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FIELD PHOTOGRAPHY MAGIC - Long Exposure & Composition (Udemy.com)

Long Exposure Photography & Composition

Created by: Dale Cody

Last updated January 2019

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What you will learn

  • Produce stunning long exposure photography, use sound composition and design principles and complete basic image post production processes to create professional level images.
  • This course is for anyone interested in learning how to take those cool long exposure shots of waterfalls, or any moving body of water, that result in images of soft silky water contrasted against tack sharp land features and elements.

How it compares

Against the other 275 rated Udemy courses in Photography on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.1 out of 5higher than 7% of them
  • Reviews81#198 of 276 by number of reviews
  • Length5.2 hourslonger than 76% of them
  • Last updatedJanuary 2019earlier than 76% of them

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Course Description

Course Description

For many landscape and field photographers, mastery of long exposure photography, particularly in daytime conditions, is an essential skill. For all photographers, mastery of composition and design is what distinguishes the good from the great. In this course, you will learn the same tools and techniques used by the pros to take jaw-dropping long exposure images in the field and then polish them even further using industry standard software. You will be able to use simple, powerful compositional devices and design principles that famous photographers and artists have been employing successfully for decades.

Master Long Exposure Photography, Composition and Post-production Techniques in Order to Take Your Skills to the Next Level

  • Finding and using the right cameras, lenses, tripods and filters for long exposure photography
  • Master exposure and depth of field through the three pillars of light and the exposure triangle
  • Learn the principles of art and design, so that you can use them effectively to create stunning photographic composition
  • Understand the elements of art and employ them as powerful allies in the image-making process
  • Begin the photographic journey out in the field and then go into the studio to learn first-hand the magic of post-production techniques using industry standard software such as Photoshop and Lightroom

Master Key Skills That Pros Use to Create Award-winning Landscape Photographs

If you’ve ever wondered how professional landscape photographers consistently create those knock-your-socks-off gorgeous images that get into magazines and hung on gallery walls, then this course is for you. If you love long exposure photography, but have struggled with it during daylight conditions, then this course is here to help.

The benefits of knowing how both the principles and elements of art can aid you in crafting truly amazing photographic composition cannot be underestimated. You don’t have to spend several years and countless thousands of dollars studying to get a design degree in order to learn and use these as a photographer. This course has distilled the most important concepts I have used over the years teaching design and packaged them into easy lessons you can apply immediately in the field. Many of the most famous artists and photographers of all time have used these same principles and techniques. Now you can too.

Contents and Overview

We’ll begin by comparing long exposure photography during both low and full daylight conditions to see how they each affect the image making process. I’ll use plenty of my own work as examples along the way, so that you can understand my thinking and process more effectively.

Then we’ll cover photographic gear essentials and what you’ll need to create long exposure photos anytime, but especially during the more challenging daylight hours. I’ll give you suggestions for a range of budgets and specs, so that you can find the right combination of gear for your own unique situation. You will learn about filters and the most powerful tool in my arsenal for making photos with extended shutter speeds. I make it all easy and fun.

Using the Three Pillars of Light and the Exposure Triangle, I’ll explain how to manipulate your camera settings for correct exposure, depth of field and image sharpness under virtually any condition.

The section on Composition will take you through a step-by-step mini-course on the Principles and Elements of Design, so that you can begin using them right away in your photography. You will progress far beyond the basic Rule of Thirds to become a master of compositional design. In a stand-alone section, we’ll deconstruct many of my own photographs to see what worked, what didn’t and why.

Finally, we’ll go out together for three case studies that will take us from the field to the studio for some post-processing magic. You’ll learn how to make good photos great and great photos exceptional with an easy to follow workflow in Adobe Lightroom and/or Photoshop. I will share with you my techniques for painting light, color, saturation, clarity and contrast back into your images. By the end you’ll be a master of the histogram, able to fix crooked horizons, replace skies and remove unwanted elements from your images.

You’ll also receive bonus material that will help you choose the right gear for your budget and needs. You’ll get suggestions and links for plug-ins that can save you time and make the post-production process more efficient.

Requirements

A DSLR, Mirrorless or other camera with the ability to change lenses and manually control shutter speed, aperture and ISO

Access to, basic skills with Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, GIMP, or similar would be very beneficial, but not strictly necessary

What Am I Going to Get From this Course?

