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Composition is nothing less than the underpinning of photography. Henri Cartier-Bresson, the master, wrote, “This recognition, in real life, of a rhythm of surfaces, lines, and values is for me the essence of photography; composition should be a constant of preoccupation, being a simultaneous coalition – an organic coordination of visual elements.”

Composition is the way in which photographers turn real, chaotic life in front of them into images within a frame. As such, composition begins with a clear understanding of what the subject is, what it means to you, and what you want to say about it. Cartier-Bresson again: “You can’t compose gratuitously; there must be a necessity, and you can’t separate form from substance.”

In keeping with other Foundation Courses, and tracing back to the original Basic Course at the Bauhaus, this course gives a thorough grounding for pursuing photography seriously. It covers all aspects of composition, far beyond the idea of simply making a vaguely satisfying image by following so-called rules (least of all the trivialised rule of thirds). It is designed to be the basis for further courses of any kind in photography.

Learning outcome: this Foundation Course will equip you to create distinctive, meaningful images that express your personal way of seeing, an essential first step on the path to developing your own photographic style.

Requirements
You will not need any special photographic equipment for this course. A DSLR is preferable, but a compact camera or even a camera phone could be used to complete the assignments. A tripod would be useful, but not essential, as well as a selection of prime or zoom lenses ranging from wide angle out to telephoto zoom.

We also recommend purchasing The Photographers Eye and The Photographers Eye: A Graphic Guide as a way of enhancing your learning experience, as additional reading is suggested in the course notes.

Obby - Discover London's favourite classes and workshops.

Photography Foundation

Composition is nothing less than the underpinning of photography. Henri Cartier-Bresson, the master, wrote, “This recognition, in real life, of a rhythm of surfaces, lines, and values is for me the essence of photography; composition should be a constant of preoccupation, being a simultaneous coalition – an organic coordination of visual elements.”

Composition is the way in which photographers turn real, chaotic life in front of them into images within a frame. As such, composition begins with a clear understanding of what the subject is, what it means to you, and what you want to say about it. Cartier-Bresson again: “You can’t compose gratuitously; there must be a necessity, and you can’t separate form from substance.”

In keeping with other Foundation Courses, and tracing back to the original Basic Course at the Bauhaus, this course gives a thorough grounding for pursuing photography seriously. It covers all aspects of composition, far beyond the idea of simply making a vaguely satisfying image by following so-called rules (least of all the trivialised rule of thirds). It is designed to be the basis for further courses of any kind in photography.

Learning outcome: this Foundation Course will equip you to create distinctive, meaningful images that express your personal way of seeing, an essential first step on the path to developing your own photographic style.

Requirements
You will not need any special photographic equipment for this course. A DSLR is preferable, but a compact camera or even a camera phone could be used to complete the assignments. A tripod would be useful, but not essential, as well as a selection of prime or zoom lenses ranging from wide angle out to telephoto zoom.

We also recommend purchasing The Photographers Eye and The Photographers Eye: A Graphic Guide as a way of enhancing your learning experience, as additional reading is suggested in the course notes.

Michael Freeman is the world's top author of photography books, drawing on a long career as a widely published international editorial photographer. He has published to date 133 books, of which 66 are on the practice of photography, with 4 million copies sold, published in 27 languages. He has an MA in Geography from Oxford University, and in a career spanning 40 years has worked for most of the world's leading publishers, including Time-Life, GEO, the Sunday Times Magazine and the Smithsonian Magazine, with which he has had a 30-year, 40-story relationship.

Much of his work has focused on Asia, beginning in the early days with Thailand, expanding outwards through other countries in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, with several books published on Angkor and other Khmer sites. This was followed by several years photographing in Japan, and more recently, China. His most recent book of documentary reportage is Tea Horse Road, tracing the ancient trade route that began in the 7th century between southwest China and Tibet. Before that was the 2005 Sudan: Land and People, still the only full visual record of the (now two) countries.

