Course Curriculum

ALL DSLR SKILLS COURSE CATEGORIES ARE NOW CLOSED. PLEASE READ BELOW FOR INFORMATION ABOUT DSLR SKILLS 2009.

The 2008 Digital SLR Skills Course is now closed. For the time being we will leave access to all the galleries and the video tips that accompanied the modules. However you cannot upload any more images and we will be working behind the scenes on the prize draw and certificates for all those who have successfully completed the course. Congratulations, if that is you. We will send you an email to ensure we have your full and current addresses so please look out for that and return your details to us as soon as possible.

Your next step

A new and different 2009 Digital SLR Skills Course has already been devised. Look out for details on this in the March issue of Practical Photography, along with some stories from some students who finished the course. Whether you took part in the 2008 course or not, our 2009 programme promises to further develop your knowledge and creativity with a camera. Make sure you get involved.

• Part 6: Digital Darkroom 

Importing and downloading; file types; essential techniques – cloning, cropping, colour & contrast; archiving and storage; software; calibration; printing; video tuition, project and feedback.

• Part 5: Light 

Colour temperature; white balance; types of light; time of day/mood; controlling light with reflectors/diffusers; using flash – guide numbers, fill-in flash etc; video tuition, project and feedback.

Watch the video tip to accompany this module here.

Click here to view the gallery and read the tutors' comments. 

• Part 4: Creative Composition & Exposure 

Advanced shutter speed and aperture; depth-of-field; differential focus; freezing motion; blurring motion; ND filters; panning with movement; low light/extreme exposures; video tuition, project and feedback.

Watch the video tip to accompany this module here.

Click here to view the gallery and read the tutors' comments.

• Part 3: Composition

Learn the rules and then dare to break them for images with impact and style.

Watch the video tip to accompany this module here.

Click here to view the gallery and read the tutors' comments.

Picture of the Month: Ian Holmes

• Part 2: Mastering Basic Exposure

Shutter speed and aperture; metering modes; exposure compensation; ISO; backlighting; exposure latitude; histograms; camera shake; video tuition, project and feedback.

Watch the video tip to accompany this module here.

Click here to view the gallery and read the tutors' comments.

Picture of the Month: Laura Ringsell