I took this course to gain a basic understanding of photographic principles, with the aims of coming away feeling comfortable independently using a camera and discovering my own photographic style. For the most part, I’d say I achieved these goals. I now understand best practices for operating a camera, including how to alter camera settings like shutter speed, aperture, zoom, and the like to achieve a desired end product. Likewise, I’ve come to understand the type of subject matter I enjoy photographing and got to bring some of my ideas to life, learning about a variety of photographers in the process. I definitely need to continue refining my skills, but using a camera definitely doesn’t feel so intimidating any more!