TECHNICAL AND CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

In short...

Preliminary notes: It is mandatory to have completed the 4 introductory courses about basic photographic technique to attend the courses in this package. Book the 4 courses for beginners here

In addition to the 4 beginner courses (see above), This course pack is certifying; it will allow you to obtain the Technical and creative photography certification.

Thanks to this course pack, you will become a photography champion! Whether it's mastering your camera, taking vibrant shots, or editing your images, you'll be on top of your game!

Your learning experience will begin with a series of 4 classes on camera skills (These courses are not included in this package). You will then be able to follow our courses on portraiture (natural light), composition, night photography, black & white, and the use of Lightroom.

Lightroom level 1: Organise and select your images (online)

The knowledge of retouching software is a necessary tool in photography: thanks to programs like Lightroom, photographers can achieve the full potential of their raw images. Adobe Lightroom Software manages all the post-production steps of a photograph; from importing and organizing images, through their retouching, to exporting for printing (print, book) or digital presentation (web, slide show).

The first level of our Lightroom training courses will familiarise you with the use of this software. This workshop will be essential for you to understand how the program works, on the one hand, and on the other hand, to learn how to effectively organize and select your images. The selection and organisation phase of images is crucial in photographic post-production work. It is during this stage that stories evolve, series are constructed and a photographer's work is structured. The images selected in this step are the images that will be retouched.

This 3h30 workshop is therefore positioned before the retouching training (which will be taught in the level 2 workshop), and is a fundamental entry point into your Lightroom training... Just as a cook must be able to choose his food with taste before preparing a dish, a photographer must be able to select their images in an efficient and thoughtful way before retouching work...

During this first level of learning, you will be taught:

-The fundamentals of the program and how it works

-The different methods of importing images into Lightroom

-Sorting and selecting images within the software

Lightroom level 2: Starting to retouch images (online)

The knowledge of retouching software is a necessary tool in photography: thanks to programs like Lightroom, photographers can achieve the full potential of their raw images. Adobe Lightroom Software manages all the post-production steps of a photograph; from importing and organizing images, through their retouching, to exporting for printing (print, book) or digital presentation (web, slide show).

The raw images that your camera is capable of producing have enormous potential, and to be able to utilise and maximise it, you need to be proficient with retouching software; adjusting exposure, adjusting white balance, tonality, contrast, correcting abnormalities are just some of the many tasks that Lightroom can do, among many other possibilities....

This retouching phase is therefore an essential part of the photographer's work. Imagine a baker not knowing how to bake his bread; his dough may have top quality dough, but if he doesn’t know how to use it his work will always remain unfinished (and inedible)... The same is true for the photographer who cannot retouch; his chain of work is cut off, he cannot perfect and embellish his work.

During this second level of learning, you will be taught:

-The different tools for image processing

-Adequate retouching formulas (practical phase of the workshop)

-The different methods of exporting images from Lightroom

-Prerequisites: you must have attended level 1 or be already familiar with the use of the software, import, sorting and selection methods

Portrait

Sometimes, the simplest photos are the hardest ones to take. How do you take an impeccable portrait of a loved-one or of a friend on the spot, and only with the help of natural lighting? How do you end up with an expressive and successful portrait without the aid of a studio?

It is essential to take the environment into consideration when composing a portrait. Managing the background's colours and graphics, choosing the point of view, directing the model - these are all points that will be covered during the course.

Light control is an equally important aspect; in particular, analysing a given moment's light and using it wisely are elements that will be explained to help you make a successful portrait.

This workshop will teach you:

• How to observe the environment so as to guide your aesthetic choices: point of view, directing a model
• How to "read" light and place your subject accordingly
• How to correctly define parameters in your camera according to your desired result
• How to frame and compose an image to highlight the subject

The workshop includes a theoretical explanation, a main "practical" part, as well as a class debriefing at the end. The class takes place outdoors and the debriefing takes place at a coffee shop. The exact meeting place will be communicated to enrolled participants. The workshop is composed of a theoretical part, practical training and a debriefing.

Composition for all

The objective of this course is to teach the guidelines of composition to new photographers. Although many established photographers tend to think that there is no such thing as “correct composition”, you will learn why these guidelines exist and can then choose if you will abide by them or not.

After you learn about composition, your eyes will start to notice the interesting shapes surrounding you. Once you have become aware of them, all you have to do is appropriately position yourself to see them appear in your viewfinder. We will discuss where the theories of composition derive from in order to have a better understanding of how relevant they are in making an interesting photo.

This workshop will teach you:

• The theories of the rule of thirds, filling the frame, perspective, balance, leading lines, symmetry, patterns, background, depth, and cropping
• The history of the theory of composition

You will leave the class trusting your photographic judgment, maybe even feeling that the composition guidelines are second nature to you.

The workshop is split into three sections: a theoretical explanation, a hands-on practice session, and a debriefing of the class at a nearby café. During the debriefing, we will review and discuss the class’ photographs. The workshop is composed of a theoretical part, practical training and a debriefing.

Black and white

If you like black & white rendering and wish to improve your monochrome photography skills, this workshop will teach you how to sublimate your black & white compositions with the help of a professional photographer.

To begin, your teacher will explain the different settings that can be applied to your camera to optimise monochrome rendering and develop a style that is unique to you.

The workshop will also be an opportunity to review some of the great photographers who have worked in black & white. Iconic images will be analysed and you will understand how monochrome rendering has served their photographic practice.

The shooting will be the main part of the course; a phase during which you will be able to put into practice the technical and compositional tricks taught by your trainer.

This course will teach you how to:

• Read light and contrasts
• Choose your subjects for optimal black & white rendering
• Manage exposure for shadows and highlights
• Optimise black & white conversion on your device

At the end of the workshop, we will offer you a complete debriefing to share your images taken during your training. This collective review, carried out by the teaching photographer, will allow each participant to ensure a good understanding but also to draw inspiration from the achievements of the other students.

Low light photography

This workshop is intended for people who wish to practice night photography: an enchanting genre with a certain poetry. This workshop will also allow you to experience the limits of the camera when light is scarce.

To begin with, fundamental technical notions will be recalled specifically for low-light conditions (control of exposure time, "noise" in digital photography, white balance, etc.).

Then comes the time for practice and creation (the major part of the course); you will discover the city and deal with a variety of subjects: monuments, architecture, urban landscapes, statues, road traffic, candles and light painting (the art of drawing with light).

Night photography offers incredible creative possibilities, all you have to do is discover them!