—•— Camera Basics and Creative Shooting Techniques —•

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Course Description: Camera Basics and Creative Shooting Techniques - Judy Gardner

To allow for more thorough experimentation with each concept and technique, this course will last four months, with a new lesson and assignments posted weekly and/or bi-weekly depending on the lesson.
This course will instruct the student in fundamental concepts and techniques of photography, including aesthetics, lighting and technical aspects as a basis for creating a photographic image. The student will become comfortable with the camera as well as learn the following principles:

Camera Basics
Lighting Techniques
White Balance
Resolution
Composition
Framing
Backgrounds
Exposure
Focus
Shooting for eBay
Do's and Don'ts
Night Photography
Photography Tips
Photo Mediums
Shooting Nature and Sunsets
Shooting in a controlled enviroinment
Shooting & Editing Portraits
Black & White Photography

In the second semester we will put our new knowledge to use. We will have weekly and/or bi-weekly photo shoots to complete and the occasional quiz to help you.

Placing the Horizon
Filling The Frame
Lines
Light Direction
Silhouettes
Close-ups
Black & White
In the Rain
Lights at Night
Sunrise and Sunset
Landscapes
Animals
Group Shots
Portraits

This course is not camera specific, but it is broad enough to get you familiar with the standard settings and modes of most digital cameras. You will learn about good composition, white balance, exposure, framing, setting your backgrounds and more.
In addition, I have included a section for photographing small items and products for you eBayers out there. What not to do, and a basic how to take the best quality photograph without having to edit. Many buyers are skeptical (with good reason) of an obviously edited photograph, but you have a better chance at getting a fair price for your items if the photographs do them justice.
This course will help you see how it all ties together to create great photographs; something you would rather frame than put in an album with a hundred other pictures.
No matter what you are shooting, the basic principles remain the same...unless you are using a 357 magnum. :-)

Prerequisites:

Requirements for this course.
The course is written for the novice to intermediate user of a digital camera. You will need a digital camera. To receive the maximum benefit from this course, please meet the following criteria:

Since this course has such a broad scope with the multitude of cameras out there, you need to spend some time with your camera and it's manual, prior to enrolling, to be able to locate the manual settings and various menus.
You will need to have installed on your machine one of the following: Photoshop, PhotoImpact or Paint Shop Pro, with a working knowledge of this program.
Although this course can be completed with a slow connection, it is graphic intensive and broadband would shorten the time spent on the lessons. With a High speed connection it should take about 4-5 hours per lesson to complete the field exercises and required reading.

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