Photography I: Basic

This course is designed to cover all aspects of beginning photography. You will learn proper exposure and appropriate use of shutter speed and aperture as well as lens choices and lighting options. You will learn many methods for creating strong compositions. This course will teach you how to create beautiful images - not just snap photos.
Prerequisites: Understanding Your Canon/Nikon DSLR
Equipment Needed: DSLR Camera

Cost: $225
Ages 18+
Instructor: Chris Bisset

Summer 2023: Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m.,June 6-August 1 *no class June 20 & July 4
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Photography II: Advanced

This course teaches advance composition, lighting techniques, and personal style.
Prerequisites: Understanding Your Canon//Nikon/Sony; Photography I: Basic 
Equipment Needed: DSLR Camera

Cost: $225
Ages 18+
Instructor: Chris Bisset

Understanding Your Canon DSLR

Are you intimidated by your camera? Don’t settle for photographs that are less than what your camera is capable of delivering, and don’t be left in the dark concerning the vast array of features that you can use to take professional quality images. Learn to navigate the menus, submenus, options, and settings of Canon digital SLRs to your best advantage. Beginning with the basic camera controls and progressing to the most advanced options, learn to unlock your camera’s potential to suit your individual needs. 
Equipment Needed: DSLR Camera

Cost: $225
Ages 18+
Instructor: Chris Bisset

Understanding Your Nikon DSLR

This course is designed to help you understand the available options and unlock the vast potential of your digital Nikon. The course begins with basic camera settings, advances to auto focus, exposure compensation, and flash options, and concludes with customizing your camera for your needs. 

Equipment Required: Nikon DSLR Camera

Cost: $225
Ages 18+
Instructor: Mike Nelson

Summer 2023: Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m., May 31-July 19 *no class July 5

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Capstone Course

This is the capstone course for those seeking the photography certificate and have completed all the core and elective courses. The course will be run as an independent study. Must be approved by Academy to register for this course. Email us at: academyofthearts@samford.edu for approval.

Cost: $300
Instructor: Mike Nelson

Adobe Photoshop Basics

This is a complete introduction to Photoshop. This course helps you unwrap the immense software and explains in detail all the tools, buttons, and menus. Learn tips and tricks for installation, setting up your personal workspace, and how to navigate around the program.
Hands-on lessons show you how to develop, manipulate, and print photographs in the digital darkroom.
Equipment needed: DSLR camera, camera cable or card reader; USB storage device (2GB minimum); laptop (PC or Mac) with Adobe Photoshop CC installed; collection of personal photographs.
Prerequisite: Basic computer skills.

Cost: $225
Ages 18+
Instructor: Bo Doss

Flash Photography

 Electronic flash photography may seem confusing, inconsistent and frustrating, but mastery of even the basics can open a whole new world of photographic possibilities. Flash photography unquestionably improves the quality of images taken in a number of common shooting situations and is just plain fun! The opportunities are virtually unlimited. This course is designed to first to assure that each student understands how to operate and use their electronic flash equipment and will then explore a number of creative applications.  Techniques for fill flash, off-camera flash, rear-curtain flash, multiple flash and painting with light will each be explored. 

Prerequisities: A basic understanding of camera operation, composition, lighting, and other basic aspects of good photography.

Requirements: Digital camera with hot shoe, electronic flash unit compatible with camera, tripod.

Optional equipment:  Second electronic flash unit; light stands and light modifiers are optional but not required for this course.

Cost: $225
Ages 18+
Instructor: Ken Boyd

Night Time/Low Light Photography

Explore the world around us - at sunset, dusk, and after dark. Learn to use camera settings, controls, to create images for time exposure, light painting, activities, night portrait(s), fireworks, etc. Must have tripod, cable release, 35mm DSLR, lens(es), strobe flash, flashlight, digital downloading to show photos in class. Field trips TBD in class.

Prerequisites: Beginning Photography; Understanding Your Nikon or Canon.

Supplies Needed: DSLR, Tripod, Lenses

Cost: $225
Ages 18+
Instructor: Meg McKinney

Summer 2023: Wednesdays 6-8 p.m., June 7-July 26 *no class July 5

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Studio Lighting

Studio lighting can provide the consistent and predictable high-quality results many photographers require.  From tabletop and product images to portraits, fashion and group photography, this course will examine the concepts, equipment, and techniques for simple, effective, and inspired lighting.  Modern LEDs, ring lights and traditional strobes, lighting modifiers and backdrops will be used during workshop sessions throughout this course.  Photographic planning, composition, and design, as well as posing and props for subjects, will be discussed and demonstrated to achieve the best possible results for each image and subject. 

Prerequisites: Photography I, Photoshop, Lightroom, or permission of the instructor

Requirements: Digital camera, lens & tripod

Please make sure that you have a webcam, internet connection, and a relatively quiet area to participate in virtual classes. Classes will be a mix of in-person and virtual. Mask required for in-person classes. 

Cost: $225
Ages 18+
Instructor: Ken Boyd

Outdoor & Landscape Photography

Learn the principles of good outdoor and landscape photography in this class from initial visualization, suggested equipment through editing the photos you have taken. Topics will include composing landscapes, creating panoramas, using multiple exposures, identifying layers of interest, flowing water, photographing in lowlight and harsh light, software demonstrations and suggestions for the best equipment for outdoor photography.

This class meets for 7 weeks includes weekly assignments and 3 or 4 in weekend outdoor sessions at locations to be announced at the first class.

Efforts will be made to make any outdoor locations and times as convenient as possible for all class members. The instructor encourages frequent contact throughout the weeks of the class through email, phone, or texting.

Prerequisites: Students should have a previous understanding of their camera’s functions.  For the first meeting of the class, students are encouraged to submit up to 10 jpeg photo samples of any outdoor photos they have previously taken. No previous SAOTA class requirements, just a working knowledge of your camera’s basics and an interest in learning more about taking better pictures outdoors.
Requirements: DSLR or Mirrorless camera, tripod, computer, internet.

Cost: $225
Ages 18+
Instructor: Cliff Brane

Photographing Exotic and Domestic Creatures

Learn tips and techniques to photographing domestic and exotic creatures, including pet portraiture; field trips may include – horse show, farm, and the Zoo. 

Equipment Needed: Nikon DSLR Camera

Cost: $225
Ages 18+
Instructor: Meg McKinney

Photojournalism - Story Telling in Words & Pictures

Learn to tell stories with images, in package groups with leading, supporting, closing images, accompanied by captions or brief texts. Assignments include events, features, themes, and a project. Discover how photojournalism impacts your life, apply its principles, practices, and cover ethics, responsibilities of photojournalists.

Prerequisities: Beginning Photography I, Understanding Your Canon/Nikon/Mirrorless Camera.

Equipment Needed: DSLR Camera

Cost: $225
Students must be 18 years of age, with a high school degree (or equivalent)
Instructor: Meg McKinney