Digital Photography Syllabus
Digital Photography
Northwestern Mini Course
Instructor: Lauren Payne
Email: [email protected]
Course Description:
This class will give you a better understanding of your camera and give you the skills to make successful and interesting images. We will focus on core photographic concepts as well as some more advanced techniques.
The course will include hands-on demonstrations with the camera as well as basic digital image editing techniques. We will discuss the work of great photographers along side your own photographs in order to better understand the fundamentals of composition to create compelling imagery. Expect to leave the class with a project you are proud of and a working knowledge of your camera.
Resources:
Website: http://digitalphotominicourse.weebly.com/
I have set up a website for you to use as a supplement to the material from each class session. There is a blog section where you can find links to resources that will supplement what we cover in class, which will be useful for the time you spend working and learning on your own. There is also a Downloads section for lectures and sample files.
Supplies:
A digital CAMERA is your top priority. It does not matter which kind, though full manual exposure controls are helpful. Having RAW capability is nice but not essential.
A TRIPOD is not essential but very helpful. There are many options out there. You get what you pay for but having any stabilizing device is much better than having none.
STORAGE MEDIA This means an external USB or hard drive or online storage like Dropbox.com. Storing your photos on your memory card is not wise for multiple reasons. Also, when we edit in Photoshop the files will be too large to email. Make sure you have a place to save your work every week, as this is a requirement.
Very helpful is access to a COMPUTER with Photoshop CS5 and Adobe Bridge. The computers in this Mac Classroom and many on campus are available for you to use as long as another class is not meeting. You can also download a trial copy of Photoshop Elements or Photoshop from Adobe.com.
Policies:
This is a community course that is here for your enrichment. Attendance is crucial, because of the nature of an accelerated course it will be difficult for you to catch up on the techniques taught in the session that you may have missed. If you must miss a session, the Blog and Downloads page will be a great resource to help you. While I will not be able to fully re-teach a lesson, I will be available to you. More than that I hope you will voice your questions when you would like for me to go more in depth about a subject or there is something that you do not understand.
Photography is learned best by doing. Practice practice practice. Shoot 100 pictures or more per week. Come with questions often.
WEEKLY OUTLINE:
Class 1: Camera Controls
Introductions & discussion of your goals for course.
Camera parts and types (Bring your owners manual to this class).
Menu items and shooting modes (Auto vs. Scene vs. Priority).
Assignment 1:
Photograph a subject of interest to you using different shooting modes to see how that effects your images.
Class 2: Exposure, Black and White Conversion, Intro to Lighting
Image show and tell
Black & White conversion practice
Exposure compensation. Concept of high- and low key
Studio session (tentative)
Assignment 2:
Continue to practice exposure compensation with your camera.
Class 3: The Portrait
Image show and tell
Presentation of photographers who primarily work in portaiture.
Discussion of portrait genres and lighting techniques (studio, natural)
Review aperture, shutter speed, ISO.
Studio session (tentative)
Assignment 3:
Practice shooting portraits and try different lighting techniques.
Bring 10 portraits for next week.
If you have a tripod, bring it for next class.
Class 4: Composition tips, and Shooting at Night
Image show and tell
Discuss composition tips and seeing exercises.
Experiment with night photography and low light shooting.
Shoot outside during class time in groups
Assignment 4:
Find a subject of your choice and spend time working the subject.
Practice rules of composition & seeing exercises.
Bring 10 (5 night or low light) images you are proud of to share on external media (flash or hard drive).
Class 5: Photography and Contemporary Art
Image Show and tell
Presentation on Photography as Contemporary Art
Discussion about conceptual practices
Brainstorm ideas for Assignment 5 and begin working/ planning in class
Assignment 5:
Shoot 10 images that are conceptually driven, based on your own interests or inspired by the lecture.
Class 6: Creating a Body of Work/ Output
Image Show and tell
Presentation and discussion on how to create a succesful body of work
Sequence editing
Trouble shooting/ Course review
Working in class to ready images for final output.
Web vs. print. Color space conversion.
Upload and order final products.
