Photography
Background The 9 session beginner’s course offers a thorough grounding to enable the student to understand how the camera works and how photography may be used for a number of different purposes, i.e. conceptually and practically. This course will include the development of visual literacy, an introduction to photographic language and terminology, camera anatomy and techniques e.g. I.S.O., aperture, shutter speed. Students will be given exercises and encouraged to build creative projects. The students will be introduced to the main genres of photography. A test will be written at the end of the course and a small exhibition will be held at the college. A class critique of student assignments will start most class sessions and students who are late may miss part of this crucial component. A question and answer session will be held at the end of every class. Students need to remember to bring their assignment images to class every week. Class times : Classes will run on Tuesday and Thursday evenings ( 6:00 – 8:30pm ) with one additional class on a Saturday morning to midday to do a photographic shoot. You will need: Your own digital camera (secondhand cameras acceptable) with which you are able to adjust: Focus Aperture Shutter speed I.S.O. White balance Your camera must also have a working internal light meter. You will receive: Photocopied course notes.
Note : While it is assumed that most students will have digital slr cameras, those with 35mm film cameras will not learn any less ( with the exception of white balance and the class session on camera menu settings ) as the course concerns itself with fundamental photographic principles that transcend whatever photographic format is used.
Bring Camera, batteries and memory card. Introduction and discussion of what students require and/or expect. Exposure + basic camera operation. Setting a manual exposure on their camera. Light meter. Depth of field.
Making vs taking photos : the elements of a well made photo.
Assignment : Manual exposure and Depth of field.
Session 2: 5.30-8.00 13 May 2010
Crit of prev weeks pix. How to download + Image resizing.( students don’t need to bring full large size images to class. ) This class is about shutter speed : Freezing motion, blurring, shooting in low light. Bulb shutter mode. More on exposure. Assignment : Motion and SHUTTER SPEED exercise.
Session 3: 5.30-8.00 18 May 2010
Crit of prev weeks pix.
Visual communication + visual literacy, how we read images and can use them to speak. Composition, angle of view, context, back + foreground, line, angle, texture, shape, balance, contrast, and other things to bring attention to subject. Assignment : Composition.
Session 4: 5.30-8.00 20 May 2010
Crit of previous works pix.
Menus : Now that the students are familiar with the camera we can start looking at the menu system in more detail. Visual literacy continued.
Flash photography and bulb mode. Assignment : shoot images on bulb mode and shoot flash images.
Session 5: 5.30-8.30 25 May 2010
Crit of previous weeks pix.
Visual literacy continued. Menus continued. Assignment : Students shoot with varied/changed menu settings ( colour + saturation, focus zones, white balance etc. )
Assignment : Shoot with different menu settings.
Session 6: 5.30-8.30 27 May 2010
Crit of previous works pix.
Overview of Genre photography, it’s various elements and requirements ( sport, wedding, fashion, documentary, art, reportage, commercial/advertising ). Unfortunately, as this course covers only the basics of photography, we cannot cover genres in greater detail but there should be enough time to cover the most common photographic genres briefly.
Slideshow of major genres and discussion on genres eg: What is each genre about, what does each genre require ?
Assignment : Choose 2 genres + shoot them.
Reminder about Saturday class shooting trip and what to bring.
Session 7: 10.00am – 12.00 ( class trip starting time may change ) 29 May 2010
Note : This session is a class trip, a critique of previous weeks’ assignment would take up too much time and thus the genre assignment will be critiqued with the outdoor shoot images next week.
The class will shoot at an outdoor location.
Announce test next week.
Session 8: 5.30-8.00 01 June 2010
Crit on prev 2 weeks pix.
Overview of course : touch on every topic mentioned ( summary ) and how to build on what has been learned.
Test : A written test covering the course.
What to bring for exhibition next week, what sizes to print, display etc.
Session 9 5.30-8.00 03 June 2010 Before all starts put your work up for exhibition at 6pm. Images assessed. 7pm Invite family and friends to see exhibition /bring snacks.
Students will have their final results emailed to them after results from the practical assessment have been combined with their theory test results.
Module duration 4 weeks Days Tuesdays & Thursdays Module 1 fee R3000.00 Date 11 May 2010
Module 2: Basic Photo Editing with Adobe Photoshop CS4
Class times: Classes will run on Tuesday and Thursday evenings ( 6-8pm ) at a City Varsity computer lab.
You will receive: Photocopied course notes.
Session 1: 5:30 – 7:30PM 08 June 2010
The Photoshop interface ( breakdown of what exactly the user sees onscreen – palettes, tools, program interface) Uploading images from camera, usb flash, DC/DVD or other media. Opening + saving files correctly. The photoshop toolbox. Adjusting exposure/tone.
Exercise : basic exposure adjustment.
Session 2: 5:30 – 7:30PM 15 June 2010
More about the program interface. Layers and history. Colour adjustments. Cropping.
Image (re)sizing and resolution. Preparing images for web or email. Different file-types, their strengths and weaknesses.
Exercise : resizing and saving for web.
Session 4: 5:30 – 7:30PM 29 June 2010 Retouching and repairing basics.
Exercise : Basic retouch and basic repair.
Session 5: 5:30 – 7:30PM 06 July 2010
Selections. Transforming and distorting. Filters. Tips and tricks.
Exercise : Selections, filters and transforming.
Module duration 5 weeks Days Tuesdays Module 2 fee R1500.00 Date 08 June 2010
Module 3: Photoshop for Photography ( with Adobe Photoshop CS4 )
Background The 5 session intermediate course assumes the student has completed the previous “Basic Photo editing” course or has at least a good grasp of the basics of the Photoshop program. Students will learn how to perform intermediate and advanced image corrections using the more complex features of the program. The course is geared specifically towards photographic image editing and not graphic design. It will suit students who are interested in using photoshop to edit photographs to a standard beyond the level of novice or beginner. Classes will consist of lectures and exercises with provided sample images. Class times : Classes will run on Tuesday and Thursday evenings ( 6-8pm ) at a City Varsity computer lab.
