Photography

Abstract Photography is for students who want to explore the use of light and composition as their main subjects, and produce images that are void of representational qualities and 3-dimensional objects. It will present historical and contemporary abstract work to describe this elusive method of image capture and students will explore existing and new methodologies for creating abstract photography.Prerequisite: Digital Intermediate Photography

This course is designed to familiarize students with the capabilities of Adobe Photoshop. Students learn methods of enhancing and working with high-resolution images for various media outputs, and are given the confidence to tackle complex photo-illustrations.Prerequisites: Mac or PC experience.Note: This course is taught on a Mac.

Using the newest Adobe technology, students will learn advanced methods of photo-illustration and composing multi-layered images. Emphasis in this course is placed equally on technical and aesthetic imaging considerations, and production techniques for photo-composites.Prerequisites: Adobe Photoshop Level 1 or equivalent.Note: This course is taught on a Mac.

Photoshop is an essential tool for providing visual solutions to our most demanding projects. Photoshop contains many advanced features that allow you to produce creative composites and explore your creativity further. This compelling course is aimed at those who want to hone their Photoshop techniques and delve deep into Photoshops powerful functionality.Prerequisites: Adobe Photoshop Level 2.Note: This course is taught on a Mac.

The prerequisite courses Basic Darkroom and Practical Darkroom lay the foundations of best practices and techniques to produce high quality photographic silver gelatin prints. Advanced Black and White concentrates on taking those same materials far beyond their design boundaries and perhaps far beyond photography. In a highly experimental environment, you will take charge of your materials, and in combination with your personal aesthetic, and with just a little luck, you will transform your ingredients from basic materials to art medium. Your results may no longer be recognizable as photography, but they will be instantly recognizable as art. The exact path you will take is not pre-determined the combinations of techniques and ideas are truly endless. Well explore physical and chemical photographic phenomena together in a directed, but truly experimental manner, so your final destination is unknown but wherever you go, there you are.Prerequisites: Practical Darkroom (or equivalent).Note: This course is film-based, and not designed for digital photographers.

Advanced Digital Workflow focuses on the tools and processes needed to approach any photo assignment in a systematic and creative way from inception to final delivery. Expanding on the skills learned in Basic Digital Workflow, this course adds steps such as determining project scope and defining style to the workflow, as well as examining colour and tone in more detail to enable the photographer to combine capture and post production decisions to replicate a given look. This course is a must for photographers who want full creative control over their workflow. Prerequisites: Basic Digital Workflow, Practical Lighting, Photoshop:1, Photography Assistant:1 Students must be proficient in a Lightroom environment, or own a laptop if using an alternative program.

Expand upon the experience gained in Practical Lighting with lectures, demonstrations, student shooting sessions, and an intensive, in-depth look at photographic lighting. Experiment with unconventional techniques and the manipulation of sunlight in relation to a variety of subjects including people, still life, editorial, automobiles, and architecture.Prerequisites: Photography Assistant Level 1 or equivalent.

Basic Darkroom is your foundation course for all of the darkroom arts and sciences. Working under amber safelights, you will experience the magic of black and white photographs emerging from the darkness before your eyes. The main goal of this course is to get you entirely safe and self-sufficient in the black and white darkroom from shooting film to efficient work habits to mixing chemistry to processing film to handling enlargers to printing, toning and finishing your photographs its all here. With diligence, you will finish this course with better-than-lab quality mounted black and white prints and the confidence to continue working in the darkroom on your own. An added benefit: by week 4 you should be self-sufficient enough to use the darkrooms during Open Studio on Sunday afternoons. You must have a film camera (35mm or 120 medium format) and a light-meter (in-camera is best!) for this course please bring them to our first session.

This entry-level course covers the basics of photography as they apply to Digital SLR cameras. Covering traditional aspects such as exposure, depth-of-field, and composition, the course also delves into basic digital controls such as white balance, histograms, and elemental workflow. A DSLR is a must for each session/class of this course.Students are required to supply their own tripod by week 3Prerequisites: Basic computer skills.

This course teaches you how to go from A to Z with your digital photos. It will help you take your photos through the necessary process to do what you want with them, as well as show you how to obtain maximum quality in every photo, through exposure to archiving, and from digital-specific techniques to digital-specific problems. Taught on a Mac.Prerequisites: Basic computer skills.

