NoMAA Labs: PHOTOGRAPHY beginner's guide

This class is designed for beginners who own a mirrorless camera—or smartphone photographers who are ready to take the next step and discover the creative possibilities of a dedicated camera.

This classroom-based introduction takes the mystery out of modern mirrorless cameras and teaches you what happens beyond Auto mode. You’ll learn how cameras and lenses work and explore the fundamentals that give photographers creative control, including the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO), metering, exposure compensation, shooting modes, autofocus, white balance, histograms, and RAW vs. JPEG. We’ll also cover essential lens concepts, including focal length, prime vs. zoom lenses, maximum aperture, and full-frame vs. crop-sensor lenses.

No prior photography experience is required, and you don’t need to already own a mirrorless camera. If you’ve been taking photos with your phone and are considering stepping up to a mirrorless camera—or you already own one and want to finally understand what all those settings do—this course is for you.

Participants are welcome to bring their mirrorless cameras; however, because menu systems and controls vary widely among camera brands and models, the course will focus on universal photography concepts rather than step-by-step instructions for making adjustments on individual cameras.