  • Over 36 lectures and more than 3 hours of video content
  • Learn to take long exposure photos in challenging conditions such as full daylight
  • Advanced composition and design principles the pros use to create stunning landscape and other types of photographs
  • Suitable for photographers of all levels
  • Visual training method that includes examples, animations, illustrations and assignments for easy, fun to use learning and skills retention.
  • Applied case studies where we begin in the field and then progress all the way to post-production image finishing in the studio using various software tools and techniques

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Instructor Details

Dale Cody

A Short Bio

Throughout a successful career in advertising and high tech as an award-winning Creative Director, I have provided high-profile solutions for dozens of global Fortune 500 companies. I have also continued to teach and mentor students from around the world as adjunct faculty, online, and as the first Visual Communications Dept. Chair with the International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) in Seattle, WA.  I am totally passionate about empowering and inspiring others to achieve their potential and live their passion through learning. I have an MBA in Information Technology as well as two design degrees, including a BFA from the renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.

As a published Author, Illustrator and Photographer, my work has appeared in print, online, broadcast and as stock for many well-known publications and organizations. I also love adventure travel and have visited more than 33 countries thus far with more in the planning stages.  Aside from teaching, various creative and business endeavors, I love to rock climb, practice yoga, scuba dive and stay fit.

What do you want to learn?

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Reviews

4.1

81 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Anita Urquhart on 12/10/2022

yes. I like the way Dale teaches, his manner in presenting and using his own photos as examples of what he is teaching. Plus the assignments to put the theory into practice. He has a calm laid back manner yet also authority and shows great enthusiasm for his subject.

By Mg Mg Oo on 3/1/2020

Bad . The whole course is just showing beautiful photos. It does not show how it’s were taken . I don’t recommend.

By Thomas Grohman on 9/19/2019

Dale gave a good balance between actual field photography (composition, lighting, exposure), equipment how-to, and post processing basics, each required to achieve success in long exposure photography. Dale provided excellent example photographs that augmented his lectures. The end result for me was knowledge and inspiration gained so I'll get out and try on my own. Thanks Dale for sharing your experience and knowledge through this course.

By Khaldoon Aldway on 1/6/2019

In the beginning of the course was very boring for me , I have learned some few things in Astrophotography I was hoping to see more videos step by step shooting at the field , this course missing practical lessons , it’s more into theory and post production .

By Geoff Carter on 8/26/2017

As a beginner, I was hoping for more information on how to take actual long exposure photos including overcoming exposure issues and use of NDF's. But there is a lot of good information about composition and post production that I am sure that I will find useful once I actually can take the long exposure photos! Very well presented course.

By Andy Brookes on 8/1/2017

To be able to learn from the experience of an accomplished professional photographer with visual and detailed verbal explanations is invaluable and makes for enjoyable learning. A great course packed with information to encourage the student to develop their skills.

By Mark Bickerstaffe on 11/16/2016

This course elevated me to a new level in my photographic journey. Dale's course significantly helped me create "interesting images" myself and others now enjoy. Highly recommended. His style is engaging and stays focussed on helping the student. The post processing elements were a great compliment to the field sessions.

By David Bowman on 6/16/2016

The title of “Long Exposure Photography & Composition” is a little misleading. Yes it covers long exposure very well, but it goes into wonderful detail on composition and also does a well-balanced job of post-production. The style of the course is very smooth, pleasant and professional with outstanding examples and clear instruction. Dale Cody is clearly a master photographer as well as a gifted instructor. I highly recommend this course.

By Timofey Lychik on 3/18/2016

I was quite skeptical when trying this course thinking that I was pretty advanced in photography myself. But not only was this a great refresher on some of the basics that I've stopped thinking about, Dale does a good job of relating photography to design theory. I rarely think about design as being a driver to good looking photography, but Dale's course renewed my way of thinking when I compose my photos. Dale also goes into just enough detail about the technical aspects that beginners will not feel overwhelmed. I would love to see Dale do a course in astro-photography because he made this course so accessible without making it complicated as some courses I've seen where the presenters just seem to though a bunch of numbers at you. Would recommend this course for beginners and enthusiasts who want to try their hand at long exposure photography.

By T Patrick Leary on 2/22/2016

Great course! Easy to follow guidance for all levels of photographers interested in composing, exposing and shooting in the field. Covers everything from equipment to post-production to get “tack sharp” images. The how-to coverage for moving water and water falls is outstanding! Highly recommended!

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Overall Score : 82 / 100