The Secrets to Success

Greetings,

Welcome to "The Complete Photographer"

I appreciate all of you getting back to me and letting me know you are getting my e-mails. I will be communicating with you a lot, so please check your e-mail at least every other day. 

IF you REALLY love me, then you will continue to visit our class page on Facebook. Keep those questions and comments coming. 

I want you to know that I am very excited and honored you are taking my class. I promise, you will be amazed at how much we cover in that short week. I have taught this class many times at Texas School and at Imaging USA, so I know you are going to be changed.

Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to meet with some of you at various guild meetings or workshops. Some of you I have “met” through e-mail and phone conversations.

I know from my previous experiences as an instructor at Texas School that each student comes to class with a broad range of interests and expectations, and a fairly wide range of experience levels. This is to be expected.

Interestingly, it is not the “diversity” among those of you whom I have visited that has intrigued me, but rather it is the similarities among you that has me so excited about this class.

I have observed that as a group, we all seem to share: a passion for photography, a hunger for knowledge, and a strong desire for success. It is with these three common threads in mind, that I am putting the finishing touches on the 2026 edition of The Complete Photographer: Mastering Your Camera, Flash and Composition.

Assignment #1: Do Yourself a Huge Favor

If you want to help yourself with your studies, begin by memorizing the "whole stops" for f-stops, shutter speeds and ISO numbers.

Here they are:

F-stops: 1.4 - 2 - 2.8 - 4 - 5.6 - 8 - 11 - 16 - 22 - 32 ...

Shutter Speeds: 1sec. - 1/2 - 1/4 - 1/8 - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250 - 1/500 - 1/1000 - 1/2000 ...

ISO's: 100 - 200 - 400 - 800 - 1600 - 3200 - 6400

Memorize them forwards and backwards.

I have created a nice little series for you to begin studying and getting ready. You can find the first lesson here: https://passthecpp.com/lesson-1-f-stops/

Also remember:

• Next time you are out and about, pick up a pack of 3x5 notecards.

I will be sending you a complete list of things to bring a little bit closer to class.

That’s it for now! 

Steve

If you have not already, be sure to check in on our class page on Facebook.