PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE FOR BEGINNERS

UNDERSTAND PHOTOGRAPHY — DON’T JUST LOOK

This course is for beginners who want to learn how to work with a camera consciously.

It’s about technique and feeling at the same time — the play of light, perspective and the moment.

Step by step, you’ll learn what aperture, shutter speed and ISO really do,

and how composition, colour and mood make an image come alive.

By the end, you won’t just see better — you’ll understand why a good photo works.

REQUIREMENTS:

Camera:

  • DSLR or mirrorless system camera

At-home software:

For PC: Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Darktable (free)


PRICE:

CHF 360 per person

GROUP SIZE:

5–6 participants

AGE:

Adults / kids from 12 (groups will be split by age)

INCLUDED:

1 drink / course duration

REGISTER NOW

THE PROGRAMME

WEEK 1

3 hours — Basics & understanding your camera

WHAT THE CAMERA “SEES” (LIGHT, APERTURE, SHUTTER SPEED, ISO)
  • Camera types & lenses: what’s what?
  • Manual mode vs. auto
PRACTICAL EXERCISES
  • Take 6 photos in auto mode → analyse: what do I like
  • Exercise: try different perspectives (worm’s-eye view, bird’s-eye view, frontal, diagonal)
EXPOSURE & CREATIVE CONTROL

Theme: step out of auto mode!

  • The exposure triangle:
  • Aperture (f/2.8–f/11): depth of field
  • Shutter speed (e.g. 1/1000s–1/30s): freeze or show motion
  • ISO (100–3200+): light sensitivity
PRACTICAL EXERCISES
  • Same subject with wide vs. closed aperture → compare depth of field
  • Photograph moving subjects with fast vs. slow shutter speeds
HOMEWORK

3 series of 3 images each — one focusing on aperture, one on shutter speed, one on ISO.

WEEK 2

3 hours — Image design & composition

THEME: WHY DOES A GOOD IMAGE LOOK GOOD?
  • Golden ratio / rule of thirds
  • Leading lines, frames, contrasts
  • Negative space & minimalism
  • Colour harmony & image impact
PRACTICAL EXERCISES
  • Photograph one subject with different framings
  • Look for lines (roads, fences, shadows) and use them as design elements
HOMEWORK
  • Compose 5 images using the rule of thirds + 1 image that breaks the rule on purpose
LIGHT, COLOUR & EDITING

Theme: learning to see light & basic post-processing

  • Natural light (e.g. midday sun, shade, window light)
  • White balance & colour mood
  • First steps in editing (e.g. with Adobe Photoshop):
  • Brightness, contrast, colour
  • Crop and straightening
PRACTICAL EXERCISES
  • Photograph one subject at three times of day
  • Make minimal edits to 3 photos and compare with the originals
WORKSHOPS
EXHIBITIONS
PROJECTS

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