Duration

• The course involves 5 sessions over 5 weeks – including two theoretical lessons and three practical excursions. (1 session per week)
• Theoretical lessons are both in-house with each approximately 2 to 2 ½ hours long.
• Practical excursions approximately 2 to 3 hours each – different venues and different scenarios / photography types / genres.

Prerequisites

• A basic understanding of your equipment. NB: Please go through your owner’s manual BEFORE the course will commence. (We will not have time to figure out how your own / personal equipment works / functions during lesson times, as basic photography principles and aspects will be covered during lessons.)
• Own transport to and from practical excursions – (travel arrangements may be organized by the Dive Centre if and where applicable).
• All extra expenses e.g. snacks & drinks / entrance fees during excursions to your own cost.
• Full payment required before commencement of the course.

Aim Of The Course

• To get comfortable with your equipment.
• To get a basic understanding of photographic principles – both theoretical and practical
• To understand the basic terms and terminology used in photography.
• To become more passionate about your hobbies – and to combine them better: Diving & Photography – a winner combination.
• To be able to apply photographic principles on multiple disciplines / genres of photography.
• The photography course is designed with both beginners and intermediate enthusiasts in mind, and for the person who want to take their level of understanding photography a notch up!
• To get a “hands-on” opportunity to experience photography in the field and under the guidance of experts.

Equipment Requirements

• Your own camera system (including either DSLR-body AND Lenses and/or Point-n-Shoot camera)
• Your own underwater camera housing. (where applicable)
• Your own extra’s e.g. Tripod, Filters, Flash, cable release etc. (where applicable, but this is optional and not mandatory or compulsory)
• If you are planning to purchase any equipment before the course, rather be advised to contact us first to obtain more information.

About The Course

The course consists of five sessions with corresponding assignments. Two lessons are theory based and in-house, and three lessons are practical sessions in the field.

During lessons you will be tutored in the basic aspects of photography by a photographer who have extensive knowledge and experience on the topics covered.

The course should normally be completed over a period of five weeks (including the 2 theory lessons in the first 2 weeks, and 3 weekends – either on a Saturday or Sunday – for the practical excursions)

Assignments are all electronic and may be submitted via email prior to the next lesson. If time permits, feedback and group discussions on the assignments may be included in the sessions.

Course Outline

MODULE 1 (More Informative)

• Different Cameras & their Different Lenses – An Introduction to a Matter of Great Confusion – and the Significant Difference – But it all comes down to LIGHT! : No–Light–No–Photography…
  • DSLR – Digital Single Lens Reflex (Lens-Mirror-Reflect-into-Viewfinder)
  • Point-n-Shoot
  • Hybrid / Bridge
  • Mirrorless
• Lenses: Focal Length – Even More Confusion..?
  • Fixed Focal Zoom Lenses : Wide Angle, Macro, “Normal” and Zoom
• Different Shutters & Different Sensors – Does it matter?
• The “Megapixel-debate” – Is Bigger Better? (Latest trends?)
• RAW or cooked to JPEG?
• Photo G.A.S – .. Wait! … What…? (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)

MODULE 2 (More Technical)

• From “A” to “M”, ASAP – Auto to Manual
• All About Light : SHUTTERS, APERTURE, ISO & THEIR RELATIONSHIPS – The Exposure Triangle
  • Shutter Speed: –30 to 8000 in a blink of an eye!
  • Aperture: Open wide, please!
  • ISO (International Standard Organization): Not for the sensitive!
• White Balance
• Composition : Rule Of Thirds / Angles & Perspective
• To Edit or Not to Edit …? That is the question! / Are you a Purist?

MODULE 3, 4 & 5 (More Practical – Excursions: Venues to be announced)

• Beach Scenario (Macro & Landscape)
• Mountain Scenario – (Landscape & Panorama)
• Forest / Water Scenario (Macro & Low Light)

Costs

Complete Course: R3499.00 per person.

Includes: All Notes & Lesson Material

Excludes: Photographic Equipment

Transport

Entrance Fees (where applicable)

* Specialty and Advance courses available on request (Low light, Filter, Astro, Industrial, Architecture, etc.).

** Specialty course on post editing (Lightroom, Photoshop & Luminar software) available on request.