
This lecture serves as a welcome and briefly outlines the 5 most important sections in the course.
This lecture gives you a full overview of the course so that you know exactly what to expect from each section.
Upgrading your equipment can be a daunting process! In this lecture I discuss the importance first mastering the gear that you already own and then doing a proper upgrade for entry-level to mid-range camera gear.
After completing this lecture you'll know the different types of teleconverters and extenders available on the market and, most importantly, with which lenses you can use them.
After completing this lecture you'll know the difference between UV filters, Polarizing filters, Neutral Density filters and Graduated ND filters, and when to use them.
In this lecture I show you some useful camera accessories that I carry in my camera bag and what I use them for.
After completing this lecture you'll be able to purchase the right camera bag for your gear.
This lecture introduces you to the Camera Settings section and briefly discusses the step up from being a beginner to an intermediate level photographer.
After completing this lecture you'll know the advantages and disadvantages of taking either Jpeg or RAW files, and understand why it is important for you to switch over to RAW as an intermediate level photographer.
This lecture serves as a revision of your camera's shooting modes and how they function - something that's crucial before we tackle the next four very technical lectures.
"Aperture" is one of the most confusing terms in photography. With the help of an Aperture Scale, you'll know exactly to what size lens opening different aperture values refer once you've completed this lecture.
This is one of the most important lectures in the whole course! After completing this lecture you will not only know how Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO influence your images, but you'll also understand how they work together to give you the perfect exposure in different shooting modes. All this is explained by using an Exposure Triangle.
After completing this lecture you'll know the difference between Evaluative/Matrix metering, Center-weighted metering and Spot metering, and when to use each one. You'll also be able to use Exposure Compensation as an alternative to Metering Mode when trying to get the perfect exposure.
After completing this lecture you'll be able to calculate the exact depth of field (in inches/centimeters) for a specific setup (camera, lens, f-value and distance to subject) with the help of a very handy smartphone app. I also explain how depth of field is spread in front of and behind your focus point.
After completing this lecture you'll know which auto focus mode and how many focus points to use for either still-standing or moving subjects.
After completing this lecture you'll know the importance of selecting a lower maximum ISO value for Auto ISO.
After completing this lecture you'll know exactly what a hot shoe flash is and how valuable it is for anyone who loves taking portrait photos or who does a lot of indoor photography.
After completing this lecture you'll know how to use a hot shoe flash remotely with the help of transmitters and transceivers, and how they allow you to light up subjects creatively in the field.
This lecture discusses some advantages and disadvantages of studio photography and briefly looks at what gear you need to set up a studio.
This lecture is a brief introduction to the Creativity section of this course.
After completing this lecture you'll be able to isolate your subjects even better than before by not only taking into consideration the background, but also the foreground when composing your images.
After completing this lecture you'll be able to use long exposures to either capture movement or light in your photographs to create very creative images that are not possible at the faster shutter speeds that beginners instinctively photograph at.
After completing this lecture you'll be able to use small apertures to create stunning sun stars in your photographs.
Photography is supposed to be fun and there's nothing quite as fun as painting with light! I'll show you exactly how to use an external light source to write words or draw pictures in your images in very dark conditions.
Although this is an advanced photographic technique, I briefly show you how to overcome very high contrast issues by using Adobe Lightroom Classic CC's HDR-function.
By flipping your reflection photos vertically, you can create some very interesting creative compositions!
Please read this lecture article before watching the rest of the lectures in this section. It basically emphasises the fact that what used to be called "Lightroom CC" is now simply called "Lightroom" and what used to be called "Lightroom Classic CC" is now called "Lightroom Classic".
This lecture discusses the value of Adobe Lightroom as the best post-processing software for photographers and explains the difference between Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic CC, which this section covers.
In this lecture I show you how I store and backup my photographs on external hard drives and how to create a Lightroom catalogue by importing your photographs. After completing this lecture you'll understand exactly how Lightroom works and how it links to where your photos lie on the hard drive as opposed to making copies of them.
In this lecture I show you all the wonderful ways that you can view your photos in Lightroom, how to use attributes like stars, flags and colors to filter them and how to sort them by creating new folders or by renaming older folders.
In this lecture I show you how to export edited RAW photos in Lightroom as Jpegs for either Facebook posts or prints.
