The Art of Composition in Photography
What's included
8 live meetings
8 in-class hoursClass Experience
🖇️ Prerequisite: Basic understanding of your camera of choice. The content of this class complements composition ideas introduced in the 101/201/301, and is a great fit for graduates and new students alike. ⏳ Estimated Time Commitment: 2-4 hours each week of class 🌟 This class is specifically designed to expand your ways of "seeing" the visual puzzle pieces in the world around us through both theory and practice based learning. You will learn to create visually compelling photographs of ordinary and unique objects alike. Each class meeting, we will learn about and examine examples of a specific genre of compositional strategy, culminating in how to make compositional choices to express a particular concept, mood, message, or meaning in a photograph. We will learn about the various ways that visual puzzle pieces can be combined to generate visual interest. Inbetween our lessons, students will explore the ideas introduced by taking photos to be shared at the following meeting. ✴ Each week's lesson builds on the last, weaving in new material and increased level of visual awareness. ✴ While class provides structure, support, information, and inspiration, the way to learn photography is taking pictures! To this goal, targeted projects are assigned each week. Projects are directly connected to the week's lesson, and are set up to encourage experimentation and discovery, in order to facilitate a successful learning process. ✴ Each week, students will turn in their photos, to share and discuss their experience and any questions around the assignment. They will also share positive feedback with each other as a way to practice the language around the new terms and concepts. 📷 Schedule Class 1: Next Level "Rule of Thirds" - Center-Weight vs. Off-Center Weight Balance Class 2: Dynamic Lines - Visual Pathways Class 3: Negative Space - Layering Emptiness Class 4: Framing - Foreground, Middle ground, and Background Class 5: Interactive Compositions - Diptychs and Triptychs Class 6: Content - Expressing Messages & Meaning with Composition Class 7: Final Project Planning Class 8: Final Project Presentations
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Some photographers and/or photo theorists who we learn about may have photography work or analysis that involves nudity and themes of sexuality, much like you might encounter in an exhibit at an art museum or in fashion photography. We will not explore these in class, but there is the possibility that students come upon them during further research.
External Resources Details:
Padlet is used to submit work and for resource sharing, no sign in is required.
Google Slides & Google Docs & Google Drive are used for project planning and resource sharing, no sign in is required.
Youtube is used for resource sharing, no sign in is required.
Pinterest is used for project inspiration and examples, no sign in is required.
Supply List
#1 A camera, of any type, that the learner is confident using. #2 A memory card + battery/charger if needed. #3 A way to transfer the photos from your camera to a device you can turn them in from.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Bachelor's Degree in Fine/Studio Arts from Wittenberg University
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Wittenberg University
🍎 First Outschool class? Welcome, glad you're here! Coupon code KATEC20 will apply a $20 discount on your first class.
👋 Hello! I am a teacher on Outschool who loves to share artistic photography and human-animal psychology classes! My goal is to offer high-quality learning experiences that support curiosity, inspiration, and understanding. All classes are held online on Outschool.
As a teacher, I draw from many different professional and academic experiences coupled with a background working with and teaching kids and teenagers in a variety of settings: enrichment programs, community initiatives, scouting, homeschool co-ops, public schools, Montessori classrooms, and mental healthcare.
I hold a BA from Wittenberg University with a double major in Studio Art (Photography) & Critical Social Psychology, and a Minor in Art History.
📷 Photography Classes 📷
Learners who are thoroughly and genuinely curious and motivated to learn more about their cameras and photography -- and taking lots of photos along the way sounds like fun, not a task -- are a great match for my classes! I offer a lot of classes that work together in different series, making it easy to expand the learning into multiple semester of classes based on interest.
Classes...
◼️ Center around exploring new ideas in weekly projects, and are geared towards motivated learners who are eager to explore photography with curiosity. Lessons are filled with sharing and discussion: all of my multi-day photography classes class are held in small groups, allowing time for learners to share their work and offer each other feedback using the terms and ideas taught.
◼️ Are very process-oriented and focus on building the visual awareness, confidence, curiosity, and perspective that allows learners to experiment, tell stories, and communicate their ideas through their photographs. Classes aren't about quick tips to get "better" shots -- instead they aim to foster learners' independent and unique creativity. By building awareness of the camera and the visual world around them, learners are empowered to communicate their experiences and ideas through their photography.
◼️ Offer a positive environment where learners can explore their own creative potential within a supportive group. This means I act as a guide rather than an artistic authority. It's important to me that learners connect with their own learning process so they can continue to learn from their camera long after our class time together.
◼️ Support the technical and creative concepts taught with examples of the uses of photography within a historical context, providing a deeper understanding of what it means to make artistic photographs.
◼️ Are all different! As you can see in each class description, some classes are dedicated to learning technical settings, others are focused on composition and visual awareness, and a few are more about fun creative challenges or social experiences. The library of classes supports many layers of the creative photography process. This allows learners to continue with the subject and take multiple photography classes, progressing from the technical foundations to making compelling and unique personal work: figuring out what we each, as artists, want to show, communicate, and direct the viewer's attention to through our photographs. If you have any questions about which class will be a good fit for your learner’s interests and camera, please don’t hesitate to message me!
🐴 Animals in Psychology & Mythology Classes 🌿
From my training in psychology and background working with horses, I also offer classes on behavioral science, equine ethology, and horse/human interactions. My specialization is in an ecopsychological perspective on equestrian and other activities with horses, which means looking at what qualities of relationship show up between humans and horses within those activities. Classes offer age-appropriate glimpses into the notions such as species-appropriate living conditions, the need for cognitive enrichment, ethological understanding of the dynamics of horse herds, the impact of chronic stress and nervous system activation on domestic horses' behavior, and the roles of horse figures in world mythologies and folktales.
⭐ Please Note ⭐
☑️ Videos On Zoom
🔹 For the class group's comfort and security, my default requirement is that all students need to be on camera. Even if your learner is verified in the Outschool system, this is still required for my classes. Virtual backgrounds are ok and encouraged! I have found that this greatly increases the group's comfort level in class, as the anonymity factor in small class sizes is challenging and disorienting for many, and revealing one's own identity while others stay "hidden" is not a good online safety practice. Additionally, in technical classes, watching students' facial expressions, movements, and behavior is critical information for me in order to calibrate my instruction and share advanced concepts successfully.
🔹 If they need to turn their video off at some point due to internet connection, emotional needs, etc., that is no problem! They can communicate that to me (privately, via message), and in that case they will still need to particulate fully via audio. For security, off-camera learners may not participate only via chatbox or "audit" the class.
🔹 If your learner requires any exception to this, please message me and we can definitely find a solution!
Reviews
Live Group Class
$190
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
60 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
3-8 learners per class
Financial Assistance
Tutoring
More to Explore
Making Friends With AutismTrain Your Brain Executive Functioning 12-17Supreme CourtOrnithologyTravel Adventures In Asia Lets Learn Geography History And CultureArchitecture BusinessMexican TraditionsBringing Home New PuppySenora ByersMagic Of Chemical ReactionsCourtney MurraySpeech & Debate The Essentials Of Competitive DebateEspanolSpelling TutorSurvival Marine