Photography

Full-time (Day): 2 terms
Part-time (Night): 4 terms

Prepare for your future as a professional photographer with the Professional Photography Certificate. This intensive program provides comprehensive instruction in digital camera, composition, workflow and image archiving, Photoshop, color management, studio and location lighting, and file preparation for printing and the Web. Learning from world-class photographers and digital technicians, you’ll gain an invaluable network and unique insight into the field as you’re immersed in commercial, advertising, portrait, event and wedding photography.

Cutting-edge digital darkroom training teaches you the skills necessary to efficiently color correct, retouch, manage and print your photographs at the highest professional level. Special training in web, database management, business practices and creative process workshops rounds out your education. You’ll learn the skills you need to develop a professional portfolio and tackle the everyday aspects of running a professional photography business.

To make your learning relevant and professional, you’ll use the same equipment the professionals use: Power Mac G5 computers with color corrected displays, Adobe Photoshop CS3, Adobe Lightroom, Final Cut Pro, Capture One and other professional software applications, scanners, Epson inkjet printers, and ProPhoto lighting equipment. Along with your own digital SLR, you will have access to leading-edge Canon and Nikon digital camera lenses, extensive grip and studio-support accessories, and the latest in studio and location lighting.

PHT101 Camera and
Workflow I

In order to develop the skills of a professional photographer, you must develop a solid technical foundation. This module will explore the options available with today’s digital cameras and help you develop strategies for their use. Exposure control, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, depth of field, creative use of lenses and accessories will be explored and tested to discover their impact on image making. At the same time you will begin a digital workflow using Adobe Lightroom by downloading images from the camera, embedding metadata, editing and building a file structure to easily access the images.

PHT102 Camera and
Workflow II

This module continues with camera skills development and gets deeper into using Adobe Lightroom for editing images and output. You will explore and develop the vocabulary to discuss digital capture: CCD vs. CMOS sensors, bayer patterns, pixels, color space, bit depth, resolution and file formats. You will continue working with Camera RAW files, using Lightroom to crop, straighten, adjust exposure and tonality, correct color and resolve issues such as chromatic aberration, luminance and color noise. Discover how Lightroom can be an effective output tool for slideshows, web galleries, and printing.

PHT103 Digital Darkroom: Photoshop I

In this introductory module you will learn about the key features and capabilities of Adobe Photoshop. Using the latest version of Photoshop you will learn about proper setup, “roundtripping” to and from Lightroom, the overall interface, general editing tools and Epson printing. Through hands-on exercises using tutorial videos you will develop a firm foundation in the fundamentals of this powerful image-editing tool.

PHT104 Photographic
Seeing

Explore what happens visually when you steal a moment in time from a three dimensional world and compress it onto a two dimensional plane. What visual properties are unique to photography? The objective is to stop seeing just subject matter (content) and begin to see the formal elements that make up a photograph (form), and with this begin producing photographs about things and not just photographs of things.

PHT105 Introduction to Lighting

When people speak of hard light and soft light, what do they mean? What does it look like? What difference does it make? Light is the language of photography and, unlike digital technology, it has not changed. With the use of a constant light source, you will explore the properties of light, how light delineates shape, reflections, lighting ratios, how to modify both light inside and the sunlight outside and color temperature.

PHT106 Introduction to Studio

This module provides an introduction to photography in the studio with an emphasis on commercial practice and methodologies. Studio photography differs from most other forms in that it is often up to the photographer to design and create everything including content, props, style, lighting and background for the final photograph. The starting point is an empty studio or blank canvas where the photographer must pre-visualize and control all aspects of the shoot. You will work in the studio using high-powered strobe lighting and various objects – glass, metal, plastic, non-reflective – to explore advanced techniques in controlling light and their effect on revealing structure and surface.

PHT201 Photoshop II

This intermediate module explores more in-depth use of masks on adjustment layers and introduces masking on multiple pixel-based layers with an image. Emphasis will be on refining selections and creating more accurate masks through the use of channels. Other advanced retouching tools and techniques will be introduced and put to use in creating prints from Epson printers.

PHT202 Studio Portraiture

From advanced lighting styles to poses, color harmony, logistics and client expectations, this module prepares you for assignments you may be hired for after graduation. In-depth practice of photograph retouching is practiced and refined. A typical day will begin with lectures and demonstrations followed by instructor-led assignments to explore this genre and encourage your professional and artistic growth. Emphasis will be on classical lighting styles and establishing a solid foundation in portrait lighting.

PHT203 Location Portraiture

Building on the Portraiture styling, you will apply your camera and lighting skills to portraits on location. In combination with classroom and field exercises, you will learn the art of using portable lighting in conjunction with available light to shape, alter and augment it to suit your creative needs. Emphasis will be on a broad range of capture and postproduction techniques for creating imaginative solutions for taking photographs on location. You will learn to use reflectors, diffusers and portable flash units in various lighting conditions from bright to low light.

PHT204 Wedding and Event Photography I & II

These modules reinforce the technical aspect necessary to photograph a wedding or retail event using traditional and non-traditional photographic styles. You will learn to properly prepare and shoot using natural, portable flash and mixed lighting. Emphasis will be on a range of topics including camera and lens selection, flash, individual and group posing, print fulfillment, customer service and marketing.

