Digital SLR Photography FRIDAY MORNING

Course Outline

Week 1: Camera Controls 

You will be guided through the manual settings of your Digital SLR camera, fully exploring how to capture light and time in a single image. Learn how to generate accurate exposures through aperture and shutter speed control, and how to read digital histograms of the results. Understand and feel confident using ISO and colour balance settings, focus modes and depth of field, and how/when to apply them creatively. You will also be introduced to the work of a wide variety of photographers.

Assignment: You will be given a project to be done for the final week

Week 2: Shooting and Image Management

Put into practice all the features discussed and demonstrated in Week 1 on a walk around town with your camera. You will then return to the gallery to import, organise and filter your digital images in Adobe Bridge and Adobe Camera RAW. Get to grips with common image formats such as RAW, JPG, TIFF and PSD.

Week 3: Photoshop Introduction

Discover the Adobe Photoshop interface and experiment with basic image enhancements and adjustment tools. You will practice moving, rotating and cropping images, as well as converting colour photographs into black and white - learning fundamental techniques for image composition and form.

Week 4: Postproduction in Photoshop 

Explore in more depth the Photoshop interface and advanced methods of post-production using Levels, Curves, Layer Masks and the Cloning and Healing tools. Utilise the High Dynamic Range capabilities of Photoshop to create stunningly detailed compositions. Participants will also learn how to correctly photograph for this specific purpose.

 Week 5: Introduction to Studio Portraiture

 Participants will be guided through the preparation and use of portable strobes in a "studio" environment before taking a variety of their own photographs, emulating specific lighting techniques and learning how to control artificial light and it’s effects on the final photograph.

Week 6: Final Adjustments and Project Critique

Continue applying relevant editing techniques learnt during the course to the images shot for your personal project. On completion, the group will have an informal and supportive presentation of each others work, with technical and critical feedback provided by the tutor.