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Online Photography Course
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| Benefits: You get direct feedback on your photos from world-acclaimed, professional photographers. You can learn photography in this way from anywhere in the world. |
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Robin NicholsOriginally from the UK, I’ve spent the past 20 years living in Sydney, Australia, working initially as a rostrum cameraman in the audio-visual business, then as freelance photographer. More recently, I’ve worked (struggled) as a freelance writer, then as a full-time magazine editor for eight years. For the past six years, I have run my own small publishing business, Better Digital, producing Australia’s largest-selling specialist digital photo publication. (As an interesting side note, Better Digital is not affiliated with BetterPhoto.com - we simply have similar good tastes when it comes to names!)
With the launch of Better Digital, I have passionately pursued the goal of producing clear, well-illustrated publications written in "plain English". I have continued to develop this plain-speaking style in another specialist magazine devoted almost exclusively to Photoshop, called Better Photoshop Techniques. Recently I added Digital Photo ART to the list of publications. This deals more with project-based techniques for the digital enthusiast whose interests, those with a crafty bent wanting to do something more with their shots.
I have also written several books, including www.imaging, efficient photo preparation for the world wide web (Watson Guptill, ISBN: 0-8230-5855-7), co-written with Philip Andrews, Paint Shop Pro 8: a guide to creating professional images (Focal Press/Elsevier Press, ISBN: 0-240-51698-2), and recently, Paint Shop Pro 9 for Photographers, co-written with Ken McMahon, (Focal Press/Elsevier Press, ISBN: 0-240-51981-7).
When I’m not out shooting, travelling, or writing for one of my publications, I teach digital photography! In fact, there’s nothing I like better than showing newcomers how to fine-tune their shooting skills and how to get the best from their gear. The beauty of digital photography, of course, is that students can appreciate their efforts almost immediately, a fact that fuels greater exploration of the craft.
 © Robin Nichols |  © Robin Nichols |
Lesson 1: Workspace and Tonal Enhancement Basics
We look at the basics of how Paint Shop Pro works. What all the different tools do, the kind of photo you’d use them on and how they work. We look at the interface (that’s the bit that you see when the program is first started), file formats, helper Wizards, the palettes and the various tool bars. Importantly, we learn which ones are best to use as a beginner, and which ones to leave till you are a little more experienced!
Assignment: Find various pictures and use techniques described in the lesson. For each shot, upload both the 'before' and 'after' pictures.
Lesson 2: Simple Retouching, Localized Tone Control and Basic Selection Techniques
In this lesson, we look at the program’s brush-based drawing, erasing and painting tools, as well as how to get the best out of its professional quality retouching tools. Learn how to darken small sections of the image, paint in colour or remove that colour entirely. Repair the family heirlooms or create some neat retouched effects of your own. We then move into a general overview of Paint Shop Pro’s selection tools including when and where you’d use them, plus its powerful selection modifier tools.
Assignment: Use either the downloadable images provided, or your own photos, and try out the lesson's various techniques.
Lesson 3: All About Using Layers and Working with Text
Paint Shop Pro comes well equipped with Layers, a feature that allows us to add multiple elements to one document while retaining complete editability of each individual part. You can rotate, swivel or flip any of the layer elements independently of the rest of the document – and do the same if it’s a text layer or a graphic layer. Learn how to create your own collages and how to use the Eraser tools to remove and blend layers into one impressive photo-collage. Most of us want to add text to a photo, even if it’s just to digitally ‘sign’ our photos. In this lesson we look at Paint Shop Pro’s Text feature. How it works, how to bring picture, logo and text elements together to complete projects like a business card.
Assignment: Create your own business card using text (obviously) and any special effects that you feel are appropriate to that text, as well as importing a picture pertinent to the design. Use the techniques described. Also, I would like you to create your own poster comprising of six shots and text layers complete with three-dimensional special effects were you think appropriate.
Lesson 4: Blend Modes and Natural Media
Moving on from our newfound understanding of layers, learn ‘how to wow’ with Blend Modes. Use this layer-based feature to create truly awesome blended visuals for both images and for text layers! Move away from layers and check out how cool this feature is using Blend Modes with the paint and drawing tools! One of the main features that separate this program from the rest lies in its Natural Media paint tools. These are designed for you to recreate ‘the look’ and actually, ‘the feel’, of using ‘real’ paint, crayon, pencil and even oils. It’s a great feature and produces fantastic results, especially if the result is to be printed onto canvas or textured inkjet papers.
Assignment: Using one of your own shots, add some text and change the Blend Modes. Create at least three versions.
 © Robin Nichols |  © Robin Nichols |
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 © Robin Nichols |  © Robin Nichols |
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