Dan Hartford Photo: Recently Added Galleries and Collections

Recent Additions

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:27:29 GMT

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Yosemite

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:00:40 GMT

]]>Yosemite is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. Most of my photos of this park are taken in winter when the crowds are gone and serenity returns this mystical valley. However, this does limit me to the lower elevations as I am not one to venture out on skiis or snow shows to the higher areas that cannot be reached by road in the winter.

N. Cal & Oregon

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:45:12 GMT

]]>Photos in and around the Portland, OR area

Spain

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:59:48 GMT

]]>This gallery contains images of southern Spain (Andulcia)

Teton's

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:21:50 GMT

]]>Teton National Park and Teton Mountain Range

RT-66 Plus

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:13:28 GMT

]]>These photos were taken along Rt-66 in Arizona and California. For Rt-66, this includes the stretch between Kingman and Seligman AZ and Ludlow, CA. There are also photos taken between Prescot and Sedona SZ on Rt-89a through Jerome.

Northern Arizona

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:44:07 GMT

]]>Areas of Northern Arizona including, Page, Glen Canyon, Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell, Lees Ferry, Navajo Bridge, Vermillion cliffs.

See sperate Gallery for Antelop Valley Slot Canyons and Monument Valley

Monument Valley

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 23:48:05 GMT

]]>Monument Valley in May 2011.

Yellowstone

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:36:11 GMT

]]>Yellowstone National Park

Slot Canyons

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:02:01 GMT

]]>Slot canyons near Page AZ. Canyons include Upper Antelope, Rattlesnake, and Mountain Sheep

Sedona

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:24:29 GMT

]]>Sedona Arizona, 2011

SF Bay Area

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 04 May 2011 01:26:42 GMT

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San Francisco & Alcatraz

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 04 May 2011 01:22:49 GMT

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Moab Area

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 04 May 2011 01:15:10 GMT

]]>Moab, which sites on the Colorado River, is one of the prime focal point towns in scenic Utah. It is surrounded by natural wonders including Arches NP, Canyonlands NP and Deadhorse Point SP. Along the river one can also find Fisher Towers, pteroglyphs, and arches as well. Nearby are the LaSal mountains. Truly a magnificent place to see wonders of the world, all within a short drive of your motel room. and be able to return at night to a hot meal and shower rather than a camp site.

Misc

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 04 May 2011 01:03:16 GMT

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Mid Atlantic States

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 04 May 2011 01:01:37 GMT

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Central CA coast

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 04 May 2011 00:42:58 GMT

]]>These photos are of the central California coast (essentially from Monterey to Morro Bay). This stretch of CA route 1 is rated as one of the most scenic drives in the world and includes the famous Big Sur area.

Abstract, Pattern, Artistic

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Wed, 04 May 2011 00:17:22 GMT

]]>Photos with interesting patterns, texgtures, or an abstract quality

Italy

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Mon, 02 May 2011 20:37:54 GMT

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Local Lessons

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 17:06:50 GMT

]]>DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY and DSLR CAMERA LESSONS
Palo Alto, CA 94306 (and nearby)

Learn to use that DSLR Camera

You’ve been taking snapshots for years with various point-and-shoot cameras or (shudder) even your cell phone. But now you have a great DSLR camera with all the bells and whistles and have no clue what to do with it. Or, you’ve had your DSLR for awhile and are less than satisfied with the results. You know how to set the dial to “Automatic” and push the button – just like you did with your point and shoot but that’s about it. Now what?

Reading the 200 page camera manual is of no help. It tells you what the buttons do, but not why you would want to do that or what benefits or detriments come along with those settings. It tells you how to display the menu, but not the meaning of the 80+ items in 3 levels of options or why one would want to use those options.

But, you want to move from just “Taking Pictures” to “Making Photographs” – which is why you got that camera in the first place.

I’m an award winning photographer with great teaching skills who can teach you how to “Escape the Green Box” (get off of the Auto setting) and really use your DSLR. My one-on-one classes are tailored to your skill level, your camera, and can be as shallow or in depth as you like. I can come to your place (nearby in the South Bay) or you can come to my place (Palo Alto).

