Digital Photography instructor
Discussion
OK, so!
I'm off to the states in summer to work on a camp for under-privileged, inner city NY kids for 8 weeks, and I've been chosen to be a Sports & Digital photography instructor. I know a fair amount about digital photography, but if you were to run a basic course in the field of digital photography, what aspects would you be sure to include and in what order? IE composition, aperture blah blah blah etc...
Any advice is much appreciated as usual
Cheers
Shamone
I'm off to the states in summer to work on a camp for under-privileged, inner city NY kids for 8 weeks, and I've been chosen to be a Sports & Digital photography instructor. I know a fair amount about digital photography, but if you were to run a basic course in the field of digital photography, what aspects would you be sure to include and in what order? IE composition, aperture blah blah blah etc...
Any advice is much appreciated as usual
Cheers
Shamone
Something about colour probably wouldn't go amiss, ie the colour wheel etc.
Composition is a must.
Aperture/shutter speed etc definitely. Linked in with that could be something about ISO, DOF, EV etc.
What about light/lighting?
Movement/action shots, ie panning techniques etc?
Can't think of anything else off the top of my head.
Composition is a must.
Aperture/shutter speed etc definitely. Linked in with that could be something about ISO, DOF, EV etc.
What about light/lighting?
Movement/action shots, ie panning techniques etc?
Can't think of anything else off the top of my head.
Start off with aperture and shutter speed, illustrating how the two work to control exposure. Then, illustrate how aperture controls depth of field, to either isolate a subject from its surroundings or achieve sharp focus from foreground through to background. Next illustrate how shutter speed can be used to freeze action and movement or to create blur to give a sense of movement and momentum.
I would then look at focal length, illustrating the visual qualities wide and telephoto lenses have and their application, ie reportage, sport, natural history, portraiture.
Next, look at composition - symmetry and asymmetry, balance and imbalance. Related to this look at how line, tone, colour, texture, shape and form are key subjects within the broad subject of composition. I usually do this by illustrating how diagonal lines create tension, a vertical line is an exclamation mark and a horizontal line is calming. Predominantly dark tones - think Bill Brandt - create a sombre mood, whilst light tones create a light-hearted air. Colour could be looked at from the point of view of how we respond to colour - red for danger, blue for tranquility - and how it can create mood - warm colours versus cold colours, harmonious versus complimentary colours as well as monocolour. Madame Yevonde's portraiture is good for this as are Joel Meyerowitz's landscapes. Texture could be illustrated by the themes of smooth and coarse, looking and experimenting with how light can be utilized to accentuate surface properties. I usually look at shape in terms of triangular composition being classical as it creates stability and strength (think pyramids and religious paintings). I also look at how the subject relates to the frame and how it interacts with it - think of Irving Penn's imposing portraits or Alexander Rodchenko's abstract compositions. Form is something that I look at from the point of using lighting to create a sense of the shape and the mass of the subject - Bill Brandt's nudes are good to illustrate this as are Edward Weston's peppers.
A lighting workshop, experimenting with both natural and artificial light (flash and tungsten) would be beneficial.
It would be interesting to look at how photography has progressed from the early daguerrotype, through film to digital. Why not get them to make a simple pinhole camera using nothing more than a cardboard box, a simple lens (magnifying glass) and foil? My friend did this exercise with a similar group of children when she did Camp America about ten years ago and it was a really big success.
A very hands-on, workshop style tuition approach, with the children experimenting with the available resources, would be a good method for engaging the children.
Have fun!
I would then look at focal length, illustrating the visual qualities wide and telephoto lenses have and their application, ie reportage, sport, natural history, portraiture.
Next, look at composition - symmetry and asymmetry, balance and imbalance. Related to this look at how line, tone, colour, texture, shape and form are key subjects within the broad subject of composition. I usually do this by illustrating how diagonal lines create tension, a vertical line is an exclamation mark and a horizontal line is calming. Predominantly dark tones - think Bill Brandt - create a sombre mood, whilst light tones create a light-hearted air. Colour could be looked at from the point of view of how we respond to colour - red for danger, blue for tranquility - and how it can create mood - warm colours versus cold colours, harmonious versus complimentary colours as well as monocolour. Madame Yevonde's portraiture is good for this as are Joel Meyerowitz's landscapes. Texture could be illustrated by the themes of smooth and coarse, looking and experimenting with how light can be utilized to accentuate surface properties. I usually look at shape in terms of triangular composition being classical as it creates stability and strength (think pyramids and religious paintings). I also look at how the subject relates to the frame and how it interacts with it - think of Irving Penn's imposing portraits or Alexander Rodchenko's abstract compositions. Form is something that I look at from the point of using lighting to create a sense of the shape and the mass of the subject - Bill Brandt's nudes are good to illustrate this as are Edward Weston's peppers.