This introductory course focuses on developing the necessary communication andtechnical skills to obtain the most out of models and people they are photographing.Students will gain practical experience through thematic studio and location sessions ranging from character to drama, movement, beauty, and sports as they further investigate their DSLR or SLR camera functions. Also explored are strategies in effective auditioning and hiring of talent. Prerequisites: Basic Photography (film or digital).

Business Management focuses on the logistics of running a photographic business. Various methods for pricing your photography service and how to produce well-presented estimates are covered. This course also explores legal and ethical considerations such as copyright laws, photography contracts, and legalities around what you can or cannot shoot. General business issues such as taxes, licenses & permits will also be discussed. Prerequisite: Business Practices or taken concurrently with Business Practices.

This course is designed to help students explore all aspects and avenues for marketing their skills as photographers and illustrators. The topics covered in the course are relevant to all specialties in photography and illustration, from commercial and editorial to portraiture, wedding, photojournalism, and freelance illustration. You will gain in-depth knowledge of the traditional methods of marketing, including portfolio development and formats, advertising, public relations, networking, personal selling, photographic agents, websites, and social networking. For those looking to identify their place in the dynamic world of photography and illustration, this course will help you research potential markets and find your niche. Prerequisites: Advanced Studio Lighting or equivalent.

This course immerses students in the world of advertising photography. Learn how to interpret and produce layouts as well as the working partnership between photographers and art directors. Student work will then be output in the actual ad for viewing.Prerequisites:Advanced Studio Lighting.

This course is not offered at this time. Please email jbalderston@langara.ca for details.

Learn to make rather than take photographs by exploring the fundamentals of composition, design, and conceptualization. Focus on contemporary and historical issues of photography and its vocabulary (balance, movement, contrast, juxtaposition, etc.). Also study the impact of these visual aspects on commercial and fine art buyers. Practical applications and practices are demonstrated throughout the course.Prerequisites: Practical Lighting or equivalent.

This course introduces students to the enormous video-capture potential of the latest DSLR cameras. It covers camera functions, as well as lighting and continuity. Students must have their own camera capable of HD video capture.Prerequisites: Basic Digital Photography.Note: This class is held at 601 West Broadway, unit L4.

This course is designed for students who are beyond the basics of photography and covers aspects such as shooting RAW versus JPEG, custom white-balance control, a review of depth of field and composition, as well as lighting theory and practice for still-life and people. Students require their own digital SLR, and a flash is also recommended.Prerequisites: Basic Digital Photography or equivalent, and Basic Digital Workflow. Prerequisite for online Digital Intermediate Photography is Basic Digital Photography only.

This course is designed to offer students a thorough survey and practice of digital fine art printing. Many contemporary fine art photographers are now choosing digital processing to produce their limited edition prints, and galleries have become much more accepting of digital media as worthy of fine art photography collections. The course covers everything from ICC profiling to piezography, which is the finest method of producing a black and white print, and students will be able to produce numerous archival quality prints throughout the twelve session course.Prerequisites: Advanced Studio Lighting and Adobe Photoshop Level 1.Note: Students must have own laptop computer with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop software.

Current photographic production utilizes digital technology more than ever. Many shoots involve having camera directly connected to a computer. Today, management of the captured files is also very important. The Digital Technician course complements skills learned in Assistant 1 & 2. Students will participate in classroom and hands-on sessions, learning tethered setups using Capture One, as well as other photo management software. Equipment and data management, integral to any successful shoot, are covered in detail. Required: Laptop computer. Prerequisite: Photography Assistant Level 1

This course will provide you with an understanding of what Fine Art Photography is as well as expand your awareness of different approaches to art interpretation. You will start by learning through the works of the classic masters in painting and transition into the masters of photography, to reach a comprehensive understanding of artistic expression. Students will learn to create images with vision and intention through lectures, slide shows, shooting sessions and critiques. Please note: 3 of the 12 classes will be shooting sessions held on Saturdays at 10am.

Explore the problems and solutions specific to shooting food and beverages. Students will produce their own work with the help of a professional food stylist.Prerequisites: Practical Lighting or equivalent.

In this workshop, students will have the opportunity to refine their conceptual and technical skills while working on independent photographic projects. This workshop is for Photography Alumni and current students who want to pursue self-directed photographic projects in a state of the art studio and darkroom environment while continuing to develop their professional and artistic practice. A Studio Assistant will be available at all times to provide technical support and access to the facilities.

