Principles of Photo Composition and Digital Image Post-Production

About this course: Welcome to Course THREE! In the first two Modules you will gain a more professional-level understanding of the Design Elements that artists have used throughout history to create successful compositions. Arranging the Elements in ways that lead viewers through their compositions is an essential craft for photographers no matter whether their subject matter is pure documentary or vividly exotic personal expression. In Modules 3 & 4 we survey the essential elements of post-photography image management, using Adobe(tm) LIGHTROOM(tm). Image adjustment software designed for Smartphone photographers rounds out the Course. Since even photographers whose mainstay is a high-end DSLR also must admit to Smartphone use occasionally, and photographers who only use a Smartphone will usually admit that they want to step over to a "regular" camera at some point, there is something for everyone here! Let's get started with Module One!

Created by:  Michigan State University

• Taught by:  Peter Glendinning, Professor

  Art, Art History, & Design

• Taught by:  Mark Valentine Sullivan, Associate Professor

  Music / Innovation Hub

Basic Info Course 3 of 5 in the Photography Basics and Beyond: From Smartphone to DSLR Specialization Commitment 4 weeks of study, 2-3 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.6 stars Average User Rating 4.6See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Syllabus


WEEK 1


Elements of Design: Building Blocks of Composition



A writer must understand what nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and other word forms are, before putting them together in sentences that make sense to a reader. Similarly, an artist must understand the essential elements of design that must be put together to create a composition that will "make sense" to a viewer of their artwork. In this first module you will learn about the Elements of Design so you can understand their functions and use them effectively to guide your viewers to the content you wish to be conveyed by your photographs, whether it be creative, or documentary, regardless of the subject matter.


12 videos, 3 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: MEET MSU and THE SPECIALIZATION
2. Video: MEET THE PROFESSORS: Peter Glendinning and Mark Sullivan
3. Video: MEET THE COURSE: an overview by Peter...
4. Video: MEET THE COURSE: ...and an overview by Mark
5. Video: MAKING not TAKING pictures.
6. Video: The Process of Composition and the first element, Shape.
7. Video: FORM: the 3-dimensional aspect
8. Video: TEXTURE: the untouched aspect
9. Video: TONE: aka VALUE, the whites, blacks, grays
10. Reading: ZONE SYSTEM CHART OF GRAY VALUES & EVs
11. Video: LINE: the visible and the implied
12. Video: PATTERN: recognition of relationships
13. Video: COLOR: rainbow of meanings
14. Reading: The COLOR WHEEL
15. Practice Quiz: Design Elements 3 quiz
16. Reading: About Peer Review

Graded: Design Elements 1 quiz
Graded: Design Elements 2 Quiz
Graded: DESIGN ELEMENTS Final QUIZ
Graded: One Content, One Design Element

WEEK 2


Composition means putting the Elements of Design together!



Most successful photographs are the result of impactful content, control of exposure and focus, and well designed composition. When you finish the courses and lessons in this Module, you will have the understanding of fundamental principles in those essential areas to begin creating expressions you can be proud of. From the knowledge you gained in Module 1, you can now identify Design Elements that are most significant to you and your content. In this Module, you will learn fundamental principles of organization of those Elements through the purposeful communication that comes from Composition.


7 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: VISUAL WEIGHT: attraction and interest
2. Video: Composition is a "map," balance is bike riding
3. Video: Perspective: Drawing us through space
4. Video: Symmetry: a bike ride straight ahead
5. Video: ASYMMETRY: turning on a bicycle
6. Video: Peter discusses some photographs and compositions
7. Video: Mark discusses some photographs and compositions
8. Reading: About Peer Review

Graded: Composition Quiz
Graded: Symmetry and Asymmetry response

WEEK 3


Photo Editing Fundamentals 1.0: "Workflow," from Exposure through Adobe™ Lightroom™



In this Module you will learn the fundamental elements of "post-production workflow," for image files created with a digital camera. We will cover the fundamental aspects of the widely accepted software tool Lightroom™. Whether you are using a point-and-shoot, mirrorless, compact, or DSLR camera, the resulting pictures are of limited value unless they are organized and edited beyond the camera in a computer-based environment. You will begin learning the "best practices" involved in using the most widely accepted software platforms, and have a foundation from which you can begin the journey of growth in skills in future efforts and studies of "post-production."


14 videos, 1 reading, 4 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Address: Free Trial Version of Adobe Lightroom
2. Video: Lightroom Interface: Modules,Panels,and Workspace
3. Video: Lightroom: Importing Files, Catalogues, Naming Files & Directories
4. Practice Quiz: Lightroom: Overview, Importing, Organizing - Summative Quiz
5. Video: LibMod: Nav,Cat,Folders,Collec,PubServ
6. Video: LibMod: Quick Dev,Keywords, List, Meta
7. Practice Quiz: Lightroom: Library Module - the Panels - Summative Quiz
8. Video: LibMod:Grid,Loupe,Compare,Rename, Find
9. Video: LibMod: Rank,Rate; Collections; Metadata
10. Practice Quiz: Lightroom: View Modes, Ranking, Flags, Collections, Meta - Practice Quiz
11. Video: DevMod-Navigator, Presets,Snapshots,History,Collection
12. Video: DevMod-Histogram-Crop,Spot Rm,Red Eye,GradFilt,RadFilt,AdjBrush
13. Video: DevMod-WB,TempTint,Exposure,Contrast,HiLight,Shadow,Whites, Blks;Clar,Vib,Sat
14. Video: DevMod-ToneCurv,HSL-Color-B&W,SplitTone,Detail,LensCor,Efx,CamCalb
15. Practice Quiz: Developer Module 2 - Summative Quiz 2
16. Video: DevMod-Exporting,ImageSizing
17. Video: Overview: Remaining Modules
18. Video: Map, Book Modules
19. Video: Slideshow,Web Modules

Graded: Lightroom: Library Module - Summative Quiz
Graded: Developer Module - Summative Quiz 1
Graded: Lightroom: the Develop Module - Overall Summative Quiz
Graded: Lightroom - The Remaining Modules -Summative Quiz

WEEK 4


Photo Editing Fundamentals 2.0: SmartPhone Apps



Whether you are an iPhone, Galaxy, or other SmartPhone user, you know you have an exciting device to use as a camera, but you probably feel that you are not using all of its potential. You will learn how the addition of solid Photo "APPs" can extend the capability of your device, turning it into a powerful photo-editing computer as well as a more sophisticated camera.


2 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Alternative Post-processing - Pixlr Overview,Web Ed
2. Video: Pixlr Pro-Desktop - VSCO-Pixel - Camera+ - Pixart
3. Reading: About Peer Review

Graded: SmartphoneApps - Processing - Summative Quiz
Graded: Picture Your World with a Smartphone or Tablet!