1. Photography
Know your camera

2. Writing With light
The language of photography is distinguished from other visual arts by its two essential elements: light and the camera.
Light rays reflect off surfaces and into the camera, where light-sensitive film or a digital disk records the image.

3. Peaks & Valleys, Light & Shadows
The resulting photograph describes the world in a tonal spectrum end-marked by the highlights and the shadows.

4. Technical Considerations
Technical considerations such as lighting choices, film, and camera type determine the final look of the image.
Camera controls such as shutter speed and aperture produce photographic attributes such as focus and blur.
Looking through a rectangular frame, the photographer views and creates images.
Framing, cropping, and vantage point or point of view are other characteristic elements of photography.

5. Which of these is the most like the human eye?
Telescope
Microscope
Camera

6. Which of these is the most like the human eye?

7. Camera behaves like an eye

8. Camera behaves like an eye
BUT…
Most current digital cameras have 5-20 megapixels, which is often cited as falling far short of our own visual system. This is based on the fact that at 20/20 vision, the human eye is able to resolve the equivalent of a 52 megapixel camera (assuming a 60° angle of view).

9. Words you need to know
Aperature - In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels.
A device called a diaphragm usually serves as the aperture stop, and controls the aperture. The diaphragm functions much like the iris of the eye – it controls the effective diameter (how big) of the lens opening.

10. Words you need to know
Shutter - In photography, a shutter is a device that allows light to pass for a determined period of time
Simple leaf shutter 1. Shutter plate 2. Aperture covered by leaf shutter 3. Aperture during exposure 4. Leaf blade 5. Catch mechanism 6. Butterfly spring

11. Camera Settings
Auto The camera will completely control flash and exposure. On most cameras this is labeled "auto", on others simply "A". Some cameras only have (P)rogram.
Program automatic-assist, just point and shoot. Unlike full auto mode, you can usually control flash and a few other camera settings.

12. Camera Settings
Macro/Close-Up this mode used for taking close-up pictures. 
Party/Night longer exposures to capture darker scenes. Usually used with flash, and some nice motion effects can be created.
Portrait  To attempt to blur out the background, camera will try to use the fastest available lens setting (aperture).

13. Camera Settings
Landscape  camera will attempt capture detail in foreground and background by using high f-stop (aperture) settings.
Sports To freeze motion, camera will use the highest shutter speed possible.
Stitch/Pan For creating multi-shot panoramas, this mode will help to combine several shots into one wide scene. Good fun.

14. Camera Settings
Aperture Priority Photographer sets the aperture (f-stop) and the camera will attempt to deliver a good exposure. Some cameras use an "A" icon instead of "Av"
Shutter Priority  Photographer sets the shutter, and the camera will attempt to deliver a good exposure. Some cameras use an "S" icon instead of "Tv"
Manual Full manual mode, the photographer must set both the shutter and the aperture.

15. Introducing the Half-Press!
This is an easy yet essential skill for beginners to learn. The "half-pressed" button is helpful in many ways, including:  
faster camera response time
more control over focus
encourages better composition
Using the half-press is easy, aim your camera directly at the subject and gently press the shutter release button until the camera comes "alive". If you want to take the shot, press down until the camera fires.

16. How to do the Half-Press!
1. Ready (Half-Press) Point the camera at the subject and half-press. Wait for focus lock. While focusing, the camera will show a blinking focus indicator (usually a green dot). When you hear a beep and the indicator stops blinking, the camera is telling you it's ready to go.

17. How to do the Half-Press!
2. Aim (Hold and Compose) WHILE HOLDING the button at half-press, take time to explore the composition of the scene. The camera will remain at the ready with focus locked.

18. How to do the Half-Press!
3. Fire (Full-Press) Take the shot by pressing down until the camera fires. Only a gentle pressure is needed, be careful not to shake the camera.