Challenge yourself to look at the landscape from a new perspective. Through a series of lectures, in-depth critiques, and location shooting sessions, students will gain an understanding of various approaches to photographing the landscape from the natural to the urban and from the conventional to the unconventional. Prerequisites: Intermediate Photography (film or digital) or equivalent.

In this course the students will learn what distinguishes long exposure photography as an art form: the essence and importance of time and how to mindfully compose an image utilizing the strengths and abilities of long exposure, from dramatic to subtle.Prerequisite: Digital Intermediate Photography Please note: 4 of the 12 classes will be shooting sessions held on Saturdays at 2pm.

This course is a survey of the history of photography from its origins to its present state. Students explore the historical context in which the medium was invented and evolved. Photography is not a single process but rather a new way of seeing and thinking. This course looks at photographers and their styles and artistic movements in photography. Students need to be familiar with Kaltura, Brightspace, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office and have access to a computer with video capabilities.

This course explores the world of fine art figure study photography. Students learn stylistic approaches from both historic and contemporary perspectives, along with various lighting techniques and considerations, for full-length and detail figure photography. Both digital and film photography can be applied to this challenging and rewarding area of practice.Prerequisites: Advanced Studio Lighting.

The role of an assistant to a commercial photographer is one of the best routes into a career as a professional photographer. From business basics and set etiquette, to hands on studio set-up, this course will introduce you to the role an assisstant plays within a team to produce a successful shoot. Special guest speakers, photographers who work with assistants and top local assistants, will offer invaluable advice on current trends in commercial shoots/gear/software, and the best assets for being a great assisstant. This practical course is recommended for students seeking to work as a photography assistant and for photographers who plan to hire assistants and work with them on their own shoots.Prerequisite: Practical Lighting

Photography Assistant 2 introduces students to the skills required to work as a First Assistant on large-scale commercial photography shoots. Building on the knowledge acquired in Photography Assistant 1, students in Level 2 will gain the experience of participating in advanced hands-on technical sessions in the studio. Guest speakers comprising of veteran photography assistants, and photographers will share their expertise and tips on creating a successful career and business as a Photography Assistant.

A photographers portfolio has always been their most important marketing tool. It is important for you to have a portfolio that not only impresses the viewer with your vision, but also your mastery of technique. In this course you will have the opportunity to create a portfolio that shows the unique aspects of your work from concept to completion. Group critiques and discussions will be important elements.Prerequisites: Advanced Studio Lighting

Learn the fundamental theories and techniques of lighting. This course covers equipment selection and lighting techniques with an emphasis on practical shooting sessions in and out of the studio, some using models. Learn to harness the potential of lighting, using it to suit the needs of your subject.Prerequisites: Intermediate Photography or equivalent.

This course is the long-awaited expansion of photographer/instructor Christopher Morris acclaimed speedlight workshop. To heck with expensive battery-powered strobe rentals; see what you can do with just a couple of good quality flash units and a little imagination. Lighting master Morris will take students through the theory and practice of small flash lighting and introduce them to the incredible potential of modern units when combined with numerous methods of triggering them.Prerequisites: Practical Lighting

This course will introduce you to the exciting world of sports photography. Topics include equipment choices, the ethics of sports photography, dealing with venues, and numerous photographic techniques. Students shoot with actual athletes in a variety of sports including fencing, gymnastics, and hockey. You will also learn how to shoot sports effectively using both available and controlled lighting.Prerequisites: Practical LightingPleasenotesomeshootstakeplaceoutsideofregularclassroomhours.

This no-fee course provides students access to the facilities outside class times. To register, students must have successfully completed the Practical Lighting power pack test (for studio access), OR Basic Darkroom. Current students in the latter will also be offered access to the darkroom.

In this courses creative environment, students fully develop a cohesive body of photographic art. Students participate in slide lectures, discussions, and field trips that examine contemporary photographers, trends, and theories in photography. Students are guided through the production of an independent, personal photographic project. Prerequisites: Advanced Studio Lighting.

This course is not offered at this time. Please email jbalderston@langara.ca for details.

Explore portraiture within the realms of several photographic applications: classic (traditional), commercial (editorial & advertising) and fine art (interpretive & abstract). The course covers lighting, posing, style and concept of the photographic portrait.Prerequisites:Advanced Studio Lighting