uLearn.Photography - part of FilmPhotoAcademy.com

 

  Course Overview and Features

Each module of our course includes:
 

Text notes for readers

Video notes for watchers

Quiz to "lock-in" new information

Practical assignments to use what you have learnt

Interactive elements so you can see and do, not just read

Bonus cheat sheets

Bonus background information

Bonus free software

 
Each module should take around an hour to work through.
Most assignments are optional - though strongly recommended.

  Module 1: How to see

Tricks and techniques to instantly improve your photography
 

10 Rules of Photography

Cropping and Framing

Exploring Your Subject

Leading Lines, Patterns and Scale

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Dictionary of Photography

Bonus: Free Book: Composition, Colour and Creativity

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Composition Flow Chart

Bonus: Cheat Sheet -10 Rules of Photography

  A Brief History of Photography

In a short and interesting whirlwind tour of the history of photography you will learn:
 

When photography started

How photography became publicly available

10 Photographers you should know

Why photo manipulation pre-dates digital

Simon's personal photographic hero

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - A short history of photography

  Understanding Your Camera

In this extensive module you will get to grips with your camera controls.
 

A quick guide to camera types

Why a DSLR is so special

How to choose a camera and lens

How a camera works

Key features and controls you should know

Why megapixels are not important

Lens types, how to choose them, when to use them

Useful accessories

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Quick Guide to Your Camera

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Light Path Through a Camera

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Focal Length and Field of View

  Understanding Exposure

You will learn how to see light and control it in your camera for perfect exposures
 

What is exposure?

What are f-stops and why do I care?

How do I know what exposure to use?

How to read your viewfinder

How to control exposure

Shooting modes explained

Examples from a wedding

Understanding the histogram

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Exposure Controls

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Shooting Modes

  Controlling Focus

You will learn how easy focus is, how to make the camera do the work, how to take control when you need to.
 

How auto focus works

When to use focusing modes

Tips for better focus

Trouble shooting focus

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Photo Quote Posters Bundle 1

Bonus: Cheat Sheet Focussing Tips

  Understanding Aperture

The aperture control on your camera is the most important artistic control you have, this module will leave you a master of aperture control
 

What is aperture?

What is depth of field?

What is focal distance?

What is focal length?

When and why to use different aperture settings

Portrait and Group shots

Selective Focus

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Depth of Field

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Depth of Field Sample Charts

  Shutter Speed - Exposure and Motion

What is the shutter and how you use it for better photographs.
 

Artistic control

Artistic motion blur

Avoiding camera shake

Selecting the correct shutter speed

Peak action and how to capture it

Using slow shutter speeds

Using panning techniques

Catching light trails

Shutter control accessories

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Shutter Speed Guide

  Light: How to See It, How to Use It

Light - the fundamental part of photography.  In this module you will learn the qualities light - how to use them, how to deal with bad light.
 

The 6 qualities of light

Light and shade - the third dimension

Why shadows are so important

Managing contrast

Shooting into the sun

Using window light

Using reflectors

How to use your cameras colour presets

What is the "golden hour"?

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Colour Temperature

Bonus Cheat Sheet - Six Qualities of Light

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Colour Theory and Emotions

  Photographic Lighting

Learn about the types of artificial light and how easy they are to use.
 

Types of artificial light

Why you camera flash is rubbish

How to control flash light

How to use studio equipment

How to remove bad shadows

Turn pictures from day to night

Getting great pictures even at night

Controlling artificial light

Special effects with coloured light

Renting studio space

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Studio Portrait Lighting

Bonus: Studio Lighting Equipment Explained

  Filters: What are they - when should you use them?

Getting things right when you take the shot is so important.  In this module you will learn how filters can help you.
 

What is a filter?

Skylight filter

Polarising filter

Neutral density filter

Graduated filter

Soft focus filter

Starburst filter

How to use filters to control exposure

When to use filters for black and white

Filter on camera or in software

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Photo Quote Posters Bundle 2

Bonus: Tiffen Filters Guide

Bonus: Hoya Filters Guide

  Black and White Photography

Timeless and artistic images in black and white - take your images to the next level.
 

The art of black and white

Your cameras picture styles

How to see in black and white

Understanding contrast and tonal range

Shooting high key and low key portraits

Toning and tinting black and whites

Black and white printing.

