ONLINE COURSE PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY
- Learn about how images can be captured
- Understand the endless variety of affects that can be created through photography, whether film or digital.
- Deepen your understanding of photography and photographic equipment
Lesson Structure
There are 10 lessons in this course:
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Introduction to Photography and Human Subjects
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Equipment and Materials for Photographing People
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Basic Techniques
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Portraiture
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Wedding Photography
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Candid Photography
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Nude Photography
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Sports, Street & Action Photography
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Fashion Photography
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Folio Project
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
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Identify resources that could improve your ability to photograph people, examining the principles of photography and also exploring the issues related to digital photography.
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Discuss the preparation for a photo shoot by exploring the different equipment and materials needed for a successful shoot. Also examine lighting a subject within a studio setting and explores digital photography issues
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Discuss techniques used for taking photos of people
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Improve your ability to shoot better portraiture photographs.
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Explain the issues and applications concerned with wedding photography.
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Take better candid photos of people.
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Describe how to take appropriate nude photos for different situations.
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Describe how to take action photos of people.
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Describe how to take better glamour and fashion photos.
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Compile a folio of people photography.
IMAGE FORMATS -TYPES OF FILES
When you download a photographic image onto a computer, the file type saved generally defaults to the image format used by the camera manufacturer. The most common formats for cameras to save images onto their memory cards are JPEG, TIFF and RAW. Image formats, as has been previously stated, are based on ‘bitmaps’ – literally a map of how the pixels and their associated code are organised. Consequently, photo-editing packages are usually capable of changing one format into another if required.
Your choice of file format can be critical in many ways. For example:
- Some choices will use a lot more space on the computer than others
- Some choices will retain the image quality better than others
- Some choices are compatible with only certain types of computer systems
The commonly used file formats are:
"GIF" files
GIF is an abbreviation for "Graphics Image Format".
This is a file format originally developed by CompuServe, and it is now used widely on the internet.
GIF is a lower quality format and uses less space than a JPEG file, hence it down loads faster on an internet site, but does not look as good as a JPEG image , being limited to 8 bit colour (only 256 colours). GIF if pronounced “jiff” by PC users and “giff” by Mac users.
"JPEG” or .JPG or .JPE and, rarely, .JFF files
This is an abbreviation for Joint Photographics Experts Group, the body which developed this standard.
JPEGs are the most common digital camera format. The JPEG format is not strictly a bitmap but can be converted to one. JPEG images ‘compress’ the image file size by losing what the JPEG encoding process sees as useless or unnecessary information. This process is also known as ‘lossy’ compression. JPEGs compress the image data by turning it from RGB to YUV – the same system used for video imaging, where colour (chroma) and luminance (tonal information) are stored separately.
There are a number of different versions of JPEG files, and, very occasionally, you will find that software cannot read a version even if it is supposed to be JPEG compliant.
Many cameras allow variable compression to occur – the greater the compression the more original data is lost, but, obviously, the smaller the file. A 25X20 (10 x 8 inch) print made from a high quality JPEG taken by a 4 megapixel camera should be almost indistinguishable to the naked eye to that made from a TIFF file eight times as big. Be warned however – if you re-work a JPEG image using filters etc. on an editing program, saving it again as a JPEG can cause quality problems through double compression. JPEG is a recognised ISO/ITU (International Standards Organisation/International Telecommunications Union) format and currently the most widely used image file type on any platform.
PICT or .PCT files
This format, now rarely used with Apple Mac computer graphics, equates to Windows Metafiles. It is, therefore, primarily an object based vector graphics drawing file but it can be made to incorporate photographic information.
"TIFF" or .TIF files
TIFF is an acronym for "Tagged Image File Format"
This is a type of file which is relatively common on both Mac and IBM type computer systems. It is particularly useful in situations where files are going to be transferred from one type of system to the other. TIFFs are generally uncompressed and so give the widest scope for manipulation of the original data without compression errors or artefacts.
TIFF files are also widely used in the printing industry, for high quality graphics.
"EPSF" or .EPS file
This is an abbreviation for Encapsulated PostScript File.
This is used with post script printing devices on computers where PostScript is in use as a co-ordinating system for fonts, graphics and images.
"PCX" or.PCX files
This is an acronym for "Personal Computer X"
This is a standard format for bit map files for the program PC Paintbrush. It is also used with a number of other types of software on older IBM type personal computers.
"BMP", .BMP or Bitmap – occasionally .DIB ( Device Independent Bitmap)
This is a very widely used type of bitmap file used within Windows on personal computers. Some video cameras, allowing still-frame recording, will use .BMP as their download format.
Windows Metafiles or .WMF files
A hold-all format, similar to the Apple PICT format, capable of containing text, graphics and images.
“RAW” or .RAW files
In its most basic form, RAW is just that: raw image data without any specific format encoding. RAW has the same advantages as TIFF but uses much less data space as it does not include the full format encoding directions. Kodak is now pushing this format as the way of the future by introducing ERI – Extended Range Imaging – into its RAW files. Kodak’s system stores not only the original data, as you exposed it, but simultaneously stores exposures 1 and 2 stops over and under the ‘correct’ exposure to allow optimum image control later. It also allows for a quickly encoded JPEG for rush proofing or field preview. Downloading RAW usually requires a TWAIN driver to allow for files to be encoded to, say, a TIFF once you are happy with the image. Photoshop opens RAWs directly.
No matter what type of storage they use, all digital cameras need lots of room for pictures.. Most cameras use the JPEG file format for storing pictures, and they sometimes offer quality settings (such as medium or high).
What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?
This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.
More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “About Us” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Learning” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “About Us” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk
Recognition and Accreditation
For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.
Who is ACS Distance Education?
If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”
