Master Your Camera Controls and Composition in the Field - Photo Workshops

The DPA Instructors who lead these workshops are professional photographers

For each Master Your Camera Controls, a maximum of 5 attendees sit for 90 minutes with the instructor who will walk you through the manual camera controls of your specific camera. More than 5 attendees would be too chaotic if each person brings a different camera, with different controls.

After enrollment we procure the exact camera manufacturer and model in advance so the teacher is sure to point out any special features. This allows the photographer the option of overriding the automatic camera controls which sometimes disengage because the mechanics of the camera miscalculate the visual effect you are attempting.

Each Composition in the Field class begins with a talk with one of our experienced instructors, and then you and your fellow students take a stroll through one of a variety of photogenic locales (in any of the 20+ cities the DPA encapsulates). There is street photography, magnificent interiors, farmers markets, zoos, landscapes, and more, photos of which are included within. These photos are a mix of student and instructor images in many different venues and cities across the United States and Canada.

You will have fun in the three hour session, learn to shoot strategically, get more interesting photos of the event, and walk away with a foundation to improve your photographs in the future, whether you’re traveling, or at a birthday party and everywhere in between.

The Master Your Camera Control session is always taught very close to the meeting spot of the Composition in the Field session. Registering for this Eventbrite event means you will be enrolled in both classes (which take place back-to-back, immediately one after the other).

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is worth it for the exciting content and dramatic exterior setting alone, but as a photographer, you will be particularly delighted.

Start with the four huge columns at the entrance that were erected in 1868. Your instructor will use this scene to help you develop various strategies for changing the perspective. For example, take a worm’s eye view at the base of the columns for a dizzying composition to jolt the imagination of anyone viewing your photograph. Then step back and capture a broader angle accessorized by the gigantic sculpture of a wooly mammoth.

Once inside, the photo-ops vary from room to room, serving as an array of lessons in composition to add to your signature style of taking photographs. Focus on a long extinct, but completely assembled dinosaur skeleton, or compose a pristine still life using a collection of ancient artifacts unearthed by archeologists from previous centuries. Your instructor will help you adjust your camera or cell phone controls to creating an ideal image in spite of any limitations from the available lighting conditions.

For portraits, there will be discussions on carefully selecting the backdrop, including attention to cropping strategies, so your models are ideally placed without visual distractions from other elements in the scene. Even better, learn the art of portraiture that captures the authenticity of humanity through photographing museum visitors in spontaneous engagement as they get lost in their interest of various displays. You likely will be pleased because this type of photography can yield a narrative that speaks a universal language from whimsical, to poignant, ironic and beyond.

• Adult (19-64): $25.95
• Youth (3-18): $20.95
• Senior (65+): $22.95

Please note – if a class must be cancelled due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control we will be happy to work with you to reschedule or provide a refund. However, if you should need to cancel or require a new class date, contact us. A $25 transfer fee will be imposed without a 3 day notice before the scheduled class.

Call Digital Photo Academy at 1 877 372 2231 or a field agent at 917 597 7053. Lots of people seem to hang up if our welcome recording comes on instead of a live voice, but we promise to return your message within a day or two if you leave one with your name and number. It would be even better if you included your email address as well as the date and city of the class you are considering. If leaving a voice mail message is not your thing, please email us at and include the date and city of the class you are considering, as well as your phone number.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, United States