Course Outline

Module 1
Cameras & Lenses
Get to know the author, George Seper, before he introduces you to the world of
professional photography as it exists today. This module is an extensive look at the
equipment you will use, covering cameras, how they function and when to take
advantage of the broad range of lenses available to you.
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Introduction to the Course

About The Author
The Still Image
The Digital Camera
Camera Overview
Amateur Cameras
Phone cameras
Point and shoot
Micro four third
Bridge and Super Zoom Cameras
Enthusiast VS Pro Cameras
Mirror-less or CSC Cameras
The DSLR
Recent Camera Developments
Which Camera Should I Buy?
Camera Features
Service and accessories
End usage

Parts of a camera
Camera Body
Digital Sensor
Lens
Shutter
Memory card
Important Features of the Modern Camera
Megapixels
Sensor size
Frames Per Second (Fps)
ISO
Light meter

MASP

Recommendations regarding cameras

Some general observations on cameras
The Pro Camera
The Small Format Camera
The DSLR Camera
The Rangefinder Camera
A Friendly Caution
The Medium Format Camera
The Large Format Camera
Small & Medium Format DSLR Features
Interchangeable Lenses
Adjustable ISO
Depth of Field Preview
Integrated Light Meters
Mirror Locking

Self-Timer
Lenses
Uncovering the Lens
Lens Overview
The Science of lenses
Focus
Focal Length
Aperture
Angle of View
Lens Types
The Normal Lens
Telephoto Lenses

Wide-Angle Lenses
Specialty Lenses & Attachments
Macro Lenses
Extension Rings, Tubes & Bellows
Zoom Lenses
Reflex Lenses
Tilt-Shift Lenses
Lens Faults & Flaws
Spherical Aberrations
Chromatic Aberration
Barrel & Pincushion Distortion
Flare & Vignetting
Advanced Features of Modern lenses
Multi-coating
Auto focus (AF)
Image stabilization (IS) or Vibration reduction (VR)

Filters
Polarizing Filters
Neutral Density (ND) Filters
Taking Care of your Equipment
Practical Lens Choices
Food Photography
Fashion Photography
Portrait & Beauty Photography
Architecture & Interior Photography
Travel Photography
Sport & Wildlife Photography

Module 2
Shutters, Aperture & Their Relationships
Learn how to control your camera and capture the images you have always imagined.
George introduces powerful previsualization techniques and provides an in-depth
understanding of the settings available through your camera to achieve what you want,
when you want.
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Shutters, Aperture & Stops of Light

Shutter Types
Focal Plane Shutters
In Lens Shutter
Exposure Stops
Shutter Speed Stops
Aperture Stops
F/Stop Values

The Advantage of Using F/Stops

Full & Third Stop Reference Table
Relationships & Depth of field

Reciprocity
What is depth of field?
Depth of field (DOF) Overview
Circles of Confusion
Perceiving Sharpness
Sharpness
Depth of Field (DOF) Scale
Hyperfocal Distance
DOF Preview Button
DOF Preview & DSLR Cameras
DOF & The View Camera

Digital Sensors & The View Camera

DSLR Shooting Modes in Practice
Manual (M)
Aperture Priority (AV) or (A)
Shutter Priority (TV) or (S)
Program Mode (P)
Exposure Compensation
Putting It All Together
Previsualization

Module 3
Exposure & Metering

Accurate exposure is the basis for all photography and this module draws on methods
popularized by the great Ansel Adams, modernized to give you an edge in a competitive
world. As a professional or advanced amateur you will be able to capture any subject
consistently and with growing confidence.
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Light Meters
Overview
Hand Held Meters
In Camera Light Meters
Average Reflective Metering
Incident Metering

Spot Metering
ISO & Exposure Compensation Control
The Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO Relationship
The 18% Grey Card
Palm Metering
Dynamic Range & A Metering Method

The Stepped Grayscale Test

Zone System Basics
Building Your Own Zone Ruler
Metering Colors & Other Tips
Some Final Thoughts on Metering
The Sunny F/16 Rule

Module 4
The Film & Digital Process

A short step back in time provides the basis for effectively working and photographing in
a digital world. In understanding what comes before, we are able to take full advantage
of the tools we have at our disposal today for ever improving photographs.
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A Brief History of the Photographic Process

The Optical Process

The Chemical Process
Composition of Modern Film
The Wet Process
Developer
Stop Bath
Fixer
Wash
Photo-Flo
Dry
My Darkroom Method

