BASIC
PHOTOGRAPHY
COURSE
Bring your photography to the next level & awaken your creative mind
RM108 80% Disc. RM538
From: Adam Tan
RE: Basic Photography Course
Bring your photography to the next level & awaken your creative mind
All of us love art: looking at art, hearing about art and making a work of art. Almost all of us has an inner drive or a secret wish to be good in any form of art. And photography is probably the closest to art for most of us to engage in this age and time. Through photography we could reclaim the artist in us.
But unfortunately it’s easier said than done.
In most occasions we find that making good images is so much harder than we thought. We felt discouraged thinking that the reasons might be one or all of these:
- To be good in photography takes a very long process of learning, those technical things seem so complicated,
- One needs to have art sense, to be gifted, and
- One needs expensive or professional equipment.
Strangely Reason 1 and 2 is contradictory. One is about the technical aspect, the other is about the artistic aspect.
We share the same questions:
Does one need to have art sense in order to be good in photography?
Why making good images is so much harder than we thought?
What makes a really good picture?
I wish to share my experience with you.
I was very art-inclined but extremely weak in technical since I was young. When I decided to take up a basic photography course at the age of 37, about 25 years ago, I was so worried about not being able to deal with the technical aspect. But I was fortunate to have a good teacher, a respected Japanese photographer who used very simple terms to explain the technical aspect in photography. “To simplify the complex”, this technique of him helped me understood the technical aspect very quickly, and eventually it became my teaching technique too. It makes technical aspect in photography a breeze and a pleasure to learn and use.
When I completed the short course and did a lot of photography in landscape, portrait and other genres, as a hobbyist, I found there were many questions in my mind that gradually emerged which were hard to put into words. To sum it up, it is, “What makes a really good picture?”
I was thinking then a good photo is more than just good composition or good lighting, it should has a deeper dimension. But what is it and how could I achieve that?
I eventually came to realize that what makes a good image…
It took me many years to find out.
I eventually came to realize that what makes a good image is this: the subjects within the frame have to be pleasing to the eyes, and able to evoke something deep in the viewer’s heart. The image conveys a message or tells a story, it evokes an emotion in you. It is as simple as this.
I had developed a successful technique to make such images over many years of being a professional photographer through study, research and experiment.
What’s most gratifying to me now is that all my questions about photography and the search for answers eventually became part of my tutorial in my teaching, and it helped to clear the doubts of many who came and learned from me.
The period between 2012 – 2016 was the most crucial time for me in my photography journey as I took part in a number of international photographic competitions to see how far I could go. I was extremely pleased with the results. Among the numerous awards I received, the most prestigious was being conferred First Place in Places category in National Geographic Photo Contest in 2013.
My highest purpose is to impart and transfer this passion to others. I encouraged those who came to my courses or workshops to do the same. And I’m extremely glad to see many of my students participated in contests and earned awards and mentions from all over the world time and again.
Whatever type of person you may be, be it art-inclined or technical-inclined, it really doesn’t matter.
You can be good at it.
What I wish to emphasize is whatever type of person you may be, be it art-inclined or technical-inclined, it really doesn’t matter. You can be good at it.
What makes photography different from what our eyes see, as I mentioned earlier, is photography has a chosen frame. We have to look for the relevant subjects to put into the frame, integrate them aesthetically so as to convey an emotion, a message, an idea, or a story through the image. To be able to do so requires knowledge and understanding through study, guidance, or some training. The truth is that it’s not about giftedness in art, we could acquire the aesthetic sense & creativity through training and practice.
Learn from expert, we’d be able to acquire the knowledge in a much shorter time than wasting time in trials and errors…
There are people like me who took a long period of time to delve into in-depth study in this area through researching and experimenting to master this art. If we were to learn from expert, we’d be able to acquire the knowledge in a much shorter time. Instead of wasting time in trials and errors trying to figure it out on your own.
When I look back over my 14 years of teaching I am so pleased to see how my experience plays a part in bringing joy to those who came and joined me in various courses, workshops, and the traveling expeditions we conducted. Some turned out to become professionals in this field, some stayed as hobbyists but regularly winning prizes in competitions, some took part in exhibitions and shared their creativity and joy with others.