PHT301 Photoshop III

In this advanced module, you will be using the latest tools and functionality within Photoshop to understand more advanced selections and new techniques for the fine control of image enhancement, photo-compositing and more. You will review methods of selecting, extracting and combining images in building powerful photographic imagery within a digital workflow. Topics that will be covered include extract filter, pen tool, smart objects, smart filters, liquify, photomerge and more.

PHT302 Integrating Photoshop into the Creative Studio

Not long ago, photographers would spend hours in the studio setting lights for tabletop product shots. Snoots, grids, flags, cards and gobos were carefully set for that one instant of exposure. Today, however, once the products and camera have been set, multiple exposures can be taken using just the quality and intensity of light necessary for each portion of the shot. These multiple exposures are then masked together in Photoshop, creating a perfectly expressed image. In today’s competitive market, the successful professional photographer is one who can light for 20 minutes and Photoshop for another 20 minutes rather than spend hours attempting to make it all happen in one click of the shutter.

PHT303 Photo Illustration

Combining your extensive knowledge of camera, lighting and Photoshop tools learned in previous classes, you will take your creative side to the next level exploring ways to create imagery as opposed to just capturing it. Subject matter is no longer limited to product. You will work to create images that express an idea or concept for use in an advertisement.

PHT304 Stock Photography

This module deals with all aspects of stock from business preparation to shooting. You will discuss the difference between royalty-free and rights-managed, the importance of releasing and what makes an image stock worthy. You will then prepare and deliver images that will be put through a sample “edit” to see how their vision may or may not align with that of an art director. Finally, a discussion of how to incorporate shooting for stock into your normal workflow.

PHT305 Working with Models

This module demonstrates proper steps in planning and building a production set involving a live model shoot. Topics covered include concept, casting, crew, pre-production, prelight, directing, shoot, edit, postproduction and delivery. Students learn various lighting formulas for basic setups and are encouraged to impose their own modifications on these formulas. The module employs disciplines from seeing and using available environment to choosing equipment, lighting, lenses and advanced post-production composition techniques to produce high-quality images in an existing location.

PHT401 Interior Architecture

This module will refine and focus skills and visual aesthetics that students have acquired from previous modules in the context of a structured architectural environment. Working on location with the instructor, you will learn to create expressive lighting scenarios to meet your future clients’ needs through the use of advanced light modification. Digitally captured images will be further refined through the use of specialized Photoshop techniques.

PHT402 Event Photography

This module will focus on sources for researching and finding new clients, as well as ways to target market social events. You will learn proper techniques on using portable flash units, light modifiers, specific lens/camera combinations and shooting techniques to work both effectively and efficiently. Topics of discussion will include image output options for clients such as online print fulfillment and the creation of custom web galleries. You will also research and shoot your own event assignments during the module. This will allow for real world use of the knowledge and tools you gain during the course.

PHT403 Story Building

A photograph can decorate a wall or it can have the power to shake the world. It is a picture’s ability to tell a story that makes photography a potent force in our lives. The picture that moves us to emotion or to simply buy a product is the one that most effectively conveys a story. Using our understanding of how the camera sees, students explore the question of what the camera sees, ie., the story in the picture. We learn the elements of storytelling: idea generation, shooting, editing, documentation and presentation. Daily shooting exercises and critiques will challenge your mind and stimulate creative thinking.

PHT404 Multimedia Production

Multimedia is the new medium that we as photographers can start utilizing to create beautiful promotional pieces, slideshows, documentary style stories, and even wedding movies. This module will take you to the next level of creativity, introducing you to the tools that give you the ability to combine images and audio into an amazing piece of work and keep you on the cutting edge of image presentation.

PHT405 Multimedia Project

After learning all the tools available to combine images and audio, you will now take these into practice and create your own multimedia piece. More emphasis will be put on image sequencing, the importance of audio, and how image transitions can make or break a style of movie.

PHT601 Refining Portfolio

This module will provide you with the ability to have a stronger understanding of your photographic abilities and talents in regard to the business direction you wish to embark on after CDIA. You will work towards creating an appropriate portfolio for that business. Through in class critiques and reviews, you will see the strengths and most marketable skills for your imagery, as well as what needs to be strengthened and added to your body of work. You will examine different methods and modes of portfolios and which format works best for certain industries. This understanding of your audience will also be put into practice with the creation of your Artist Statement and Business Statement, which will also be used to learn how to perform a live presentation.

PHT602 Business Fundamentals

This module focuses on the business aspects of photography. You will concentrate on marketing strategies, contracts and copyright management, pricing and estimating, website promotions, negotiating fees, studio management and best practice guidelines for running your business. These presentations help place your new skills in context and provide perspective on how you might apply your skills after the program.

PHT603 Website Marketing

In this module you will focus on using the Web and collateral pieces such as business cards and mailings to market your photography services. Upon completion of this module, you will be able to properly develop and update a photography website to present a portfolio online.

PHT999 Production Practicum

This four-week module is designed to provide students with practical experience by working on a real-world project under the direction of a faculty member. Working for a client under a fixed timeframe and well-defined deliverables, students will work in teams and develop an awareness of how to function in a professional environment. Those with a desire to refine their new skills in a real production environment are encouraged to participate in this unique, valuable module.