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Online Photography Course
Learning the Canon Digital Rebel Camera

Have a pro at your side - online, all the time

Join 's Course: 4-Week Short Course: Learning the Canon Digital Rebel CameraLearn to capture stunning images from your Canon EOS Rebel 450D/XSi, XS/1000D, 400D/XTi, 400D/XT, or 300D. This course will be taught by Charlotte Lowrie, author of the best-selling book, The Canon Digital Rebel XTi Field Guide and the XSi and XS Field Guides. In addition to being an author, Charlotte is a professional editorial and stock photographer. The Rebel opens the door to limitless photography fun, practice, experimentation, and creative freedom. With helpful and real-life guidance, you can master the camera and get the images that you imagine.
Key Features

  1. Getting to Know Your Digital Rebel
  2. Foolproof Shooting
  3. Exercise Your Creative Options
  4. Practice Makes Perfect and Exploring Lenses and Accessories

  • A hands-on, practical guide for getting the most from the Canon EOS Rebel 450D, 1000D, 400D, 350D, and 300D cameras.
  • Master the camera controls and operation so that you can confidently use your Digital Rebel to get stunning images.
  • Learn what's good about Basic modes, and when to use them and when not to use them.
  • Stretch your creative potential by learning to use the Creative Zone modes to get professional looking images.

What You Get

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  Benefits:
You get direct feedback on your photos from world-acclaimed, professional photographers. You can learn photography in this way from anywhere in the world.  
 
 
  • Learn at your pace, with structure.
  • Be guided by a real pro instructor.
  • Get your photos critiqued every week.
  • Join students from around the world.
  • Go far beyond any book or DVD.
  • Make great pictures, again and again!

Instructor

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Photography Instructor: Charlotte K. Lowrie Charlotte K. Lowrie
Charlotte K. Lowrie is a freelance editorial and stock photographer and an award-winning journalist and professional photographer based in the Seattle, WA, area. Her photography and writing have appeared in newsstand magazines including Popular Photography & Imaging, in newspapers including the Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Times Herald.

Her photography and writing have been featured on the Canon Digital Learning Center Web site, as well as on MSN and in various Microsoft products and advertisements. Charlotte is also featured on TakeGreatPhotos.com as a master photographer.

Charlotte is the author or co-author of the following books:

As a journalism major, Charlotte began her career writing and photographing news and features for local papers in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area. After moving into writing and shooting for industry trade magazines, she moved to Seattle as a technical writer. She eventually became the founding managing editor, writer, and contributing photographer of the MSN Photos Web site (the Web site has since been discontinued). She also served as the managing editor of Photoworkshop.com's Double Exposure magazine for a year.

Charlotte specializes in editorial/photojournalism, portrait, nature, and stock photography. Her images have been published in books, magazine articles, on Web sites, and in advertisements. One of her portraits was recognized in the Women in Photography Portrait competition.

Charlotte teaches three BetterPhoto PhotoCourses:

  • Learning the Canon Digital Rebel,
  • Learning the Canon EOS 50D, and,
  • RAW Shooting: From Capture to Finished Photo with Photoshop

Check out Charlotte's blog on Amazon.com.

A Couple of Photos by the Instructor


© Charlotte Lowrie 

© Charlotte Lowrie 

Course Outline

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Lesson 1: Getting to Know Your Digital Rebel
Unless you know your camera  well, you'll inevitably miss shots as you fumble with camera controls. This lesson walks you through the controls and explains what they are and why you should care about them. We'll look at what image format and quality settings you should use, how to get the best color via White Balance settings, and you'll learn about Autofocus modes and how to get tack-sharp focus every time. Then the elements of exposure are introduced, and you get a chance to begin working with exposure elements in Program AE mode on the Rebel And, just to double-check, we'll ensure that you've set up your camera properly. Sidebar: Does Focus Lock and Recompose Work?
Assignment: Baseline shooting to establish a starting point for improvement through the course, as well as practice with getting accurate color and exposure.

