Week 2: Photography

by | Sep 10, 2025 | Creative Fun with Photography

DSLR Basics & Exposure Triangle

Scripture

  • James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

  • Connect photography to capturing the “light” that God created.

Photography, at its core, is the art of capturing light. Cameras cannot function without light—whether it’s the sun, a lamp, or even the stars. In the same way, our lives cannot function apart from the light of God. When we take a photo, we are literally working with the very element that God created on the first day: “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).

Course Content

Review Last Week
  • Students share the 1–2 photos they brought in.
  • Quick recap of the scavenger hunt experience.
  • Today’s focus: How cameras work to capture light.
Camera Anatomy
  • Show parts of a DSLR:
    • Lens
    • Viewfinder
    • Mode dial
    • Shutter button
    • LCD screen
  • Have students point to each part on their own cameras.

If students have cell phones, show where similar settings are located in manual/pro mode.

The Exposure Triangle Explained
  • Aperture (f-stop) – Controls how much light enters; affects depth of field (blurry background vs sharp focus).

    • Example: f/2.8 portrait with blurry background vs f/11 landscape sharp front to back.

  • Shutter Speed – Controls how long light hits the sensor; affects motion blur or freeze.

    • Example: 1/1000 sec freezing sports vs 1/10 sec creating motion blur in water.

  • ISO – Controls sensor’s sensitivity to light; affects image noise/grain.

    • Example: ISO 100 in daylight (clear) vs ISO 3200 in low light (grainy).

Visual Exposure Triangle Chart on screen/board.

Hands-On Practice

  • Activity: “Light Hunt”

    • Students pair up.

       

    • Pick one object in the room or outside window.

       

    • Take 3 photos of it, each time changing only one setting (aperture, shutter speed, or ISO) to see the difference.

       

    • Encourage experimenting:

       

      • Aperture: wide open vs narrow
      • Shutter: fast vs slow
      • ISO: low vs high
Homework
  • Assignment: Take 3 different photos this week where you intentionally change one setting to get a different result.

  • Label each photo with the setting changed (e.g., “Aperture f/2.8” or “Shutter 1/500”).