Digital Photography II with E.K. Waller

This 5-week, 3-hour class is a natural continuation to Beginning Digital Photography I.  This  class is for those students who have a basic understanding of their camera and it's functions, but are looking for more challenging photographic situations to build a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of photography. Students will work with shaping and controlling natural light more effectively, as well as focus on composition and content of the photograph.

We delve deeper into photography, artistically and technically, first by creating imagery through abstraction, and then by exploring aspects of Night Photography.  We then pursue shooting Portraits with available light, paying attention to environmental aspects, and the quality of light. Finally, we lead up to producing the great photograph: Pictures That Tell A Story, which is the basis of all great photography.

Composition and light are emphasized throughout the class along with a focus on subject and meaning.  The objective of this session is to learn to think photographically, in an artistic framework. Samples of each assignment will be shown and student’s assignments will be critiqued in class.

This class is limited to 15 students.

Requirements:   An SLR camera with manual capabilities and focus is required (either digital or film)!  You must be able to remove the lens and attach other lenses and be able to focus manually.  Digital cameras that meet this requirement are okay (they must have both aperture priority and shutter speed priority). Without these features, you won’t be able to control depth of field, create action effects or get the full use of your camera.  Bring camera (and instruction book, if you have it) to first meeting.  It is encouraged that you read your instruction book for your camera, cover to cover, 10 times. You must be comfortable with your camera's functions, if you're not please consider Digital Photo I.

Digital shooters will need a computer to view and edit your files.  You will shoot jpeg file format (no raw files), edit them and burn a CD to bring to class for critique.  Film cameras will shoot 35mm slide film, for projection, or preferably, will have the lab scan them to jpeg format when you process your film.  You then need to edit them and submit on a CD for critique.


E.K. Waller has a passion for photography which spans decades of shooting for advertising and editorial clients. She specializes in the intricacies of food, product and people photography and has infinite patience for arranging the perfect composition, lighting and camera angle. To balance that, she loves to focus on capturing the essence of a person in a portrait, and also loves to scout and wait for the decisive moment in her fine art street photography. For the last three years, she has enjoyed teaching photography and photoshop at Santa Monica College. E.K. has an extensive background shooting with large, medium and small format cameras, including 4 digital cameras from small to medium format.

­­For more info, please call: 323-938-2420 x128 or contact us by email at: edu@samys.com.

Class Location & Parking: Location: Samys Camera Classroom 475 S. Fairfax Ave
475 South Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, 90036, which is between Drexel Ave. and
5th St., just one block south of the store. Please enter through the ally.
During store business hours, please do not park in the Samy's parking lot, it will be locked at  7:00pm. Parking is very limited, we apologize for the inconvenience. There is parking on Fairfax Ave. at the meters, it’s free after 6 pm. Please read the signs carefully for parking restrictions There is parking at the Petersen Automotive Museum 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036 which is 3 blocks south of the Samy's store.