Photography

What will the course Cover?

This course introduces the fundamentals of digital photography. Through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical exercises, you will gain confidence in using your digital cameras, understanding essential photography concepts and applying techniques to create compelling images. By the end of the course, participants will have the skills to take well-composed and properly exposed photographs in a variety of settings.

Who is this course for?

This course is for those who want to begin developing their technical and visual photographic skills using a digital camera.

What skills, knowledge or experience do I need to start this course?

No prior skills are required.

What should I be able to do by the end of the course?

• Operate a digital camera confidently, understanding key settings and functions. • Apply the principles of exposure to achieve well-balanced photographs. • Use composition techniques to create visually compelling images. • Adapt to different lighting conditions to enhance photo quality. • Perform basic photo editing to improve and finalise images. • Share work with confidence and articulate creative process.

How is the course organised?

The course combines talks, demonstrations, group and individual practical exercises, discussions with some one-to-one tutoring. You will receive constructive feedback on your photographs and be encouraged to contribute to discussions on each other’s work. To maximise your learning, it is recommended that you practice between sessions.

What extra study or practice is expected outside of the class?

Assignments will be set at the end of every session excluding the final one. These will be practical and could also be researched based.

How will my progress be assessed?

• Tutor feedback. • Group discussions and evaluations. • Progress reported on Individual Learning Plan.

What can I expect to go on to after this course?

After completing this course, you will have a strong foundation in digital photography, enabling you to take well-exposed and creatively composed images with confidence. You may choose to further develop your skills through intermediate or advanced photography courses, explore specialised areas such as portrait or landscape photography, or experiment with editing software to enhance your images.

Are there any other costs and what do I need to bring?

Please bring a functioning digital camera with manual controls for aperture and shutter speed. If you do not yet own a camera, a digital SLR will be provided for use during class sessions. However, we are unable to lend cameras for use outside of lesson hours.

What support is available?

Help with literacy or numeracy is available through the basic education programme and the ESOL programme offers help for speakers of other languages. Additional support can be provided for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Details of all available support can be found on our website (hfals.co.uk), in the Guide, the Student Handbook, or from teaching and reception staff.

Tutor - Jad Oakes

Jad is a multi-disciplined artist whose work draws inspiration from memory and time. Lens based media has formed the foundations of his practice, utilising over 20 years of experience working within the eclectic range of disciplines that make up the photographic industry. Over this time Jad has had the opportunity to work on both film and digital, 35mm to large format. As a commercial photographer he has been commissioned to produce work for advertising campaigns, corporate institutions and the creative arts industry both on location and in the studio. His experience is not only limited to the role of the photographer, having had the opportunity to work in diverse roles of photographic production. From assisting photographers to creative post production, budgeting, contracts and working in a photographic lab. His ongoing artistic practice, presented as ongoing projects or completed series, uses both found photographic imagery, staged studio photography and moving image.