UK Distance Learning & Publishing are firm believers that digital photography is an art form that has to be mastered. However, the rise of the smart phone has undoubtedly changed the way that photography is perceived by the creators as well as the general public. Right now, it’s impossible to talk about photography without considering the selfie.
So, how has the selfie moved the goalposts, and what can serious photographers do about it? Let’s find out.
The Selfie Generation
The concept of taking a self-portrait with a camera is nothing new. In fact, it can be dated back to 1839 via Robert Cornelius’ iconic self-portrait.
However, the increased accessibility through smart phones, along with the growth of online communications has seen the self-portrait become the norm. The term ‘selfie’ was first coined in 2002 and is now synonymous with the modern youth. Selfies offer members of the hashtag generation the perfect way to show that they were at an event, and this is often the best way to farm social media likes.
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with the selfie, holding the camera in front of your face and pressing a single button (on your screen or via a selfie stick) isn’t technically challenging. Moreover, the artistic quality of modern selfies is usually pretty poor too as the photographer is concerned about their appearance rather than the shot itself.
On the whole, people can now take fairly nice photos of themselves without much in the way of technical skills. Consequently though, while it may threaten to undermine quality photos from photographers that care about their craft, it doesn’t ruin things completely if you’re an aspiring expert in the field.
The Solution: Take Your Photography To The Next Level
Even the greats of photography are likely to use their smartphones for the odd selfie. However, that doesn’t mean that digital photography has lost its artistic merits. While amateur photographers taking selfies and using their smart phones can take good photos, there is still a clear distinction between these and the professional shots taken by a master of the lens.
If you want your photos to stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to gain a deeper understanding of the camera’s mechanics, different lenses, and the various technical aspects of digital photography. After all, the composition of great photos is far more complex than turning the camera round to face you while a concert goes on in the background.
UKDLP’s Digital Photography Level 3 course is the perfect way to develop technical skills such as composition and framing while discovering the characteristics of different areas of interest such as sports photography, landscape photography, and portrait photography. You’ll also gain insight into the history of photography as well as the developments relating to equipment.
UKDLP encourages students to take a pro-active approach to photography while still gaining world-class support from our tutors. Although the theoretical and academic aspects provide a solid foundation, nothing beats actively taking great photos and improving your craft in a practical fashion. The 12-month course if very flexible and can be completed at home when it’s convenient for you.
Upon graduation, you’ll be perfectly equipped to take the kind of photos that blow selfies and smartphone shots out of the water. This course is a must for anyone wanting to take digital photography more seriously.
Contact us today if you want to learn more about the digital photography course, or visit the course page and choose the paper or online version.
To speak to a course advisor – call 01539 724622
