Digital Photography for Beginners

About this course

The course combines talks and demonstrations with group discussions, individual practical exercises and some one-to-one tutoring. Participants explore digital camera settings and functions, exposure, composition, lighting and basic photo editing, applying these areas to photographs made in different settings. Tutor feedback, group evaluation and discussion of participants’ work form part of the learning process. Assignments are set after each session except the final one, and may involve practical work or research.

What you'll learn

• Operate a digital camera using key settings and functions.
• Apply exposure principles to produce well-balanced photographs.
• Use composition techniques to structure images effectively.
• Adapt photographic approaches to different lighting conditions.
• Carry out basic editing to improve and finalise photographs.
• Share photographs and articulate the creative process behind them.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for people beginning to develop technical and visual photography skills with a digital camera. No prior skills are required. Participation includes group discussion and exercises, individual practical work, feedback on photographs and assignments between sessions.

• Learners are expected to practise between sessions.
• The course includes practical assignments after most sessions.
• Teaching includes group activities as well as some individual tutoring.

Before you go

• Participants should bring a functioning digital camera with manual controls for aperture and shutter speed.
• A digital SLR is available for use during class sessions if a learner does not own a camera, but cameras cannot be lent for use outside lesson hours.
• Additional support is available for literacy, numeracy, speakers of other languages, and learners with learning difficulties or disabilities.