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Photography Techniques: Light, Content, and Sharing

Approx. 24 hours to complete

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Course Summary

Learn the techniques of photography and how to take stunning photos with this course. From composition to lighting, this course covers everything you need to know to become a professional photographer.

Key Learning Points

Learn how to use your camera's manual settings to take better photos
Understand the importance of lighting and composition in photography
Discover how to edit your photos to make them stand out

Learning Outcomes

Understand how to use your camera's manual settings to take better photos
Learn how to compose your photos to create stunning images
Discover how to edit your photos to make them stand out

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

A camera (DSLR or mirrorless recommended)
Basic knowledge of photography

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online self-paced course
Video lectures
Hands-on assignments

Similar Courses

Portrait Photography
Landscape Photography
Street Photography

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Ansel Adams
Annie Leibovitz

Related Books

Description

Welcome to Course FOUR! In Modules 1-4 you will cover the final elements of the Specialization necessary to round out this introduction to the fundamentals of Photography, and prepare you for creating your own exciting project in the Capstone! You have come a long way since the beginning of this journey from Smartphone Basics to DSLR and Beyond. Just think of all the information you have absorbed and put to use in your assignments and quizzes, and the confidence you have gained that you CAN control the camera to make pictures you are proud to share.

Here in Course Four you will start by gaining knowledge related to content in photography, from fact to fiction, documentary to purely expressive. Next you will learn principles, tips, and techniques for using the essential element of Light in Ambient/Natural settings. The flash/strobe unit, whether it is built-in to your camera or an add-on "hotshoe" model, will finally be something you, not the camera, controls! You will prove to yourself that those former mysteries of Controlled Continuous and Strobe lighting will no longer be mysterious, as you apply your knowledge to creation of assignment photographs in various situations. Sharing those pictures in Peer Review will give you the opportunity to learn from your fellow photographers' solutions to lighting challenges, and to gain insight into your own work and creative approaches too. There is an important word to share about Peer Review assignments for this course. As photographers who have accomplished the quiz and photography requirements of Courses One through Three, you have the knowledge and capability to create quality photographs at a much higher rate of success, and in a much shorter time, than when you began. You have also proven that you are a dedicated Learner, someone who has a passion for photography and is willing to put forth the extra effort necessary to accomplish your goals. This Course is the last before the Capstone Course, in which you will be tasked with creating a project over a 2-month period of dedicated photography. The Peer Review photography assignments have been structured with both your advanced capabilities and dedication in mind...in other words, they will require both! Be prepared to allocate more time than you have in previous Courses for the assignments, because they will take more time and because you will really enjoy them! Course Four ends with an overview of methods for finalizing your pictures in print form, including simple but effective matting techniques, and in web page designs as well. The pleasures and perils of sharing in social media sites are also yours to discover. Protecting your copyrights by understanding that concept and the ways that you can assert them, being careful about blogs and other outlets, and recognizing you are part of a community that respects the individual's creative effort, well that is important knowledge to have in preparation for the Capstone too! Let's get started with Module One!

Outline

The Content of a Photograph
MEET MSU and THE SPECIALIZATION
MEET THE PROFESSORS: Peter Glendinning and Mark Sullivan
MEET THE COURSE: an overview by Mark and Peter
The Portrait: document and image
The Landscape: document and image
The Still Life: document and image
The Tableau and Manipulated Landscape: fictions
Practice Quiz - Portrait and Landscape Genres
Practice Quiz - Genres of Still Life, Landscape, and Portrait
Portrait, Landscape, Still Life, Tableau - Summative Quiz

Light Fundamentals 1.0: People, Places, Things under Ambient Light
Light: as energy and an element of photography
Light: Colors and Color Temperature Theory
Tips and Techniques: People and Ambient Light
Tips and Techniques: Landscapes, Cityscapes, Interior-scapes, Things, and Ambient Lighti
Tips And Techniques: Things and Ambient Light
Refresher on composition terms
Quiz - Light, Energy, Color
Practice Quiz - Ambient Light & People &Landscapes
Summative Quiz - Ambient Light

Light Fundamentals 2.0: People, Places, Things under Controlled Light
Controlled Light: Basic Principles 1
Controlled Light: Basic Principles 2
Camera Flash types/functions: Part 1
Camera Flash types/functions: Part 2
Camera Flash types/functions: Part 2.5
Flash and the Focal Plane Shutter
A brief Flash Review!
Flash tools
Kitchen Table Studio: a copy stand for flat artwork/documents
Kitchen Table Studio: Lighting an Object Part 1
Kitchen Table Studio: Lighting an Object Part 2
Lighting a Person: in daylight!
Links for Dr. Harold Edgerton,
Light Quiz 1
Light Quiz 2
Flash Types
Flash Quiz
Practice Makes Perfect Quiz
Kitchen Table Lighting Quiz

Finishing Pictures: Options for Showing and Sharing
ICC Profiles and Color Management
Calibrating for consistency: theory and monitor
OUTSOURCING to Learn About Printing Basics
Calibrating for consistency: the printer
Printmaking 1.0: Printers
Printmaking 2.0: Inks, Papers, and other materials
Kitchen Table Studio: dry-mounting a print Part 1
Kitchen Table Studio: dry-mounting a print Part 2
Photo Sharing Sites: Do's and Don'ts!
Your Photo Website: Part 1
Your Photo Website: Part 2
Copyright: Protecting what is yours
Social Media Image Sizing Tips from JD LAB
Copyright tips from www.Pixsy.com
Capstone advice from fellow Learners
Practice makes perfect quiz!
Calibration Quiz
Sharing Online Quiz

Summary of User Reviews

This course on photography techniques has received high praise from its users. Many users have raved about the instructor's ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The instructor's ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms

Pros from User Reviews

Great course for beginners
Provides a solid foundation for more advanced photography
Lots of practical tips and tricks
Engaging and knowledgeable instructor

Cons from User Reviews

Some users felt that the course was too basic
Not enough emphasis on advanced techniques
Some technical issues with the course platform
No feedback or interaction with other students
Some users felt that the course was too short

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