Higher Photography

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course allows candidates to develop knowledge and understanding of photographic media and camera techniques and processes when developing their creative practice.
Candidates learn how social, cultural, historical, and scientific influences impact on photographers’ work and practice.
Candidates demonstrate technical photographic skills and show personal, creative responses when photographing a variety of subjects. They have opportunities to develop personal autonomy and critical-thinking skills, and learn to evaluate their own photographic work and practice.
The course encourages candidates to be inspired and challenged by visually representing their personal thoughts and ideas through the medium of photography. An integrated approach to learning means candidates plan, develop and produce creative and technically proficient photographs.
Candidates develop skills that are valuable for learning, life and work. The course allows them to broaden their skills base and to widen their horizons regarding the range of vocations available to them.
The aims of the course are for candidates to:
communicate personal thoughts, feelings and ideas using photography
develop technical and creative skills through using photographic media, techniques and processes
develop knowledge and understanding of a range of photographic practices
develop skills in problem solving, critical thinking and reflective practice
develop an understanding of the impact of social, cultural, historical, and scientific influences on photographers’ work and practice
become critically self-reflective autonomous learners
The course has an integrated approach to learning. It combines practical learning activities that are underpinned by knowledge and understanding of photography.
Candidates learn how to plan and carry out practical photographic work. They investigate selected photographers’ work and practice and explain how external influences impact on these. They use this understanding of photographers and their work when developing their own personal approaches to photography. They learn and apply a range of image-making techniques. Candidates develop their creative problem-solving skills as they resolve visual and technical problems. They also reflect on and evaluate the effectiveness of their practice and the qualities of their photographic work.
Skills, knowledge and understanding for the course
The following provides a broad overview of the subject skills, knowledge and understanding developed in the course:
applying knowledge and understanding of the properties of light and image formation
applying knowledge and understanding of camera controls and a range of photographic techniques and processes
investigating and analysing the major historical, scientific, social, and cultural factors influencing photographers and their work
producing investigative research for photography, and planning, shooting, printing and developing photographs
exploring and experimenting with a range of photographic media, manipulation techniques and processes
producing and presenting creative and technically proficient photographs
effectively managing and storing photographic images
critical self-reflecting and evaluating by candidates of their work and practice, and the photographic work of others
Course Features
- Lessons 151
- Quizzes 0
- Duration 40 weeks
- Skill level S5-6
- Language English
- Students 119
- Assessments Yes
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Essential Camera Techniques
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The Camera
- The Front
- The Back
- Lenses – focal lengths
- Scene modes
- Shooting modes – understanding the dial/symbols
- Drive modes
- Video – Parts of the Camera
- The Control Panel
- Video – Origins of the camera – the Camera Obscura
- Animation – How light passes through a camera
- Video – Genius of Photography #1
- Dangers of the built in flash
- Reference – tips for setting your camera up
- Reference – memory cards
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Focusing
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Exposure
- What is exposure?
- The Exposure Triangle
- ISO
- Practical activity – ISO
- Reference – ISO
- Aperture – Overview
- Video – Aperture – Introduction to Depth of Field
- Aperture Priority Shooting Mode
- Reference – f-stops
- Video – Aperture
- Practical Activity – Aperture
- Video – Shutter Speed
- Shutter Speed Priority Mode
- Video – Shutter Speed
- Practical Activity – Shutter Speed
- Reference – Freezing a fast moving object
- Revision – Shutter Speed
- Light Meter
- Metering Modes
- Reference – metering modes
- Exposure Indicator
- Video – Light Meter & Exposure Indicator
- Practical Activity – Light Meter and Exposure Indicator
- Exposure Value
- Over/Under Exposure
- Histogram
- Reference – the histogram
- Reference – common histogram shapes
- Difficult Lighting Conditions
- Landscape exposure
- Low light
- Backlight
- Video – Exposure Compensation
- Practical Activity – Exposure Compensation
- Exposure Compensation
- Review questions – light meter
- Reference – lighting
- Shooting Modes
- Video – Manual Mode
- Practical Activity – Manual Mode
- Troubleshooting in Manual Mode
- Review questions – Manual Mode
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Lenses
- Parts of the Lens
- Review questions
- Reference – Shutter Speed table
- Reference – When to use different shutters speeds
- Lenses in General
- Focal Length
- Focal Length Examples
- Reference – focal length and field of view
- Compression
- Compression Examples
- When To Use Different Focal Lengths
- Cropped Sensor Cameras
- Zoom Lenses
- Prime Lenses
- Specialist Lenses
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Depth of Field
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Camera Settings
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Composition
- Horizon lines, rule of thirds, movement, leading lines
- Using frames, patterns and points of interest
- Colour, depth of field, balance, image flow
- Symmetry, rule of odds, negative space, geometry
- The psychology of composition
- Rule of odds versus rule of symmetry
- Rule of thirds and golden section/ratio
- Rule of space
- Using patterns and lines
- Using frames
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Portrait photography
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Landscape/outdoor/macro photography
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Glossary
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Editing
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Critical Studies
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Using Flash, Modifiers and Editing