COURSE STRUCTURE
The content of each of the six lessons is as outlined below: -
Lesson 1 - Origins of Photography
- Digital or Film?
- Image formation
- Lenses & How Light Works in Photography
- Elements of a Basic Camera
- Photosensitive materials.
- The Digital Revolution - Advantages and Disadvantages
- Photographic Terminology
Lesson 2 - Understanding Film & Cameras
- Film Photography
- Four layers - super coat, emulsion, backing support, anti halation layer
- More about Emulsion
- Shutter Speed
- Aperture
- Digital Photography
- Cameras without Film
- Sensors - CCD and CMOS array
- Linear CCDs
- Digital Terminology
Lesson 3 - The Camera and its Use
- Camera stability
- Ways of reducing camera movement
- Depth of field,
- What can be achieved by Adjusting Depth of Focus
- Stabilisation of Digital Cameras
- Camera Construction
- Modern Film Speed Standards
- Types of Cameras - DSLR, Medium format, Mobile phone, etc
- Different formats - from sub miniature to Large format
- filters, fault finding, etc.
- Film Cameras - Rangefinder or SLR
- Digital Cameras and Equipment
- Choosing a Camera - simple or sophisticated
- Digital Compact, SLR, DSLR, Bridged
- Camera Quality
- New or Second hand
- Buying a Digital Camera
Lesson 4 - More on using a camera
- Flash Photography
- Manual flashguns
- Computer Flashes
- Flash synchronisation
- Problems with flash photography (e.g. red eyes, etc)
- Using a flash in daylight
- Fill flash photography
- Equipment and Materials
- Tripods
- Lenses -Standard, Wide angle, Telephoto, Zoom and Macro
- Film - Black & White and Colour
- Filters
- Downloading Digital Images - Software Installation & Data Storage
- Storage Devices
Lesson 5 - Photographic Techniques
- Composition
- Rules of Composition
- Centre of Interest
- Rule of Thirds
- Leading Lines
- Golden Section or Ratio
- Diagonals, Warm Colour Dominance
- Framing
- Horizon
- Simplicity
- Texture
- Time
- Principles of Photographic Composition -unity, balance, proportion, etc
- Qualities of Components - Line, form, mass, space, etc.
- Creating Effects
- Photographic Techniques
- Sport Photography
- Photographing Portraits
- Landscape and Architectural Photography
- Planning a photo session
- Candid Photos
- Posing for photos
- Snapshots
Lesson 6 - Developing your photographic style
- What is Style?
- Developing a Style
- Seeing through the Eyes of the Photographer
- Detailed Style
- Photographic Atmosphere
- Themes
- The Photo Essay
- Hints
Aims
- Describe how light forms an image in a camera.
- Describe how an image can be captured in a camera.
- Discuss how you can work at improving your capabilities with respect to taking photographs.
- Take photos under a range of more complex conditions.
- Improve your technique for taking pictures.
- Analyse your photographic skills and develop an increased consciousness of your own photographic style.
Equipment Required
This course can be undertaken successfully without sophisticated camera equipment, however you do need the use of a camera. An SLR camera is best, but any camera will do. You can do this course using either a film or digital camera; or both.
If you use film, you will need to purchase a minimum of 5 rolls of film and have them developed. (Inexpensive proof prints are acceptable).
During the course, you will learn more about topics, such as LENSES
One of the most significant developments in photographic history is the lens. Lenses may have originated when some distant ancestor happened to notice that a rounded crystal they were holding seemed to form an image of the sun on the ground, much the same as a magnifying glass.
The first practical lens for a camera obscura was designed in 1812. The first lens specifically made for photography was produced in 1840. Lenses operate on the principle called refraction: although light moves in straight lines, its rays can be bent (or rather turned onto a different angle), when it passes into a transparent material at an oblique angle.
Practical demonstration of refraction
Take a deep, clear bowl or plastic bucket and fill it with water. Place a long object (such as a knife or pencil) half in the water. You will notice, if you can view the object from other than overhead, that at the surface of the water, the object seems to be bending at the interface of water and air. It obviously is not bending though! -Pull it out of the water and you will see it is not bent.
What happens to make it look bent?
- Light does not travel at the same speed through all transparent materials.
- When light illuminating your pencil or knife enters the water, it changes speed (slows down). As it does so it bends, changing direction to a new, straight-line course.
- This leads to light being reflected from the object in the water being turned (or refracted), to a different angle before reaching your eyes, which makes the ruler or knife look bent.
The principle of refraction is the basis of all lens design.
The degree to which light bends is dependent on two factors:
- The angle the light hits the surface of the new medium which it is being transmitted through (e.g.: Water, glass etc).
- The type of material the light is entering.
What Are the Advantages of Studying Photography with ACS Distance Education?
- You can start at any time to suit you.
- The courses are self-paced.
- You can study when and where suits you. They are flexible to fit in around you and your lifestyle.
- Keep up to date on your learning.
- Update your CV.
- It is not just a course, it is a package of learning that includes – course notes, tutor feedback, self-assessment tests, research tasks and assignments.
- Our tutors are all experts in their field, with years of experience in photography and teaching.
- They are also keen and enthusiastic about their subject and enjoy working with students to improve their knowledge and skills.
- Courses are also updated regularly to meet the demands of the changing needs for knowledge and to keep our courses up to date.
What Next?
Take up a new hobby this year. Get outdoors, record your life events, improve your social media pictures.
Learn more about photographic techniques, style and editing.
DISCOVER THE PHOTOGRAPHER IN YOU!
You can enrol today by clicking the “Enrol Now” button above.
Or
Click here to Contact a Photography Tutor.
Or Request a Prospectus Here.