DSLR Workshops by Okello Dunkley

I attended Okello’s class last night and it was a great introduction to using my DSLR camera. I am excited again about using my camera on manual mode and learning how to take great shots. I took the class because I am taking a vacation to Dubai in February and I wanted to learn and get some practice before my trip and catch some great moments. I purchased access to his videos so I can go and review information I learned in class and I want to take advantage of some of his more advanced classes he offers online. Now I need to go and invest in the lens he recommended and the Lightroom software he suggested and get going taking great photos. I highly recommend others taking his class in person or online.

My husband and I took this class yesterday and it was well worth the $ 119– after all, what good is an expensive DSLR if you don’t know how to use it?
I had previously taken a (film) photography course in college, so I had some familiarity with ISO, f-​stops, etc. but didn’t really understand how mechanically to manipulate them on my camera, which has all of these buttons, knobs, and menus that a manual film camera does not!
I thought Okello did a great job picking a few of the most fundamental topics to cover and not get bogged down on all of the bells and whistles on our cameras. He also did a great job juggling the variety of different cameras and keeping the class moving.
Okello also gave great tips about what type of equipment is a worthy next investment. And even if you learn nothing else, his tip on shooting with RAW files instead of just JPG is worth the $ 100 on its own!

I’ve participated in three DSLR Workshops by Okello Dunkley, so I’m a repeat customer. The first two workshops were his basic «Take Your Camera Off Program Mode» and the third was a walking monument tour in downtown DC.
The Off Program Mode workshop is a combination of lecture and hands on. It is aimed at people who have a DSLR but don’t really know how to use it other than putting in in automatic mode, aiming and shooting. This was me when I started out: I was pretty good at composition, but really had no clue how to work my expensive camera. All the stuff about shutter speed and aperture were new to me (I got ISO), and it didn’t fully sink in during the first class. I went home and practiced and my photos got instantly better. After a period of time, I went to the Off Program Mode workshop a second time, this time armed with a moderate amount of knowledge. I was easily able to absorb all the nuances that I missed the first time. Again, my photos improved, this time significantly. You can see samples of my work here:
. I directly credit Okello for getting me to this stage.
The walking monument tour was a bit different. It was a much smaller group, and Okello started out by asking each of us what we wanted to learn. He then tailored the class on the fly to meet our individual needs.
All in all, I cannot recommend DSLR Workshops by Okello more highly for anyone who wants to learn how to get the most out of his or her camera. Plus, he’s a really swell guy and the classes are a lot of fun. :)
— Laura Tinnel

I took this class today and felt I needed to write a review (something I don’t always do) because this is truly a great class. Well polished and put together and it’s immensely helpful for beginners. I recently got my new DSLR camera and this class gave me the information (and courage) to take it off of the auto settings and really understand what a powerful piece of equipment I had. Now, don’t expect to walk out of this class and know everything about photography — you have to practice. But this gives you the foundations necessary to learn to take wonderful photos.

Great class. The instructor is very engaging and knowledgable. The class was 3 hours long but it flew by. Perfect for anyone wanting to learn how to use a DSLR camera.

My boyfriend bought me a Cannon DSLR camera last year for my birthday and I fell in love, however I was always using the auto setting. So this year for Valentine’s Day, he signed me up for the DSLR Workshop Beginners Class Level I. While the Cannon camera is easy to navigate, I didn’t know anything about aperture, shutter speed or ISO — which I learned all from the class. The class is truly geared towards beginners and went at a very healthy pace. Okella was very engaging and kept the class fun. I learned a lot of realistic techniques that I can use to take the best pictures in various environments. For a true beginner, please note that you will not leave the class ready to conquer the world through pictures, but he gives you a very solid foundation to build upon. A lot of the information sinks in more after you have had time to go home and practice. I really enjoyed the class and I definitely plan on taking some of his other courses!

I received this as a gift from my brother and sister-​in-​law for Christmas, and WOW. The class has given me the confidence to keep my camera on manual mode. I have been using a camera since I was a young girl, but I never *really* knew what I was doing. While the class is perfect for someone like me — who has some knowledge but needs that kick in the pants to take that knowledge to the next level — it might not be great for people who are true beginners. If you don’t know what aperture means or how shutter speed affects light, a lot of the information Okello presents might go over your head.
Speaking of Okello, he is an excellent teacher and a talented photographer. I have sat through hundreds of PowerPoint presentations (and given my fair share), but this was one of the best. Three hours flew by, and I left with a feeling of excitement. I cannot wait to practice and attend Part II.
If you have any interest in improving your photography, take this fantastic class.

Took the «Part 1» workshop in Annapolis. It was great. He moved through the subject matter at the right pace and kept it engaging. I was already pretty comfortable with my D80, this put me over the top. His explanation of the various settings and their subsequent manipulation is easily related and applied once out of the class with practice. One thing individuals looking to take the course should realize is that he is not providing you with: «If I am here and want to get a picture of this; my settings should be this» type of instruction. He is providing you with the knowledge to recognize a situation and how managing the various settings of your camera will interact to capture the image you are looking for. As well, charge your batteries, and it really makes more sense to take the class if you have a DSLR. There were 7 people in my class that didn’t, which seemed a little odd to me.

