Priority, and Aperture Priority
  • Menus and selections
  • Image sensor sizes and why they matter
  • Lens selection and uses
  • Manual versus automatic focus
  • Vibration reduction and camera shake
  • Digital media (memory cards)
  • Resolution and quality options
  • Exposure changes using shutter speeds, apertures, and ISO settings
  • Manually using the camera light meter to find the best exposure
  • White balance for proper color capture
  • Both flash and non-flash photography techniques

During this course, you will learn about some complicated topics but I like to break them down into easier to understand examples as shown here:


You will also see and examine a lot of different images.  Here are course examples of some poor quality (before) images and better quality (after) images.  You will learn the techniques during this course to easily identify and then fix these common problems.

Upon completion of this course, students should have a thorough understanding of how cameras function, how to make adjustments for various lighting conditions, and capture properly exposed and clear images.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Before you begin...

    • Course Requirements

    • Course Outline (print)

    • Your Instructor - Scott Campbell

    • Welcome from Scott Campbell

    • Need Help? Contact Us
  • 2

    Module 1 - Course Introduction

    • Module 1 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Course Introduction

  • 3

    Module 2 - Camera Controls - Part 1

    • Module 2 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Camera Controls - Part 1
  • 4

    Module 3 - Camera Controls - Part 2

    • Module 3 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Camera Controls - Part 2
  • 5

    Exercise 1 - Lens Installation

    • Exercise 1 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exercise 1
  • 6

    Module 4 - Lens

    • Module 4 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Lens
  • 7

    Exercise 2 - Diopter Adjustment

    • Exercise 2 - Set Up & Instructions (print)

    • Exercise 2 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exercise 2
  • 8

    Module 5 - Memory Cards

    • Module 5 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Memory Cards
  • 9

    Module 6 - Image Quality and Size

    • Module 6 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Image Quality and Size
  • 10

    Exercise 3 - Image Quality and Size

    • Exercise 3 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exercise 3
  • 11

    Module 7 - Cell Phone vs. Camera Quality

    • Module 7 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Cell Phone vs. Camera Quality
  • 12

    Module 8 - Exposure Compensation

    • Module 8 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exposure Compensation
  • 13

    Camera Setup - All Remaining Exercises

    • Camera Setup - All Exercises (print)

    • Camera Setup - REMAINING EXERCISES
  • 14

    Exercise 4 - Exposure Compensation

    • Exercise 4 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exercise 4 - Set Up & Instructions (print)

    • Exercise 4 - Set Up

    • Exercise 4

    • Exercise 4 - Review
  • 15

    Module 9 - Camera Setup Suggestions

    • Module 9 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Camera Setup Suggestions
  • 16

    Module 10 - Shutter Speed

    • Module 10 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Shutter Speed
  • 17

    Exercise 5 - Shutter Speed

    • Exercise 5 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exercise 5 - Set Up & Instructions (print)

    • Exercise 5 - Set Up

    • Exercise 5

    • Exercise 5 - Review
  • 18

    Module 11 - Aperture (F-Stops)

    • Module 11 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Aperture (F-Stops)
  • 19

    Exercise 6 - Aperture

    • Exercise 6 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exercise 6 - Set Up & Instructions (print)

    • Exercise 6 - Set Up

    • Exercise 6

    • Exercise 6 - Review
  • 20

    Module 12 - ISO

    • Module 12 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • ISO
  • 21

    Exercise 7 - ISO

    • Exercise 7 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exercise 7 - Set Up & Instructions (print)

    • Exercise 7 - Set Up

    • Exercise 7

    • Exercise 7 - Review
  • 22

    Module 13 - Exposure - Part 1

    • Module 13 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exposure - Part 1

    • Exposure Cheat Sheet #1 (print)

    • Exposure Cheat Sheet #2 (print)
  • 23

    Exercise 8 - Metering

    • Exercise 8 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exercise 8 - Set Up & Instrcutions (print)

    • Exercise 8 - Set Up

    • Exercise 8

    • Exercise 8 - Review
  • 24

    Mosult 14 - Exposure - Part 2

    • Module 14 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exposure - Part 2
  • 25

    Module 15 - Image Information

    • Module 15 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Image Information
  • 26

    Module 16 - White Balance

    • Module 16 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • White Balance
  • 27

    Exercise 9 - White Balance

    • Exercise 9 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exercise 9 - Set Up & Instructions (print)

    • Exercise 9 - Set Up

    • Exercise 9

    • Exercise 9 - Review
  • 28

    Module 17 - Flash

    • Module 17 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Flash
  • 29

    Exercise 10 - Flash

    • Exercise 10 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Exercise 10 - Set Up & Instructions (print)

    • Exercise 10 - Set Up

    • Exercise 10

    • Exercise 10 - Review
  • 30

    Module 18 - Critique of Examples

    • Module 18 - Lecture Slides (print)

    • Critique of Examples
  • 31

    Course Closeure

    • Final Words From Your Instrcutor

    • Course Survey

    • Got Questions? Need Help?
  • 32

    Final Written Exam

    • Final Written Exam (80% Passing)

Your Instructor

RS&A Instructor

Scott Campbell

Scott Campbell is a 28-year veteran of the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Police Department, retiring as an Identification Supervisor and Shift Commander for their Identification Division in 2006. Scott started his career in uniform patrol and then was assigned to a variety of specialized units including the Tactical Enforcement Unit, or S.W.A.T., where he was utilized as one of the lead instructors. In 1994 Scott transferred to the Identification Division where he began his crime scene, evidence photography and fingerprint identification career as an Identification Technician. In 2001 he was promoted to Supervisor and was appointed the Division’s Training Coordinator where he developed instructional programs and trained new technicians, recruit officers, detectives and supervisors for the department. In addition to his work related practical experience, Scott has received more than 800 hours of training in the fields of forensic identification, crime scene processing and management, evidence photography, and instructor development. With more than 25 years of experience as a crime scene technician, fingerprint identification specialist and instructor, Scott has provided approximately 300 specialized training courses and lectures in over 35 different states. He has provided training for Ron Smith and Associates; State of Wisconsin Technical Colleges; North East Multi-Regional Training (Illinois); and The University of Arkansas – Criminal Justice Institute. He is a Life Active member of the International Association for Identification and member the Wisconsin Association for Identification. Scott has an Associate Degree in Police Science and has been certified by the International Association for Identification as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst. He has served as a member of the IAI’s Forensic Photography and Electronic Imaging Science and Practice Sub-Committee.

I.A.I. APPROVED

16 Hours

This RS&A online course has been approved by the International Association for Identification for 16 Hours of continuing education credits Certification and Re-Certification. (Latent Print Certification Board, Crime Scene Certification Board, Forensic Photography Certification Board, and Footwear Certification Board) Other IAI Certification Boards are pending approval.

Course Tuition and Access Limits

Online Course Cost (16 Hours): $350.00

Max time to complete this course: 30 Days

DOWNLOADABLE COURSE BROCHURE

Essential Camera Operations and Control - PDF BROCHURE.pdf