Online Photography Course
Eight Steps to More Dramatic Photography

Overview
What You Get
Instructor
Student Photos
Course Outline
Requirements
FAQ

Your Instructor

Jim Zuckerman

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

Join 's Course: Eight Steps to More Dramatic Photography

Transform your photography from mediocre and unfulfilling to exciting and dramatic. This course - taught by famed author/photographer Jim Zuckerman - delves into eight easy-to-understand steps that will definitely improve your ability to create better compositions, use color more effectively, and much more.

Key Features

Why Choice of Subject is So Important
Paying Attention to the Background
Using Color Schemes for Dramatic Images
The Classic Landscape Technique
Photographing cities at Twilight
Thinking as the Lens Sees
Capturing Motion
Shooting Into the Sun

Open to all levels.
Fast track to dramatic photos.

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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Jim Zuckerman
Few people are able to spend most of their time pursuing their passion in life. I'm one of them, and I feel blessed to have had a love affair with photography since I began taking pictures.

In 1970, I decided to abort my intended career as a doctor in favor of photography and have never regretted it. Photography has enriched my life more than I can tell you. My career has taken me to over 60 countries, and I've seen and photographed wondrous things.

I specialize in wildlife and nature, international travel, and digital effects. In addition, I also shoot nudes, photo- and electron microscopy, children, and other subjects that stimulate my visual or emotional sensibilities.

For 25 years, I shot a medium format camera, specifically the Mamiya RZ 67, for its superior quality. When I would lecture, I’d project the large, glass mounted transparencies, and it was really an incredible experience to see the brilliant color saturation and resolution of these slides. However, I went digital in 2004 because the technology finally equaled or surpassed medium format. I now shoot the Canon 1Ds Mark II digital camera with a variety of lenses.

I am the author of 12 books on photography. My work is sold in 30 countries around the world, and my images have appeared on scores of magazine and book covers, calendars, posters, national ads, trade ads, brochures, and corporate promotions.

For many years I've led photography tours to exotic places. These include Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Burma, Greece, The Czech Republic and Slovakia, Spain, Morocco, and Peru.

Don't miss the BetterPhoto interview with Jim Zuckerman.

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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Week 1: Why Choice of Subject is So Important
Assignment: Show comparisons between great subjects and ones that aren't so great - with any subject.

Week 2: Paying Attention to the Background
Assignment: Submit photos of any subject where the background is complementary.

Week 3: Using Color Schemes for Dramatic Images
Assignment: Submit photos where bold colors are juxtaposed against muted backgrounds or where you've used shocking color combinations for drama.

Week 4: The Classic Landscape Technique
Assignment: Submit landscape pictures using the four principles outlined in this lesson.

Week 5: Cities at Twilight
Assignment: Submit photos of any city at twilight or at night. Be creative!

Week 6: Thinking as the Lens Sees
Assignment: Shoot and submit both wide angle and telephoto pictures of a single subject.

Week 7: Capturing Motion
Assignment: Submit photos that express motion - with slow or fast shutter speed, panning, etc.

Week 8: Shooting Into the Sun
Assignment: Submit photos that include the sun in the composition.

Review: Voting on Best Work

Requirements

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Digital or film-based camera.
Ability to control aperture/shutter speed.
Wide angle as well as telephoto ability.

FAQ

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Is this course intended only for advanced photographers?

This class is open to photographers of all levels. We will not be talking about what an f-stop is; this course is more about how to SEE. The course assumes you know the basic workings of your camera and that you simply want to learn how to make better pictures. This course is for anyone who has ever been frustrated when they got their pictures back from the lab, anyone who has looked at their pictures and said, "This is not what I saw! How can I make this photo better?"

What kind of equipment will I need to complete the photo assignments?

Any camera and lens system that allows both wide-angle and telephoto capabilities as well as the ability to control aperture and shutter speed. For the classic landscape technique lesson, you will also need a tripod.

To take full advantage of the bonus Flash Workshop, you need a flash that you can control. A flash that you can detach from the camera will come in especially handy. If you do not have such a flash, you can still learn to appreciate the art.

