About this course
Learn to see nature in a new way! Our The Art of Photographing Nature course will focus on teaching our students the art of composing beautiful photographs of nature. We will cover classic concepts of composition including isolating the subject, framing, perspective, color, design, and light and advanced creative options like depth of field, shutter speed, and the use of filters that will create more visual interest in your nature photographs.
* You have 4 weeks to complete this course from date of your enrollment.
The Art of Photographing Nature Module 1
Isolating & Composing
In Module 1, we will focus on isolating your subjects and composition techniques for creating aesthetically pleasing images. We will begin by covering lens isolation, eliminating clutter and removing distractions. Next we will move on to format and framing in relation to composition and then learn about symmetry and asymmetry. Centering subject matters, the golden mean and using live view to compose to your images will conclude the first module.
- Using Lenses to Isolate
- Eliminating Clutter & Removing Distractions
- Format & Framing
- Symmetry vs. Asymmetry
- Subject in Center
The Art of Photographing Nature Module 2
Perspective & Color
In Module 2, we will discuss perspective and color as covered in Chapters 3 and 4 in your text. We begin with scale and the subject and learn about sensor size and focal length. We will also learn about different types of lenses and how they can affect your images spatial relationships. Camera angle and composition are also covered in this module. The second part of the module will focus on different color schemes and the message they convey to the viewer. Black and white color conversions conclude this module.
- Scale and the Subject
- Understanding Sensor Size & Focal Length
- Telephoto & Wide Angle Lenses
- Compressing & Expanding Spatial Relationships
- Camera Angle and Composition
The Art of Photographing Nature Module 3
Elements of Design and Lighting
Module 3 covers the elements of design and the different types of lighting found in nature. The elements of design lessons consist of horizon placement, lines and shapes, patterns and textures. You will also learn how to create composite panoramas using a series of photographs. The chapter on lighting in the textbook covers quality and quantity of light, as well as color, and discusses different types of lighting including low-contrast and high-contrast. We will conclude Module 3 by learning about the photographic rules of 18 percent grey and exposing to the right.
- Horizon Placement
- Lines & Shapes
- Patterns & Texture
- Creating Composite Panoramas
- Quality and Quantity of Light
The Art of Photographing Nature Module 4
Creative Options & In The Field
Module 4 discusses creative options available in camera to the nature photographer and best practices for approaching animals in the field. Creative options covered include shutter speed and depth as well as using filters and controlled lighting (flash and fill flash). We will conclude the module and the course by learning how to get closer to a variety of animals without disturbing them in their habitat or endangering ourselves.
- Shutter Speed
- Depth of Field
- Using Filters in Your Shooting
- Controlled Lighting (Flash & Fill-Flash)
- Getting Close to Animals in the Field
