Creative Portrait Photography

 Online 9 - Week Course

Aim

This is a creative course on Portrait Photography open to all with or without knowledge of Photography but with an enthusiasm and imagination to create and learn from it.

Its aim is to introduce you to various aspects of portrait photography from conventional works to abstract, experimental and conceptual ones.

Looking at the work of old masters and contemporary photographers you will be inspired to create your own photographs responding to the weekly themes.

It is not a technical portrait lighting course. It aims to develop your creative understanding of the various types of photographic portrait genres and it encourages you to play creatively with ideas around portraiture.

Objectives

At the end of the course you will be able to:

- demonstrate a critical understanding of the basic ideas in portrait photography by identifying and discussing different aspects and elements of a portrait photograph

- demonstrate a practical engagement with portrait photography by taking your own photographs

- critically reflect on the making of your own images and discuss how you creatively see and think about portraiture

General Outline of a Lesson Plan for each Weekly Session

Each session will consist of mainly three parts:

Part I

Looking at your photographs (homework based on the theme of the previous week), commenting on them, suggesting new ideas, reflecting on your creative process, and articulating it into your own words. This discussion will be the core of each session, as it will provide you with the opportunity to extract ideas from your own work, discuss the making process and make decisions for your future explorations on the weekly projects to follow. At the same time, I will be answering your questions, helping you to clarify your ideas, and giving you suggestions and guidance for further experimentation.

Part II

Looking at the photographic portrait genre of each week, based on images by both classic and contemporary photographers. You will be engaging in a critical discussion about them and reflecting on questions about what compositional approach it has been used, what the intentions of the photographer might be, what the images mean to you based on your own interpretation, and any other questions that might be generated by you.

Part III

Summing up the main ideas, which were discussed during the previous parts and discussing the nature of your homework. This will be based on a fixed theme for everyone or on individual themes that each one of you might choose.

Handouts 

At the end of each weekly session, I will be sending you e-handouts by email.

Camera guidelines - what you will need

- A  DSLR or mirrorless camera are ideally the best types of cameras you can have if you want to really explore and experiment with photography. However, all types of cameras are welcome, including ipads, tablets, and mobile phones.

- Desire to explore a new activity and learn something new 
- Open mind to welcome new ideas 
- Enthusiasm to get creative

Refund & Cancellation Policy

No refunds:

- if you cancel within 15 days before the start of the course.

- if the course is cancelled but a new date is scheduled

- if you stop attending it or any sessions of it

Minimum Age

16 years old is the minimum age for participants to attend the workshop on their own. For younger children please contact me.