Photography classes syllabus.

• Level 1 digital photography (for complete beginners).

Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 to 14:30 or split over 4 evenings (16:30 to 17:30 - Mon. Tues. Thu. Fri.)
In this class we will be concentrating on learning to use the camera in Manual mode. This will be attained mostly through practice and some theory. You will be completing 2 projects through this class, aimed at making you confident in the use of your digital camera.

Learning in this class will include:
- Choosing & Using The Camera Controls. Understanding your camera (Modes, megapixels, resolutions, formats, print size). Please bring your camera's manual with you.
-Exposing manually (ISO, shutter speeds, F-stops).
-Functions of Manual and Auto focus (Focusing points, Auto focus lock, Continuous focus).
-Introduction to Lenses (Focal lengths, Depth of field, Prime lens, Zoom lens, Macro mode and Macro lens).
-Using your camera's meter (partial, spot) and the gray card.
-Color temperature and light. Kinds of light (soft, hard), direction of light (side, front, back) and what light does to reveal form.
-Shooting modes (Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Program).

• Level 2. Must have completed the Level 1 class or must exhibit strong knowledge of topics covered in Level 1.

Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 to 16:30 or split over 4 evenings (16:30 to 18:00 - Mon. Tues. Thu. Fri.)
This class will enable you to deliberately compose your images to convey a story & evoke a strong emotional response. You will learn the creative use of exposure and consciously design the compositions within the frames you shoot. You will also be given a basic introduction to Photoshop & image manipulation. You will again be completing 2 projects through this class. There will also be some theory.

Learning in this class will include:
-Basic rules of photographic composition. Composing of images using basics rules of design & perspective.
-White balance, the color of light & the impact of light.
-Shooting candid portraits of people.
-Urban, landscapes and nature photography.
-Basic uses of on and off camera flash and creative lighting.
-Introduction of the "Digital darkroom" (Camera RAW, Photoshop tools, image sizes and resizing, sharpening for the web, black and white conversions, histograms, curves, cropping, filters & layers, blending modes)
-Finishing your images the way you visualized them.

• Complete Digital photography. This class will cover Level 1 and Level 2.

Monday to Friday, 10:30 to 16:30 or split over 8 Evenings (16:30 to 18:00 - Mon. Tues. Thu. Fri.)
-Please refer to the Level 1 & Level 2 syllabus.

• Level 3. Mastering the digital darkroom. Lessons in RAW & Photoshop. Students must have completed Level 2 and must be comfortable with the basic use of Camera RAW & Photoshop.A laptop installed with Photoshop is a requirement for this class.

Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 to 16:30 or split over 4 evenings (16:30 to 18:00 - Mon. Tues. Thu. Fri.)
This class will enable you to better express your artistic vision via image manipulation.

Topics covered will be:
-Basic work flow. Having a streamlined plan of action to work on your images.
-Layers and blending modes.
-Image enhancements and corrections.
-Color enhancements.
-Photoshop actions.
-Cross processing.
-Sharpening for impact.

• Course requirements:

-Required: a digital camera (a DSLR is great but a point-and-shoot is also fine). This is a digital photography class, please do not bring film cameras.
-Required: the user's manual of your digital camera.
-Optional: a laptop with basic photo processing software (picasa or Photoshop).

• Course material:

Basic course material & guide to resources will be covered in class.

• Other info:

-Please keep your cell phones on silent.
-Please bring a warm jacket or sweater.
-We can stop for lunch on the longer class sessions, preferably at the same time.

• Prices:

Level 1: £80.
Level 2: £130.
Complete (Levels 1 and 2): £165.
Digital Darkroom: £150.

Please contact me regarding timings and availability.
email: manasi.kashyap(at)gmail(dot)com
My portfolio is available to be viewed at my.photoshelter.com/manasikashyap

The train ride.

I was supposed to get off at Marine lines to meet a friend when I got on a first class compartment on the Mumbai local.

At the exit stood 4 girls riding the train to school. None of them noticed me when I raised my camera to capture their easy comaraderie from behind them. The train was shaking a lot (the tracks from Charni road get choppy), so I lowered my camera to open up the aperture & compensate for the blurring. When I looked up again, one girl stood much ahead of of the rest. She wanted her picture taken.

The image above says the best I could capture of her eager innocence. Of course they got off at Marine lines & I missed my stop.

Musicians, Rajasthan.

The people in the images aren't related. These images were shot hundreds of miles away from each other.

The young boy belongs to a family of musicians. The eldest of 3 siblings, he recently lost his father & saw his mother married off to her younger brother in law (a prevalent custom in rural Rajasthan). He has a sweet voice but has a long way to go before he's able to draw large crowds. He must learn the art from his step father/uncle to help support his family.

The older man is a musician who lives in a remote village in Badmer. Every morning he gets on any bus or truck that'll take him to the local district & plays to collect spare change. He knows no other trade. Many of the younger generation in his village have given up family customs such as singing & dancing to learn more sustainable trades such as carpentry & plumbing to support their families. The instrument he holds is at least as old as he is. He can only guess his age in years.

Rajasthan 2009. Objects.

Needless to say, it was magical.

People to follow...

Commando ducks

My brother (right) believes that all ducks are stealthy bastar*s waiting to sneak up behind him and pinch his ample cheeks. He never turns his back on them.

My husband (left) had never heard a duck quack till the day we passed a frozen lake on our way to the magistrate's office to get married (something to do with him having grown up in the desert-like Middle East). He said it sounded like "witch's laughter", was probably "an evil omen" and wanted to turn back & postpone the marriage. I had to pitch a rock into the water so he could see the well camouflaged birds scatter, quacking loudly. We did get married that day.

A last look at Cambridge (JBS), UK. Winter 2008.

Most of my social interactions took place in the evenings. Either in dark pubs or large, dark halls. This being the UK. Thank God for my 50mm prime :)

Back in India & catching up with friends.

Places don't mean much without people.