One Year PG Diploma in Professional Photography

COURSE CONTENT OF THE CURRENT BATCH

Foundation Courses

Introduction to 35mm Photography:
Introduction to 35mm Digital SLR Photography & Digital Workflow. Photoshop Basics. Black & White Digital Photography.

Light, Lighting & Filters:
An in depth study of available light. Qualities of light, controlling available light and basics of light modification on location, using portable flash indoor and outdoor, essential filters and their usage in controlling light.

Creativity:
In this session, the focus is on developing the Inner Vision, aesthetics of Colour and Design/Composition.
Intro to Studio Photography: An intensive study of the principles of studio lighting and the effective use of light modifying accessories. The session will cover studio flash light as well as continuous light. Lighting for Still Life and Basics of Portraiture are covered. Advanced Photoshop techniques are an important part of this session.

For the above areas of study, the student will be required to work on specific assignments based on the topic of study within a given time frame and submit images as specified in each assignment. Individually or as a group. Feedback is given on every assignment at scheduled formal critique sessions and simultaneously graded. Besides, Faculty is available at the Academy during working days, Monday to Friday, to offer feedback even as the student is working on any assignment and to clear any doubts through this phase. The student is encouraged to take maximum advantage of this free and easy access to faculty to get the best of out of this programme. The student is expected to get a minimum of 70% to pass an assignment. They have the option of re-shooting and submitting any assignment to improve grades.

Mandatory Workshops:

Workshop on Medium Format Digital & Large Format Photography: The differences between a 35mm format and a medium format photography. Exploring the medium format digital camera and its possibilities An overview of the possibilities that large format offers. Camera controls, camera movements to correct or distort perspectives, lens selection, controlling depth of field, etc.. This is an appreciation session. The student is not required to do any photography with either of these formats.

Workshop on Multimedia Presentation: This intensive workshop session offers inputs on various techniques involved in making multimedia presentations for different applications. At the end of the session the student will have a working knowledge of creating a multimedia presentation and will be required to work on a project and present it in a multimedia format.

At the end of both these sessions the student will have a good understanding of the topic covered and the skills to experiment and explore on their own.

Specialisation:

Specialisation is offered in following two groups:

Group A : Product. Architecture & Interior. Industrial & Corporate.
Group B : Studio Portraiture. Location Portraiture. Studio & Location Fashion.
Group C: Nature, Landscape & Travel
Note: The student will be required to opt for any one of the above groups. There should be a minimum of 9 students opting for a group for it to be offered. If not, the students will have to opt for any of the other groups.
This specialisation phase is project oriented. Lectures, slide show, case studies and demos for each area of study will be done in a continuous session spread over four to five days, intensively. The demos for specialisation may be done off campus if at that time it is found more appropriate. In which case the student is expected to make his/her own arrangements for travel to the place where the demo is being conducted and arrangements for stay during that period at his/her own cost. On completion of the demos, the student will work on specific assignments to get a feel of the area of specialisation and thereafter on a project in that area of study over the next three weeks. The student has the option of either working on the project in Ooty or going out of Ooty, wherever he /she feels there is better opportunity and logistical support to help get good creative images for the project. Feedback on images will be given at specified intervals as will be informed at that time of study. Images created by the student have to be presented for evaluation at the specified time and in a specified format.

Optional Workshops:

Apart from the choice of specialisation, the student can opt to study any or both the Workshops offered below:
1) Fine Art
2) Food Photography
(The above will be offered subject to a minimum of 20 students opting for any one area of study. An additional fee @ Rs. 14,000/- will have to be paid for each one of the workshops before 31 Jan, 2011).
At the end of any of these sessions the student will have a good understanding of the topic covered and the skills to experiment and explore on their own.

Seminars on Business Aspects of Photography
This area of study is to help the student prepare for working in the industry. This session helps the student understand the various business aspects involved in being a freelance photographer. The accent here is to help him/her come up with a viable plan for a successful career. This session will be done towars the end of the programme.