Curriculum of a Digital Photography School

Introduction

A digital photography school is an educational institution like any other academic organization. The projected function of the DPS is to help learners to get equipped with the technical skills in respect photography. The DPS has teachers, text books, practical sessions and examinations like those of regular schools. The manner in which a language school teaches how to learn a language, in the same manner a digital photography school trains its students how to become a successful photographer.

Photography and Its Historical background

All established subjects that are suitable for teaching normally have a background history. Photography too is not an exception. The first camera was invented by Alexander Wolcott in 1840 and, in fact, the history of photography officially begins with this discovery. From Alexander to the discovery of the binary digital version of the modern camera in 1957 by Russel Kirsch is a long journey in the history of photography. All the facts become a serious concern for a serious student of photography and a DPS normally includes such details in the curriculum. However, more practical issues are obviously the ‘what and how’ of the art and/or science of photography. They are treated as foreground activities.

The Basic Curriculum

A reputed and committed DPS, in fact, can offer quite a big number of specialized courses to its students. From a simple photography to the sophisticated application of the digital gadget, the range is amazingly wide. The number is probably more than one single person can sincerely handle. Therefore, the question of specialization is an indisputable option. Some of the very basic courses offered by all DPSs are as follows:

• Basics : A short term three/four weeks’ course normally offers options like working knowledge of different cameras, lenses, modern SLR cameras and technicalities associated with manipulating light and shade, etc. This course and similar courses normally combine lectures, practical demonstrations, shooting indoors in the studio and outdoors.

• Vision and Style : Focus is given on the technicalities regarding shooting skills involving and demanding some amount of individuality in the style of photography.
• Applied Photography : A one-to-two year long course gives a comprehensive training of the industry and production of photography as commodity. This course gives the student some foothold to take up photography as a profession.
• Video Project : A long term project and course that aims at giving a comprehensive training keeping an eye to the large scale business aspect of shooting and montage photography.

These are only a few examples of activities undertaken by a digital photography school. It covers a wide range of activities – say, taking and printing a photograph required for a simple passport to the making of a complicated film, not to speak of nature photography and event photography. A digital photography school thus becomes a offstage unit relevant for just an individual and for the Hollywood film industry as well.

Rounding Off

In the 21st century the use of digital camera has proliferated and its uses are no longer limited to historical record keeping and up keeping of a lavish cultural life style. The professional and freelancing photography have, in fact opened up many avenues and have involved more people than ever before. Every sphere of life is now covered by digital technology. It is used in defense for monitoring national security, in open streets for administrative surveillance purpose, in museum and library for preservation of old documents, in the examination hall, hospital, private and public properties for inspection and security, etc. It is quite a upright affair if one is in a position to use the digital technique for private and public use – for pleasure and professional needs. All these requirements are addressed by reputed digital photography schools while preparing their curriculum and teaching assignments. With the changing technological inventions and their practical implications, the DPS too has to upgrade its syllabi every now and then.