Online Photography Course
Creating Visual Impact

Overview
What You Get
Instructor
Student Photos
Course Outline
Requirements
FAQ

Your Instructor

Brenda Tharp

Have a pro at your side - online, all the time

Learn the creative techniques for transforming your images into striking and memorable photographs. Join photographer and author Brenda Tharp for her photography course - Creating Visual Impact - that will expand your vision, refine your techniques, and get your creative juices flowing.

Key Features

Light, The Essential Ingredient
Beyond the Rule of Thirds, Part One
Beyond the Rule of Thirds, Part Two
Perspective: Suggesting Depth and Dimension in your Photographs
Incorporating Line, Pattern, Texture and Rhythm
Adding Impact with Motion
Seizing the Moment
Exercising Your Vision: Ideas and Techniques for Stretching Your Imagination

Discovering the magic of light.
Exploring creative concepts of composition.
Adding motion, moment and design to your images.
Note: Lessons updated and improved!

What You Get

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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.

Learn at your pace, with structure.

Be guided by a real pro instructor.

Get your photos critiqued every week.

Join students from around the world.

Go far beyond any book or DVD.

Make great pictures, again and again!

Instructor

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Brenda Tharp

Brenda Tharp is known for her inspirational and informative workshops. She is the author/photographer of the book Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography that has been receiving excellent reviews. Brenda has also written how-to articles for many photo magazines, including Outdoor Photographer.

Brenda followed her passion many years ago when she quit her corporate job to pursue a career in outdoor and travel photography. She has llama-trekked, sea-kayaked, flown in helicopters and hot-air balloons, cycled, and hiked to create her photographs. Those images have appeared on the pages of Alaska Airlines, Audubon, Discovery, National Geographic, Northwest Airlines, Sierra, Sunset and Travel Holiday magazines, along with many others. She has images included in books produced by Chronicle, Michelin, National Geographic, and Sierra Club.

Her keen eye for design and use of natural light and color are a signature in her work. Her photographs are regularly published in calendars and greetings cards for a variety of international companies. Brenda markets her own stock photographs, and is also represented by Workbookstock.com. She has co-starred in episodes of Canon's Photo Safari television program, and appeared on San Francisco area news shows to discuss photography techniques. She has developed a reputation as a teacher of unlimited energy with a compassionate yet honest approach to critiquing.

Don't miss the BetterPhoto interview with Brenda Tharp.

A Couple of Photos by the Instructor

A Couple of Student Photos

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View photos by previous students. You can make pictures like this too!

Course Outline

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Lesson 1: Light, The Essential Ingredient: Working with the Quality, Direction and Color of Light
Assignment: Make photographs that use light to express your subject in the best way possible.

Lesson 2: Beyond the Rule of Thirds, Part One: Balance, Visual Tension and Contrast
Assignment: Using the concepts covered in this lesson, create a balanced composition and then try to create some with visual tension.

Lesson 3: Beyond the Rule of Thirds Part Two: Dominance, Proportion, Scale
Assignment: Go out and work with the ideas of dominance, proportion and scale.

Lesson 4: Perspective: Suggesting Depth and Dimension in your Photographs
Assignment: Create images that utilize perspective.

Lesson 5: Incorporating Line, Pattern, Texture and Rhythm
Assignment: Choose your design element (or choose them all) and find examples of them. Be as creative as possible!

Lesson 6: Adding Impact with Motion
Assignment: This is where you get to cut loose and try different things, without worry about what you'll get. You can choose from four options described in the lesson ... or do them all for the fun of learning!

Lesson 7: Seizing the Moment
Assignment: Choose either wildlife or people for this assignment, because moments in nature such as rainbows or thunderstorms may not be forthcoming in time to complete this assignment!

Lesson 8: Exercising Your Vision: Ideas and Techniques for Stretching Your Imagination
Assignment: Photograph a concept - your choice (from what is covered in the lesson). And try your hand at other techniques: i.e., expressing the essence of something, multiples, etc.

Review: Voting on Best Work

Requirements

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Digital or film-based camera.
Working knowledge of aperture & shutter speed.
Wide angle, telephoto, (zoom lens OK), & tripod.

FAQ

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Is this course intended for advanced photographers or can beginning photographers participate as well?

This course is open to any photographer who wants to learn how to refine their creative vision and technique. It will be to your advantage if you understand the basics of aperture, shutter speed, and depth-of-field.

What equipment do I need to make the most of this course and do the weekly assignments?

You will need an SLR camera body that allows complete control of shutter and aperture. For lenses, you will need a wide angle lens, a telephoto lens (zoom lenses in the wide-telephoto range are OK), close-up filters (diopters) or a macro lens, and a tripod. A warming filter (81B), a polarizing filter, and some graduated neutral density filters would be helpful as well.

Is is okay with you if we submit previously created work for critique? Or do we have to do the assignments each week?

I would prefer to evaluate only the results of each week's assignment, as the goal of this course is to stimulate you to make fresh images, based on ideas discussed in the class. However, I know that weather, job changes, and other Life can get in the way of photography, so if you need to, you can submit previously created work.

Can I use photo imaging software such as Photoshop?

Yes, but only if you use it as a corrective tool. Adjustments to to lighten or darken the image after scanning, bring back the true color, to sharpen, or corrections to remove dust, hair, scratches that have become visible after scanning are fine. Don't lean on it for too much creativity.