Most importantly, what pleased me most is the joy the art of photography brings to them and the changes it made in them.
My teaching is a combination of art & technical studies designed to make learning fun & engaging.
It simplifies the complex & train on the habit of seeing and observing.
- I simplify the complex in theoretical & technical aspect of photography.
- I developed a training on the habit of seeing and observation.
- I have a session to help to solve the common mistakes most people make, such as lens perspective, handshake blur problem, images too dark or too blur, off balance, picture too dull or has no story and so on.
The clue of making a good picture & to be creative in doing storytelling.
I designed 2 specific lessons in my basic course:
- The art of seeing - for you to cross the threshold and understand the clue of making a good picture, and
- The art of photography - for you to be creative on doing storytelling. Which is the narrative component in photography, the foremost important element in photography.
The lessons are conducted with step-by-step instructions and many hands-on assignments covering different topics.
“There is no greater joy than that of feeling oneself a creator. The triumph of life is expressed by creation.” ~ Henri Bergson
At the end of the course, you will find that you have learned not only how to handle a camera, but more importantly, acquired a creative mindset in seeing the aesthetic & capturing the narrative of photography art.
You will become more observant, more imaginative and able to make good, creative images than you could ever imagine.
I look forward to seeing you enjoying the art of photography the way I do.
See How My Student Found This Guide Useful
Frequently Asked Questions
Everybody buys the cameras they want for a reason. Some care about the price, some care about the weight, some prefer certain brand or look.
It really doesn’t matter. All digital cameras work quite the same. Even if they look different, the features are basically the same. If you already had a camera, you could continue to use it for the course.
In the tutorial we will guide you how to use the DSLR & Mirrorless cameras. We will show you the access to all the important settings with demonstration, even illustration to ensure you will not miss a thing.
Not to worry about this. It is very much up to you. The pace is completely set by you yourself. You could read back the same lesson over & over if you wish to do revision.
What we wish to emphasise most is after every lesson, try to follow up with a hands on assignment before the next one. To put yourself into practise will definitely help you to improve. Our goal is to ensure you will eventually achieve what you want, disregard the span of time you spend.
The main different is probably we care about the creatively, the artistic aspect of photography art.
What we want from you at the end of the course is not only acquired the knowledge on how to handle a camera, but a creative mindset in seeing the aesthetic & storytelling. Means able to make good images.
And for the technical aspect, I simplifying the complex in theoretical & technical aspect of photography, and make technical aspect in photography a breeze and a pleasure to learn and use.
My teaching is a combination of art & technical studies designed to make learning fun & engaging. And I designed many exercises on different topics to help you with your hands on, the practical training. As I believe theoretical knowledge needs to be supported by practical knowledge.
Everybody starts from zero.
This course is designed for absolute beginners.
Every lesson of us is designed in a step by step basis, with a hands on assignment. It’s highly effective and easy to follow, it’s fun & engaging. All you need to do is put yourself into practise after attending every lesson. And you will see progress & able to develop the skill of using a camera and make good images.
Lesson 1: The Art of Seeing
- What is the Clue of making a good picture?
- What constitutes a good picture?
- What are the elements we need to put into the chosen frame that enable us to obtain an eye-pleasing image with storytelling?
- The understanding of 3 essential elements that make a good picture.
- A lesson on the fundamental ingredients of the artistry aspect in photography c/with demonstration & illustration.
Lesson 2: Understanding Exposure Triangle
Understand the relationship between the three core parameters in the camera:
- The Aperture, the Shutter Speed & ISO.
- How to balance all the three variables that are equivalent in exposure value to achieve a desired result.
- Understanding of the different effects they bring to the images.
- The study on how the adjustment of one requiring adjustment of at least one of the others.
- Attach with demonstration & illustration.
Lesson 3: Aperture Priority Mode & Hands-on Session
- The first mode to advance ourselves from the dependence on the camera’s auto mode.
- Understand how A-mode function.
- How to use A-mode effectively & conveniently and avoiding handheld blur problem.
- Attach with a hands-on tutorial, demonstration & illustration.
