The Live Zoom Sessions – Part One

A brief introduction to each session and what it will entail (scroll down to learn more)

The OM System Nature Photography Mentorship Program Part I is focused on understanding the technical elements of photography with the OM-1 and the OM-D E-M1x camera bodies. The technical side of photography is centered around understanding the controls, buttons, dials, levers, menus, and features of the camera bodies; as well as, the technical side of exposing an image. This would include an understanding of histograms and highlight/shadow alerts, plus, the Trinity of Photography which is shutter speed, aperture (f-stop), and ISO.

Finally, the technical side of nature photography would include autofocus and all the related settings and processes, and a proper understanding of RAW versus JPG files.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

How long are the live, interactive Zoom meetings?

The Zoom meetings are scheduled for (3) hours in length.

What time do the live, interactive Zoom meetings begin?

They will begin at 5:00 p.m. CST (6:00 p.m. EST).

Will the live and private Zoom meetings be recorded and always available?

Yes, each live, interactive Zoom meeting will be recorded and available to all participants during and after the program has completed. The private, one-on-one videos will be recorded and made available only to the participant.

How long are the (4) four private, one-on-one Zoom meetings?

They will be one hour in length.

Must I use Zoom to participate in the live sessions?

Yes, you can use Zoom on your laptop, desktop, tablet, or iPhone. You can use it in a browser (I recommend Chrome) or as an app. I recommend using your laptop or desktop computer so the screen will be bigger and easier for participating.

How will we be able to see your camera’s menus and such in the camera during the Zoom meetings?

I will be able to broadcast directly from within my camera during the Zoom meetings when we need to see menus, the super control panel, or exposure settings and other related information.

What are the dates for the live group Zoom meetings?

Introductory Session – September 15, 2023

Session One – September 29, 2023

Session Two – October 13, 2023

Session Three – October 27, 2023

Session Four – November 17, 2023

Session Five – December 8, 2023

Session Six – December 29, 2023

Session Seven – February 16, 2024

Session Eight – March 1, 2024

Session Nine – March 29, 2024

Session Ten – April 12, 2024

Session Eleven – April 26, 2024

Session Twelve – May 24, 2024

Bonus Sessions to Be Scheduled!

Introductory Session

Zoom Functionality & Establishing Expectations

The introductory session will familiarize you with the Zoom meeting platform so that you will be able to fully engage in every live, interactive session, as well as your private live sessions. We will discuss expectations, participation, projects, and the OM System Mentorship Program website and how to access session materials. We will also review how to use your camera during each session. Finally, we will create a list of each participants personal goals and desired results from the program.

Session One

OM System Camera Controls

Session one is designed to immerse you into the controls of the OM-1 & the OM-D E-M1x. These controls are comprised of the dials, buttons, levers, and directional pad. These controls are how we access the features, menus, settings, and operations of our cameras. Mastering our system begins with mastering the controls. Without developing the muscle memory for each of the most critical controls, you will already be hobbled before you ever venture into the field for nature photography. We will also consider should we use the touch controls and how to do firmware updates safely and properly.

Session Two

OM System Camera Menu

Session two will walk us through the entire menu of both the OM-1 & OM-D E-M1x and we will only address those features that have a direct relationship with nature photography. We will discuss the menu design, how to navigate, make selections, and create a custom menu. The menus have items that only need to be set once and never touched again and some items that might need to be adjusted more regularly or changed from one genre of nature photography to another (i.e. macro to night sky).

Session Three

Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) & LCD Monitor / Battery & Sleep Settings

Session three will cover two separate areas including the Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) and LCD monitor display, and the battery and sleep settings. The first category we will cover include the EVF’s live view mode, night vision mode, the EVF Auto Switch, EVF display rate, and viewfinder and monitor brightness. We will also learn the most important information displayed on each. We will also consider battery settings which relay information regarding our battery status and priority (and camera settings which can use a lot of battery power), and how to charge our batteries in camera. Finally, what are sleep settings and how do they affect our cameras.

Session Four

Recording & Playing Back Images

Session four will cover how the camera records images and which memory cards should we use. We will discuss the differences in RAW versus various JPG file formats. We will consider settings such as color profile, color space, and image aspect ratios. We will learn the difference between deleting images from a card and formatting a card. We will also discover the various information that can be displayed during image playback and how we choose what we want to see displayed and how many images we can see at once. We will cover how to move through images in any order and how to set defaults according to your preferences. Finally, we will learn how to cycle through the various image playback views.