Photography Foundation with Expert Tuition

This beginners class will give you the opportunity to demystify all those functions on your camera so that you are able to take control of your photography and move away from Auto.
You will:
learn about the 3 most important features of your camera when it comes to creating a photograph: ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed, as well as a few extras along the way.
see photographic examples from the past masters which will give you a clear picture (no pun intended!) of the choices they made when setting up a shot.
have the opportunity to practise what you have learnt and will leave the session feeling more confident that you can control your camera rather than your camera being the one to make all the decisions!

How to Use Your DSLR Camera - 1 to 1 Beginners Photography

Welcome to the start of your photography journey! These sessions are for absolute beginners (adults or teens) who want to move away from auto and take control of all the functions of their DSLR  camera. We look at creative composition, learning how to move from average-looking snapshots to professionally composed images. We'll take inspiration from past and current photographers as we look into the history of photography. The one-to-one nature of these classes means that they can be adapted to suit your individual needs and areas of interest. Relaxed and fun, where no question is too big or too small, I look forward to helping you get the most from your camera and opening your eyes to the photographic potential of the world around you.

Photography for Beginners - Online 1 to 1 lesson (2 hours)

For those of you pushed for time this is a shorter version of my 2 hour class. These classes are for absolute beginners (adults or teens) who want to move away from auto and take control of all the functions of their DSLR camera. We look at creative composition, learning how to move from average-looking snapshots to professionally composed images. We'll take inspiration from past and current photographers as we look into the history of photography. The one-to-one nature of these classes means that they can be adapted to suit your individual needs and areas of interest. Relaxed and fun, where no question is too big or too small, I look forward to helping you get the most from your camera and opening your eyes to the photographic potential of the world around you.

Photography for Beginners: Online 1 to 1 lesson (1 hour)

I will talk you through the basics to start a solid, affordable and reliable system to take, edit and optimize your pictures to promote your online business, whether you're selling services or actual physical objects.  We will analyse the different kind of market and different kind of platform and assess together what is the best way to shoot, edit and upload your products. We will talk about different platforms and and how to approach taking your picture having different and flexible outputs in mind.
Each product needs the right approach and we will analyse different examples and different approaches, compare and discuss why one is more successful than others. We will then move onto a hands-on part where we are gonna put in practice what we had discussed and try to come up with a personal style that embodies your idea of your product.
I will show you how to setup a simple studio to take picture on white or black, or any other background of choice but also how to plan and prepare for a lifestyle shot with props and more articulate lighting.

Summary
introduction to product photography
comparison between different products and different ways of portraying them
analysing successful examples
finding your style
keeping it simple
camera, lights and simple studio setup
shooting with the tethering method (vs in camera)
processing, editing and archiving your files
different platforms and different formats - shooting smartly -

Introduction to product photography for social media

For all budding street photographers this class will give you some practical tips in how to get started in street photography.

In this beginners class you are invited to bring just one lens, a prime lens. A 50mm, known as the nifty fifty, would be ideal, or else whatever alternative you have. Prime lenses are ideal for street photography as they're lightweight and more discrete. If you only have a zoom lens then you'll need to be strict with yourself and use it on just one focal length!

As the quality of zoom lenses improves, we are often over-reliant on them and on zooming in and out to compose a shot. This can make us a bit lazy and we can also end up with way too many shots that we haven't put much thought into. Today we're going to move ourselves rather than the lens to get the best composition and pay attention to the smaller details of everyday life, as we take to the streets of Camden Town (or alternative suitable location), learning how to take those candid street photography shots.

In these Covid-times we will be careful to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Street Photography - 1 to 1 Beginners Photography

Suitable for individuals with no prior photography or video experience, this class is ideal for those wishing to better understand the video shooting capabilities of the DSLR.

In this class

Beginning with the basic camera settings and optimizing the DSLR for video recording, the class then explores a range of basic and advanced shooting techniques, guided by our experienced tutors, before moving on to practical shooting advice and information.

