C1M Photography Academy store/Take Beautiful Photos - photographic composition and art course

Take Beautiful Photos

02 Take Beautiful Photos - slim.jpg 1.11 MB
Ansel Adams once quipped, "The hard part about photography is knowing where to stand", and 100 years later it's still a big part of it. Leading lines, rule of thirds, harmony and color are just a few of the concepts we'll delve into in this course. All so that next time you find yourself in a spot that could yield a great photo, you'll know what to do, how to approach it and, yes, know where to stand.

• 17 Lessons
• 16 Practice sessions
• Countless pictures and videos

Learn how to put everything together to take stunning photos. Learn how to use composition and visual design rules to maximize your shot. This course will unleash the photographer in you.

This course is for you, if ...

  • You like your photos to be beautiful
  • When you get on location, you don't always know what to do
  • You've seen photographs that strike a chord in you and you'd like to be able to take photos like it
  • You have an eye for photography and you want to learn how to leverage your style
  • You'd like to enjoy your photography more

What you'll need ...

You do need a camera, of course. Beyond that, you'll need an open mind, sometimes a little patience, and joy in taking great photos. A desire to learn new things will be helpful. You'll also need to give yourself some time. The practice sessions in this course are such that they will train your eye and your mind in what to look for. Rushing that will lead to mixed results.
What you don't need is a great camera and lots of expensive gear to take great photos. Much of the practice in this course can be done with your phone's camera. It does help at times to have great gear, though.

What if you get stuck ...

You use the texting bubble in the lower right corner of the scree and reach out to us. Most questions we'll answer right there. If need be we'll invite you to a zoom video meeting so you can show us what's happening. Or what isn't happening, whatever the case may be. 
I love helping people!
Walter

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  • $169

Take Beautiful Photos - photographic composition and art course

Contents

01 - Welcome and overview ...

Just saying hi, and going over what we'll be doing
Welcome
Preview

02 - Here's where you begin to train your artist's eye

Being more deliberate can yield images you'll like better
A different approach
Preview

03 - What is your subject? Answering that guides everything else

Honing in on your subject helps you eliminate distractions
Know what you're photographing
Preview

04 - A simple photo is a strong photo

A busy photo confuses the eye. A simple one draws the viewer in.
Keep it simple
Preview

05 - Contrast and color

Using contrast and color well will enhance your subject
Use contrast and color to enhance your subject

06 - Foreground, midground, background

It's easy to think of a photo as one-dimensional, but in reality, there are three spaces to pay attention to.
Three photo spaces to consider

07 - Using the image space effectively

Applying the rule of thirds to your images will make them stronger.
Rule of thirds

08 - Symmetry

When the two halves of an image match, that's symmetry
Using symmetry for artistic effect

09 - Asymmetry

When the two halves of something do not match, that's asymmetry
Using asymmetry for artistic effect

10 - Horizontal lines

Horizontal lines - the ones that run left to right across an image - can bring a sense of peace.
The emotional impact of horizontal lines

11 - Vertical lines

Vertical lines - the ones running top to bottom across an image - can be unsettling.
The emotional impact of vertical lines

12 - Oblique lines

Oblique lines - those that are on a diagonal - can add a sense of instability or of motion.
Obliques lines bring a sense of motion

13 - S-curved lines

S-curved lines invite the viewer to explore the image
S-curved lines can guide the eye

14 - Dominance

Use dominance to make your subject stand out even more
Use dominance to give your subject more weight

15 - Drama

There are several techniques that can add drama to an image
Some ways to add drama to an image

16 - Harmony

When every element of your image, from subject choice to background to composition to lighting, works together, that's harmony 
When every element of your image works together, that's harmony

17 - Assembling the stage

Build your images as if you're a set designer staging a play
The mental work that will make your shoot go more smoothly

18 - Where to go from here ...

Find out what comes next.
Explore our next course