About This Course
In this capstone course, you’ll learn additional skills to take your creativity and passion for photography to the next level, whether for personal, commercial or fine art uses. We’ll dive deeper into personal viewpoint and storytelling with a camera and creating your style. You’ll learn the essentials of Photoshop for making precise adjustments, deeper retouching, selectively combining frames, and controlling light, shadow and focus for improved depth and dimension. You can also experiment with emulating vintage photographs, texturing edges and using layered collages and even AI for deeper storytelling.
You’ll propose a themed photographic project, different from winter, and work throughout the quarter to produce a series of six related images for final presentation and review. In the business of photography component, you’ll hear how photographers approach shoots, and how they work with clients and models. You’ll learn about options to intern with or assist professionals. We’ll research and discuss the use of websites, social media and other current options to promote your work. To conclude, you’ll contribute a portfolio of images and associated text for an online exhibition and a printed anthology.
Professional photographers, artists and program alumni will visit us to inspire, share their knowledge and life experiences, and answer questions about the creative, technical and business aspects of their photography.
Past guests have included:
- Phil Borges, cultural photographer, author, speaker and filmmaker
- Davis Freeman, fine art portrait artist and instructor
- Nate Gowdy, political photojournalist, cultural event photographer and award-winning author
- Mary Dee Mateo, fashion, beauty, portrait and lifestyle photographer
- Anita Nowacka, family, seniors, wedding and lifestyle photographer
- Chris Payne, freelance editorial and assignment photographer
- Ibarionex Perello, photographer, educator and creator of “The Candid Frame” podcast
- Mukul Soman, landscape and wildlife photographer, cinematographer and CGI artist
- Alejandro Tomas, press photographer (retired) and co-founder of Youth in Focus, Blue Earth Alliance and Seattle Central Creative Academy
What You'll Learn
- How to think more conceptually and creatively to build your personal style
- How photography can be used to bring awareness and truth to cultural, environmental, humanitarian and political issues
- How to complete an original photographic series project from concept to professionally finished market-ready digital files
- Ways to use Photoshop workflows to go beyond the capabilities of Lightroom
- How professional photographers use color, composition and available and modified lighting
- How to write a bio and artist statement, and compile photo files for use in print, online exhibitions, social media and websites