I will tailor the Material based on how deep you want to go and even what things you want to concentrate on.

My Rate is $40/hr of instruction and you can bring up to 2 friends at no additonal cost. Lessons can be arranged in sessions of 1 to 3 hours duration each (2 hr minimum on first lesson). As a guide, for a novice covering all material to an in-depth level, will take about 6 to 8 total hours. However a light once over of the key points can be covered in 3 to 4 hours

If you complete the full course you will receive a PDF copy the course presentation material I use.

BELOW IS A LIST OF TOPICS WHICH CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE LESSONS.

General overview of Photography Basics
The Light Path from light source to memory card and what controls you have to shape it along the way:

Light sources and Color Temperature
Subject reflectivity
Camera lens and what it does
Camera shutter and what it does
Camera Sensor and what it does
Camera Processor and what it does
The memory card

Your Camera controls:

Picture Mode or Main Dial
Other Wheels, dials and buttons
How to control your, Shutter Speed, Aperture, Focus Pattern, ISO, WB, ISO,
Metering Mode, Exposure Compensation, Exposure Shift, Drive Mode and Storage format

The things you have control over and when/why you should control them (rather than let the camera decide)

Flash – When to use it and when to turn it off.
White Balance – What it is, how to control it.
ISO – What it does and what to watch out for (noise)
Drive Mode – how to increase your odds of “getting the shot”
Auto Focus – the various Auto Focus modes and situations where you would choose one over another – or even turn it off
Focus point – Why is the fence in focus but Grandma is all blurry?
Metering Mode – How the camera evaluates the scene and helping it choose the right method
Jpg vs RAW – Overcome your fear of RAW. Learn what it is and why it is your friend.
Other settings and terms explained (Color space, Contrast, Vibrance/Saturation, Sharpness, Etc)

The In’s and Out’s of exposure

Exposure explained
How your camera sensor deals with light and the “Gotcha” of the dynamic range limit of your sensor as well as how to over come it.
18% gray and why it may be the most important thing to know about your camera that most people don’t know
Controlling exposure
The trade off’s of your settings. What you get and lose as you make adjustments to

Using your Camera’s Manual controls:

What the main dial settings on your camera mean and when to use them
When and why you should use exposure compensation and/or exposure shift
Bracketing
Your histogram – Understand what it is telling you and read it with confidence. Use it in the field while you still have a chance to shoot again.
Depth of Field (DOF) and Hyper Focal Distance (Hyper Focal Point)
How to convey a sense of motion in your images. Motion Blur or Motion Freezing.
How different lighting and subject situations fool your camera and what to do about it
Flash Exposure Compensation (including Fill Flash)

Artistic – Composition:

What is it?
Rule of thirds
Balance
Leading Lines
Single Subject
The Story
Selective Focus
Subject Separation
10 deadly sins of composition

Putting it all together

6 steps to use in the field.

Give me a try. If you’re not completely satisfied after the first hour, there will be no charge.

Sports-Action

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 02:01:33 GMT

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Death Valley

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:00:40 GMT

]]>Death Valley is mostly in California along the Nevada border not too far from Las Vegas. It features the lowest spot in the USA at Badwater and a vast number of canyons and terrain to explore. In the springtime (after a wet winter) the wildflowers are staggering and the large sand dunes are always interesting to visit.

Japan

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:28:16 GMT

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Fireworks

dan@danhartfordphoto.com (Dan Hartford Photo) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:56:24 GMT

]]>These "Fireworks" photos were made on several different occasions. Most recently on July 4, 2010 at Shoreline Park in Mt. View, CA. On this shoot, I experimented with focus shift during shooting. With this technique, while the lens is open during the longish exposrues required I manually moved the focus ring on the lens. This caused some of the exposure to be captured with the image more or less in focus and some of the exposure to be captured out of focus. During the exposure time the spots of light were moving so were in different positions in the sky during the focused, and un-focused poritoins of the exposure. I kinda lke the effect.