Do I have to be online at any specific time?

No, you do not need to be online at any specific time. The lessons are sent to your email and you are also provided the Campus Square - where you interact with your classmates and instructor. This is also where you upload your photos to be critiqued by your instructor. The instructors are very punctual and respond quickly.

Will I have access to the instructor to ask questions during the photo course?

Absolutely! Students can ask questions in the special Q&A forum set up in the course's Campus Square, or can ask the instructor via email.

Do you offer a money back guarantee?

Yes. We are confident that you will fully enjoy our courses. All the same, for our 8-week classes, we offer a 100% money-back guarantee before the Wednesday that Lesson #3 is sent out. If for any reason, you are not satisfied and let us know that you would like to withdraw before the Wednesday that Lesson #3 is sent, you will be promptly refunded.

For our 4-week courses, we offer a 100% money back guarantee before the Wednesday that Lesson #2 is sent out from BetterPhoto. If for any reason you are not satisfied and you let the ordering department know that you would like to withdraw before the Wednesday that Lesson #2 is sent, you will be refunded within 7 days. After the second lesson has been sent out, no refunds will be given.

If you have further questions about this course, feel free to contact us via the Contact link below.

Only $297.00 USD

What does it mean to "Get Started Today"?

In a Nutshell

8-Week Photo Course
Skill Level: 3 - Intermediate
Category: Composition Courses

$297.00 USD

What does this mean?

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First Assignment Sent:
Jan 6, 2010

Average Customer Rating: 5 out of 5

Read all 65 reviews

Course Reviews:

5 out of 5

By
Bunny . Snow
member since: 11/16/2004

Learning is all about the attitude the student brings to the class. Some students are pupils, they think the teachers have nothing better to do than to teach them. But, I've not found this the case with BetterPhoto instuctors, who are professional photographers, and auhors and have made time in their busy schedules to teach students who want to learn.

I've read her excellent books, and long to have her as an instructor. She's an awesome author, a fine photographer, and I'm certain an excellent instructor, if the student goes in with the right attitude.

I've been waiting a long time to improve my skills and look forward to the filters and lenses she recommends to achieve better photos.

I know from studying photography for decades that what I learned from film photography is applicable to digital. And, regardless, I still have my film cameras, and some Provia slide film in the freezer that I need to use with guidance of how to achieve the best images from that film. I'm looking forward to improving my work with Brenda's guidance.

- 8/29/2009 10:00:53 PM

3 out of 5

Troy Hostetler
member since: 3/22/2008

If you want to take better photos then you should take this class. It’s that simple.

I have some issues with the class, I found the class material dated and instructor recommending expensive filters that she benefits from and I’m sure the filters are fine, but they are costly and if you are starting out it’s clearly not something you would ad to your arsenal. I have taken many classes on BP and found it rather frustrating that I felt Brenda was doing us a favor working in the critiques because of her travel and book editing obligations. These were the cons and I have to say if you want to learn to take better photos, then take this class. I’m sure the class will be updated and it’s presented in a learnable method.

This is a five star class, it’s only three stars for because of the issues I mentioned, but trust me when I say it all works out and you will get some new ways to make better photos when you take this class.

Cheers,

Troy

- 3/30/2009 12:44:19 PM

5 out of 5

Edward Robinson
member since: 9/28/2007

An excellent course, which has provided a focus for my photography for the last 2 months. The materials were clear and relevant, and the lessons built on each other. I found Brenda's feedback on all images (not just my own) very useful. I'd be delighted to do a class with her again, and wish her well with her book.

- 3/11/2009 11:03:13 AM

5 out of 5

Robert S. McKain
member since: 12/17/2008

I took this class hoping to improve my skills in perspective, composition and light. I am happy to say that Brenda’s class provided exactly what I was looking for. Her honest and insightful critiques helped me to see clearly where I could improve and the lessons I’ve learned will continue to help me on my photographic journey.

- 3/11/2009 9:45:24 AM

5 out of 5

Diane Dupuis-Kallos
member since: 12/27/2003

This is my 7th BP course - and Brenda is truly awesome!

- 9/4/2008 5:50:02 PM

Read all 65 course reviews...

Better Than Money Back Guarantee
We're confident you'll be delighted.

More Delighted Customers:

"Brenda is not only a great photographer, she is a great teacher. I am amazed how much I learned in such a short time. She opened up my eyes to a whole new world of photography, and I can't wait to get out there and practice." -Shelly Loree

"My first course on BP and it couldn't have been better! Brenda is fantastic; she doesn't miss a thing. She gives honest, no nonsense (but never harsh) feedback and is very personable and easy to work with." - James L. Taylor, previous student

"Brenda, I had a lot of fun in your class. You are very kind and gracious with your feedback... I also felt your ability to give different people different levels/types of feedback was very good!" -John Grady

"Brenda's patient and personal attention to all of us is truly beyond expectations. Brenda, you have given me a new appreciation for the work behind the "art" and a crick in my back! Hope to learn from you again soon! -Mary Olson

Online Photography Course Creating Visual Impact

Have a pro at your side - online, all the time

What You Get

Instructor

A Couple of Photos by the Instructor

A Couple of Student Photos

Course Outline

Requirements

FAQ

Course Reviews:

More Delighted Customers:

Online Photography Course
Creating Visual Impact