Single-Lens Reflex Cameras are the Beast From The East when it comes to getting the photographs you want, every single time. OKCupid says using a good camera for those bathroom shots will get you better dates, your mom says nice shots of your cousin's wedding will get you limitless cred, and you KNOW you want to snag a perfect frame of the full blue moon. 

All three of those are radically different applications of the camera technology, though! An SLR, unlike a point-and-shoot, can rock all three. 

This is the class to find out how to use your camera to do just that.

Bring: Your camera, a lens, memory card (empty), battery (full)

Recommended: note pad, pen, bribes for teacher

 NOTE:  While this class is designed with digital SLRs in mind, most of the information is not specific to digital cameras, users of film SLRs could also benefit.

Part 1: What is an SLR and how do they work? Camera bodies and lenses (30 mins)

Part 2: Shutter, Aperture, ISO (30 mins)

Part 3: Reading Histograms, zebra lines,  (20 mins)

Part 4: Decisions and compromises: when to use which settings. (20 mins)

Part 5: review/questions: (20 mins)

Part 6: Target practice! We go out and shoot some things, check out ways to make that better in practice. (1 hour)

Kyle Clements is the originator of the Invisible Paintings project. He is a working artist in Toronto central. His work has recently been displayed at the Moore Gallery. He knows whereof he speaks.