Session Five

OM System Exposure & Drive Modes

Session five will cover two critically important topics of exposure and drive modes. When it comes to exposure modes, photographers are often given mixed signals even from professionals on which exposure mode is “best.” We will develop a full understanding of each mode so that you can decide which mode is “best” for certain situations. We will consider program, shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes. In addition, we will consider the various drive modes for the OM-1 and OM-D E-M1x which are most often related to frames per second (fps). We will learn why faster is not always better, but we will master the various limitations and advantages of each.

Session Six

Mastering OM System Autofocus

Session six is one of the most appealing sessions for nature photographers because of the technological advancements in autofocus technology and the critical aspect of acquiring and keeping focus with fast moving subjects. This session will discuss not only subject tracking, but what situations might it struggle, should we use it all the time, and how can we use the many autofocus settings found in the AF menu to improve our AF speed and accuracy.

Session Seven

Understanding Exposure with the OM System

Session seven will explore how we can properly expose our images almost every time using the live histogram and live highlight alerts of the OM System cameras. We will work through the why it is important that we are making an “exposed to the right (ETTR)” and we will establish a methodology for the how to make an ETTR image. We will explain how we use post-processing to develop our image to our personal tastes and desires.

Session Eight

Understanding Flash Photography with the OM System

Session eight will demystify the use of flash in nature photography with the OM System cameras. We will learn the difference in a full flash exposure versus fill flash, how to use manual and TTL exposure modes, when to use flash exposure compensation, the concept of light “fall-off” and what that means for a proper exposure, and when we should use flash. We will discuss the impact of flash photography on histograms and live highlight alerts and how we can begin to properly expose images with flash. Finally, we will explore the impact of the aperture (f-stop) on ambient light.

Session Nine

Computational Photography Features of the OM System

Session nine will explore the computational photography features that are used for nature photography. These features are some of the most advanced features available on any camera system. We will learn when and how to use Live Neutral Density Filter, Live Composite, Live Time, and Live Bulb exposure modes, focus stacking/focus bracketing, and high dynamic range (HDR)/exposure bracketing. We will master the proper use of these advanced features and how to activate them at a moments notice.

Session Ten

Miscellaneous Features & Common Errors

Session ten will explore the miscellaneous features that don’t really fit into any other category. We will also consider some of the more common errors that users may receive. These include keystone correction, fisheye compensation (for use with the M.Zuiko 8mm F1.8 FISHEYE Pro lens). and interval (time lapse) photography. Finally, we will consider common errors you might receive in the EVF or LCD monitor.

Session Eleven

Custom Camera Modes

Session eleven will walk you through the process of programming a custom mode (C1,C2,C3,C4) on the OM-1 and OM-D E-M1x. These are some of the most powerful features on these OM System bodies since they let us quickly move from a C1 mode programmed for wildlife to a C4 mode programmed for macro with flash. We will discuss why every nature photographer should use all four (4) custom modes on each body.

Session Twelve

Q&A / Review

Session twelve will be used to review topics already covered, explore skills, consider additional features or tasks, ask open questions, and to contemplate Part II (Creative OM System) and Part III (Post Processing) mentorship programs.

Bonus Session One

Histograms & Highlight Alerts

Bonus session one will help you understand how to read, interpret and utilize histograms and highlight/shadow alerts to nail your exposure almost every time! We discuss the technical aspects of histograms, the brightness versus RGB histograms, when to display them, when to ignore them, and how to interpret them. We will also discuss highlight alerts, related settings, their use in exposure and adjusting settings.

Bonus Session Two

The Trinity of Photography

Bonus session two will help you master the trinity of photography which are shutter speed, aperture (f-stop), and ISO. These three elements of photography are how we control the technical side, and some of the creative elements, of nature photography. We will discuss the difference in technically correct versus creatively correct exposures.

If you are ready to stop being afraid, stop struggling, and stop missing the shot with your OM-1 and/or E-M1x, then click the button at right to register for the 2023/2024 OM System Nature Photography Mentorship Program! Registration is full and closed for the 2023/2024 Session. Watch for the next dates!

Registration is Currently Closed!