Lesson 2: Foolproof Shooting
Part of the beauty of the Digital Rebels is the full range of Programmed, or Basic Zone modes. In this lesson, you’ll learn what each mode does and what goes on behind the scenes to create a specific type of image. But most important, you’ll learn when to use Basic Zone modes and when not to use them. Along with the convenience that programmed modes offer, there are drawbacks. We’ll explore some of the got’chas associated with each of the Basic modes.
Sidebar: Composition Basics
Assignment: Capture images in two automated modes and concentrate on creating images with pleasing composition.

Lesson 3: Exercise Your Creative Options
You likely bought the Rebel because you want to do a lot more than point and shoot. Indeed the Rebel offers modes that let you stretch your skill and knowledge as a photographer. In this lesson, we learn all the elements of photographic exposure, how the camera meters light, and we'll explore each of the creative modes and learn when to use them to get the effect that you want in your images. By the end of this lesson, you'll know when you need control over exposure time versus control over aperture, and how to use Depth of Field to your creative advantage. Sidebar: About Using Manual Mode
Assignment: Make two images with extensive and shallow depth of field, or make two images with stop-motion and blurred motion using the appropriate Creative Zone modes.

Lesson 4: Practice Makes Perfect & Exploring Lenses and Accessories
What about using the flash, and additional lenses and extenders? In this lesson, we'll explore the world of lenses and the options they offer for extending your creative eye in photography. Which lenses will benefit your photography most and what you can expect from each type of lens. We'll also cover the benefits of using the built-in flash and adding an accessory flash such as a Canon EX Speedlight. Sidebar: Understanding the Focal-Length Multiplication Factor
Assignment: Final exam featuring two thematic image assignments that pull together all the concepts and skills we’ve learned in the previous weeks.


© Charlotte Lowrie 

© Charlotte Lowrie 

Requirements

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  • Own or borrow a Canon EOS Rebel 450D, 1000D, 400D, 350D, or 300D.
  • Basic experience making pictures with a point-and-shoot digital camera or with the EOS Digital Rebel.
  •  Knowledge of off-loading images from the camera to the computer.
  • A desire to make better pictures with your EOS Digital Rebel SLR.

FAQ

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Does this course include the Rebel XS and XSi?
Yes, all versions of the Digital Rebel are included in this course.  

Do I need more than one lens to take this course?
No. All you need is the lens that came with the camera kit, or the lens that you currently own. It is recommended that you have a tripod as well. 

Will the course include instruction on editing images?
No. This course concentrates on learning to use the camera and on getting great images in the camera. But if you're interested in learning how to edit digital images, BetterPhoto.com offers a variety of other courses that teach you image editing techniques. 

If I'm getting good pictures with my Digital Rebel, why should I take this course?
The course is designed to take you beyond the automatic settings and show you how to take creative control to get predictable results. The principles taught during the course will provide the foundation for you to get even better images from the camera than you're getting now. If you feel that you are currently "shooting in the dark" with your Rebel, or if you know that you're not taking advantage of all the options the camera offers, then you'll benefit from this course.  

Will the course include shooting tips and photography concepts?
Yes. Supplemental material will cover basic composition, the elements of exposure, and you will get additional information on white balance and choosing lenses for the cameras.  

How is this course different from the other course about the same EOS cameras?
Both courses cover the same primary concepts and camera operations but in a slightly different order. The instructors have compared notes to ensure that you will get full information regardless of the Digital Rebel course you take.  

Can I shoot in Raw mode for this class?
For this class, we will shoot JPEG images only. 


© Charlotte Lowrie 

© Charlotte Lowrie 

Do I have to be online at any specific time?
No, you do not need to be online at any specific time. The lessons are sent to your email and you are also provided the Campus Square - where you interact with your classmates and instructor. This is also where you upload your photos to be critiqued by your instructor. The instructors are very punctual and respond quickly.

Will I have access to the instructor to ask questions during the photo course?
Absolutely! Students can ask questions in the special Q&A forum set up in the course's Campus Square, or can ask the instructor via email.

Do you offer a money back guarantee?
Yes. We are confident that you will fully enjoy our courses. All the same, for our 8-week classes, we offer a 100% money-back guarantee before the Wednesday that Lesson #3 is sent out. If for any reason, you are not satisfied and let us know that you would like to withdraw before the Wednesday that Lesson #3 is sent, you will be promptly refunded.

