The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Take your digital photography artistry to a higher level. Students explore advanced photography techniques and approaches to composition, learning how to correct images using Photoshop and print high-quality images. The emphasis of the class is developing a solid technical understanding of the medium and identifying one's individual expressive vision. Advanced projects explore experimental methods for enhancing photographs with digital effects.

LESSON 1 Master your Camera Beyond point-and-shoot, a whole world of opportunity beckons. But do you know what features to use, and when? Lesson One kicks off the course with an in-depth look at the applications of your advanced digital camera features. Lesson topics will include special-purpose automatic exposure options and four methods of focusing. You'll look at when to choose light meter settings (average, matrix, spot, and exposure locking) and how to stabilize your camera. The lesson wraps up with a discussion of how to frame your photos using different viewfinder and preview options. In the assignment, you'll explore the techniques of exposure priority, focusing methods, light metering, and camera steadying.

LESSON 2 Composition and Artistry Great photographs are created by composition, not chance. Lesson Two explores some classic approaches to this challenge. You'll discover how to emphasize the point-of-interest and structure your composition using the rule of thirds. You'll explore perspective—including point of view, angle of view, horizons, and vertical lines—and learn how to control it. The role of surfaces, texture, and lighting in creating contrast will be examined. Finally, you'll learn some tried-and-true photographer's tricks that simply work. In the tutorial / assignment, you'll take candid and portrait photos that demonstrate your mastery of camera angle, point-of-interest, rule of thirds, and depth-of-field.

LESSON 3 Shooting on Location Photographers must adapt to survive. Lesson Three takes you on a tour through the technical and logistical challenges of the location shoot. You'll learn some sage professional wisdom on preparation for location shots, including what equipment to bring, how to keep it safe, and how to deal with unexpected or adverse conditions. All packed? In the assignment, you'll test your location photography skills with a challenging mission and report back to the class.

LESSON 4 Into the Digital Darkroom In the real world, photos are rarely perfect first time around; that's why we have Photoshop. Lesson Four presents a pro photographer's guide to color correction and retouching. You'll learn how to use a gray card, do basic color corrections, correct brightness and contrast, dramatize eyes, and use Heal and Patch tools. Techniques for simulating depth of field and creating perspective are also discussed. In the project, you'll apply your correction and retouching skills to a model photo makeover project.

LESSON 5 Creating Quality Prints As our society gets more and more proficient in digital imaging, fewer and fewer people seem to know how to obtain quality prints. Lesson Five studying the relationship between your digital photography equipment and supplies and the quality of your prints. You'll learn about monitor calibration, inks, and paper, and learn how archival quality is attained. Just as important, you'll learn what different printers can and cannot do, and apply this knowledge in a printing assignment.

LESSON 6 Digital Photography Directions Ready to scale Mt. Adams (Ansel that is)? Lesson Six in your course will address ways of taking your digital photography even further. You'll learn about the benefits of various advanced camera accessories, including macro accessories, filters, panaroma heads, lens hoods, flash units, and reflectors. Techniques for creating photorealistic composite images will be discussed, with an emphasis on matching lighting, texture, perspective, and point-of-view. Panaromas, audio and video complete the tour of next-level techniques and features. In a final project, you'll put together a professional-looking composite to wow friends, family, and potential clients.