Zen and The Art of Digital Photography
Latest - New dates announced:
Thursdays 6.30pm - 9.00pm - starts April 19th
Tuesdays 10.00am - 12.30pm - starts May 8th
Call 0114 283 8692 for bookings.
An eight week project based course to help you get your creative best out of your digital camera. A blend of camera techniques and photographic styles, during the 8 weeks, we’ll be looking at how to get the best out of your digital camera, exploring software and printing as well as looking at some famous photographers and photographic styles.
Each student will be able to choose a photographic project which will be exhibited at the Venue at the end of the course. Projects could range from a collection of family photographs, to large A3 prints and photo books.
Week 1 – Introduction to exposure
Get to know each other
Choosing a project
Exposure basics – (Aperture – Shutter Speed – Sensitivity-ISO)
Homework: Shooting at different shutter speeds – (Sports scenes, water).
Week 2 – Camera Control
Review homework
Exposure basics 2 – histograms - shooting RAW
Camera control – working in manual – understanding autofocus
Practical: Using Aperture to control depth of field
Homework: Take a portrait with controlled depth of field.
Week 3 – The truth about pixels
The pixels you’ve got and the pixels you need. Image size and resolution.
File formats – TIFF, JPEG, RAW
Photo software – what’s available - Elements, Photoshop, LightRoom, Gif
Basic operations – Histograms, Curves, Exposure, Crop, Image Size, Colour balance, Black and White
Practical: Edit portrait from last weeks homework and print
Homework: Print at home. Collect your favourite photographs (from anywhere).
Week 4 – Composition
Some simple tips to make photographs look better.
The Devine Ratio, rule of thirds.
Colour in compositions.
The Genius of Photography DVD
Looking at famous photographers and the photos from last weeks homework.
Homework: Take a photograph that exploits the rule of 3rd. Find an object for macro-photography.
Week 5 - Macro photography
Macro modes, extension tubes, close up lenses.
Practical: Photograph object from last weeks homework. Edit and print.
Homework: Take a picture on your mobile phone.
Week 6 - The weird and the wonderful
A look at alternative photography:
Mobile phone cameras
Mobile phone apps
Pinhole cameras
Photography cults – Lomo – Holga – Plastic cameras
Using film for digital photography
HDR Photography - Joiners
Practical: Photo editing a mobile phone – make it look like and old instamatic
Homework: Produce a photograph by an alternative process.
Week 7 - Portrait Night
Photograph your classmates and/or invite a model.
Use of lighting - Using a reflector - Off camera flash
Practical: An evening of portrait photography and post processing.
Week 8 - Presenting your Work
Getting the best out of your printer – colour profiles – screen calibration
Methods of displaying photographs
How to mount a photograph for framing
Canvas prints
Practical: Mounting and preparing work for exhibition
Homework: Preparing for the exhibition.
Thursdays 6.30pm - 9.00pm - starts April 19th
Tuesdays 10.00am - 12.30pm - starts May 8th
Call 0114 283 8692 for bookings.
An eight week project based course to help you get your creative best out of your digital camera. A blend of camera techniques and photographic styles, during the 8 weeks, we’ll be looking at how to get the best out of your digital camera, exploring software and printing as well as looking at some famous photographers and photographic styles.
Each student will be able to choose a photographic project which will be exhibited at the Venue at the end of the course. Projects could range from a collection of family photographs, to large A3 prints and photo books.
Week 1 – Introduction to exposure
Get to know each other
Choosing a project
Exposure basics – (Aperture – Shutter Speed – Sensitivity-ISO)
Homework: Shooting at different shutter speeds – (Sports scenes, water).
Week 2 – Camera Control
Review homework
Exposure basics 2 – histograms - shooting RAW
Camera control – working in manual – understanding autofocus
Practical: Using Aperture to control depth of field
Homework: Take a portrait with controlled depth of field.
Week 3 – The truth about pixels
The pixels you’ve got and the pixels you need. Image size and resolution.
File formats – TIFF, JPEG, RAW
Photo software – what’s available - Elements, Photoshop, LightRoom, Gif
Basic operations – Histograms, Curves, Exposure, Crop, Image Size, Colour balance, Black and White
Practical: Edit portrait from last weeks homework and print
Homework: Print at home. Collect your favourite photographs (from anywhere).
Week 4 – Composition
Some simple tips to make photographs look better.
The Devine Ratio, rule of thirds.
Colour in compositions.
The Genius of Photography DVD
Looking at famous photographers and the photos from last weeks homework.
Homework: Take a photograph that exploits the rule of 3rd. Find an object for macro-photography.
Week 5 - Macro photography
Macro modes, extension tubes, close up lenses.
Practical: Photograph object from last weeks homework. Edit and print.
Homework: Take a picture on your mobile phone.
Week 6 - The weird and the wonderful
A look at alternative photography:
Mobile phone cameras
Mobile phone apps
Pinhole cameras
Photography cults – Lomo – Holga – Plastic cameras
Using film for digital photography
HDR Photography - Joiners
Practical: Photo editing a mobile phone – make it look like and old instamatic
Homework: Produce a photograph by an alternative process.
Week 7 - Portrait Night
Photograph your classmates and/or invite a model.
Use of lighting - Using a reflector - Off camera flash
Practical: An evening of portrait photography and post processing.
Week 8 - Presenting your Work
Getting the best out of your printer – colour profiles – screen calibration
Methods of displaying photographs
How to mount a photograph for framing
Canvas prints
Practical: Mounting and preparing work for exhibition
Homework: Preparing for the exhibition.