<< One of six digital photography courses by Villiers Steyn >>
Now that you’ve mastered the basics of your DSLR camera it’s time to take your photography skills to the next level without wasting any time!
This course was designed as a follow-up intermediate digital photography course to another Udemy course of mine called Digital Photography for Beginners with DSLR cameras, but anyone with a sound basic photographic knowledge and a DSLR camera will find value in this course.
Learn how to turn good photographs into great photographs!
Learn what to consider when you upgrade your camera gear.
Understand how different camera settings work together to ensure perfect exposures.
See the value of a hot shoe flash, which can be used both on the camera or remotely.
Push your creative limits by photographing everything from sun stars to the Milky Way.
Get introduced to Lightroom – the best photography software on the market!
Photographers never stop learning…
Switching over from Automatic Mode or Program Mode to Aperture or Shutter Priority is just the first step in becoming an excellent photographer. As a beginner, you would have been introduced to a lot of new settings, like ISO, exposure compensation, f-values amongst many others, but the key is to understand how these settings work together to give you perfect exposures. And that is one of the main goals of this course – to help you understand the relationship between the camera’s most important settings.
As your photography knowledge increases, so will the likelihood of you wanting to upgrade your entry-level camera gear, so this course discusses different photographic equipment, including camera bodies, lenses, teleconverters, filters, bags and accessories, as well as hot shoe flashes.
Armed with the right gear and settings, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creativity, and this course covers everything from moon and star photography to painting with light and HDR imaging.
Last, but not least, you’ll be introduced to every photographer’s best friend: Adobe Lightroom Classic. It’s the most powerful and user-friendly photography software out there and not only allows you to import, view and sort your photos, but also to edit them and export them for specific uses.
Content and Overview
This course is divided into five broad components: first we look at photographic equipment and what you can consider adding to your current setup; secondly we look at more advanced camera settings and especially the relationship between different settings and how they work together; thirdly we look at flash photography, focussing on hot shoe flashes, remote flash work and studio photography; next we look at a number of more advanced creative tips and techniques that will help you to take images that you’ve only ever dreamed of taking before; and lastly, we look at post-processing of your photos in Adobe Lightroom Classic.
Lectures are short and concise (usually between 3 and 10 minutes long) and consist of either video clips (where I talk to you directly), screen casts (where I show you examples, diagrams or recorded workflow in Lightroom), or a combination of the two.
THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL LEARN FROM THIS COURSE:
What camera equipment to buy next:
Upgrading from entry-level to mid-range level gear.
When to use teleconverters / extenders.
Which filters to use for which conditions.
What other small photographic accessories to keep in your camera bag.
How to choose a new camera bag once you’ve upgraded your gear.
The relationship between the camera’s most important settings:
Jpeg vs RAW files (advantages and disadvantages of both).
Choosing the right shooting mode for the right situation.
Master aperture once and for all by looking at an Aperture Scale.
The Exposure Triangle (how Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO work together).
Metering mode vs Exposure compensation (which one is best?).
Calculating depth of field (so you know exactly how much or how little is in focus).
Stay in focus by mastering auto focus modes and focus points.
Auto ISO (choose a lower maximum ISO).
How to use a hot shoe flash:
How a hot shoe flash works and enables you to light your subjects up creatively and much better than your camera’s pop-up flash.
How to use a hot shoe flash remotely with the help of transmitters and transceivers.
The basic difference between hot shoe flash photography and a studio setup.
How to become an even more Creative photographer:
How to isolate your subject.
How to capture movement and light with long exposures.
How to photograph the full moon and the Milky Way.
How to create sun stars.
How to paint with light.
How to overcome high contrast with the help of HDR imaging.
How valuable Lightroom Classic CC is:
How to safely store and import your photos.
How to view, filter and sort your photos.
How to edit your RAW files.
How to export your edited RAW photos for different uses.
Take a moment to view the course Promo Video, as well as those lectures that have been made available as free previews.
Keep in mind, if you're not happy with the material, there's a 30-day no-questions-asked full money back guarantee! So don't hesitate and enrol today, and take your photography to the next level!
“Villiers's presentation skills are superb and better than anything else I've attended or enrolled in before. Not only is his technical knowledge of his subject outstanding, but he is also willing to share practical advice accumulated over years."
Helgard de Preez – South Africa