CLARTPH002 - The Fundamentals of Digital Photography
Develop your photographic eye and master the fundamentals of digital photography in this short course designed for the online learning environment. See through your instructor’s camera viewfinder and view camera settings live online while learning to control light and gaining technical competence through hands-on, in-class camera exercises. Gain a deeper understanding of your creative decision-making process: when, what and how you photograph. This class also includes weekly creative prompts, out-of-class exercises and opportunities for instructor feedback on your photographs. In addition, the course explores the history and meaning of photography, including how photographic images have changed the way we see and think about the world and ourselves.
Note: You will need a digital SLR or mirrorless camera that offers manual control over shutter speed, aperture and ISO; have basic familiarity with your camera’s operation; and have your camera manual available during each class.
Course Details
Laura Napier, M.F.A., is an educator and artist who has taught photography at The Cooper Union, Houston Center for Photography and the University of Houston. She currently teaches hybrid and online courses in photography, video and performance at Sam Houston State University. Ms. Napier’s work exploring the sociology of behavior and place has received more than a dozen grants and awards, and her solo and collaborative projects have been shown locally, nationally and internationally. In 2019 she released her artist book, “Sea of Oil: Story Circle Show & Tell,” at the Solar Studios at Rice University with the Center for Environmental Studies, supported by a Houston Arts Alliance grant. Ms. Napier is a creative climate leader recently trained by Julie’s Bicycle and international collaborators at Biosphere 2, and she holds a master of fine arts degree in photography from the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts at Bard College.
Online: Synchronous
This course will be delivered in a synchronous format online. Registered participants will receive login instructions to the course page, which will provide access to the virtual classroom link and other resources.
- Social and Technical Histories of Photography
- The Control of Light: Principles of Photography
- Elements and Principles of Composition
- Staying Organized: Strategies and Software
- Lighting Concepts
- Photographic Theory and Ethics
You will need a digital SLR or mirrorless camera that offers manual control over shutter speed, aperture and ISO; have basic familiarity with your camera’s operation; and have your camera manual available during each class.