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Courses >
Digital Photography & Digital Video > Discover Digital Photography
Syllabus:
All
courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two
lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course.
You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must
complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new
section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each
month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure
to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
| Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
In
our first lesson, you'll learn what digital photography is and how
photography evolved to this exciting new level. We'll go over some of
the jargon and terms used in the industry, explore some of the
equipment digital photographers use, and highlight the areas where
things have changed.
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| Friday - Lesson 02 |
In
today's lesson, you'll have an opportunity to really get to know your
camera or the camera of your dreams. Students find this lesson to be
one of the most helpful as they learn about the different features
available on digital cameras, find out what to look for both inside and
outside the camera itself, and explore the different levels of
equipment available.
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| Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
When
it's time to make a decision and buy the camera that's right for you,
you'll want to know how to make your best choice. In this lesson, we'll
discuss more of the attributes and features of digital photography as
you prepare to meet the camera salesman armed with solid knowledge of
what's important to you.
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| Friday - Lesson 04 |
Digital
storage is a big issue, so in this lesson we'll look at ways to address
this aspect of digital photography. When it comes to digital images,
you'll need storage space not only on your camera, but also on your
computer. Today, I'll give you lots of recommendations and guidelines
for getting the most out of your storage space, as well as how to set
up back up procedures.
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| Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
The
ability to edit your digital images is one of the most compelling
features of digital photography. In today's lesson, we'll take a look
at several of the software programs available to you and some of the
many features you'll find in digital editing programs.
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| Friday - Lesson 06 |
Using
digital imagery online is another big part of digital photography. In
this lesson, you'll discover ways you can easily use digital images
with e-mail and on Web sites. We'll also discuss sizing images and
using cell phone cameras, Web cams, and other online resources.
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| Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
Printing
digital images is a different process from simply dropping off a roll
of film. In this lesson, we'll explore the many options for printing at
home and the extensive network of retail printers available for digital
work. You'll also learn about the different types of printers
available, and how you can obtain archival prints.
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| Friday - Lesson 08 |
Film
photography hasn't gone away completely, but digital photography is
making a strong stand at replacing it. In this lesson, we'll focus on
ways camera manufacturers have blended the best features of each format
to give photographers great new ways to do traditional techniques. This
area is changing rapidly, and students often find it quite interesting
to see how quickly digital photography has caught up with film
standards.
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| Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
Scanning
printed images is an important option for digital photography. In
today's lesson, we'll look at restoring old and damaged photos, using
scanners to bring slides, negatives, and prints into a digital format,
and even how to capture an image of a 3-D object with a scanner.
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| Friday - Lesson 10 |
Travel
photography is always a favorite subject for photographers. Digital
photography presents some different challenges and opportunities, so in
this lesson, we'll look at how professionals in the field handle the
challenges, as well as techniques and opportunities you can use when
you travel.
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| Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
Digital
photography has emerged in many different work places. In this lesson,
we'll take a look at how not only photographers use digital photography
for their businesses, but also how other types of businesses have
incorporated it as well.
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| Friday - Lesson 12 |
In
our final lesson together, we'll look at how to compose your pictures
with digital options in mind. There's a lot more to being a digital
photographer than just owning a digital camera, and today you'll see
some great examples of difficult situations that you can remedy with
digital solutions.
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This
course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide
you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your
questions. The instructor for this course will be Beverly Schulz.
 Beverly
Schulz is a freelance photographer and a graduate of the New York
Institute of Photography's Professional Photographer's program. She
teaches a number of classes in digital photography and has more than 25
years of classroom instruction experience. Her writing and photography
have been published in a number of magazines. She has traveled
extensively and participated in onsite photography workshops as well as
independent photo quests. In addition to teaching and photographic
work, she provides consulting services for digital photographers and
clients.
Requirements:
Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins
(two free and simple downloads you obtain at
http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and
Get Adobe Reader). A few computer-specific examples are included, which
are based on Windows. Mac students are welcome, but may not be able to
duplicate all examples.
Student Reviews:
"An engrossing course providing in-depth information enabling me to more fully understand what my digital camera is and can do."
"At first, I was leery about taking an online course and
even felt that I would have done better in a classroom; however, after
two lessons I quickly changed my mind. I liked being able to print the
lessons and study at my convenience. I really enjoyed the course."