The course covers a range of theoretical and practical sessions, including;

Understanding the camera;
Setting up the camera for video
Camera buttons / functions
Menus
Manual exposure
Aperture
Shutter speed
Light meter
ISO

Shooting Techniques;
Depth of field
Pull focus
White balance
Audio
Shooting techniques / handling the camera

Advanced techniques;
Framing and composition
Colour profiles
Media Codecs / Video Files
Transferring footage to a computer
Editing
Memory cards (which are best for video)
Publishing video to Youtube / Vimeo

 The Shoot;
Location shooting
One-on-one assistance
Demonstrating learned skills
Demonstration of pro equipment (shoulder rig / follow focus)

Now you can

Record high quality videos
Expand your skills with practice
Experiment with different techniques to find your own style

DSLR Video for Beginners Class

As 'house arrest' is now widespread I'm sure you are looking for more productive ways to ease the boredom than watching endless boxsets on Netflix!
So, I've put together this online workshop to show you how to take full creative control of your DSLR camera from the comfort of your own home.

My name is Dan Harley. I'm  a SONY nominated professional photographer & videographer & I will show everything you need to know, to take stunning images with your DSLR camera.
Using a series of unique analogies I have developed over the years to simplify the whole process of learning photography, you will learn about Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, Focus control, Depth of Field, White Balance & Composition.

I have shot some of the world's highest profile fashion weeks around the world & I can tell you that the principles of great image making are the same whether you are shooting Fendi ft Karl Lagerfeld at Milan Fashion Week or whether you're spending a lot of time at home over the coming weeks taking images of your home/family/pets/housemates/interiors...or anything else your creative mind conjures up.

Feel free to browse through my 'Reviews' section  to get an idea of how committed I am to teaching people these image making skills then join the workshop if you want to learn how to take some great images...I'm pleased to tell you that taking full creative control of your DSLR is really a lot easier than you think!

See you soon,

Dan


Digital Photography Workshop

In this online video tutorial, I'll help you navigate the menus and understand the main features of your DSLR. I'll explain how to use the camera's built-in light meter to achieve accurate exposures. I'll explain ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed and how to adjust these settings and use them creatively. This is an online video tutorial but does require students to have their own DSLR or Bridge camera as there will simple exercises throughout the session. On completion, I will provide some exercises for students to practice developing skills on their own.
Sessions can be held at any time, please contact me to arrange a time that's convenient for you.

Learn to Use Your Camera

The advanced course is directed toward those with a deep understanding of DSLR cameras and photography. For those who wish to take their hobby to a professional level, this class includes tips and tricks and advanced techniques, with a very practical element to the course.

In this class

The class will cover 6 modules over six 3-hour sessions. These modules cover different techniques, photography types and the fundamental knowledge needed to make a start in the professional photography world, all guided by our experienced, friendly tutors.

Modules included in this course are:
The course consists of 6 modules;
Documentary and Photojournalism
Landscape and Architecture
Flash Photography
Portraiture
Travel
Professional Practice

Now you can

take your first steps into the professional photography industry
understand how to present yourself and your work at a professional level
expand your skills into different areas of photography which you may not have experienced before

Advanced DSLR

DSLR photography is not like using the camera on your tablet or smartphone. It is a more professional type of camera with supreme photo taking capabilities and comprehensive range of features and modifications. Learn how to master the DSLR and other camera masterpieces of the industry in our high-end photography course which features guest speakers and seminars.

DSLR classes, courses, learning kits and gifts on Obby

Photography Foundation

Photography Foundation with Expert Tuition

How to Use Your DSLR Camera - 1 to 1 Beginners Photography

Photography for Beginners - Online 1 to 1 lesson (2 hours)

Photography for Beginners: Online 1 to 1 lesson (1 hour)

Introduction to product photography for social media

Street Photography - 1 to 1 Beginners Photography

DSLR Video for Beginners Class

Digital Photography Workshop

Learn to Use Your Camera

Advanced DSLR

Use obby giftcards
on any learning kit

DSLR classes, courses, learning kits and gifts on Obby

Photography Foundation

Photography Foundation with Expert Tuition

How to Use Your DSLR Camera - 1 to 1 Beginners Photography

Photography for Beginners - Online 1 to 1 lesson (2 hours)

Photography for Beginners: Online 1 to 1 lesson (1 hour)

Introduction to product photography for social media

Street Photography - 1 to 1 Beginners Photography

DSLR Video for Beginners Class

Digital Photography Workshop

Learn to Use Your Camera

Advanced DSLR

Use obby giftcardson any learning kit

Use obby giftcards
on any learning kit