Hands-on skills for budding shutterbugs
Experimenting with light and cheaper solutions for high-end equipment.
ISLAMABAD:
Photography is an expensive hobby to keep, yet many will readily dole out their savings to buy that latest DSLR camera or a new zoom lens.
For many, carrying around a big hi-tech camera seems to be a statement nowadays. But as any professional would tell you, owning a fancy camera won’t necessarily make you a good photographer. It’s easier to switch to auto mode and let the fancy gadget click away. However, acquiring the skill takes more practice and discipline.
To encourage photographers in the capital, a workshop titled “Secrets of Photography” is being held at Minerva, a centre that promotes learning and social change. The six-day workshop is being mentored by independent photographer and filmmaker, Fahim Farid.
The course outline includes sessions on studio lighting, manual camera operation and basic editing in Adobe Photoshop. It also introduces techniques such as splash photography, smoke photography and product shots.
A good feature about the workshop is it’s affordability: the entire course costs just Rs4,000. Also, owning expensive Canons and Nikons is not a prerequisite for this workshop either.
“Some of our participants own cameras that are worth Rs8,000 only and not everyone is a beginner. There are some that have been practising photography for years,” said Farid. The workshop also aims to teach students cheap solutions to otherwise expensive practices. For instance, instead of buying expensive reflectors for outdoor photography that cost over Rs8,000, Farid chose to purchase Rs15 reflective shiny wrapping sheets from the market that work just as well.
Mahreen, a participant, said, “I’ve been a photographer for 15 years now, but this is my first formal workshop where I’m learning new ideas. It’s good to keep yourself updated as technology keeps changing.”
An exhibition of the six best photographs as a result of the workshop will top off the experience for the aspiring photographers in mid-December. The workshop concludes on December 13.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2011.
Photography is an expensive hobby to keep, yet many will readily dole out their savings to buy that latest DSLR camera or a new zoom lens.
For many, carrying around a big hi-tech camera seems to be a statement nowadays. But as any professional would tell you, owning a fancy camera won’t necessarily make you a good photographer. It’s easier to switch to auto mode and let the fancy gadget click away. However, acquiring the skill takes more practice and discipline.
To encourage photographers in the capital, a workshop titled “Secrets of Photography” is being held at Minerva, a centre that promotes learning and social change. The six-day workshop is being mentored by independent photographer and filmmaker, Fahim Farid.
The course outline includes sessions on studio lighting, manual camera operation and basic editing in Adobe Photoshop. It also introduces techniques such as splash photography, smoke photography and product shots.
A good feature about the workshop is it’s affordability: the entire course costs just Rs4,000. Also, owning expensive Canons and Nikons is not a prerequisite for this workshop either.
“Some of our participants own cameras that are worth Rs8,000 only and not everyone is a beginner. There are some that have been practising photography for years,” said Farid. The workshop also aims to teach students cheap solutions to otherwise expensive practices. For instance, instead of buying expensive reflectors for outdoor photography that cost over Rs8,000, Farid chose to purchase Rs15 reflective shiny wrapping sheets from the market that work just as well.
Mahreen, a participant, said, “I’ve been a photographer for 15 years now, but this is my first formal workshop where I’m learning new ideas. It’s good to keep yourself updated as technology keeps changing.”
An exhibition of the six best photographs as a result of the workshop will top off the experience for the aspiring photographers in mid-December. The workshop concludes on December 13.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2011.