You'll get hands-on with digital cameras, learning how to control exposure, aperture, and shutter speed. The course covers composition techniques, lighting basics, and post-processing in software like Adobe Lightroom. You'll explore various photography genres, from portraits to landscapes, and develop your own creative style. By the end, you'll have a solid foundation in digital image-making and a portfolio of work.
It's not too bad, honestly. The technical stuff can be a bit tricky at first, especially wrapping your head around the exposure triangle. But once you get the hang of it, it's pretty fun. The hardest part is probably developing your creative eye, which takes practice. Overall, if you're into taking pictures and willing to put in some effort, you should be fine.
Art Fundamentals: Covers basic principles of design, color theory, and composition. It's a good foundation for understanding visual elements in photography.
Digital Imaging Basics: Introduces students to digital image editing software and basic manipulation techniques. This class helps you get comfortable with post-processing tools.
Studio Lighting: Focuses on artificial lighting techniques for portraits and still life. You'll learn how to use various light modifiers and create different moods with lighting.
Photojournalism: Explores the world of documentary and news photography. You'll learn how to tell stories through images and cover events effectively.
Fine Art Photography: Delves into conceptual and expressive approaches to photography. This class encourages you to develop your unique artistic vision and create meaningful bodies of work.
Digital Video Production: Introduces the basics of video shooting and editing. It's a great way to expand your visual storytelling skills beyond still images.
Visual Arts: Focuses on developing creative skills across various mediums, including photography, painting, sculpture, and digital art. Students learn to express ideas visually and develop a personal artistic style.
Journalism: Combines writing, photography, and multimedia storytelling. Students learn to report on current events and create compelling narratives through various media formats.
Graphic Design: Blends visual communication, typography, and digital imaging. Students learn to create visually appealing designs for print and digital platforms, often incorporating photography.
Film and Media Studies: Explores the history, theory, and production of visual media. Students analyze and create various forms of media, including photography, film, and digital content.
Commercial Photographer: Shoots products, food, or fashion for advertising and marketing purposes. This role requires technical skill and the ability to translate client needs into visually appealing images.
Photojournalist: Captures newsworthy events and tells stories through images. They work for newspapers, magazines, or as freelancers, often in fast-paced and sometimes challenging environments.
Fine Art Photographer: Creates conceptual or expressive images for galleries, exhibitions, or personal projects. They focus on developing a unique artistic vision and often sell prints or books of their work.
Photo Editor: Selects and edits images for publications or websites. They work closely with photographers and art directors to ensure visual content aligns with the overall vision of a project.
Do I need my own camera for this class? Most schools provide cameras, but having your own can be beneficial for practice outside of class time.
Can I use my smartphone for assignments? Some assignments might allow smartphone use, but you'll primarily work with DSLR or mirrorless cameras for better control and image quality.
How much time should I expect to spend on projects outside of class? Plan for at least 3-5 hours per week for shooting and editing, depending on the assignment complexity.
Will we learn about drones or 360-degree cameras? These topics are usually covered in more advanced classes, but your instructor might touch on them briefly if there's interest.