Creative Photography

• Types of cameras
• How cameras work
• Manual camera controls
• Camera techniques

Objectives of the Module
This module will enable you to use a 35mm SLR or rangefinder camera competently. You will understand how to take great photographs instead of hit and miss shots and use the full functionality of your camera instead of always switching the dial to the green square (or auto function). This includes manual exposure reading, knowing what shutter and aperture controls to use for a given photograph, manual focusing and choice of lenses. Students will also understand what film ISO to buy and/or use. You will also learn how to manipulate the camera to produce varied photographic effects.

Practical Exercise
Shoot one roll of film following exercises in handouts.

• Assessing Negatives
• Composition

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will learn how to assess film, learning what makes under, correct and over exposed negatives. You will also learn techniques to alter image quality through exposure control. You will assess negatives/images from Practical Exercises in module 101. In addition you will learn the compositional differences between how we perceive our surroundings and how our cameras and films record images. This includes seeing better pictures, framing the image, composition and visual selection and perception of depth.

Practical Exercise
Evaluating Negatives from Module 101 Slide presentation on other photographers work and discussion on composition Shoot one roll of film following exercises in handouts.

• Test strips
• Contact sheets
• Enlargements

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will learn how to produce a contact sheet from negatives. You will learn how to use the darkroom safely and use a combination of light-sensitive paper, enlargers and chemicals to produce prints. You will learn how to make test strips and produce quality final prints in the darkroom using a focus finder and a framing easel.

Practical Exercise
Making test strips Making contact sheets Making print enlargements

• Variable Contrast Paper
• Printing Controls: Dodging, Burning

Objectives of the Module
You will continue practice from Module 103 learning how to improve basic printing techniques through altering contrast in prints with variable contrast paper and localised print adjustments such as 'printing and shading-in' (or burning and dodging) techniques. You will assess your own understanding of each process and plan a further course of action or study to improve on the skills you have learnt.

Practical Exercise
Use of Variable Contrast Paper Burning and Dodging

• Film Processing

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will learn how to process a 35mm black and white film competently and understand how to recognise different exposure and development combinations. You will be able to recognise a good quality negative and ascertain how the final print will be affected.

Practical Exercise
Process one roll of black and white film.

• Composition

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will explore different areas of photography such as portraiture, landscape, sports, travel and night photography. You will also investigate compositional techniques such as subject placement, angle of view and framing and technical considerations such as choice of film, lenses and exposure controls. You will discuss the work of professional photographers and examine your own work and understanding of each process and plan a further course of action or study to improve on the skills you have learnt.

Practical Exercise
Slide presentation on Professional photographers work Discussion on composition Shoot one roll of film following exercises in handouts.

• Black and white film
• Filters for black and white film
• Exposure techniques

Materials Required
Module 202 is aimed at those with a sound understanding of aperture and shutter combinations and use of varying exposure settings for different effects. The course assumes that students are confident in how to achieve the correct exposure using manual controls. This means knowing how and when to use your aperture to gain shallow depth of field or shutter to obtain blur and know where to take an average brightness reading from a scene. If you feel you may need to take an introductory session in these technical skills please consider taking a course that consists of module 101 such as Camera Introduction, Camera Basics or Basic Photography, which are designed as a lead into courses with this module.

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will look at film construction and light. You will learn how the colour of light affects black and white film and how we can use colour filters to alter the tonal qualities of the image produced. You will learn what choices of filters are available and which are best suited to you. You will learn different exposure techniques for difficult lighting conditions.

Practical Exercise
Shoot a roll of black and white film during the session making use of tonal correction filters Complete film experimenting with different exposure techniques following exercises in handouts

• Colour and wavelength
• Colour film
• Filters for colour film
• Natural light
• Available light
• Portable flash
• Cross Processing

Materials Required
Module 202 is aimed at those with a sound understanding of aperture and shutter combinations and use of varying exposure settings for different effects. The course assumes that students are confident in how to achieve the correct exposure using manual controls. This means knowing how and when to use your aperture to gain shallow depth of field or shutter to obtain blur and know where to take an average brightness reading from a scene. If you feel you may need to take an introductory session in these technical skills please consider taking a course that consists of module 101 such as Camera Introduction, Camera Basics or Basic Photography, which are designed as a lead into courses with this module.

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will explore the colour of light and wavelength. You will look at different light sources and how they affect colour film. You will look at the differences of natural light and available/artificial light as well as portable flash. You will investigate different filters used for colour correction and white balance functions of digital cameras. You will also learn cross processing techniques with slide film.

Practical Exercise
Experiment with different available light sources and different filters to correct colour casts. Cross Processing using slide film

• Where to get prints
• Editing work
• Presenting work

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will discover where to get your photographs printed and examine the qualities of different printing services and papers available for film and digital at mini-labs, pro-labs as well as printing them yourself. You will ascertain the best way to edit your photographs. You will look at different methods of presenting work and how to use different presentation styles depending on the purpose of your photographs, whether you are preparing a portfolio to promote yourself as a photographer, applying for further education or simply creating stunning photo albums.

Practical Exercise
Evaluate different prints from different labs and different papers Edit a set of images Present a set of images for a specific use

• Fibre Based Paper
• Variable Contrast
• Specialist Printing Controls

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will examine different types of photographic papers and learn how to print using fibre-based paper, you will also recap on printing skills, experimenting with advanced printing techniques using variable contrast paper.

Practical Exercise
Printing using fibre based paper

• 35mm cameras and pinhole cameras
• Making a pinhole camera
• How to calculate exposures
• Printing pinhole pictures

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will learn how to construct a simple camera. You will follow basic technical instruction (delivered in a deliberately non-jargon style) to understand the physics of camera construction. This process is invaluable in understanding and demystifying the mechanics of your own camera, making all the controls, numbers and measurements clear and logical, whilst also being great fun to do! You will evaluate your own cameras construction, whilst building your pinhole camera. You will make exposures and contact positive prints from paper negatives.

Practical Exercise
Pinhole cameras - construction and picture making

• Test Strips for split grade printing
• Altering time / contrast controls

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will learn this advanced printing technique using contrast filters with variable contrast paper for maximum effect. You will learn how this printing technique combines contrast in prints with variable contrast paper to achieve maximum control over your negatives.

Practical Exercise
Split grade printing