A lighting workshop, experimenting with both natural and artificial light (flash and tungsten) would be beneficial.
It would be interesting to look at how photography has progressed from the early daguerrotype, through film to digital. Why not get them to make a simple pinhole camera using nothing more than a cardboard box, a simple lens (magnifying glass) and foil? My friend did this exercise with a similar group of children when she did Camp America about ten years ago and it was a really big success.
A very hands-on, workshop style tuition approach, with the children experimenting with the available resources, would be a good method for engaging the children.
Have fun!
Edited by EmmaP on Saturday 12th May 00:08
The above responses seem spot on to me if these are kids who have no experience with photography. I guess "digital" has to be included in the course title to make it contemporary.
Unless there are time and facilities to cover any computer-based work, I would only add that I think coverage of the following digital-specific areas may be worth considering:-
- alternative exposure technique using exposure comp.; I think this is relevant because many otherwise good lower cost digital cameras do not allow full manual control. For your target audience, this would perhaps help them use a moderately attainable camera whilst recognising the situations where comp. is necessary.
- reading a histogram
- white-balance - what it is and when not to use "Auto"
- care of equipment (generally, but digital specific stuff like memory cards).
A lot depends on how much time you'll have as well as equipment and facilities I suspect.
Stuart
Unless there are time and facilities to cover any computer-based work, I would only add that I think coverage of the following digital-specific areas may be worth considering:-
- alternative exposure technique using exposure comp.; I think this is relevant because many otherwise good lower cost digital cameras do not allow full manual control. For your target audience, this would perhaps help them use a moderately attainable camera whilst recognising the situations where comp. is necessary.
- reading a histogram
- white-balance - what it is and when not to use "Auto"
- care of equipment (generally, but digital specific stuff like memory cards).
A lot depends on how much time you'll have as well as equipment and facilities I suspect.
Stuart
The above responses seem spot on to me if these are kids who have no experience with photography. I guess "digital" has to be included in the course title to make it contemporary.
Unless there are time and facilities to cover any computer-based work, I would only add that I think coverage of the following digital-specific areas may be worth considering:-
- alternative exposure technique using exposure comp.; I think this is relevant because many otherwise good lower cost digital cameras do not allow full manual control. For your target audience, this would perhaps help them use a moderately attainable camera whilst recognising the situations where comp. is necessary.
- reading a histogram and covering the concept of dynamic range and what a blown highlight is.
- white-balance - what it is and when not to use "Auto"
- care of equipment (generally, but digital specific stuff like memory cards).
A lot depends on how much time you'll have as well as equipment and facilities I suspect.
Stuart
Unless there are time and facilities to cover any computer-based work, I would only add that I think coverage of the following digital-specific areas may be worth considering:-
- alternative exposure technique using exposure comp.; I think this is relevant because many otherwise good lower cost digital cameras do not allow full manual control. For your target audience, this would perhaps help them use a moderately attainable camera whilst recognising the situations where comp. is necessary.
- reading a histogram and covering the concept of dynamic range and what a blown highlight is.
- white-balance - what it is and when not to use "Auto"
- care of equipment (generally, but digital specific stuff like memory cards).
A lot depends on how much time you'll have as well as equipment and facilities I suspect.
Stuart
Off topic, but on subject, could anyone recommend a good book that would cover some or
all of the above lesson suggestions?
I am away too much to be able to attend any courses, but would like to understand more
than I do now.
Also, which magazines do you folks suggest worthy of a monthly read for tips and tricks?
Thanks in advance.
all of the above lesson suggestions?
I am away too much to be able to attend any courses, but would like to understand more
than I do now.
Also, which magazines do you folks suggest worthy of a monthly read for tips and tricks?
Thanks in advance.
Cuban said:
Off topic, but on subject, could anyone recommend a good book that would cover some or
all of the above lesson suggestions?
all of the above lesson suggestions?
Michael Langford's 'Basic Photography' is one of the best books ever written on the essentials of photography and covers all of the above and more.
The only photography magazine I ever bought regularly was the 'British Journal of Photography'. 'American Photo' was excellent too, though I'm not sure whether it is still in production.
I'm not suggesting for a minute that you rip off someone elses work, but this looks like a well structured course - www.morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php
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