Thursday, June 10, 2004

The first evening began by going around the room and each of us answering some questions: Where is home? What kind of camera will you be using this week? What memorable image from the past hundred years would you most like to capture? What are your goals for the course? I thought this last question was especially significant: identifying goals makes it a lot easier to know when you've reached them!

As each of us shared our goals, I think all of us had the common desire to become more skilled with the intermediate and advanced functions of an SLR camera, and then understand the artistic side of composition that makes the difference between the shoebox and the postcard.

Most of us in the class had taken pictures before: some had even done it commercially, while others hadn't really had a chance to use an SLR camera before. That was okay, because as the class progressed, the IPS team took each person where they were at and began increasing their competence and skill.

Rowan began with an interesting and understandable explanation of basic camera functions. I know basic camera function sounds simplistic, but for me, I discovered "there's more than meets the eye," as they say. I needed to start over with the basics.

At its simplest state, the camera is about light and storytelling. Rowan pointed out that there is a difference between simply "taking a picture" and "making an image." Again, I think all of us in the class were united: we wanted to leave the week knowing how to make images of excellence.

—IPS Student Russ Bennett