Nature and Landscape Photography Course Outline

Unit 1 Mastering Your Equipment

• Lesson 1.1 Getting to Know Your Gear

  In Lesson 1.1: Getting to Know Your Gear, we'll start to discuss all the equipment options available to people who plan to shoot nature and landscape compositions. From choosing the right camera to experimenting with various lenses, this lesson will introduce you to your options as you explore what seems like a good fit for your goals.

• Lesson 1.2 Exposure

  In Lesson 1.2: Exposure, we'll move away from manual mode as you learn to control your camera on your own. From adjusting your shutter speed to developing a more compelling depth of field, we'll walk you through the best ways to creatively control your device in more elaborate ways.

• Lesson 1.3 Controlling the Camera

  In Lesson 1.3: Controlling the Camera, we'll start to shake things up and experiment with new methods. As we introduce you to more photographic concepts like flare and perspective distortion, you can begin to develop your personal style and visual signature as you determine which techniques appeal to you the most as an artist.

Unit 2 Harnessing the Light

• Lesson 2.1 Characteristics of Natural Light

  In Lesson 2.1: Characteristics of Natural Light, we begin to develop one of the most crucial credentials of the professional photographer- the ability to feel the different moods of light. Ranging from the brash, bright quality of sunlight at high noon to the soft, velvety, diffused light of a cloudy day, by the end of this lesson you'll have a deeper understanding of how light can positively alter your images.

• Lesson 2.2 Artificial Light

  In Lesson 2.2: Artificial Light, we'll discuss the possible use of light bulbs and flash units in nature and landscape photography. While many outdoor photographers prefer at least initially to work with only natural light, adding artificial light can be used to elevate work to a more sophisticated aesthetic, a skill you'll develop throughout this lesson.

• Lesson 2.3 Research, Preparation and Understanding

  In Lesson 2.3: Research, Preparation and Understanding, you'll learn how important it is to do your research before traveling to a shoot. From location analysis to lighting strategies, by the end of this lesson you'll develop the ability to know the shots you want to capture at any given location before you even arrive.

Unit 3 Controlling the Composition

• Lesson 3.1 Composition

  In Lesson 3.1: Composition, you'll learn to use line, shape, space, form, color, value and texture to create patterns, contrast, balance, scale, rhythm, emphasis and unity. With a deeper understanding of these concepts, you'll soon be able to add order to the individual elements and distinguish how they relate to the image as a whole.

• Lesson 3.2 The Subject and the Frame

  In Lesson 3.2: The Subject and the Frame, we'll begin to work outside of the guidelines and let your creativity flow. We'll work on your ability to identify and place a subject within your frame, learning to add emphasis and emotion to an otherwise simple shot.

• Lesson 3.3 Mastering Composition

  In Lesson 3.3: Mastering Composition, we start to fine tune your ability to capture a scenic landscape while effectively conveying a certain message. With a constant focus on simplicity, in this lesson we'll learn to eliminate nonessential elements from a photo in order to achieve a careful, thoughtful arrangement of visuals within a frame.

Unit 4 Advancing Your Photography

• Lesson 4.1 Subjects

  In Lesson 4.1: Subjects, we learn the detriment of labeling ourselves as solely nature and landscape photographers. By exploring new subjects and compositional challenges, we can expand our portfolios and fine tune a wider variety of technical skills. We'll discuss floral, water and insect photography specifically while keeping in mind the benefits of expanding our comfort zone when exploring new subjects.

• Lesson 4.2 Weather

  In Lesson 4.2: Weather, we discuss the importance of developing the ability to adapt to a variety of weather changes. As a nature and landscape photographer, working outdoors and traveling is a fundamental aspect of your craft. Knowing how to accommodate the accompanying weather changes is therefore crucial to the process. From packing certain gear to adjusting your camera settings, this lesson will help you prepare for all weather related eventualities like a pro.

• Lesson 4.3 Post Production

  In Lesson 4.3: Post Production, we begin the process of editing the images we learned to create in the previous lessons. Beginning with an introduction to RAW, DNG, JPEG and TIFF, we'll work our way through the process of uploading, backing up, adjusting and editing our shots until we achieve the perfect look we're going for.

• Lesson 4.4 Developing Your Eye

  In Lesson 4.4: Developing Your Eye, we learn to take notice of the wonderful photo opportunities around us on a constant basis. When you start to see things beyond the obvious, the world around you begins to look like a constant composition in the making. This lesson reminds you to craft scenes that invoke emotion as you continue to develop your visual signature.