Online Photography Course
Understanding Digital Photography

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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Susan and Neil Silverman
Susan and Neil Silverman have taught photography extensively for over ten years. Their enthusiasm and hands-on approach make them a popular teaching team with both online courses and on-location workshops. Their knowledge and experience encompass both digital media and film (35mm, medium and large format).

Susan's and Neil's work appears in publications for Sierra Club, Microsoft, Air Canada and numerous magazines and other publications. Their work is represented by Getty Images, Fogstock Images, and the California State Park System. Design firms represent their work nationally and internationally.They're in demand as speakers for professional photographic organizations such as Professional Photographers of America and are professional members of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.

Their expertise includes landscape, macro and wildlife photography and their background in commercial work gives them added insight into all forms and aspects of light.

In their BetterPhoto online courses, Susan and Neil will help you put gusto, snap and zing into your images so that your own experience and knowledge base will be enriched. We know you'll find their online photography courses to be fun and exciting.

A Couple of Photos by the Instructor

© Susan and Neil Silverman

© Susan and Neil Silverman

A Couple of Student Photos

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

© Steven G. Taylor

© Steven G. Taylor

Course Outline

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Lesson 1: Camera Wheels, Deals, and Decisions
Working with the many choices available on your camera, what is the purpose and potential of these functions? We also talk about the various file formats and their importance and differences. Plus a "Good to Go" compositional tip-on how to make a stronger image.
Assignment: Two challenges - on working with the LCD monitor and really learning about your lens or lenses. Also, submit a fun "Good to Go" image too!

Lesson 2: Aperture - What, Why, Where, and How
Using your aperture function to get good exposures, plus learning how it can open the door for some creative compositions by understanding depth of field. Also, another "Good to Go" compositional tip.
Assignment: Work in either manual or aperture priority (av) mode - not program mode. Also, submit a fun "Good to Go" image too!

Lesson 3: Shutter Speed - Fast or Slow, Which Way to Go?
Learn how to not only affect your exposure and control your exposure through using your shutter speed menu, but also you will learn how to make an ordinary image into an extraordinary image by affecting the speed of the shutter. You will have great creative control at your fingertips. Another "Good to Go" compositional thought is included.
Assignment: Work in either Shutter Priority or TV Mode, or in Manual. Don't forget: If you are working in Manual mode, you will need to consider the aperture also to get a well-exposed image. Also, submit a fun "Good to Go" image too!

Lesson 4: White Balance - It Can Be a Real Juggling Act
In the old days, we were pretty much limited to photography under the conditions of the film in the camera. The white balance choices in digital make your camera ready for any situation. Understand the differences and when each choice is appropriate for what condition. Another "Good to Go" compositional thought to chew on.
Assignment: We really want you to become familiar with the range of effect from controlling your white balance. Also, submit a fun "Good to Go" image too!

Lesson 5: ISO Settings and their Possibilities
By controlling your camera's ISO settings, your photographic potential is expanded dynamically. You can change your ISO as your light changes - just like night and day! Learn about noise and low-light photography. Also, A "Good to Go" compositional tip.
Assignment:  Experiment with ISO, and try your hand at nighttime photography. Also, submit a fun "Good to Go" image too!

Lesson 6: Focus - To Be or Not To Be - Sharp
Understanding focus and how it relates to your image and the potential for creating dramatic images through selective focus. "Good to Go" compositional idea in lesson.
Assignment:  This is really an exercise for you to understand the ramifications of where you focus. Choose a scene and then work with your most telephoto lens or your most normal  and have it as wide open an aperture that you can (the smallest number, largest opening). You will have as little depth of field as possible by doing the above. Then focus on different parts of your scene (the foreground object and then the most distant object). Send in your most extreme variances. Also, work for a pleasing image with a soft, out of focus foreground. Also, submit a fun "Good to Go" image too!

Lesson 7: Flash
How to make the most from your flash, but not letting the flash make a mess of your image. A flash is like a spice, just the right amount can make a wonderful image. Of course, a "Good to Go" compositional thought is included.
Assignment: Experiment with flash. In order to become more familiar with your flash, we want you to determine just how far your flash output will reach (when it is set at normal power, no plus or minus compensation is to be dialed into the flash).  Also, photograph a friend with the flash. Also, submit a fun "Good to Go" image too!

Lesson 8: To Shop or Not to Shop
This lesson details and explains a potential shopping list of accessories and other photo gear you may want some day. It will give you an understanding of the many items available for your camera and help you to decide if there might be something your may or may not want in the future. You will be better informed before you enter a camera store and be less vulnerable to a saleperson's agenda. "Good to Go" tip included.
Assignment: This final challenge is one of self-direction. We want you to send in five images. Of course, one is just your "Good to Go" fun image for fun. The other four are for you to determine your own self-assignment.

Review: Voting on Best Work

 

© Susan and Neil Silverman

© Susan and Neil Silverman

Requirements

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Digital camera with aperture control. Tripod. Practically any image-editing software.

FAQ

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This class is perfect for everyone from the total beginner to the "serious hobbyist" or advanced amateur. Advanced digital photographers will likely already know many of the topics we cover, but you are welcome to join us anyway.  

That depends. Does your camera allow you to control aperture and shutter speed? If so, great! But without this kind of control, you will likely find the camera insufficient for this course.  

Not really. We will touch on a few topics such as panoramic stitching but, overall, this course is not about Photoshop or digital imaging software.  

© Susan and Neil Silverman

© Susan and Neil Silverman

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.

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.

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.

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