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Course Outline

International Certificate in Photography

MODULES

Module 1

Cameras & Lenses

Get to know the author, George Seper, before he introduces you to the world of professional photography as it exists today. This module is an extensive look at the equipment you will use, covering cameras, how they function and when to take advantage of the broad range of lenses available to you.

Module Content :

  • Introduction To The Professional Photography Course
  • About The Author
  • The Still Image
  • The Digital Camera
  • Camera Overview
  • Amateur Cameras
  • Phone Cameras
  • Point & Shoot
  • Micro Four Third
  • Bridge & Super Zoom Cameras
  • Enthusiast vs Pro Cameras
  • Mirrorless Or CSC Cameras
  • The DSLR
  • Recent Camera Developments
  • Which Camera Should I Buy?
  • Camera Features
  • Service & Accessories
  • End Usage
  • Parts Of A Camera
  • Camera Body
  • Digital Sensor
  • Lens
  • Shutter
  • Memory Card
  • Important Features Of The Modern Camera
  • Megapixels
  • Sensor Size
  • Frames Per Second (FPS)
  • ISO
  • Light Meter
  • MASP
  • Recommendations Regarding Cameras
  • Some General Observations On Cameras
  • The Pro Camera
  • The Small Format Camera
  • The DSLR Camera
  • The Rangefinder Camera
  • A Friendly Caution
  • Recent Developments In Small Format Cameras
  • The Medium Format Camera
  • The Large Format Camera
  • Small & Medium Format DSLR Features
  • Interchangeable Lenses
  • Adjustable ISO
  • Depth Of Field Preview
  • Integrated Light Meters
  • Mirror Locking
  • Self-Timer
  • Lenses
  • Uncovering The Lens
  • Lens Overview
  • The Science Of Lenses
  • Focus
  • Focal Length
  • Aperture
  • Angle Of View
  • Lens Types
  • The Normal Lens
  • Telephoto Lenses
  • Wide-Angle Lenses
  • Specialty Lenses & Attachments
  • Macro Lenses
  • Extension Rings, Tubes & Bellows
  • Zoom Lenses
  • Reflex Lenses
  • Tilt-Shift Lenses
  • Lens Faults & Flaws
  • Spherical Aberrations
  • Chromatic Aberration
  • Barrel & Pincushion Distortion
  • Flare & Vignetting
  • Advanced Features Of Modern Lenses
  • Multi-Coating
  • Auto Focus (AF)
  • Image Stabilisation (IS) Or Vibration Reduction (VR)
  • Filters
  • Polarising Filters
  • Neutral Density (ND) Filters
  • Taking Care Of Your Equipment
  • Lenses
  • Camera
  • Practical Lens Choices
  • Food Photography
  • Fashion Photography
  • Portrait & Beauty Photography
  • Architecture & Interior Photography
  • Travel Photography
  • Sport & Wildlife Photography
  • Wedding Photography
  • Stay Connected
  • Glossary

Module 2

Shutters, Aperture & Their Relationships

Learn how to control your camera and capture the images you have always imagined. George introduces powerful previsualisation techniques and provides an in-depth understanding of the settings available through your camera to achieve what you want, when you want.

Module Content :

  • Shutters & Aperture
  • Shutter Types
  • Focal Plane Shutters
  • In Lens Shutter
  • Exposure Stops
  • Traditional Shutter Speed Stops
  • Aperture Stops
  • F/stop Values
  • The Advantage Of Using F/Stops
  • Full & Third Stop Reference Table
  • Aperture & Depth Of Field
  • Reciprocity
  • What Is Depth Of Field?
  • Depth Of Field (DOF) Overview
  • Circles Of Confusion
  • Perceiving Sharpness
  • Sharpness
  • Depth Of Field (DOF) Scale
  • Hyperfocal Distance
  • DOF Preview Button
  • LCD Preview Button & DSLR Cameras
  • DOF & The View Camera
  • Digital Sensors & The View Camera
  • DSLR Shooting Modes In Practice
  • Manual (M)
  • Aperture Priority (AV) Or (A)
  • Shutter Priority (TV) Or (S)
  • Program Mode (P)
  • Exposure Compensation
  • Composition
  • Helpful Guidelines
  • The Rule Of Thirds
  • Leading Lines
  • In The Middle / Symmetry
  • Negative Space
  • Use The Foreground
  • Shapes, Patterns & Repetition
  • Orientation
  • Fill The Frame / Try Getting in Closer
  • Putting It All Together
  • Pre-visualisation

Module 3

ISO, Exposure & Metering

Accurate exposure is the basis for all photography and this module draws on methods popularised by the great Ansel Adams, modernised to give you an edge in a competitive world. As a professional or advanced amateur, you will be able to capture any subject consistently and with growing confidence.