You will also need a way to digitize your images. You can use your own scanner to do this or you might try using a scanning service at your local photo lab or copy shop.

Can we use digital imaging software such as Photoshop to alter our photos?

Sure, I love Photoshop and those kinds of programs. This course is not about working images on the computer, though.

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 37 reviews

Course Reviews:

5 out of 5

Alex Ermolin
member since: 6/4/2009

This was my first course at BetterPhoto, and surely not the last one - all thanks to Jim. Great photographer, patient teacher, thoughtful reviewer. First thing I liked was the speed of his feedback. He replied to all my mails the next day, and often - within a few hours!

The title of the course - 8 steps to more dramatic photography - is fully justified by its content and outcome. I could see how my works improved with every lesson and every assignment. And I have witnessed the same thing happening to other students in class, too.

While we are at it - another remarkable thing about this course was the atmosphere. It was like a real campus indeed - just more friendly and supportive. I thank all my classmates who I learned a lot from, and I thank Jim for his skillful facilitation of this kind of atmosphere.

I've always thought that a good teacher is far more important than a topic of a lesson. Don't start with choosing the course - choose a teacher whose veiws, words and works seem near to you, and then choose among his or her courses - this should work much better. Well, at least it worked in my case. :)

And I can tell you: Jim Zuckerman is a good teacher. Unless of course you like to be beaten for mistakes - Jim's not that kind. LOL

BR,
Alex

- 9/16/2009 12:08:09 PM

5 out of 5

Craig W. Myers
member since: 2/1/2008

Among all the excellent instructors I've had at BP, Jim is the best. Throughout the course I have appreciated the fact that he not only made frank appraisals of our work and offered great suggestions for improving our images and methods, but offered examples by either tweaking our work or sharing appropriate examples of his own. The lessons were clear, concise, and valuable. I look forward to more classes with Jim Zuckerman.

- 9/2/2009 8:32:23 PM

5 out of 5

Kristina L. Jacobs
member since: 3/5/2009

I just finished this course, the second course I've taken by Jim Zuckerman, and I highly recommend it.

Jim is both an excellent teacher and photographer. Some of the lessons are more challenging than others, but all have made me reach a new level in my ability to take decent photographs.

Thank you Jim and thank you Better Photo!

Kristina Jacobs

- 8/29/2009 6:50:11 PM

5 out of 5

Ken De Pree
member since: 5/15/2008

This was my 3rd Better Photo course, all with Jim Zuckerman. I stayed with him because he is an excellent teacher and I like his style. No question that my photography skills have improved as a result of these course. I still have more to learn, but I am at a higher level than when I started with Jim and this is easily seen in my photos.

Money very well spent.

Ken De Pree

- 8/29/2009 12:32:13 PM

5 out of 5

Judith E. Roberson
member since: 7/2/2008

This is my second course here at BetterPhoto.com. I contacted Jim prior to the course and asked WHAT course he thought I would best benefit from, after reviewing my photos on a website. He suggested this course.

It has been an invaluable suppport to enhancing my photographic skills. I have a LONG way to go, but this course if definitely a first step in achieving my goal of better images. His critiques are timely and gentle, but honest. I read each and every critique and I learned even more than had I only read my own critiques. I would highly recommend this course if you are interested in improving your composition skills! ;)

- 3/11/2009 10:32:25 AM

Read all 37 course reviews...

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

More Delighted Customers:

"Jim, you are an instructor extraordinaire!! Thank you so much for all of your critiques, praises... I feel like I have learned a lot and also become a better photographer... It has also been wonderful to interact with other students. This was a great class!" -Diana Lemieux

"This course truly lived up to its title. Jim showed us his own spectacular images and helped us make our own images more impactful. I really appreciated reading his critiques on all class photos. I feel that my vacation photos were greatly improved from having taken this course." -Kaye Hamilton-Smith

"I've enjoyed this class immensely and I've learned more in the past two months than I ever imagined... I've enjoyed this class immensely and I've learned more in the past two months than I ever imagined... I couldn't have asked for more. This class was exceptional." -Sherri Conley

Online Photography Course Eight Steps to More Dramatic Photography

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
Eight Steps to More Dramatic Photography