My boyfriend gave me a Living Social voucher for the Level I class for Christmas and I think it was money well spent. I knew very little about the functions of a DSLR and how to compensate for lighting/​location/​etc. and I thought this class did a great job of teaching you how to adapt to your situation. When I went home, I initially figured that I wouldn’t be able to put the tips to use but after fiddling with the camera for a bit, I think I’ll get the hang of it with practice (which Okello reiterates in class). I feel more comfortable that I’ll get my shot, without major editing afterwards.
My only complaint was the room temperature at the Tysons Hilton — Okello repeatedly asked them to turn the A/​C up because it was a bit stuffy, and they didn’t.

I had a really great time in this class. I bought a $ 44 voucher on LivingSocial so I didn’t know what to expect. I was interested in part 1 class of his class «taking your DSLR off of program mode.» I learned a lot about my camera and the settings that work in different types of light. I learned about settings i didn’t even know I had. He also covered image software that is best to edit your photos. I’m going to start practicing all that I learned tomorrow and hope that it all sunk in! Okello kept the class fun and interesting and I wasn’t bored once. I will probably take part 2 of his class after practicing a bit.

Great Class. Helped me tremendously as a beginner. My photos have improved a great deal! Can’t wait for part II.

Awesome class… I learned a lot of realistic techniques I can use to take more control over my camera and improve my photography. I found out about the class through a Living Social deal and while I was a little apprehensive because I had no idea what I was going to get… I must admit that I was more than pleased with the value received at such an awesome price. I’m looking forward to taking Okello’s level 2 class and the Lightroom software class at some point. For new DSLR users or longtime users who operate mostly in «auto mode» this is a class you will absolutely want to take. I can’t wait for the weekend to get out there to start practicing.
One word of advice for people considering taking the class in Alexandria… if its during the week and you live in D.C., give yourself more than an hour travel time to ensure you get there on time OR take the metro to King Street. D.C./NOVA traffic was INSANE and I ended up being 45 flippin minutes late (I hate being late). Not at all a reflection of the class… Okello graciously explained what I had missed during a break, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to vent :-)

Okello is a very good teacher. He has a knack for explaining things in ways I’m hopeful will stick. I just completed both classes today. I know a lot of basics — I’ve been shooting with SLRs for 30 years and used to teach photography — but wanted to get more out of digital technology. I learned a decent amount from the 1^st session and quite a bit from the 2^nd. I don’t know that I’d recommend doing both the same day unless you have a lot of stamina. Okello has a lot of energy and didn’t flag at all, but my rate of absorption definitely started to slow down in the home stretch! I would take other programs with Okello in the future,

this class was great! before i went to this class, i had no idea what i was doing with my dslr but i learned so much and i really think i can put all of Okello’s advice and tips to good use. i can’t wait for the 2^nd class! Thank you Okello!

Okello is great. His beginner class was very useful for the person who needs to get acquainted with his DLSR camera. He has a great personality and is very accessible. Don’t expect to take a lot of photos in class or spend a lot of time on photo composition, this class teaches you how to work the camera in order to maximize the shots you want to take.

Excellent class tonight, Okello made it fun and informative, perfect for beginners. We left motivated and knowing much more than when we started, excited for the sun to come up so we can take more pictures. He even lent me his personal camera since I was sharing with my fiancée. Highly recommended, we’re going to sign up for part 2.

I had a great class with okello. The price and time investment are appropriate for the class. I benefited greatly from this class and will be taking the 2^nd class.

I took the DSLR Workshop I from this location. The class duration was from 6PM to 9PM but we got out little late. I thought it was very useful class for anyone who just purchased (or given) a DSLR camera and want a quick learning curve on how to use the device effectively.
The class was held in a hotel conference room. The class was full, we had about 20 or so people. All with various types of DSLR with them. Some with more advanced camera and equipments, other with more older models (some even discontinued). The skill levels were all different but for this course, it’s gear toward to BEGINNERS.
Okello is an enthusiastic and funny dude. He’ll probably read this review at some point, but I’ll be truly honest about the course I just took.
Pros:
The class is very effective for any beginners. He’ll go over everything about the DSLR and what to focus on. He’ll spend great time discussing aperture, focus, ISO, and lighting. Basically four things you’ll need to know inside out if you want to make great shots on your next trip to Jamaica or New York City. He’ll explain difficult and complicated things easily using many analogies so that newbies like I can understand what he’s talking about and apply.
He’s funny. Maybe he has to, otherwise the lecture-​based workshop can be really boring and he would lose his audience. Everyone’s level is different, so one may know more than others, thus make things little boring for those who are more advanced. But there’s nothing Okello do about it. He does his best to engage his audience in practices and theology of DSLR.
Cons:
I wish he would focus and show us pictures that we can all take. Too many times, the sample photos shown on projector were taken with $ 1,600 lens, tripods, polarizers, and etc. Equipments we (beginners) can’t probably afford and only dream about. We have 18−55mm very basic lens, so if he had shown photos with those lens, maybe we could have increased our hopes of taking great shots too.
Also, I believe he spent little too much time talking about technicality of DSLR rather than skills/​tips on how to take great photography. I wish he would spent more time on composition, background, lighting on different occasions. We were all very soaked in aperture, ISO and shutter speed. Those are important to know, but I, ultimately believe (I’m sure Okello does too) that it’s about personal skills and experience that makes the picture spectacular. Not the ISO numbers.
Summary:
I found this course very effective to my growth and learning of photography. I’m a hobby photographer and want to be recognized by my friends not from the media. I probably won’t take his advanced courses, but this one and Workshop II maybe great for anyone who’s willing to take the photography skills to next level.