Module Content :

  • Light Meters
  • Overview
  • Handheld Light Meters
  • In-Camera Light Meters
  • Average Reflective Metering
  • Scenario 1: Light Scenes
  • Scenario 2: Dark Scenes
  • Incident Metering
  • Spot Metering
  • Digital ISO
  • Understanding Digital ISO
  • Increased Light Sensitivity
  • Digital Noise
  • High ISO, Contrast & Colour Distortion
  • Auto ISO
  • The Shutter Speed, Aperture & ISO Relationship
  • The 18% Grey Card
  • Palm Metering
  • Dynamic Range & My Studio Light Metering Method
  • What Is Dynamic Range?
  • A Guide To Using Dynamic Range
  • The Zone System
  • An Introduction
  • The Stepped Greyscale Test
  • Zone System Basics
  • RGB & Colour Basics
  • RGB, Greyscale & Colour Bias
  • Custom White Balance (CWB)
  • Overview – Building A Zone Ruler
  • Compiling Exposure Data In The Zone Table
  • The Final Procedure, Constructing The Zone Ruler
  • Mechanical, Old-School Zone Ruler
  • Photoshop Zone Ruler Construction
  • Making Use Of Our Test Results
  • Practical Zone Placement
  • Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC
  • Metering Colours & Other Tips
  • On Light Metering
  • The Sunny F/16 Rule

Module 4

The Film & Digital Process

A short step back in time provides the basis for effectively working and photographing in a digital world. In understanding what comes before, we are able to take full advantage of the tools we have at our disposal today for ever-improving photographs.

Module Content :

  • A Brief History of The Photographic Process
  • The Optical Process
  • The Chemical Process
  • Analogue Image Capture
  • The Composition Of Photographic Film
  • The Wet Process
  • Film Fogging
  • Darkroom Printing
  • Darkroom Safety
  • The Digital Darkroom
  • Early Photo Manipulation
  • The D-Log E Curve Of Film
  • Digital Image Capture
  • Digital Sensors
  • CCD & CMOS Compared
  • Tri-Linear Array Scanning Backs
  • Film vs Digital Capture
  • Digital Capturer’s Advantages Over Film
  • Digital Disadvantages
  • The D-Log E Curve of Digital Sensors
  • The Histogram
  • In-Camera Controls & What To Do With Them
  • RAW
  • Adobe RGB (1998)
  • sRGB
  • Greyscale
  • Saturation, Contrast & Sharpening

Module 5

Light & Colour

After understanding photographic equipment and exposure, light and colour is explored as defining factors in professional photography. Refine your ability to previsualise, see and think like a camera, then delve into post-production techniques and monochromatic images.

Module Content :

  • Light & Colour
  • The Colour Spectrum
  • Colour Temperature
  • Early Colour Theory Development
  • Maxwell’s Triangle & Modern Colour Theory
  • Additive & Subtractive Colour Systems
  • The CIE & Lab Colour
  • Photographic Filters
  • Useful Filters In The Digital World
  • The Mired Scale
  • Wratten Filters
  • Managing Colour & White Balance
  • The Colour Temperature Meter
  • Digital White Balance
  • Custom White Balance
  • A Colour Reality Check
  • Seeing Like a Camera
  • Colour Perception
  • Depth Perception
  • Dynamic Range
  • Some Useful Tricks
  • Squint
  • Look Through a Filter
  • Close One Eye
  • Make A Fist
  • Rotate The Image
  • Squat
  • Pre-visualisation
  • Setting Shadows & Highlights
  • Black & White Photography
  • A Brief Personal Tour
  • B&W Photography In The Digital Era
  • Method One: In Camera B&W
  • Method Two: Camera RAW Saturation
  • Method Three: Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer
  • Method Four: Greyscale Colour Mode
  • Method Five: Photo Filter
  • Method Six: Black & White
  • Method Seven, My Favourite: Channel Mixer Adjustment Layer
  • Utilising Colour Channels
  • The Red Channel In RGB
  • The Green Channel In RGB
  • The Blue Channel In RGB
  • The L Channel In L*a*b

Module 6

Lighting

What is the world’s best lighting? This module takes an in-depth look at natural and artificial lighting and how you can use these to your advantage. Explored in the context of portraiture, this knowledge is applied to all genres of photography and it is a crucial part of any good photographer’s education.

