Nature Photography Online Courses

The Ultimate Digital Nature Photography Course

Instructor - Richard Bernabe

This course is conducted in Virtual Classroom 1

This two-part A-Z class of digital nature photography will teach you the very basics of nature photography and a whole lot more. From choosing the right equipment to learning the essential aspects of composition to the basics of digital workflow, there’s not much this course doesn’t cover.

The Ultimate Guide to Digital Nature Photography will be your textbook** throughout the course and will be personally taught by one of its co-writers and executive editors Richard Bernabe.

Start Dates

Session 1 - November 1, 2009 (Part 1); January 1, 2010 (Part 2)
Session 2 - March 1, 2010 (Part 1); May 1, 2010 (Part 2)

Part 1 Only - $275.00* NPN members, $295.00 non-members.

Part 2 Only - $275.00* NPN members, $295.00 non-members.

Parts 1 and 2 - $530.00* NPN members, $550.00 non-members.

* Members of the Nature Photographers Network receive a $20.00 rebate for a net course fee of $275.00 / $530.00.

**Must be purchased separately prior to the start of the course.

Questions about this course? Contact Richard Bernabe

The Ultimate Digital Nature Photography Course - Part One

Equipment for Nature Photography
1. Camera Choices
2. The DSLR advantage.
3. Full-frame vs. Cropped Sensor Cameras
4. DSLR Features. From the essentials to the obscure.
5. Lenses. Wide-angle to telephoto plus a few odd-balls.
6. Image Storage.
7. Tripods and Heads. Everything you’ve ever wanted to know.
8. Filters for digital nature photography. How and when to use them.
9. Accessories. Bags, flash, bubble levels, and more.
Making The Image
1. Exposure – Shutter speeds, f-stops and apertures, histograms, white balance, and more.
2. Image Quality. Raw or JPEG?
3. Focusing.
Composition
1. What is Composition?
  - Framing, Balance and Perspective.
2. Styles
  - Rule of Thirds
  - Repeating Patterns
  - Centered Compositions
  - Perspective Progression
  - Power Shapes
  - Leading Lines
  - Counterpoint
3. Composition Workflow
Light
1. Why Light is Important
  - Light Intensity
  - Color – Warm and Cool Light
  - Direction – Front, side and backlighting.
2. Light Styles
  - Midday Light
  - Overcast Light
  - Chiaroscuro
  - Fog
  - Magic Hour Light
  - Twilight
  - Glow

The Ultimate Digital Nature Photography Course - Part Two

Special Effects
1. HDR
2. Image Stitching
3. Black and White Conversions
4. Blurred Images – Silky, soft water and panning.
5. Multiple Exposures
6. Nighttime Exposures
7. Creative use of Flash
8. Lightning
Making Magical Images
1. All About Landscapes
2. Wildlife
3. Macro
Digital Workflow
1. Importing Images
2. Metadata
3. Raw Conversions
4. Image Editing – Curves, levels, contrast, hue/saturation
5. Dust and spot removal
6. Cropping your image.
7. Sharpening
8. Monitor calibration
9. Final Output – Save for the web and Printing
Scene Tutorials
1. Sunrises and Sunsets
2. Waterfalls and Streams
3. Animal Portraits
4. Coastal Scenics
5. Autumn Color
6. Dunes
7. Wildflowers
8. Birds in Flight
9. Star Trails
10. Close-ups