Digital Photography Transitions Certificate Program

In this one-week certificate program, you'll learn how to operate a professional digital SLR camera, using manual focus and exposure controls for shooting in any situation. You'll learn the basics of both lighting and composing for the highest quality output. These skills will enable you to shoot professional digital photos.

Program Description

This one-week program teaches the essential technical skills and aesthetic considerations for shooting professional digital photographs. You'll learn to operate a digital SLR camera primarily in manual mode for finesse and control in any lighting situation. You'll explore studio lighting and shooting in the field under the guidance of veteran photographers, training your eye to create the complex blend of light, color, and composition that makes a successful photo.

Read more about what makes our Transitions Certificate Programs unique.

Prerequisites

You should have a basic working knowledge of your digital SLR camera and a little experience shooting still photographs. You must also have some basic computer skills.

Equipment

You should bring your own digital SLR camera and its accompanying User's Manual. No film or point-and-shoot cameras please. If possible, you should also bring your flash, tripod, any lenses you may have, and any accessories necessary for full operation of your camera, including connecting to a computer.

BDA provides an iMac workstation when necessary. If you are planning on bringing your own computer, please make sure you have the full version of Photoshop CS6 (and not Photoshop Elements) installed. We also recommend the Expo Aperture depth of field calculator, available online. A depth of field calculator on an iPhone also works.

For field sessions, Thursday and Friday, bring clothing appropriate for the weather. Remember, photographing is rather sedentary, so dress twice as warmly as you think you need to be for the expected weather. You will want your computer Thursday and Friday to download picture files onto a flash drive, for transfer to the classroom computer for viewing.

After You Register

BDA is committed to making learning process as enjoyable as possible and making sure that you can focus on your learning. After you register you will be contacted by our staff who answer questions you might have and assist you with any logistical and travel concerns.

Schedule

Monday

Monday starts with an introduction to all the parts of a professional DSLR camera, including different types of lenses and what they do. You’ll get an introduction to the manual settings on your DSLR and begin changing shutter speeds, aperture, ISO, and focus modes to learn how they affect your photographs.

12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch Break

The morning session continues as you get a stronger feel for the different parts of your camera and begin to make the connection between manual controls and artistry.

The afternoon session will explore focus and flash settings followed by an in-depth look at the detailed menus on your camera. You’ll learn about metering modes, color spaces, color temperature, and how to read the histogram to analyze your photo. Be sure to have the PDF version of the manual on your computer!

If time permits we will shoot for the last hour. The shooting will be a self assigned exercise based on the day’s curriculum.

Tuesday

We’ll start out with a discussion of the physics and human perception of sharpness. The instructor will explain depth of field, hyperfocal distance, circles of confusion, and near and far limits of focus. You'll learn how to set up and evaluate depth of focus both manually and automatically with prime and zoom lenses, as well as strategies for different shooting locations.

12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch Break

Next, you'll start using the histogram to make exactly correct exposures, in any lighting situation, in both manual and automatic shooting modes. You’ll learn to use different light metering modes. We'll also discuss how different shutter speed and aperture combinations affect other qualities of the photograph, followed by a closer look at white balance. What does white balance really mean and how do we use it?

A quick trip outside for a couple of practice setups with the camera.

Wednesday

The morning will start with a presentation of images to illustrate various lighting and portrait techniques. The instructor will then cover a range of issues related to creating interesting portraits, including site location, previsualization, and photographing "in the moment" by minimizing judgment and helping the subject become comfortable in their own skin. We’ll also address composition and simple lighting techniques using one light and reflectors.

12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch Break

In the afternoon segment, the instructor will demonstrate setting up lighting for portrait photography in a professional studio. If the weather allows, we will step outdoors and work with available light. Fill flash and reflectors will be discussed and demonstrated.

Thursday

We'll go over what you've learned so far, and address any questions or issues.

Seeing and designing the photograph properly starts with an understanding of how we humans see. Then we'll introduce the elements of composition and varieties of light. We'll look at a lot of photographs as we learn the rules of composition - and when to break them!

12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch Break

We’ll focus on setting up a process that balances the technical and aesthetic components of making a photograph in a way that becomes second nature, freeing you to concentrate on creativity and expression.

We will spend the rest of the afternoon at a scenic location where all you have learned can be practiced with the instructor as an available resource. Locations can be chosen for landscape, street, or portrait photography, depending on student interest.

Friday

We'll review the previous days' material and identify areas that need a bit more practice.

We will have a discussion of the psychology, physiology and aesthetics of sight, and talk about how photography teaches us to see. What are your goals with photography?

For the final day, we'll go to a scenic location to take photos and eat lunch. Please bring a portable lunch and drinks with you to class. If you come early, you can pick up a sandwich at the excellent sandwich shop across the street before class starts.

The best way to learn improve your photography is to give and receive direct feedback with your peers. We will select a dozen photographs to evaluate in terms of exposure, focus, composition, content, and intention.

Instructors

Chris Brown has been practicing photography in Boulder for over 40 years, specializing in medium and large format landscapes. He was the first photographer in Colorado to receive a commission in the Art in Public Places program, for his series "The Hydrologic Cycle: Studies of Water," housed at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After making Cibachrome prints in the darkroom for 10 years, Chris became enthralled with digital inkjet printmaking, and how has prints in numerous public, private and corporate collections, including the Denver Museum of Contemporary Arts and the San Francisco Museum of Fine Arts.

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Stephen Collector has over 25 years of freelance experience. Originally specializing in tabletop photography, his attention to detail and lighting techniques were applied to working on location for editorial and corporate assignments. Stephen's magazine clients include Esquire, Outside, Men's Journal, Field & Stream, Forbes, Fortune, Fast Company, and the New York Times. Corporate clients include United Airlines, Ball Corporation, Shell, Hain/Celestial Seasonings, Horizon Dairy, United Technologies, Oracle, and Sears Roebuck & Co., among many others.

Steve Gandy is an educator, trainer, technology support professional and life-long photographer. Steve has introduced the ins-and-outs of digital photography to students young and old since 1995 and has been involved in education since 1978. His photography is varied but he focuses on nature, travel, and sports. Steve has contributed to training books and websites on Photoshop Elements, StarOffice/OpenOffice and other educational topics. He leads photographic tours to the southern Utah canyon lands.

Location

This certificate program will be held at the Arapahoe Studio, with one afternoon at the Production Studio.