Module Content :

  • About Light
  • The Sun
  • Colour
  • Blue / Amber
  • Green / Magenta
  • Light Quality
  • I Love Daylight
  • Artificial Light Sources
  • Using Flash Light
  • The Safe Use 0f Lighting Equipment
  • Lighting Outdoors
  • Time Of Day
  • The Weather
  • Lighting People & Small Movable Objects
  • Fill in Flash
  • Mirrors
  • Scrims
  • Reflectors
  • Backlighting
  • The World’s Best Lighting
  • The Daylight Look Indoors
  • Lighting Method 1: Simulated Hazy Day
  • Lighting Method 2: Simulated Overcast Day
  • Lighting Method 3: Simulated Full Sun
  • Continuous Lights
  • Hot Lights
  • Tungsten Lighting
  • Cool Lights
  • Fluorescent & LED Lighting
  • Fluorescent Lights
  • LED Lights
  • Balancing Flash & Daylight
  • Flash Duration
  • Portrait Lighting
  • Unisex Portraiture Lighting Scheme
  • The Vanity Index
  • Lighting People
  • The Law

Module 7

Refining The Image Process

George explains, through his extensive experience, the commercial realities surrounding photography and methods to help produce the best images you can. Learn from photographers you admire, analyse images to improve technique and recognise what they can be used for.

Module Content :

  • The Big Question
  • Commercial Reality
  • Travel Photography
  • Photojournalism
  • Magazine Photography
  • Advertising Photography
  • The Little Photoshop on The Corner
  • Back to Business – Taking Pictures
  • Educate Yourself
  • Why A Duck?
  • My Guidelines For Photographing Objects
  • A Mental Shooting Checklist
  • Thinking Like A Lens
  • Pre-visualization
  • Color Management In-Camera
  • Adobe RGB (1998)
  • sRGB
  • ProPhoto RGB
  • Image Previews
  • In-Camera Tools
  • Low-Resolution LCD Color Preview
  • Histograms
  • Exposure Warning
  • Working Tethered
  • Improving Your Photography
  • The Photoshop Trap
  • Warning, Danger Ahead!
  • Sticking To A Subject
  • Be Honest With Yourself
  • Be Realistic
  • A Word On Plagiarism & Improving Technique
  • A Cut–Out Portfolio
  • A Style To Call Your Own
  • Staying Current

Module 8

Equipment & Software

Where is technology going and what do you really need to be a successful photographer? Develop a clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages that different equipment provides, for now and in the future.

Module Content :

  • Camera Choices
  • Format Size
  • The Small Format Camera System
  • Advantages
  • Disadvantages
  • The Medium Format Camera System
  • Advantages
  • Disadvantages
  • The Large Format Camera System
  • Advantages
  • Disadvantages
  • My Choice Of Camera System
  • Small Format DSLR System
  • Small Format Compact Systems (CSC’s)
  • Medium Format System
  • Large Format System
  • Questions & Considerations
  • Buying vs. Hiring
  • Buying Considerations
  • Hiring
  • Which Lenses Do I Need
  • Where Is The Technology Going?
  • Lighting Equipment
  • Studio Flash Units
  • Monobloc Studio Lights
  • Using Multiple Speedlights
  • Which Brand Should I Buy?
  • Portability
  • Tungsten Lighting
  • LED & Fluorescent Lighting
  • Second Hand Gear
  • Computers & Monitors
  • The Calibration Device
  • Data Storage
  • Digital Video Disc (DVD’s)
  • Disc Do’s & Don’ts
  • Disk Do’s
  • Disk Don’ts
  • External Hard Drives
  • RAID Arrays
  • Solid State Drives (SSD’s)
  • The Future of File Storage
  • Future Proofing Your Files
  • My Storage System
  • The Graphics Tablet
  • Image Capture Software
  • Capture One Software
  • Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom & Camera RAW
  • Specialty Software Apps
  • New Technology

Module 9

Retouching, Resolution & Printing

Since the dark room, post production and printing has been a defining part of all photography. This module addresses how to get the best out of your images when it comes time to edit and print your work.

Module Content :

