What you'll learn
Learn creative composition skills with our photography short courses in Sydney!
Once you have mastered the basics of your camera's settings and functions you will need to learn the creative tools integral to the photographic language. Colour, light, contrast, balance, rhythm, movement, and the elements of design are the building blocks photographers use to draw out the beauty in a subject and bring their creative vision to life. This creative photography course opens your world far beyond 'point and shoot' and extends your journey to developing your own individual style, channelling concepts, forensic observation skills and visualisation processes without rules and limitations.
This creative photography course drives outcomes for photography that are very considered, deliberate and mindful, with your creative capture choices more aligned to the approach, attitudes and professional behaviours of successful working photographers creating images with real impact.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Composition Skills course, you should be able to:
- Make effective photographic capture decisions that balance technical, creative & practical options
- Incorporate the visual cues of effective composition of photographic images
- Integrate upskilled compositional tools into the image capture processes
- Understand the roles of forensic observation, mindful processes, and playful imagination, in the composition of photographs
- Design and develop your customised personal creative composition toolbox
- Create memorable, high-impact images that resonate with audiences
Course content
What will be covered in this Composition Skills course?
Session 1:
The Principles of Visual Perception & Design
- Gestalt principles of perception
- Visual weight & Emphasis
- Contrast & balance
- Harmony, unity & variety
- Repetition, rhythm & movement
- Gradation, 3D form & shading
- Practical activities, class discussions and hands-on reviews
The Elements of Design
- Lines & dynamic diagonals
- Triangles & 3 points of interest
- Textures, patterns, curves & shapes
- Colour, hue, saturation & luminance
- Proximity, density, isolation, positive & negative space
- Dimension, scale & proportion, thirds & odds
Session 2
Image capture processes
- Camera positioning, shoot angle, elevation & Point of View
- Simplification: selective focus, minimalism, lens focal length, compression
- Framing, zooming & cropping
- Context selection & contextualising backgrounds
Photographer processes
- Shoot attitude, planning, approach & behaviours
- Forensic observation & visualisation of potential
- Reduction framing, visual filtering, & assessment of scene attributes
- Post-production cropping & creative photo editing
- Practical activities, class discussions and hands-on reviews
Intended audience
Who is this Composition Skills course for?
This program is for all photographers who want to improve their compositional skills in photography; for photographers to broaden their capabilities to other genres of photography; for photographers with a new camera who want to get back into photography; for previous students of photography who want a creative refresher course; or have upcoming travel plans; for photographers who want to consolidate their skills across a variety of conceptual and practical conditions; or who want inspiration in their photographic journey and want interesting challenges to solve.
This photography course is for anyone who is reasonably proficient in manual camera operations, or completed the Photography Course for Beginners or an equivalent course, as this course is not designed for beginner level and does not contain entry level tuition in camera functionality.
For DSLR / mirrorless beginner photographers, please see the learning outcomes of Photography Course for Beginners.
Course materials
What to bring to class
- Cameras of any brand /any type (smartphone/compact/mirrorless/DSLR/film
- Sufficient storage space on your device / card
- Charger and battery as required
- Notepad and pen to take notes / or phone / or tablet / or laptop
Course testimonials
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Geoff said: I know this sounds extreme but this course didn’t just change how I see photography, it changed how I experience the world. (I would split it over a couple of days though, I missed getting time to do practical homework)
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Penelope said: Inspiring, awesome tutor
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Teresa said: Rick is very passionate and knowledgable about photography. It was fantastic and enjoyed the course thoroughly. I have learned alot. I will be back.
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Cyril said: An engaging and interesting workshop which I really enjoyed. All kudos to Rick who conducted the workshop!
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Collette said: Rick is an engaging and amazing tutor. Great course material and delivery. Really helpful. Recommend without hesitation.
Course tutors
Richard Lynch
Great reasons to enrol in a short course with us
Small classes
A personal approach means quality learning, so you can enjoy plenty of interaction with your instructor and the chance to ask questions.
Short & sweet
Our short courses & workshops get straight to the point, providing the skills you need with minimal commitment of your precious time.
Facilities & equipment
Our range of venues suit every type of course, are easy to get to, and have the equipment and tech needed to support your learning.
Easy, secure enrolment
Enrol online 24/7 with a safe, convenient 3-step process, and you can change your mind up to 7 days before class starts.
Quality instructors
Our educators bring first-hand experience and knowledge, with up-to-the-minute practices from diverse industries.
Business or pleasure
Our courses help you rapidly increase your skills and knowledge, for professional development or personal interest.
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Classes Online Courses
<p>Learn creative composition skills with our <a href="https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/courses/audio-video-photography/photography">photography short courses</a> in Sydney!</p>
<p>Once you
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If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Photography: Composition Skills Workshop
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