Course Description

Learn to fully exploit the rapidly changing light of twilight and to understand the principles of capture and composition, to take stunning landscape photographs.

In daytime photography (i.e. in broad daylight) as a general rule, the light remains generally similar outside of pre-dawn and twilight. Plus, the image that your smartphone produces in those broad daylight conditions will probably be just as satisfying as the one produced on your DSLR or mirrorless. When the light levels fade landscape pictures become more interesting. At the same time these conditions make it impossible for smartphones to capture anything worthwhile. There are physical limits to what sensors and lenses in telephones can do.

If you are looking to progress from smartphonography, then you need to master the way a camera deals with low light. Your landscape photography will only evolve to its full potential if you master your equipment in these conditions. Learn how to adjust your camera’s primary settings by manipulating the exposure triangle and use the compositional principles that will all fine-tune your pictures.

You will also learn how to control your camera with filters so that the images you produce in daylight are elevated to a level of artiness that smartphones cannot muster.

We will be travelling to the beautiful coastline of West Sussex to acquire the images that we will work on together in the IT suite at West Dean.

With demonstration, presentation and practise, this course will change the way you view the landscape.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Course Materials

What students need to bring

• A DSLR/mirrorless or similar camera with manual control over its primary settings, with clear memory cards and lenses, a tripod, a remote shutter-release, an ND 10-stopper and a polariser – these are all essential
• Have plenty of space available on your memory cards and bring spare batteries and a charger and the camera to computer leads. Your camera instruction manual (if available). Ensure all equipment is clean and ready to use
• A notebook and pen
• A note of your Adobe ID login, if you have one
• A USB memory stick/portable hard drive via which images can be transferred to your own computer at the end of the course or for saving work in progress
• Ensure you pack sensible, appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear (walking boots/wellingtons) for the time of year and be prepared for some reasonable walking.

Please note: You will be allocated a PC workstation for the studio based sessions. At least a basic understanding of Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom is desirable.