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Colour Toning

  Portraits and People

All you need to know about shooting friends, family and colleagues.
 

Simple light setup

Advanced lighting

Different setups for effect

How to avoid distorted faces

Where to crop a portrait

How to pose a woman

How to pose a man

How to pose couples

How to pose groups

Candid photography

How to shoot great child and baby images

Ideal camera positions

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Portrait Lighting

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Cropping Portraits

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - Focal Length Distortion

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - 36 Tips for Better People Photographs

Bonus: Posing Video

  Shooting at Weddings

How to make the most of shooting at a wedding.
 

Recommended equipment

What to shoot in the morning

What to shoot at the church

What to shoot at the reception

What to shoot in the evening

Key photographs throughout the day

Camera settings for different situations

How to work with a professional

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: 11 Portrait Tips

Bonus: 30 More Portrait Tips

  Landscape Photography

Capturing the natural vistas around as whether for exhibition or while on holiday
 

How to compose a great landscape

Importance of fore-ground and back-ground

Location planning

Making the most of weather

Recording the seasons

Landscape checklist

Shooting water

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: How Photographs Are Assessed

  Cityscapes and Buildings

A holiday speciality - capturing all the lovely and fascinating buildings, both inside and outside.
 

Shooting Cityscapes

Shooting in town

Avoiding distortion

Get a great interior shot

Working with the light

Abstract images

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Photographic Internet Memes Bundle 1

Bonus: Why f/11?

  Wildlife

Whether at your home or travelling the wonderful world of the animal is all around us.
 

Approaching animals

Shooting at your home

Remote control your camera

Shooting at the zoo

Avoid problem fences and glass

Photographing aquariums

Composition and framing for wildlife

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: 10 Tips for Shooting Wildlife

  Close-Up and Macro Photography

You will learn how to explore the exciting and exotic world of the very small.
 

How to get really close focus

Equipment types and prices

Close-up technique

Advanced software techniques

Lighting for close-up

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - 30 Tips for Better Macro Images

  Night Photography

Getting great photographs at night is normally difficult, in this module you will learn how to get consistent, terrific images at night.
 

Night photography preparation

Shooting stars

Image stacking in software

Shooting the moon

Getting great fireworks

Buildings at night

Painting with light

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Cheat Sheet - 30 Tips for Better Night Shoots

  Problems and Pitfalls and how to avoid them

Things go wrong - but knowing why and how to correct it will help you get the best shot all the time.
 

Focussing problems - pictures not sharp

Camera shake and how to correct it

Motion blur how to avoid it

Fixing red-eye

Understanding over/under exposure

Lens flare - avoid it or use it

Unwanted reflections

Composition advice

Flash problems

Bad colours in your photographs

How to give photographs "punch"

Why your images look bad on the web

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Photographic Internet Memes Bundle 2

Bonus: 10 Tips for Checking Your Photographs

  Showing Your Work

Now you are creating great images you want to show them off - find out the best ways of showing your work.
 

Prints and printing

Printed books, coffee table books

Social media

Using photo discussion websites

Building a personal website

On TV and tablets

Creating a slideshow

Running your own exhibition

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: How NOT to choose pictures for competitions

  Managing images on Your Computer

How to organise them and how to keep them safe and secure
 

Transferring from camera to computer

Card readers explained

Backup and safety strategies

Backup to the internet

Reviewing, cataloguing and selecting

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: 50+ Useful Photography Forums & Websites

  Post-Processing Part 1: Software and Management

Using free software you can bring your collection of images under control and easily found.
 

Software Options

Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom

Google Picasa a free alternative

Installing software

Finding photographs the first time

Organising your photographs

Finding people automatically

Sharing photographs

Creating a collage

Creating a video

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: Free and Paid For Software Links

  Post-Processing Part 2: Editing Images

Your computer is a powerful tool for enhancing your images so they really grab your attention.
 

How to straighten and crop an image

Automatic corrections

Improving shadows

Retouching spots and wrinkles

Fixing lighting problems

Fixing colour issues

Basic and fun effects

Where to next?

Bonus Downloads:

Bonus: 10 Tips for Post Processing Portraits