MENTORSHIP SYLLABUS

This session is all about you and the purpose behind your photography. Knowing who you are as a photographer and why you are looking to develop your skills is not only helpful for the mentorship programme ahead, but also for your future growth and objectives.

We will explore your current style, what inspires you as a wildlife photographer and where you are at the moment, both my own judgement as well as your own self-assessment..

We will also use this time to map out your short-term and medium term goals for the time we share together. I would also like to understand your longer term goals and where you see yourself in the future regarding wildlife photography. We live in a really bus world and we need to think about things realistically. It is important that this course be tailored to your requirement, else it will fail to achieve what you expect from it.

The cornerstone of any success in photography is two fold - understanding one's subjects and understanding of one's tools. We focus here on understanding the theory behind photography and while we don't want this to be exhaustive or boring we should always have these concepts as a reference. This module is split into two parts:

 

PART ONE - UNDERSTANDING YOUR CAMERA

We cover concepts such as Full-Frame vs Crop Sensor Cameras, Shutter Release, Types of Files - RAW vs JPEG, Digital Zoom and Optical Zoom, Digital and Optical Image Stabilisation (IS), White Balance, Hot Shoe, Exposure Explained, Shooting Modes Explained, Drive Modes Explained, ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture, Noise, Depth of Field (DOF)

 

PART TWO - UNERSTANDING LENSES

Sharpness, Chromatic Aberration, Flare, Bokeh, Lens Types, Standard Lenses, Wide Angle Lenses, Telephoto Lenses, 
Specialty Lenses, Manufacturer, Focal length, Maximum aperture, Filter Size, Lens Mount 

This is a hands-on module that will allow you to explore and get to know your own camera intimately. I allow two modules and 4 meeting for this because I would like you to take time to get to know each of the concepts. To do this, I will assign you with tasks that we will review and discuss during the next meetings. Therefore, this section is broken up into FOUR parts. I will describe these briefly during our meeting but will then assign some tasks for you to execute so that you can get the hands-on experience for each of the topics covered. I will also share my own experiences, likes and dislikes of each topic covered which will give you an idea of what you may experience yourself.

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PART ONE: SHOOTING MODES

​We look at what mode to use when and why we would also switch between modes. I will also assign you some tasks that will have you fixed on each mode so that you get a real understanding of each mode.

 

PART TWO: DRIVE MODES

​During this session we will review the images taken under specific shooting modes and will then move onto when and why we would use specific drive modes. Again, I will assign you specific tasks that will have you set on each of the topics covered.

Following on from the previous module, we continue to explore more topics that will cover how you currently use your camera and how to make changes to improve. Again this module is made of two parts and I will continue to share my experiences with each topic covered.

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PART THREE: METERING MODES

​We review the work you've done on part two of this section and then move on to metering. We look at what metering to use during what situation and why metering with one mode is different to using the same mode in a the same scenario. Again, I will assign you some tasks that will have you fixed on each mode so that you get a real understanding of each mode and when to use them.

 

PART FOUR: EXPOSURE

​After reviewing part three's practical sessions, we move onto exposure. While most photographers will term this as the critical point of photography and would probably start with this first, I want you to understand how the previous three sections ALL contribute to the exposure and I want you to feel comfortable in realising how each change has  affected your exposure. As always, practical tasks will be assigned.

Composition is the single biggest factor in your photo 'telling a story' ability, and this feature alone, warrants it's own module. I will share some of the rules of composition and discuss what works best and when. I will also share my experiences with you and we can discuss compositions 'in camera' and also 'in post'.

 

Composition can be a game changer, and the way your image is framed tells you everything about what the subject is doing, or going to do. It is perhaps the thing that I look for most in photography and being able to identify, use and predict these compositions (and the rules that govern them) have allowed me to look at my subjects in a completely different way. I now look at the subjects not only as interesting in their own way, but also pay greater attention to what, when, and how they are doing certain things, an I ready my shots accordingly. It is also hugely important to know the rules so that you can break the rules. Know when and how to break the rules is an important distinction in your photography.

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Two sessions of an hour each with is a gap in-between  allowing you time to practice what you have learnt and to follow-up with questions and further discussion.

Like composition, backgrounds can make or break a photo. But being conscious with your backgrounds is more than just what you see through the viewfinder. The concept of backgrounds extends to your surroundings. Why choose one setting over another? Why wait for a shot to materialise as you expect it to? What else is in the background and can you 'live with that'.

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Backgrounds is about consciousness and can take an ordinary photo from good to great. Some will say that this cannot be taught and that you only gain this through field work and experience but there are definitely things that you can become aware of and things that you can change today, that will improve your photography.

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Two sessions of an hour each with is a gap in-between  allowing you time to practice what you have learnt and to follow-up with questions and further discussion.

It is assumed that you know your way around either Photoshop or Lightroom. This module is not there to show you where to find the different tools but rather when and why to use them. The way you do your post-processing will start to bring around your identity. There are editing styles for all tastes so instead of giving you the recipes to a certain style I will show you what is possible and which are the tools that are most useful. With this in mind we cover:

• Highlights and shadows

• Contrast and exposure

• White balance

• Masking and Layers

• Dodge and Burn

• Saturation and Vibrance

• Colour editing

• Levels and Curves

• Effects

• Sharpening and noise

Shooting in available light by definition is what wildlife photographers do. We choose to photograph in natural light and rather to understand and work with that light. From time-to-time we may use flashes as fill light.

Available lights frees us from all the encumbrances of dragging strobe equipment around with us but it also limits us to whatever the light is willing to do at a given time of day. Understanding that light is therefore critical. There are some tips and techniques with whatever light you have, and that is what we will cover:

• Front-lighting

• Back-lighting

• Harsh light

• Soft light

• Dappled light

• Controlling your NOISE

• Controlling your ISO

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2 sessions of 45 mins each, with tasks to complete.

The creative side of photography is by far the hardest but also the most rewarding. The success rate is low but the results can be spectacular. Here we explore and experiment with some methods commonly used to create something arty. It is obviously up to the student to take this knowledge and apply it any way they feel will work best for them. Remember, that in photography, there is no right or wrong. Different things appeal to different people. First and foremost, please yourself and everyone else will just fall in. While these techniques may not appeal to all, we will explore the following:

• Low key photography

• High key photography

• Lens zoom blur

• Panning and motion blur

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2 sessions of 45 mins each, with tasks to complete.