Coconino Community College - Flagstaff

This hands-on introductory photography class teaches participants how to take control of their cameras using manual settings. Students will learn how aperture (f-stop), shutter speed, and ISO work together to control exposure and image quality.

Rather than relying on automatic settings, participants will learn how to adjust their camera to match lighting conditions, subject movement, and creative goals such as background blur or sharp detail.

The class includes guided outdoor practice where participants will experiment with different camera settings and observe the results in real time. This course is ideal for beginners who want to move beyond auto mode and better understand how their camera works.

Participants must bring a digital camera with manual controls, such as a DSLR, mirrorless, or advanced compact camera. Smartphones and basic point-and-shoot cameras without manual controls are not suitable for this course. Additionally, participants should bring a fully charged battery and memory card.

Class meets on four Thursdays: July 9, 16, 23, 30, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Instructor: Before earning her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Olivia A. Stull operated a photography studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she both worked as a professional photographer, as well as taught introductory digital photography courses. She has years of experience helping people learn to use their cameras with confidence and understand the technical foundations of photography.

Olivia has experience with a wide range of photographic formats, including large-format film, 35mm film, and digital systems, and has explored both traditional and experimental approaches, such as Lomography. Photography has been a lifelong passion and creative practice alongside her work in psychology and education.

Her teaching focuses on making manual camera settings understandable and practical so that participants can move beyond automatic mode and begin taking intentional photographs.