"Awesome course! Helped me with the purchase of my new
camera and the overall functionality of it from the start. Made the
purchase exciting not overwhelming or frustrating. THANK YOU!"
"A wonderful class for beginners as well as advanced
photographer's! You simply couldn't ask for a better instructor! I
would HIGHLY recommend this course for anyone interested in the field
of photography! I have learned so much and cannot wait to put this new
knowledge to work! Thank you so much!"
"Beverly is a very good instructor and comes across as a
very caring and considerate person in her responses to all the
student's questions. The lesson material and supplemental material is
outstanding. She can speak to those who don't even have a digital
camera as well as those who may be professional photographers. Anyone
thinking of buying a digital camera or sticking with their 35 mm camera
and a scanner can benefit from the course."
"Beverly, I've enjoyed this course because it seemed that
the lessons were written just for me and the questions of the other
students supplemented the information. Also, no matter how trivial or
complicated the students' questions were, you and Eric somehow managed
to keep your answers simple and to the point. Thank you."
"Beverly, you have provided the best web sites and
references of all. I have a 3" ring notebook chock-full of fabulous
information - all above and beyond your wonderfully written,
informative, and enthusiastic course materials. Thanks bunches!!"
"Excellent class. The instructor gave me all the information
I needed and answered any questions I had. This is my second class with
her and would recommend her classes to everyone -- including taking any
online classes -- very convenient and easy to keep up with."
"I can't remember when I have been so delighted with a
class. The supplemental material alone could keep me busy for several
lifetimes.It goes on and on - a wealth of information. Bev kept it
fascinating every inch of the way. This class is the school's best kept
secret - and what a bargain! If Bev teaches it, I'll sign up for it no
matter the cost. I can't think of one suggestion to improve this class.
How do you improve on perfection?"
"I enjoyed the course & it gave me a better handle on
the subject that I didn't have before especially as I am 78 Does the
college have a next step up course? Thank you"
"I enjoyed this course and it was very helpful in my
selection and purchase of a digital camera that meets my needs. Using
some of the supplemental information provided in the course enabled me
to save more on the purchase of a camera than the course cost."
"I had no knowledge of digital photography prior to taking
this course, and feel I gained a good beginning foundation in this
area. Beverly Schulz is extremely knowledgeable, displays warm
interpersonal skills in her interaction with those taking this course,
and presents the course material in an interesting and lively manner. I
appreciate all of the great references she provided."
"I have enjoyed this class very much. I learned many things
that I can apply immediately. The content was easy to read and
understand. When can I expect Discover Digital Photography II? Thank
You Beverly, your information is great!"
"I have just taken the exam and printed my completion
letter. Only now am I realizing what a positive experience this class
has been. I miss it already! I still need to spend a lot of time using
and absorbing all the information you've given us, Beverly, but I have
decided to keep myself learning and practicing by volunteering to take
pictures for the websites of two local animal shelters of the animals
there who need good homes. Wish us (the animals and me) luck!"
"I knew nothing, really, about digital photography or
cameras when I started. My knowledge was so limited I couldn't even ask
questions. Now I feel competent to choose a camera and discuss the
subject intelligently with people already using the technology. With
the lessons, links, recommended books and other resources gleaned from
this course I will practice all of the methods and techniques at my
leisure. Many thanks."
"I love your teaching style! The quizzes at the end of each
chapter are helpful and let me know if I mastered the skills and
retained the knowledge that I had learned in each lesson."
"I really enjoyed this course and found it very informative
and helpful. Based on other evaluations, I had feared it would be too
basic, but I learned things in each lesson. My only disapointment was
that for a series of reasons I was unable to obtain a digital camera to
work with until the end of the class. Now I want to really dive in and
go through all the assignments again. For me, at the level I was at,
this was a terrific course and I enjoyed the teaching style."
"I started with a digital camera my department owned and
began taking photos for my job. I ended up with my own camera for work
and personal photos. My department signed me up for this class and I
think their money was well-spent. I learned a lot and have already seen
an improvement in my photos. Thank you very much."
