What to Expect from a Digital Photography Program

A wide variety of options exist for those who which to take a photography program. These programs are offered at community colleges, libraries, community centers, museums and universities. Each program will vary in curriculum, but there are several common threads that run through most photography programs.

Most university art classes are taught through a combination of lecture and laboratory components. The lecture portion is vital in providing a thorough background of photography, camera operation and photo manipulation software such as the programs found in Adobe Creative Suite. The laboratory portion is where those skills are put into practice, critiqued and refined.

A good photography program will teach the basics of shutter speeds (to teach how to shoot motion), aperture settings (controlling how much light is recorded), focusing techniques, proper composition, the use of zoom lenses, lighting (what types of light produce the best kind of picture, how to use a flash, etc. ) and resolution. You should also learn about the different types of digital cameras and their uses.

Additionally, a photography program will discuss what to do after the photographs are taken. When photographs are stored on a computer they undergo compression to reduce the file to a manageable size. Some photography programs might include instruction in the uses of computer software. A photo manipulation program such as Adobe Photoshop will allow you to perform basic functions such as cropping, color correction and more advanced techniques. Photographs can then be used in a layout program as part of a newspaper, Web site, newsletter, etc., or placed into a design for logos, banners, letterhead and more. These techniques might also be taught in a separate art class.

Photography degree programs in San Francisco can be found at the San Francisco Art Institute, the Golden Gate School of Photographs and the University of California, Berkley.