Photography: Essential Skills and Creative Approaches (one week)

Monday to Friday, 10 am - 4 pm, one week

Indicative maximum class size: 15

This course is responding to the huge growth in ownership of digital SLR (DSLR) cameras.

It is designed to take you through the basic science, technology, craft and art of photography, and to develop your knowledge and skills so that you can create technically sound, interesting, professional images.

You can see more about the course on our Youtube channel here.

Course Description

This course is ideal for the enthusiastic amateur photographer.

You will move away from shooting with the camera in automatic mode, and start using the various camera functions that will enable you to take control of your photographs, creating work that is more personal.

Topics will include:

• what is a photograph and why do we take them?
• constructed versus captured photography
• making images: looking and seeing
• composition
• exposure
• focus
• aperture
• shutter and shutter speed
• subject lighting
• digital developing and printing
• choosing and buying your equipment
• outlets for your finished photograph such as sales or exhibiting.

The course will be a mixture of theory and practice.

There will projects that explore artistic expression, reportage, commerciality, nature, people and community.

Further reading will also be suggested to further enhance your knowledge, reinforcing the practical assignments.

These practical assignments will be critiqued regularly, and an online learning community will be set up to help share your work with fellow students.

On this course, you will:

• learn about contemporary digital photography and current technology
• identify successful digital images
• discuss the aesthetic qualities of your work and that of others
• plan a photograph, from composition to digital printing
• work in different light situations
• manually adjust focus, shutter speeds and exposure to produce effects
• create unique images on location and in the studio environment
• edit images using basic Photoshop functions
• promote your images online to others.

What will you gain?

You will leave this course with the skills and knowledge to continue creating great photographs, either for your hobby or maybe as a gateway to further study or employment.

Level: Beginner

Entry requirement: No experience is required.

Where you'll learn: You will be based in the School of Art and Design on the City Campus. 

You’ll find full-size photography studios, equipped with backgrounds and Profoto lighting, and comprehensive Mac editing suites with software for photography editing including Adobe Creative Cloud.

You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.

Here's what our previous attendees said:

'This course gave me impetus I needed to get out of a rut and think about the full capabilities of my camera. I especially enjoyed being part of a group and being inspired by its members, as well as having the support and expertise of our tutor. I feel much more confident about my skills and I now enjoy photography even more.' AS

'This course is pitched at a good level - challenging but achievable. It has given me the confidence to progress further.' LT

'A great tutor, who set a good atmosphere for learning whilst helping and encouraging each other.' DD

'Fantastic!!!' FC

Tutor Profile: Paul Carroll graduated from NTU with a First in Photography.

He then spent two years working on the UK's best-selling photography magazine ‘Digital Photo’ where he was responsible for planning, writing and illustrating articles regarding general camera skills and editing RAW files.

Paul now works as a full-time freelance photographer and tutor in Nottingham.

Need accommodation?

You can book a self-catered, single room with private bathroom on our city campus, right next door to our studios and classrooms: www.ntu.ac.uk/summeraccommodation

Any questions?

Contact the short course team:

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2813