Course Offerings

Secrets to Better Photography

Course ID: SGR-3100ZE
Overview
Course Outline
Requirements
Intended Audience
More Details

Secrets of Better Photography will teach you how to take outstanding photos. Whether you use a DSLR, a point-and-shoot camera, or your phone for your photography, you will learn how to get the best results from your camera. This hands-on course will teach you how to choose the right photographic equipment to compose images with style. You can take your camera out of auto mode after learning about lighting, motion, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings. You will also explore common photography topics, including portraiture, children's photography, pet photography, and digital editing. Each lesson includes exercises and assignments, so you can apply what you learned to your own camera. By the time you finish, you will see a difference in both your photographer's eye and your photos.

Course Objectives

Learn how to choose the best photographic equipment for you and how to compose images with style.

Explore natural and artificial lighting, freezing or blurring motion, portraiture, children's photography, pet photography, photojournalism, and digital editing options.

Learn how to develop your photographer's eye and incorporate compositional guidelines as you take better pictures.

Outline of Instruction

Lesson 1 - The Subject of Photography
In this first lesson, you'll learn how to see the subject of each photograph-before you press the shutter button. This information will provide a solid foundation for the rest of the class.

Lesson 2 - Camera Equipment
As you learn more about the technical side of photography, take a look at the options available in camera equipment. Whether you have a point-and-shoot camera or the latest digital SLR, you will gain a better understanding of the equipment and tools photographers use.

Lesson 3 - Your Photographic Eye
Returning to artistic elements in this lesson, you'll learn how to develop your photographer's eye and incorporate compositional guidelines as you take better pictures. This information will provide a solid foundation for the rest of the class.

Lesson 4 - Lighting
Light is the essence of photography. In this lesson, we'll explore how to control and use light to your advantage. You'll compare the advantages of natural light, available light, and artificial light and see when you'll want to use each to capture the special effects you're after. You'll also learn how to use the ISO and white balance settings on your camera to make the most of the light you have.

Lesson 5 - Sharp Shooting
This lesson delves into the options for using your camera and other tools to get sharp, crisp images. Photography often requires compromise to accommodate conflicting priorities, and after this lesson, you will be able to decide what's most important to you. You will also see how to test your lenses and cameras and evaluate your equipment.

Lesson 6 - Aperture and Depth of Field
Using manual exposure settings opens up a whole new world of professional and creative options. In this lesson, you'll begin an exploration of how to get the most out of your camera's features, starting with Aperture Priority and the control it gives you over depth of field. Whether you want to create an image with a soft background highlighting your subject or a far-reaching landscape shot with all the details in focus, controlling your aperture settings puts that power in your hands.

Lesson 7 - Shutter Speed and Motion
You'll see how to capture motion in this lesson as we continue the topic of manual exposure settings. Whether you want to freeze the action of fireworks or merge a waterfall into a velvety illusion, shutter speed is the key! Setting your shutter speed gives you the control you need to get the images you want, and it's easier than you might think. You'll have lots to practice with as you finish this lesson.

Lesson 8 - Portraiture
In this lesson, you'll learn the tricks of portrait photography. Whether you're working professionally or just as the family photographer, these techniques will help you take better portraits. You'll see how to pose people so they'll look their best, when to use digital editing, and how various lighting techniques will help you create pleasing portraits.

Lesson 9 - Children and Pet Photography
Photographing children, pets, and groups is a challenge for even the most seasoned professional photographer. In this lesson, you'll learn some techniques and strategies to bring out the best in your pictures.

Lesson 10 - Photographic Challenges
Now that you know how your camera works and what you want to do, it's time to take a look at how to handle challenging situations. When the light is low or the subject just seems out of reach, you want to know how to get the shot! In today's lesson we'll focus on how to use your tools and knowledge to beat the challenges and come away with the pictures you're after.

Lesson 11 - Photojournalism
Photojournalism is a fascinating field for photographers. This fast-paced world presents challenges of its own. In this lesson, you'll see how the pros handle this type of work. We'll also discuss how to get started in the field.

Lesson 12 - Digital Options
Digital editing is a real bonus for photographers. In this lesson, you'll learn about the basic and artistic editing techniques available to all photographers, as well as some of the technical issues of digital photography.

Contact Hours

CEUs

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

Prerequisites

None

Learning Supplies Needed

Hardware Requirements:
This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
A digital or film camera.

Software Requirements:
PC: Windows 8 or later.
Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:
Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

None

Requirements for Successful Completion

90% attendance
• Students must successfully pass 10 quizzes with a minimum grade of 70% by the second quiz attempt.
• If all quizzes are not passed with 70 or better by the second attempt, the final exam score must be 70% or higher on the first attempt for successful completion.
• The Final Exam must be taken by the Wake Tech course end date.

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

N/A

Intended Audience

If you are interested in learning how to take outstanding photos and get the best results whether you are using a DSLR, a point-and-shoot, or your phone camera; this course is for you!