Here is a selection of photography courses in Sussex that I have previously run. I am really proud to have been providing courses with Acres Adult Community College in Uckfield for the last 8 years, and PACA Community College in Brighton for the last five years.
I am now also running courses privately at the Kings Weald Community center Burgess Hill and Heene Community Center in Worthing, with plans to develop some courses in Lewes for 2024.
Please use the form at the bottom of the page to enquire about current courses. New photography courses in Sussex will begin in September!
The above image by Richard Avedon used as an educational tool
Creative Photography: Understanding Composition
There are those that believe creative vision cannot be taught, and it is something you either have or don’t have. I do not believe this, and although in my experience some people find this easier than others, I believe that creative vision can be taught. Through practise, experience and by learning some basic elements of composition.
On this course you will learn about and demonstrate how to use the four key elements of an image construction; The Brightest Element,the Most Saturated Colour, the Area of Highest Contrast & the Human Face
&
Demonstrate how to use five “rules” of composition; Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines. Symmetry. Pattern & Colour
This 10 week photography course is available via Acres in Uckfield and will be available as a day course in the Autumn term, starting in September.
The above image is a response to the light and exposure challenge by student Michael A.
Creative Photography: Understanding Light
Understanding light is a key factor in creating a successful image. It determines not only brightness and darkness, but also tone, mood, and atmosphere and has an extraordinary power to create emotions in a photo. Learn how the settings on your camera can be used to control and manipulate light correctly in order to get the best colour, depth and meaning into your photographs.
The techniques you will learn during the course are related to the topic of light, but students can also expect to develop a technical understanding of their camera as the course progresses.
Suitable to keen beginner photographers and those that have completed the Understanding Composition course.
This 10 week photography course is available via Acres in Uckfield and will be available as a day course in the Spring term 2025, starting in January.
The above image courtesy of Student Lianne D.
Creative Genre Photography
The course sets out to introduce you all to some of the core genres of photography.
We will be studying; Still Life & the Found Still Life, Architecture Photography, Wildlife and Sports Photography, Abstract Photography, Landscape Photography and Landscape interventions And finally Street Photography.
We will look at the various camera techniques and compositional styles that photographers use to elevate the genres. A great course to develop creativity and hone camera skills.
Suitable to keen beginner photographers and those that have completed the Understanding Light, and Understanding Composition courses.
This 10 week photography course is available via Acres in Uckfield and will be available as a day course in the Summer term 2025, starting in April.
The above image was made by student Michelle O.
Creative Photography: Architectural Photography
On this course we learn from the techniques of some of the great architecture photographers from the 20th century. We learn how to compose to give a sense of scale, how to exposure to remove unwanted clutter from out compositions as well as give a sense of the monumental to our building. We lean how to make the most of different focal lengths to make images of details of the buildings as well as correcting the distortions of wide angle lenses.
A 10 week course Available online!
Image by student Blanaid
AAL Digital Photography for Beginner's Part 1
This course is aimed at DSLR and mirrorless camera users. Over the course you will learn a range of important camera techniques as well as core compositional rules to add creativity and variety to your photography. You will also undertake fun and creative class assignments with plenty of hands on learning, with the added opportunity for a couple of lessons on location to practise your skills in the field! Some home assignments will also be set and you will be supported in developing a folio of creative images over the duration of the course.
You will learn:
- How to use the camera in program mode.
- How to use the TV/S mode to create fantastic motion effects.
- How to use the Av/A mode to control depth of field for creative image making.
This 10 week photography course is available via AAL in Mile Oak, Brighton and will be available as a day course in the Autumn term, starting in September.
The above image was made during my beginners course by student Jackie.
AAL Digital Photography for Beginner's Part 2
This course is aimed at DSLR and mirrorless camera users, ideally those that have completed part one of the course but newcomers are welcome and full technical support will be given. Over the course you will learn a range of important camera techniques as well as core compositional rules to add creativity and variety to your photography. You will also undertake fun and creative class assignments with plenty of hands on learning, with the added opportunity for a couple of lessons on location to practise your skills in the field! Some home assignments will also be set and you will be supported in developing a folio of creative images over the duration of the course.
You will learn:
- How to use the camera in manual mode, and when.
- How to use the exposure triangle
- How to use different types of metering.
This 10 week photography course is available via AAL in Mile Oak, Brighton and will be available as a day course in the Autumn term, starting in January 2025.
The above image is by student Naomi
AAL Digital Photography for Beginner's Part 3
This course is aimed at DSLR and mirrorless camera users, ideally those that have completed part one and two of the course but newcomers are welcome and full technical support will be given.
this course focuses on fine tuning the techniques used on previous courses and focusing on composition. No matter how much money you spend on a camera, there will never be a composition button!
You will learn:
- How to apply the rule of thirds
- How to apply compositional rules such as leading lines, Frame within Frame, composing with colour and tones, etc.
- You will also learn how some of the great photographers of the 20th century used composition to make such arresting images.
This 10 week photography course is available via AAL in Mile Oak, Brighton and will be available as a day course in the Summer term, starting in April 2025.
The above image was made by student Michael H..
Creative Photography: Minimalism and the Drama of the Mundane
This project will really take on the idea of keeping your photography simple and how to get the absolute most out of your subject matter.
A further development from what was studied on the lines shape and form project as well as a continuation of some of the core elements, studied at in the abstraction course.
A really fun and creative approach to photography using a unique approach.
This photography course is in Sussex.
Available Online!
The above image was made by student Bernard S.
Creative Photography: Wrong!
“When making a portrait of a person it is best to show the whole face!”
Ivars Gravlejs
Based on a project by Ivars Gravlejs, this project sets out to see if we can make successful images that break the rules of photography on purpose.
Imagine doing a project that you send into “snappy snaps” to get developed back in the days of film, AND every single image comes back with a warning stickers on it.
BUT they look great! That is the plan. To actively thwart the rules and proving how well you have come to know them!
Available Online!
The above image was made during my photography and the filmic course by student Kevin.
Creative Photography: Photography and the Filmic
This is one of my favourite courses to teach, and cobines my love of cinema and photography. During the course you will learn techniques developed in cinema to compose you images, such as the dutch tilt. You will learn the art of composing in a 16:9 aspect ratio as well as how to colour grade your images. But most creative of all we will look at how we can create narratives and stories within out photography. Either in the single frame or in our photographs as a series. A really fun and creative approach to photography using a unique approach.
This photography course is in Sussex. And available online!
Available Online!
The above image copyright Marcus Schaefer
Creative Photography: Understanding Line, Shape and Form
Understanding how line, shape and form influences our photography can make for some new ways of thinking about composition and picture making. This course is ideal for keen photographers seeking some new creative direction and finding themselves bored of the usual compositional suspects such as the rule of thirds and leading lines.A great opportunity to experiment with different ways of picture making and adding some new photographic tools to your arsenal!
Available Online !
For more information on my current courses please follow the link.
Please complete the form opposite to register interest in any of my courses. I look forward to hearing from you.