Course description 

Learn how to use your digital SLR camera and improve your photographic skills. The course will cover the basics of photography in terms of shutter speed, aperture and ISO, as well as composition, lenses and white balance. The aim is to get you familiar with your camera’s functions, while photographing different situations and subjects.  

Course content: 

What topics will you cover 

The basic mechanics of photography, including but not limited to: 

• choice of camera  

• exposure and taking light readings  

• shutter speed settings  

• apertures (f-stops) and depth of field  

• lenses composition and light  

• creative approaches to photographing different subjects. 

Learning objectives 

By the end of the course you will be able to: 

• Use the manual functions of your camera  

• Understand the terminology surrounding photography  

• Identify and use different sources of light e.g. daylight and artificial light.  

• Create visually interesting photographs. 

How will I be taught? What kind of activities will I be doing? 

You will be taking a range of images varying from outdoors in the local area, to shooting indoors in a controlled studio setting to help understand how lighting works. 

A mixture of talks, demonstrations, group and individual practical exercises, discussions and project work, involving some individual tutoring.  

You will receive and be invited to contribute to positive critical feedback on your own and each other’s photographs. To get the most from this course, you should take time to practice between lessons. 

What will I need to bring? Where can I get this? What do we provide? 

Please bring a working camera (either digital or film) which has manual settings for aperture and shutter speed. If you have not yet purchased a camera you will be supplied with a digital SLR for use during first few sessions of the course. 

We do not have sufficient cameras for you to borrow between classes. 

Notebook & pen for notetaking.  

What could I do next? 

Your tutor will encourage you to use new skills outside of the course for personal development or to prepare a portfolio of work if desired. 

You can progress onto: Developing your photography skills in the Spring Term