Creative Photography
Tutors: Natasha Lythgoe
Do you want to take your camera off auto? Do you want to understand what makes a good photograph and how to replicate one? Do you want creative input and inspiration? Are you interested in exploring significant photographers and their images? If the answer is yes then this is the course for you. Creative and technical possibilities of photography are explored and applied within a supportive environment, enabling students to acquire the necessary skills and confidence to become competent photographers. Between classes you will be encouraged to complete fun tasks to embed your new knowledge. Your camera will need manual functions (please see below for guidelines).
Suitable for all levels. You will need a camera with manual functions, see below for more info.
About the tutor
Natasha was trained in Fine Art at Chelsea College. She has worked as a photographer since the mid-Nineties and is currently completing her Masters in Photography at the LCC. She will exhibit works in Paris and London in 2012. Natasha is also a qualified arts teacher and has been teaching photography since 2004 (www.natashalythgoe.com).
Testimonials
I now have an understanding of how to use my manual camera mode and much more confidence. Constance
First thing I've done for me since having a baby in Sept 09. Felt free and happy to be learning something new. Sarah
I feel pleased I committed to something and saw it through. Pleased to have learned a new skill and sad I am not coming back every week! Paula
I feel more confident in myself. I feel a great sense of pride as meeting groups of people takes me out of my comfort zone. Anon
I thought the course was excellent. Very well structured. Made a subject that I felt particularly daunted about open up in terms of accessibility. I travelled from Salisbury each week to participate in the class, the two hour drive was always well worth it! Lauren
It did wake up my inner creativity, waking up interests on exciting side of my life. I feel more on track, happy with my life pursuing goals I want do. Anna
I feel inspired to take more photographs - a lovely creative outlet outside work. Rosemary
I feel happier - opened up a new hobby area. I liked the small group size and variety of course. Great tutor and fun meeting new people. Anon
It has made me look closer at my surroundings. Go out to different locations and made me really have to use my brain. Jo
Lovely creative outlet, develop skills for a possible future course. Kelly
I am happier that I know how to use my camera better! Claire
I liked the varied homework tasks and seeing other peoples interpretations. Heather
I now know how to operate a camera on manual. Pia
Made me more confident using my camera. Made me slow down to watch the world and enjoy it. Tamar
Great to have the opportunity to spend time creatively and not work based. Anon
Camera guidelines
Ideally, buy an SLR (digital if you want digital, film if you want film). SLRs are best if you want to really explore, or even just experiment with photography. There are non-SLR compact digital cameras nowadays that take very good quality pictures but certain key features are limited and therefore limit the photographers capacity to be more creative. Having said that many ex-students have completed the course with a compact and been very happy to continue using their compact cameras.
Canon and Nikon are the safest bets. Not because they are necessarily better, but because they are the biggest companies and therefore have a much wider range of lenses, accessories and equipment on the market (this is particularly true if you are interested in exploring the second-hand market).
Try some out in a shop. The most important things are whether you like it, and whether the way it works makes sense. I personally find the menu system in Canon cameras to be extremely user friendly. All the digital SLR manufacturers - Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, etc - make cameras that produce very good pictures and, to be honest, all have pretty similar features. Most important is whether you like how it feels in your hand, it's not too heavy or fiddly and if the menu system etc seems to make sense. So go to a shop and ask to play around with a few, and pick the one that 'feels' best (and you can afford!). If you really like the Sony, get the Sony. Photography isn't as much fun if you don't like your camera.