Fogging

Color Film Processing

Pushing
Pulling
The D Log E Curve of Film
Digital Image Capture
CCD & CMOS Compared
Tri-Linear Array Scanning Backs
Film V Digital
Digital Advantages

Digital Disadvantages
The D Log E Curve of Digital

The Histogram
In Camera Controls & What to Do With Them
RAW
Adobe 1998 RGB
sRGB
Grayscale
Saturation, Contrast & Sharpening

Module 5
Light & Color
After understanding photographic equipment and exposure, light and color is explored
as defining factors in professional photography. Refine your ability to previsualize, see
and think like a camera, then delve into post production techniques for monochromatic
images.
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The Color Spectrum

Color Temperature
Early Color Theory Development
Maxwells Triangle and Modern Color Theory
Additive and Subtractive Color Systems
The CIE and LAB Color
Photographic Filters
Useful Filters in the Digital World
The Mired Scale
Wratten Filters
The Color Temperature Meter
Digital White Balance

Custom Color Balance

Seeing Like a Camera

Color Perception
Depth Perception
Dynamic Range
Some Useful Tricks
Squinting
Looking through a ND Filter
Closing One Eye
Making a Fist
Rotate the Image
Squat
Previsualization
Setting Shadow and Highlights

Black and White

Method One
Method Two
Method Three
Method Four
Method Five
Method Six
My Favorite Method
The Red Channel in RGB
The Blue Channel in RGB
The L Channel in Lab

Module 6
Lighting

George explains, through his extensive experience, the commercial realities surrounding
photography and methods to help produce the best images you can. Learn from
photographers you admire, analyze images to improve technique and recognize what
they can be used for.
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About Light

The Sun
Color
Blue / Amber
Green / Magenta
Light Quality
I Love Daylight
Artificial Light Sources
Using Flash Light
Lighting Outdoors
Time of Day
The Weather
Lighting People & Small Moveable Objects
Fill In Flash

Mirrors
Scrims

Reflectors
Backlighting
The Worlds Best Lighting
The Daylight Look Indoors
Lighting Method 1: Simulated Hazy Day
Lighting Method 2: Simulated Overcast Day
Lighting Method 3: Simulated Full Sun

Continuous Lights
Hot Lights
Tungsten Lighting

Cool Lights
Fluorescent & LED Lighting
Fluorescent Lights
LED Lights
Balancing Flash & Daylight
Flash Duration
Portrait Lighting
Unisex Portraiture Lighting Scheme
The Vanity Index
Lighting Men & Women
The Law

Module 7
How To Take Better Photos
George explains, through his extensive experience, the commercial realities surrounding
photography and methods to help produce the best images you can. Learn from
photographers you admire, analyze images to improve technique and recognize what
they can be used for.
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The Big Question

Commercial Reality
Travel Photography
Photojournalism
Magazine Photography

Advertising Photography
The Little Photoshop on the Corner
Back to Business - Taking Pictures
Educate Yourself
A Process for Photographing Objects
A Mental Shooting Checklist
Thinking Like a Lens

Previsualization
Color Management in Camera
Adobe RGB (1998)
sRGB
ProPhoto RGB
Image Preview
In Camera Tools
Low Resolution LCD Color Preview
Histograms
Exposure Warning

Working Tethered
Improving your Photography
The Photoshop Trap
Warning, Danger Ahead!
Sticking to a Subject
Be Honest With Yourself
Be Realistic
A Word on Plagiarism & Improving Technique
A CutOut Portfolio
A Style To Call Your Own

Module 8
Equipment & Software
Where is technology going and what do you really need to be a successful
photographer? Develop a clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages
that different equipment provides, for now and in the future.
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Camera Choices

Format Size
The Small Format Camera System
Advantages
Disadvantages
The Medium Format Camera System
Advantages
Disadvantages
The Large Format Camera System
Advantages
Disadvantages
My Choice of Camera System
Small Format DSLR System
Small Format Compact Systems (CSCs)
Medium Format System
Large Format System

Questions & Considerations

Buying Vs Hiring
Buying Considerations
Hiring
Which Lenses Do I Need?

Where is the Technology Going?

