Photographer: Don Hildred – Star Burst in the Japanese Gardens
Manual Exposure Course
Take Creative Control of Your Photography
Have you ever wondered how photographers create silky waterfalls, blurred motion, sharp wildlife images, or beautifully blurred backgrounds?
The secret is understanding manual exposure.
This one-on-one photography lesson will teach you how aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together so you can confidently control your camera and create the photographs you envision.
Designed for photographers ready to move beyond Auto mode, this course helps you unlock your camera’s full creative potential.
Course Overview
This Course is Perfect For
✅ Photographers who understand the basics
✅ DSLR and mirrorless camera owners
✅ Hobby photographers wanting more control
✅ Landscape photographers
✅ Wildlife photographers
✅ Macro photographers
✅ Anyone frustrated by Auto mode limitations
After this lesson, you’ll be able to
✅ Confidently shoot in Manual mode
✅ Blur or freeze movement intentionally
✅ Create shallow depth of field portraits
✅ Keep landscapes sharp from foreground to background
✅ Control image brightness accurately
✅ Understand exposure in changing lighting conditions
✅ Use your camera creatively instead of relying on Auto mode
Client Experiences & Answers
Lesson Summary
On the Day
AGENDA
- 2 Hours of camera theory
- 1 Hour practical activities
- Coffee / Tea on arrival
- Critiquing & feedback
- Take-home notes
- Friendly atmosphere
- Email/phone support
Topics covered
What we will discuss
- Exposure Triangle
- ISO Sensitivity
- Shutter Speed
- Focusing Techniques
- Aperture Control
- Exposure Metering
- White Balance
Camera activities
On the day
- Freezing & Blurring
- Depth of Field (DOF)
- Landscape Photography
- Macro Photography
- Camera Movement
- How to achieve a Starburst
What to bring
Camera wise
- Digital camera
- Lenses & accessories
- Pen/notepad
- Instruction manual
- Tripod – optional
- External flash – optional
What to expect on the day
Check out what you can expect to do and photograph during your photography lesson at Picnic Point Parklands.
Alternative Courses
Course summary
If this course doesn’t suit your needs, you can try the Camera Basics course designed for beginners. For post-production lovers, there is also the Photo Editing course.
Booking your Private Lesson
Book – Online
1. Please choose your preferred day by clicking on the available date (Blue button) in the calendar below.
2. Then, follow the prompts to enrol in my Google Calendar.
Payment options
Pay on the day
3. You can choose to pay me on the day with cash, EFTPOS, or I can invoice you with a 7-day account.
Online card payment
In preparation for your lesson
After completing your booking, please email me (in the form below) any specific areas of interest you wish to discuss and your favourite photographic genres (e.g., landscape, bird photography, macro). This will allow me to do some preparation so I can be better prepared before we meet.
Contact Don for help
Please feel free to contact me via email if you have any questions.