"I thoroughly enjoyed this course. The terms and concepts
were presented in such a way that even a beginner in the world of
digital photography (like me) could understand them. I have taken the
Secrets of Better Photography course as well and would highly recommend
both. The instructor and her assistant, Eric, are very knowledgeable
and thoroughly answered all of the questions that were posted in the
discussion area. While I only posted two or three questions during the
course, I always read the discussions and learned from others who
posted. Even though I do not yet have a digital camera, I learned that
I can still take advantage of the digital darkroom tools. Now I'm ready
to sign on for the Photoshop Elements class!!! Thank you Beverly and
Eric for piquing my interest and making me want to learn more!"
"I was already familiar with scanning, shooting digital, and
editing with software. I learned more technical details in these areas.
What I really needed to learn this course taught very well: printing,
inks, paper and permanency of photos for the future. I was pleasantly
surprised by the historical aspects of photography presented here,
giving an excellent context for the extreme changes in photography we
are experiencing today. Well worth the time and money. Thank you,
Beverly and TA's!"
"Just wanted to say thank you so much for teaching this
course....I have learned soooo much in the past 6 weeks. It more than
met my expectations!! I learned enough to feel very confident in making
a purchase of my first digital camera. And, I feel very comfortable
trying out the features. The discussion section was wonderful. I
learned from my own questions as well as those from the other students.
I definitely plan on taking your Secrets of Better Photography course
and the Digital Photography Output course to continue learning about
this topic."
"Just what I was looking for - a how-to on digital cameras
for people who are not expert photographers. The on-line format was
convenient and easy to use."
"My first online course, but definitely not my last. I now
feel well qualified to shop for my first digital camera, and photo
software."
"My husband is or was the digital expert in our family. Now
I can pick up the camera and at least take the basic picture. I
throughly enjoyed the course, and it has been very beneficial to me. I
cannot wait to put into practice all that I have learned. I am also
anxious to experiment with the digital dark-room. Great class."
"Thanks Beverly....This course has helped me to expand my
knowledge about photography and has stirred up my interest again in
this art form........I'm very excited to have taken your course and to
pick up my hobby again."
"Thank you for an informative and exciting trip into the
realm of digital photography! Your course answered so many questions
for me. Your rich and varied list of additional resources are so
complete. I know I will be referring to many of the sites you have
suggested in this class. I love your easy-to-read writing style. You
simplified some of the more technical topics and added your own
personal stories."
"The instructor was excellent - very knowledgeable and
helpful. I have not yet bought a digital camera, so some of the data
will have to wait until I do. But based on what I've seen so far, I'd
like to take the other online course the instructor offers. I was very
impressed."
"This course far exceeded my expectations in information. I
had stated many times that I would not change to digital photography.
After this course I now am excited about entering the digital world.
The course has helped me decide on the camera I want to purchase as
well as other equipment I didn't realize I needed. It also gave me
wonderful hints and suggestions for photography in general. I now also
feel more confident in using the internet. Thank you so much."
"This course has given me the skills I need to continue
exploring photography. I have enjoyed this experience completely. My
job has hindered me from pursuing additional learning opportunities,
but this class’s timeline allowed me to balance a very demanding job
with my desire to continue my education. Thank you!"
"This course taught me exactly what to look for in
purchasing a new digital camera. I wasn't sure I even wanted one before
the course. Now I know I do!"
"This was EXACTLY what I needed to get me started with
digital photography. I'd taken some photos prior to taking the class
with a borrowed camera. I've learned what's necessary to make a wise
purchasing decision this Fall. Thanks for the great information!"
"This was my first on line course and I wasn't sure if I
could learn outside the traditional classroom setting. It was a good
experience and I was able to gain new information. I took the course
for my own enrichment. I feel that I can now make an informed decision
about the camera I want to buy and my storage issues were answered.
That was my biggest concern about going digital (I don't like to
change). Beverly was an excellent instructor and the teaching
assistants were also very knowledgeable. Thanks for a great course!!"
"Very informative and interesting class. Thanks for all your help!"
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
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Join
us and explore the world of digital photography! This course provides
an introduction to the fascinating technology that is catapulting the
photographic world into the 21st century. We'll discuss the basics of
digital photography, equipment, software, the digital darkroom,
printing, Internet and e-mail use, along with commercial and personal
applications. You'll learn what you need, what you can do, and what you
can expect to invest. Whether you're new to photography or a long-time
professional looking for a complement to traditional photography, this
class will provide an introduction to new opportunities for putting
digital photography to use.