Instructing? a Newbie

[BradleyK]

Cutting to the chase: In my workplace, I am known as the "film guy," "camera guy,"etc. So, when folks have questions, they come knocking (and I help when I can).

Recently, a young lady (late 20s, so allegedly part of the digital generation) whom I work with was gifted by another coworker with a Canon AE-1 and a couple of Canon FD lenses (35/50/135mm). She has asked for some guidance in learning how to use her camera and "get into" film photography. When queried, she stated the opinion that "digital images don't look like photographs" (Not sure what she means by the remark, but whatever). Needless to say, I am willing to put her through the paces, giving her a crash course on shutter speeds and their effects, apertures and depth of field, the relationship between the two, basic camera operation, lenses and their effects, different types of film and their character, etc. The question, though, is how far to take technical matters without getting too technical and overwhelming the poor woman? A quick read: She strikes me as being the "artsy type." My inclination is to stick with the aforementioned basics, if for no other reason than to avoid the dreaded "glazed eyes" look. So, am I on the right track? If not, how much instruction would you provide a neophyte to encourage but not overwhelm?

 

[cliveh]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS37SNYjg8w

 

[dtheld]

I would say to stick to the basics. If the lady wants more advanced instruction, she will ask.

Dave

 

[pdeeh]

she stated the opinion that "digital images don't look like photographs" (Not sure what she means by the remark, but whatever).

She sounds like she'd fit in here perfectly ...

 

[Kawaiithulhu]

The very basics. Non technical. No technical stuff at all. Don't go there. You're trying to foster an artistic soul who thinks that film looks neat, not train a technician. Target your message to the audience, and that audience wants to take pictures that do not look digital, not take a fancy math course. The hardest part about being a teacher is listening to what the student wants.

And the things an artsy type can control that cell phone cameras cannot will be aperture choice and how it affects blurry backgrounds. Secondly the lens choice and how it affects perspective. Focus and perspective are all they need to know!

Film choice? Find out if they like bold Ektar or pleasing Portra and stick with it until they get the actual picture taking part. Heck, even start with Gold because it's cheaper and will have a definite "film look". Don't overwhelm a newbie with minutae.

After a couple successful rolls or so then teach how to look at light and composition, which are two more elements that often separate film look and the common digital look. Maybe even introduce Tri-x when teaching light, as a gentle introduction to film choices now that they can operate their camera.

When they make their first really good looking portrait with a large window light, well chosen background and appropriate DOF they'll be hooked. Then you can get all technical.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Another thing is that she has to be happy with the printed results. Many quickie 1-hour labs in a department store don't do justice to what's on the negatives: colors are off, chemicals have expired, rollers leave grit or residue on the negatives prior to printing - these are some of the things I've experienced.

If possible, find a lab that does good work. I've tried several custom labs in my area but have been disappointed (unsharp prints from one, horrid color from another, and backwards (!) prints from a third). 20 years ago almost any "1-hour photo" shop would do a good job.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

Teach her to load and check that it is loaded right, how to switch lenses, focusing with a split prism, how to adjust aperture and shutter speed to match the meter, and how to unload film. That's it, get her a roll and have her shoot and develop it.

 

[bdial]

I would leave out the lens switching part for a bit, unless she is specifically interested. Dealing with film, focus, metering, shutter speeds and aperture are plenty for a beginner to deal with already.

 

[tessar]

Second Kawaiithulhu. I once taught a b&w film photography and darkroom course at an artists' society -- what I did was give them aperture-priority auto-shutter SLRs like a Nikon FE. Then I loaded the film, set a reasonable shutter speed on each camera and told them to just focus and fire away. Everyone came back with some good photos. They were happy and wanted to learn more.

 

[Alan Gales]

Remember KISS? No, not the band with all the make-up. Keep It Simple Stupid. Teach her about shutter speeds and then apertures. Then put them together concerning exposure and then throw in film speeds. When she completely understands one thing then add another just like building blocks.

I've seen too many newbies frustrated because the person doing the instructing tried to give them too much information at once and totally confusing them. When I instruct people I keep it slow and simple and let them learn at their own pace.

 

[MattKing]

Build in a couple of "we'll get together and look at your results" sessions.

Give her a couple of exercises like "take one shot at a large aperture and a fast shutter speed and the second at a small aperture and slower shutter speed" and compare the results.

Pick out some different photographs of yours and talk about what she likes (or dislikes) about them, and then tell her about the technical decisions you made when you took them.

Refer her to, or give her, a good book.

 

[removed account4]

henry horenstein's basic black and white photogrhy book is very good
its online and availablr through amazon.

just remember it is easy to get carried away with stuff that doesnt make sense or matter to
someone who was just gifted a camera ... maybe use the pictographic instructions for exposure
on every kodak film box ( like sunny 16 but with a picture chart ) ...
have her take her film to a lab ... so she doesnt have to worry about processing stuff. ...
maybe go on a photo safari with her ... if she is confused by stuff ...

good luck!
john

 

[polyglot]

Agree with the above KISS sentiments. I would suggest just explaining what aperture does (because it's the most obvious first creative control), put it in aperture priority with some bulletproof film (HP5, Tri X or Portra 400 with +1 compensation for simplicity's sake), and let her go make some photos, experimenting with different DOF. See if she notices that the shutter speed is changing when the aperture changes, and take it from there...

 

[John Koehrer]

AE-1= Shutter priority, no cross coupled meter. IE: you can't change the aperture and affect shutter speed as you would in an FE or other Aperture preferred camera.

Have you seen the camera & checked it for basic function? Speeds, aperture and funky foam?
If it works, her first decisions will be at what shutter speed can she hold the camera steady. Since speed and aperture are effectively coupled on this camera