IIS University - International College for Girls - ICG Courses

Post Graduate Diploma in Photography (PGDP)

Course  Structure

Course Syllabus

Semester - I

VDP 151 Theory of basic photography

Unit I

Fundamentals of light:

• Sources of light.
• The basic principles of light & their relevance in photography.
• Natural & artificial light - a comparative study.
• Quality of light, transformations & comparisons.

Unit II

Visualization:

• Learning to observe and be able to identify picture taking opportunities.
• An understanding of form, space, shapes and textures.
• earning to see within confines.
• Developing a sense of perspective and relativity.

Unit III

Films:

• Types and uses.
• Film speeds and limitations.
• Film speeds in the digital context - grains and noise & creative applications.
• Latitude and high speed drawbacks - both in relation to conventional as well as digital.

Unit IV

The Camera:

• A comparative study of analog versus digital.
• Choice of a camera: point n shoot versus S.L.R.
• Various lenses & their specific applications relevant to various types of outputs.
• Camera care and necessary precautions.
• I.S.O. settings and their utility.
• White balance options and choices.
• Color temperature and custom white balance.
• Image quality and image size preferences.
• Programmed mode, shutter speed priority mode, aperture priority mode and manual.
• Exposure compensation and bracketing.
• Shutter speeds, aperture values - their inter relation in exposure control.
• Exposure index, spot and evaluative metering.
• Selective focusing - auto and manual.
• Backlighting and corrective solutions.
• Built in flash, add on flashes and red eye.
• Important accessories like filters, hoods, remotes, tethering and tripods.

Unit V

Composition:

• Definition and importance.
• Negative and positive spaces.
• Foreground and background relative to subject.
• Relative placement.
• Rule of the thirds and diverting from to rule to achieve creativity.
• Color composition.

Note : A written examination shall be conducted at the end of the semester to evaluate the conceptual understanding of the above mentioned theoretical explanations. Besides this, a day to day classroom evaluation process will be followed on the basis of attendance, presence of mind, team participation & interaction, performance, initiative, motivation and consistent efforts made by individual students.

Practicals:

• VDP 152  Visualization and observation of light and subject.
• VDP 153 Camera handling & feature wise utility.
• VDP 154 Creative compositions - indoors & outdoors

Note :The above mentioned submissions will be in the form of photographic prints –size A- 4 approximately to be presented in the form of a portfolio.

Semester - II

VDP 251 Theory of advance photography

Unit I

Digital Darkroom:

• Digital workflow.
• Digital asset management.
• Calibrations and color profiles.
• Basic Photoshop tools.
• File formats.
• Image crop and resizing.
• Primary editing like exposure, contrast and sharpness.
• Uses of creative filters and enhancement tools & techniques.

Unit II

Depth of Field:

• Description and utility.
• Factors affecting depth of field.
• Limiting factors.
• Creative control of Depth of Field in various situations.

Unit III

Portraiture:

• Formal and informal.
• Postures and body language.
• Environmental portraiture.
• Ambient and controlled lighting.
• The human aspect.
• Creative and candid portraiture.

Unit IV

Still Life Studies:

• Understanding materials & characteristics.
• Redefining forms, shapes and textures.
• Relevant backdrops and add on.
• Arrangement and Compositions.
• Available and controlled creative lighting.

Unit V

Outdoor Photography:

• Street portraiture, street life, culture and heritage.
• Landscapes & cityscapes.
• Architecture & interiors.
• The photojournalistic approach - documentation of socially relevant topics like pollution, traffic sensibilities, child labor etc.
  

Practicals:

• VDP 252 Depth of Field exercises.
• VDP 253 Outdoor shoots.
• VDP 254 Portraiture & Still Life.
  

Note : The practical paper will require a final portfolio of consistently outstanding images using photography & computer skill sets learnt so far in the form of print submissions accompanied by a critical analysis of each submission. The marks allotment shall be similar to the one mentioned for the First semester.