For our 4-week courses, we offer a 100% money back guarantee before the Wednesday that Lesson #2 is sent out from BetterPhoto. If for any reason you are not satisfied and you let the ordering department know that you would like to withdraw before the Wednesday that Lesson #2 is sent, you will be refunded within 7 days. After the second lesson has been sent out, no refunds will be given.


If you have further questions about this course, feel free to contact us via the Contact link below.

Only $198.00 USD






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In a Nutshell
4-Week Short Course
Skill Level: 1 - Beginner
Category: CameraCourses
$198.00 USD

First Assignment Sent:
Dec 2, 2009

Average Customer Rating: 5 out of 5
5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
Read all 78 reviews


Course Reviews:

5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 4.5 out of 5
By
Roxanne H. Lamb
member since: 9/13/2009
Charlotte was wonderful. She delivered all that was stated during the session. More importantly she was flexible in the assignments so that I was able to deal with a family emergency which has not allowed me to maximize all this course offered. THANK YOU!!!!!

- 11/5/2009 4:09:12 AM


5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
BetterPhoto Member Nicole  M  Cuervo
Nicole  M  Cuervo
member since: 10/8/2009
I have had my Rebel for about 3yrs. I was a point and shoot person, only knew the basic setting, after taking this class I learned things about my rebel that I didn't even know were on the camera.. This was a great starter course I just started my next adventure and Charolette was the best she helped me out alot, I recommend this class for anyone that has a Rebel..

- 11/4/2009 2:25:56 PM


5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
By
Amanda Sickels
member since: 10/1/2009
I had just purchased a Canon Digital Rebel, and I could not have picked a better course! This class taught me not only photography 101, but the advantages and disadvantages of my specific camera and how that applied to photography. The course is structured so that a lesson is given with a photo assignment. The instructor reviews and critiques the photos based on the assigned lessons. Charlotte really helped give critiques that brought out the best in my photography! I would defiantly recommend this class to anyone who has a Canon Digital Rebel. It's worth every penny!

- 10/28/2009 9:40:23 AM


5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
BetterPhoto Member Pamela L. Moore
Pamela L. Moore
member since: 7/30/2008
I have had my camera for 2 years and always set on automatic setting. I learned so much and am enjoying picture taking again. I cant stress how much we learned in 4 weeks to make me feel like I own a new camera. Thank you charlotte - you were easy to understand and made our lessons fun.

- 10/1/2009 4:34:04 PM


5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
BetterPhoto Member Bobby J. Harr
Bobby J. Harr
member since: 5/20/2007
This is my first on-line course. I have had my Rebel XT for a little over 3 years, and while I have taken some spectacular pictures, I have not learned enough about the camera to be consistant. I feel I could have gotten more out of the course had I prepared better. Charlotte Lowe's presentation was clear and very helpful. I have her Book, The Digital Rebel Field Guide and will continue to improve.

- 9/30/2009 6:22:52 AM


Read all 78 course reviews...





Better Than Money Back Guarantee
Better Than Money Back Guarantee
We're confident you'll be delighted.






More Delighted Customers:

"Charlotte Lowrie is a wonderful instructor. She explains everything in simple terms so that it is easy to understand. She gives quick responses to any questions and goes out of her way to make sure you understand... I will definitely recommend this course to anyone need to learn how to use their camera." -Linda Pearson, former student 

"Thank you so much for your insightful critiques during this class! I looked forward to your comments each week and seeing my photos through your well-trained eyes. I learned A LOT and thoroughly enjoyed the class. I now feel much more comfortable using my new Rebel and am better able to capture the images I want." -Leslee Yoder 

"Words cannot express the gratitude I have for Charlotte. My Canon Rebel XT 350D used to intimidate me, even in the basic modes! Not only do I feel more comfortable with all aspects of my camera but she has also inspired and motivated me.

Charlotte’s lessons were packed full of information, she answered questions quickly and provided invaluable critiques. I would recommend BetterPhoto.com and especially Charlotte Lowrie to anybody! It won’t be long before I sign up for another BetterPhoto.com course and/or purchase many of Charlotte’s books." -Tanya Ray

 

 

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