Show & Tell.
Northwestern Mini Course
Instructor: Lauren Payne
Email: [email protected]
Course Description:
This class will give you a better understanding of your camera and give you the skills to make successful and interesting images. We will focus on core photographic concepts as well as some more advanced techniques.
The course will include hands-on demonstrations with the camera as well as basic digital image editing techniques. We will discuss the work of great photographers along side your own photographs in order to better understand the fundamentals of composition to create compelling imagery. Expect to leave the class with a project you are proud of and a working knowledge of your camera.
Resources:
Website: http://digitalphotominicourse.weebly.com/
I have set up a website for you to use as a supplement to the material from each class session. There is a blog section where you can find links to resources that will supplement what we cover in class, which will be useful for the time you spend working and learning on your own. There is also a Downloads section for lectures and sample files.
Supplies:
A digital CAMERA is your top priority. It does not matter which kind, though full manual exposure controls are helpful. Having RAW capability is nice but not essential.
A TRIPOD is not essential but very helpful. There are many options out there. You get what you pay for but having any stabilizing device is much better than having none.
STORAGE MEDIA This means an external USB or hard drive or online storage like Dropbox.com. Storing your photos on your memory card is not wise for multiple reasons. Also, when we edit in Photoshop the files will be too large to email. Make sure you have a place to save your work every week, as this is a requirement.
Very helpful is access to a COMPUTER with Photoshop CS5 and Adobe Bridge. The computers in this Mac Classroom and many on campus are available for you to use as long as another class is not meeting. You can also download a trial copy of Photoshop Elements or Photoshop from Adobe.com.
Policies:
This is a community course that is here for your enrichment. Attendance is crucial, because of the nature of an accelerated course it will be difficult for you to catch up on the techniques taught in the session that you may have missed. If you must miss a session, the Blog and Downloads page will be a great resource to help you. While I will not be able to fully re-teach a lesson, I will be available to you. More than that I hope you will voice your questions when you would like for me to go more in depth about a subject or there is something that you do not understand.
Photography is learned best by doing. Practice practice practice. Shoot 100 pictures or more per week. Come with questions often.
WEEKLY OUTLINE:
Class 1: Camera Controls
Introductions & discussion of your goals for course.
Camera parts and types (Bring your owners manual to this class).
Menu items and shooting modes (Auto vs. Scene vs. Priority).
Assignment 1:
Photograph a subject of interest to you using different shooting modes to see how that effects your images.
Class 2: Exposure, Black and White Conversion, Intro to Lighting
Image show and tell
Black & White conversion practice
Exposure compensation. Concept of high- and low key
Studio session (tentative)
Assignment 2:
Continue to practice exposure compensation with your camera.
Class 3: The Portrait
Image show and tell
Presentation of photographers who primarily work in portaiture.
Discussion of portrait genres and lighting techniques (studio, natural)
Review aperture, shutter speed, ISO.
Studio session (tentative)
Assignment 3:
Practice shooting portraits and try different lighting techniques.
Bring 10 portraits for next week.
If you have a tripod, bring it for next class.
Class 4: Composition tips, and Shooting at Night
Image show and tell
Discuss composition tips and seeing exercises.
Experiment with night photography and low light shooting.
Shoot outside during class time in groups
Assignment 4:
Find a subject of your choice and spend time working the subject.
Practice rules of composition & seeing exercises.
Bring 10 (5 night or low light) images you are proud of to share on external media (flash or hard drive).
Class 5: Photography and Contemporary Art
Image Show and tell
Presentation on Photography as Contemporary Art
Discussion about conceptual practices
Brainstorm ideas for Assignment 5 and begin working/ planning in class
Assignment 5:
Shoot 10 images that are conceptually driven, based on your own interests or inspired by the lecture.
Class 6: Creating a Body of Work/ Output
Image Show and tell
Presentation and discussion on how to create a succesful body of work
Sequence editing
Trouble shooting/ Course review
Working in class to ready images for final output.
Web vs. print. Color space conversion.
Upload and order final products.
Show & Tell.