Lighting Equipment
Studio Flash Units
Monobloc Studio Lights
Using Multiple Speedlights
Which Brand Should I Buy?
Portability
Tungsten Lighting
Second Hand Gear

Computers & Monitors

The Calibration Device
Data Storage
Digital Video Disc - DVDs
Disc Do's & Donts
External Hard Drives
RAID Arrays
Solid State Drives
The Future of File Storage
Future Proofing your Files
My Storage System
The Graphics Tablet
Capture Software
Capture One Software
Adobe Photoshop, Bridge & Camera RAW

Module 9
Retouching, Resolution & Printing

Since the dark room, post production and printing has been a defining part of all
photography. This module addresses how to get the best out of your images when it
comes time to edit and print your work.
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Image Retouching Software

Adobe Photoshop (PS)

Adobe Photoshop Elements (PSE)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (Lr)
Capture One
Aperture by Apple
Corel Paint Shop Pro
Affinity Photo by Serif
Other Image Editing & Retouching Tools
The Interesting Issue of DPI & PPI
Image File Size How Big is Big Enough?
Output Devices & Resolution Requirements
Photo Quality Inkjet Printers
Offset Printers
Lines Per Inch & DPI Conversions
The Professional Print Lab
The Web
Dot Gain
Your Work Space
Work in RGB
Gamma

Gamut
Gamut Warnings
The CMYK Colorspace

Bit Depth
Color Channels in Photoshop
File Formats for Digital Imaging & Printing
CAMERA RAW
DNG
JPEG
Print Bound Images
PSD Photoshops File Format
TIFF
EPS
PDF
GIF
JPEG 2000
Other Random File Formats
Working With 16 BIT Files
16-Bit Capture & ACR
Converting 8-Bit Images to 16-Bit
16-Bit Editing

Photoshop Retouching
HDR for High Contrast Scenes
Interpolation
Photoshop Toolbox
Quick Masking
Photoshops Densitometer
Adjustment Layers
Sharpening
Every Digital Image Requires Sharpening
Unsharp Mask (USM)

Traps For Young Players

My Sharpening Methodology
Selective Sharpening
Camera RAW Image Adjustment Basics
Camera RAW Tools
Adobe Lightroom Image Adjustment Basics
Do Your Prints Look Like The Screen Image?
Grayscale Print Test
Calibration The Whole Shebang

Module 10
The Studio
Working in a studio has many advantages for a photographer. Whether this is full time or
only a passing requirement of your photographic practices, it is important that you are
familiar with a studio space and the equipment it contains.
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The Photographers Studio

Do I Need a Studio?
Hiring a Studio
Sharing
How Big A Studio Do I need?
Working From Home
The Perils

The Joys
The Wedding & Portrait Studio
In Your Studio
The Question of Daylight

Ceiling Height
Poly Boards
Must Haves
Equipment

Bus & Train Routes

Parking
Security
Hiring Out Your Precious Studio
Start Small
Where to Begin

Module 11
Genres & Portfolios
Constructing a portfolio is one of the most important tasks a photographer carries out.
This is ever changing and must develop as your photography develops. George explains
the process and how to put your best foot forward in all circumstances.
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Where To Begin
Selecting a Speciality Area
The photographers assistant
Career Path Suggestions
Fashion & Beauty
Portraiture
Weddings & Family
Nudes, Boudoir & Glamour
Photojournalism
Landscapes, Travel & Resort

Food

Product & Still Life

Architecture & Interiors
Art Photography
Industrial & Corporate
Cars
The Professional Portfolio
Look at the Work of Other Photographers
Look at Stylists Portfolios for Ideas
How to Find the Right People to Schmooze

Talk to Photo Agents

Be Ruthless - Do Not Dilute Your Portfolio
Is One Folio Enough?
Get Other Opinions
Think About Your Presentation
This is Where to Spend Money Wisely
Some Ideas on Marketing Tools
A New Portfolio Approach
Advantages of a Tablet Style Portfolio
Disadvantages of a Tablet Style Portfolio

Module 12
Photo Agents - Picture Agencies. How To Get Work & Keep It
As a professional or advanced amateur creating a style to call your own can help set
you apart from the masses. Be an individual, work smart as well as hard and
photography will be a lifelong passion as well as a rewarding career if you so choose.
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The Photographers Agent

The Role of the Agent
The Photographer/Agent Relationship
How to Find a Photo Agent
Avoid Mixed Agencies if You Can
Be Prepared for Your Interview You Only Get One Chance

Fees & Charges

Agency Politics
Dont Argue!
Photo Libraries & Picture Agencies in a Nutshell
The Copyright Issue
How to Submit Images
Be Organized

Do Your Homework
Write Down Names in the Lift
Sell Yourself!
Going It Alone
Befriend the Art Buyer
A Final Word