Lesson 4: How to shoot in Low light with A-mode
- Understand the cause of handshake blur and learn how to use A-mode to deal with low light situations, through utilizing the other core parameters in the camera to prevent handshake blur.
- Attach with hands-on tutorial & illustration.
Lesson 5: Composition
- The artistry studies in photography.
- Composition is one of the core factors in a work of art.
- Composition in photography is how to select the desired elements, and integrate them within a chosen frame, to make them an aesthetically pleasing whole.
- Good composition requires good balance, once you understand visual balance within a frame, you will find composition a breeze & a pleasure.
- Adam will share his insightful understanding in composition with demonstration & illustration.
Lesson 6: Metering + Exposure Compensation
- Understand Why is a picture too bright? Or too dark?
- Understand what Metering is all about. What is mid-tone, or 18%.
- The ways to deal with different lighting situation with Exposure Compensation.
- The ways to deal with different lighting situation with various Metering modes.
- Attach with demonstration & illustration.
Lesson 7: Understanding Lenses & use them effectively
- Lens perspective is related to a part of storytelling in photography.
- Understand different types of lenses, from Wide-angle to telephoto lenses.
- An in-depth study to understand how lenses could affect the images, through lens perspective.
- Attach with demonstration & illustration.
Lesson 8: Focusing technique
- How to utilize different focusing systems.
- From Auto Focus-Single, Auto Focus-Continuous, Auto Focus-Automatic & M-focusing.
- Each metering system is designed to deal with different situations.
- Understand what is the right focusing mode to be used for different occasions.
- A thorough guide with demonstration & illustration.
Lesson 9: Portrait Photography
- The technical aspect & artistry aspect of shooting portraits.
- How to shoot portrait authentically and naturally.
- How to capture the emotion of the subject & deal with the background?
- How to observe & utilize the light source?
- How to creatively apply exposure compensation for better effect.
- How to use the right lens for the desire emotion.
- Attach with Hands-on tutorial & demonstration.
Lesson 10: M-mode
- M-mode is a necessity in tricky lighting conditions.
- Understand what kind of scenarios are M-mode most effective for.
- Learn how to use Manual exposure mode, and determine the 3 core parameters, the exposure triangle all by yourself.
- To handle M-mode effectively & conveniently require a better understanding in the camera. In this lesson, Adam designed a few in-depth Hands-on tutorials to guide you on how to deal with different lighting environments.
Lesson 11 : S-mode & P-mode
- S-mode is essential when we wish to do something specific.
- Understand what kind of scenarios are S-mode most effective for.
- In-depth study on the use of S-mode.
- P-Mode
- The difference between P-mode & Auto-mode.
- Attach with a Hands-on tutorials & illustration.
Lesson 12: Depth of field
- In-depth study on how to obtain shallow, or deep depth of field through several different channels.
- Understand the things that control the depth of field like Aperture, Focal Length, and The distance between the subject, & more.
- Understand how depth of field could help us to create the emotion, or story we desire.
- Attach with demonstration & illustration.
Lesson 13: The Art of Photography
- How to do storytelling.
- Photographic story is the art of conveying an emotion, a message, an idea, or a story through the medium of photography.
- The narrative component of photography is the foremost important element for an image.
- How do we make our image evoke a strong emotion in the viewer’s heart, to make them pause & think?
- Adam will share his creative and insightful technique in storytelling with demonstration & illustration.
Lightroom (2021) 5 Lessons
- Why is editing necessary & how to use it effectively?
- Simple but effective guidance on essential tools of Lightroom.
- Understand Light tool to deal with Exposure, Contrast, Highlight & Shadows.
- How to import & export files during editing.
- How to edit images which are too high or too low contrast?
- Understand Colour Mixer: Hue/Saturation/Luminance. And how to use it to enhance the ambient on landscape photography.
- Understand Crop tool.
- The 3 basic functions of Point Curve tool.
- What is Colour Temperature & how to put it into good use?
- Edit portrait photography in different lighting situation.
- Understand Vignetting.
- Understand Colour Grading tool & how to apply the 3 layers of colour toning effectively: Highlight, Mid tone & Shadow.
- Dealing with tricky lighting condition & correcting White Balance in a quick & easy way.
- A study on Dynamic Range and Understand Raw files.