  • Image Retouching Software
  • Adobe Photoshop (Ps)
  • Adobe Photoshop Elements (PSE)
  • Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic (Lrc)
  • Capture One Pro
  • Corel PaintShop Pro 2020
  • Affinity Photo By Serif
  • Other Image Editing & Retouching Tools
  • The Interesting Issue of DPI & PPI
  • Image File Size… How Big Is Big Enough?
  • Output Devices & Resolution Requirements
  • Photo Quality Inkjet Printers
  • Offset Printers
  • Lines Per Inch & DPI Conversions
  • The Professional Print Lab
  • Computer Monitors
  • Email & The Internet
  • Dot Gain
  • Your Workspace
  • Work In RGB
  • Gamma
  • Gamut
  • Gamut Warnings
  • The CMYK Colourspace
  • Bit Depth
  • Colour Channels In Photoshop
  • File Formats For Digital Imaging & Printing
  • Camera Raw
  • DNG
  • JPEG
  • Print-Bound Images
  • PSD – Photoshop’s Default File Format
  • TIFF
  • EPS
  • PDF
  • GIF
  • JPEG 2000
  • Other Random File Formats
  • Working With 16 Bit Files
  • 16-Bit Capture & ACR
  • Converting 8-Bit Images To 16-Bit
  • 16-Bit Editing
  • Photoshop Retouching
  • HDR For High Contrast Scenes
  • Interpolation
  • Photoshop Toolbox
  • Quick Masking
  • Photoshop’s Densitometer
  • Adjustment Layers
  • Sharpening
  • Every Digital Image Requires Sharpening
  • Unsharp Mask (USM)
  • Traps For Young Players
  • My Sharpening Methodology (Overview)
  • Selective Sharpening
  • Camera Raw Image Adjustment Basics
  • Camera RAW Tools
  • Adobe Lightroom Classic Image Adjustment Basics
  • Do Your Prints Look Like The Screen Image?
  • Greyscale Print Test
  • Calibration – The Whole Shebang
  • How to Construct a Greyscale Box In Photoshop

Module 10

Photography Business & Studio Essentials

Working in a studio has many advantages for a photographer. Whether this is full time or only a passing requirement of your photographic practices, it is important that you are familiar with a studio space and the equipment it contains.

Module Content :

  • The Photographer’s Studio
  • Do I Need A Studio?
  • Hiring A Studio
  • Studio Sharing
  • Living In
  • How Big A Studio Do I Need?
  • Working From Home
  • The Perils
  • The Joys
  • The Wedding & Portrait Studio
  • In Your Studio
  • The Question Of Daylight
  • Ceiling Height
  • Colours & Decorating
  • The Floor
  • Poly Boards
  • Must Haves
  • Equipment
  • Bus & Train Routes
  • Parking
  • Security
  • Hiring Out Your Precious Studio
  • Start Small
  • Where To Begin
  • Life & Business
  • The Rubber Meets The Road
  • Planning
  • The 5 Year Visualisation
  • The SWOT Analysis
  • The Business Plan
  • Money
  • More On Money
  • Royalties
  • Usage Rights
  • Collaboration
  • Business & The Taxman
  • Organisation
  • Balance

Module 11

Portfolio & Area Of Specialization

Constructing a portfolio is one of the most important tasks a photographer carries out. This is ever-changing and must develop as your photography develops. George explains the process and how to put your best foot forward in all circumstances.

Module Content :

  • Where To Begin
  • Selecting A Specialty Area
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Portraiture
  • Weddings & Family
  • Nudes, Boudoir & Glamour
  • Photojournalism
  • Landscapes, Travel & Resort
  • Food
  • Products & Still Life
  • Architecture & Interiors
  • Art Photography
  • Industrial & Corporate
  • Cars
  • Real Estate & Drones
  • The Photographer’s Assistant
  • Continuing Education
  • Career Path Suggestions
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Portraiture
  • Weddings & Family
  • Nudes, Boudoir & Glamour
  • Photojournalism
  • Landscapes, Travel & Resort
  • Food
  • Product & Still Life
  • Architecture & Interiors
  • Art Photography
  • Industrial & Corporate
  • Cars
  • Image Libraries
  • The Professional Portfolio
  • Look At The Work Of Other Photographers
  • Look At Stylist’s Portfolios For Ideas
  • How To Find The Right People To Schmooze
  • Talk To Photo Agents
  • Be Ruthless – Do Not Dilute Your Portfolio
  • Is One Folio Enough?
  • Get Other Opinions
  • Think About Your Presentation
  • This Is Where To Spend Money Wisely
  • Some Ideas On Marketing Tools
  • A Newer Portfolio Approach
  • Advantages Of A Tablet Style Portfolio
  • Disadvantages Of A Tablet Style Portfolio
  • The Professional Website

Module 12

Photo Agents / Picture Agencies: How To Get Work & Keep It

As a professional or advanced amateur, creating a style to call your own can help set you apart from the masses. Be an individual, work smart as well as hard and photography will be a lifelong passion as well as a rewarding career if you so choose.

Module Content :

  • The Photographer’s Agent
  • The Role Of The Agent
  • The Photographer / Agent Relationship
  • How To Find A Photo Agent
  • Avoid Mixed Agencies If You Can
  • Be Prepared For Your Interview… You Only Get One Chance
  • Fees & Charges
  • Agency Politics
  • Don’t Argue!
  • Photo Libraries & Picture Agencies In Conclusion
  • Protecting Our Profession
  • How To Submit Images
  • Getting Work & Keeping It
  • Do Your Homework
  • Write Down Names In The Lift
  • Sell Yourself!
  • Going It Alone
  • Befriend The Art Buyer…
  • Social Media
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • The Future
  • A Final Word