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Photography  is the process, activity and art of creating still or moving pictures by recording radiation on a sensitive medium, such as a photographic film, or an electronic sensor. It is also a unique and creative medium of self-expression and an art form requiring aesthetic sense as well as technical expertise. It is a hobby that can be made profitable by going professional by the talented. Photography is a medium for various business, science, art, and pleasure activities. Scientists have used photography to record and study human and animal locomotion. Military, police, and security forces use photography for surveillance, recognition and data storage. Photography is used by amateurs to preserve memories and as a source of entertainment. Photography has become ubiquitous in recording events and data in science and engineering, and at crime scenes or accident scenes. Photographers are creative individuals think and communicate in visual terms. They interpret a client’s needs, translating their ideas into images that work.

List of Photography courses in India

Some of its specialized fields are -

• Press Photography - Photography meant for the national and local press.
• Feature Photography - It covers various aspects like people at home, or life in foreign parts, or schools at work, anything that makes a story.
• Editorial Photography - It is required for magazines and periodicals to pictorially illustrate what is written in the article or report.
• Commercial / Industrial Photography - It deals with taking  pictures of merchandise, exteriors and interiors of factories, and machinery both indoors and outdoors to be used for company brochures, annual reports, and in advertising and selling.
• Portrait / Wedding Photography - It deals with portrait subjects like pets, children, families, weddings, functions and activities of sports and social clubs.
• Advertising Photography - It's area of work includes catalogue work, mail order etc.
• Fashion Photography - It deals with covering creations of fashion houses or advertising agencies.
• Fine Arts Photography - This type of photography deals with photographs which are of high technical proficiency, artistic talent and creativity.
• Digital Photography - It involves the exclusive use of a digital camera for use in various businesses.
• Nature and Wildlife Photography - It involves taking photographs of animals, birds, plants and landscapes. These maybe used for calendars, covers etc.
• Forensic Photography - It deals with photographing a crime scene from every angle clearly to show detail, with the emphasis on accurately recording the size and distance of objects.
• Freelancing Photography - It deals with covering any or all specialised fields of photography. A Freelancer is self-employed individual with business management skills.

Content

The study of this field includes all or few of these –

1. Introduction to 35mm Photography.
2. Light, Lighting & Filters.
3. Creativity.
4. Workshops.
5. Seminars.

Objectives

• To express emotions through photographs in a way so that everyone can understand it.
• To use Photography for peaceful and productive uses for the society as a whole.
• To develop new techniques and use them for the development of the society.

Basic Requirement

Academic Qualification - There are no specific academic requirements for full time courses in photography, however, candidates who have cleared the 10+2 exam are eligible for the diploma/certificate courses in photography. There are many students who learn photography along with their college degree, doing a part-time course. Besides the Certificate and Diploma courses in the field, Photography is also offered as an optional subject for a bachelor's degree in Fine arts. Some institutes offer full fledged B.A courses in photography of three year duration. Besides the academic requirements, having a background in computers or electronics, related work experience and training is beneficial for making a break in the field.

Some of the Institutes providing education in Photography:

1. National Institute of Photography (N.I.P.), Mumbai (Maharashtra).
2. International School of Photography, New Delhi.
3. Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata (West Bengal).
4. Academy for Photographic Excellence [APEx], New Delhi.
5. Ambitions 4 Photography Academy, Chennai (Tamil Nadu).
6. Fortune Institute of Communication and Television, New Delhi.
7. Sri Aurobindo Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.
8. Vineye Photo School, Dadar (W) (Maharashtra).
9. Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh).
10. Indian Institute for Development in Education and Advanced Studies, Navrangpura (Gujarat).

Personal Traits - Being a creative medium, photography requires more of inherent talent for success than formal training. However training hones the inherent skills and help to shine in this competitive field. One should have a definite know how of the angle, lighting, latest equipments and technology to make a name in the field. Photography basically requires a keen, observant eye, and an intelligent, curious and perceptive mind. A photographer must have full knowledge and command over the variety of cameras, lights and props, and all kinds of photographic techniques

Job Perspectives

Photography is a field which has the most exciting aspect owing to to the variety of jobs available in the market. These range from highly specialized, technical work to jobs that require creativity and Visual literacy. The gargantuan growth of communication network, advertising, media, fashion and revolution of the digital photography has increased the commercial value of the profession. Beginners can be an assistant of a senior or professional photographer to grasp the finer points of photography. Various government departments require the service of photographers on a regular pay scale to do general photography documentation, for covering day-to-day events and functions and for making photo features and captioning. Fashion photographers can find employment with designers, fashion journals and news papers. Fashion photography is the most highly paid and is generally carried out in either Mumbai or Delhi. It involves highly sophisticated and well-equipped studios by freelancers who are commissioned by fashion houses of advertising agencies.

Remuneration - Photographers working as assistants to senior photographers may earn somewhere around Rs. 3,500 - 6,000 and higher. Depending upon the designation and the organisation one earn up to 25,000, upon becoming a veteran.

Some Job Types

• Photo Retouching and Digital Technician.
• Photojournalists.
• Art Director.
• Studio Manager.
• Freelancers.
• Underwater Photography.
• Aviation photographer.
• Teacher.
• Researcher.
• Crime Scene Photographer.
• Photography Editors.
• Interior Design Photographer.
• Sports Photographer.

Some Employment Areas

1. Newspapers
2. Magazines.
3. Advertising agencies.
4. Government agencies.
5. Industrial houses.
6. Fashion houses.
7. Stock Photography Companies.
8. Websites.
9. Law enforcement agencies.
10. Police.
11. Legal system.
12. Investigative services of the government.
13. Private detective agencies.
14. Laboratories.
15. Architecture houses.
16. Paint makers.
17. Geological Survey Department.