"Old School" Meets "New School": Photography Workshop with Bill Fell

Alpenglow Festival Photography Workshop

“Old School” Photography: The foundation of “New School” Photography

Before cameras were able to ‘auto’ everything, the photographer had to manually select each setting to create a successful photograph. These include: determining the appropriate aperture and shutter speed combination to ensure the correct exposure and focus point to create the desired depth of field, as well as determine the corresponding aperture and shutter speed combination to produce a desired effect, and employ basic compositional and lighting elements. Join “old school” photographer, Bill Fell (www.fellphotography.net) who still uses film (and processes all his own film and prints in the darkroom!), to learn how early photographic techniques and theory form the basis for the operation of your DSLR camera.

Learn the basics behind “old school” theory and techniques that will allow you override ‘auto’ when necessary to produce more successful photographs.

Topics covered will include:

• Basic terminology
• How to fine tune your camera’s light metre
• Camera settings – ISO & AE/L
• Sunny f16 Rule
• Use of a gray card or a substitute
• Depth of field scale and its application
• Use of contrast plus warm and cool colours to create effective photos
• Simple fill and diffused lighting techniques

The theory session will be followed by a practical outdoor session. Be sure to bring your camera with fully charged batteries (and manual, if you still have it).

Note: The workshop is designed for DSLR cameras that can be operated in ‘manual’ modes (M,A,S,P) The workshop will use the camera’s auto exposure lock (AE/L) function. If you are not familiar with this function, please consult your manual before the workshop. 

Note: 35 mm film cameras are also welcome. The workshop is not intended for cell phone photography.

Details

Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 10:00am to 1:30pm
Location: Sun Peaks Centre

Register Now

Workshop Schedule

About Bill Fell

Bill Fell is a fine art black and white photographer who specializes in traditional film and print darkroom processing.

Bill began his career in Ontario where he designed and implemented photography and darkroom courses for both high school and college level students. As well he was a photographic resource guide for White Squall of Georgian Bay and for many years conducted photographic / kayak tours as part of Fell Photography.

Since moving to Sun Peaks, BC in 2013 he has conducted numerous photographic workshops for Sun Peaks Resort, TNRD and Art Zone Sun Peaks as well as participating in multiple group and solo art exhibitions. Contact: www.fellphotography.net / billfell357@gmail.com / 250-318-267