Certificate in Photography

Developed by professional photographers to train professional photographers, this course gives you a very sound foundation for a career in the modern photographic industry.
This is a rapidly changing industry; and this course is continuously being updated to meet these rapid changes.

The certificate consists of six modules:

1.Introduction to Photography

• Discuss the principles those underpins photography and examine the evolution into digital technologies.
• Explain how photographic images are able to be captured on film. This lesson will also explain how photographic images are able to be captured by digital cameras.
• Provide you with a firm understanding of how you can work at improving your capabilities with respect to taking photographs. It provides a framework, upon which you will base your work in future lessons.
• Determine appropriate application for a range of common items of photographic equipment and develop an understanding of how digital images can be transferred effectively from a digital camera
• Explain how photographic film is developed.
• Describe the process by which photographic film may be enlarged. Also explain techniques that can be used to process digital photographs within a computer to achieve improved or changed images.
• Work more effectively with light when taking photographs.
• To identify and avoid common faults in photographs.

2. Photographic Practice

• Compose photographs in a way that matches a predetermined aim.
• Explain a variety of ways to take better photographs of people.
• Explain a variety of ways to take better photographs of landscapes or other natural subjects.
• Differentiate between appropriate use of colour and black and white photography.
• Create varied visual affects through the use of special techniques.
• Explain a variety of ways to take better illustrative photographs.
• Explain a variety of ways to take better photographs for use in print or electronic media.
• Determine the nature and scope of business opportunities in photography.

3. Photographic Technology

• Describe in technical terms, how an image forms when a photograph is taken.
• Explain the nature of light and how this relates to the finished photographic product.
• Describe how sensitivity of a photo sensitive surface and its development affect the photographic image.
• Explain sensitivity relates to development affect the photographic image.
• Explain the composition and manipulation of white and coloured light to create different photographic images.
• Discuss the chemical process that occurs in producing a colour film photograph.
• Explain how the photographic image may be manipulated by using optical filters or other camera attachments, other than lenses.
• Explain how the photographic image may be manipulated by using lenses.

4. Digital Photography

• Describe the scope and nature of digital photography
• Select appropriate equipment for use in digital photography
• Explain how technology enables digital images to be captured.
• Compare different digital cameras and select an appropriate camera for a particular application.
• Control the effects created in a digital photograph which you take.
• Describe techniques which can be used for digitally capturing images from film photographs, or graphics.
• Explain how digital images can be transferred effectively from a camera (or scanner) onto another device (eg. a computer, video monitor, television set, etc).
• Describe techniques that can be used to process digital photographs within a computer to achieve improved or changed images.
• Explain how digital photos can be manipulated and changed to produce altered images.
• Discuss the scope and nature of special effects that can be created with digital photographs.
• Identify how and where digital photography can effectively be used.

5. Photoshop

• Open digital files using Photoshop
• Resize images and save them in multiple file formats
• Create original graphics using the Photoshop tools
• Manipulate individual elements of a graphic composition or image
• Improve the quality of an image (clean it up) by applying modifications
• Apply interesting filters and effects to images or compositions
• Prepare your files for the web, print or email

6. Photographic Lighting

• Discuss the scope and nature of lighting as relevant to photography.
• Describe how different light sources will affect different images in varying ways.
• Describe how different filters can be used to create different lighting effects.
• Identify the differences between different types of light meters.
• Describe the range of equipment which can be used to help achieve more desirable light conditions for photography.
• Explain contrast and how to compensate for imperfect light conditions.
• Explain how to use tone to create the desired final image.
• Distinguish between utilisation of light in a studio and on location.To view detailed outlines of each of the modules click on the modules above, one by one

For more information on this course, please request your free course information pack.