By Robert Hentschel
Look at a great photo – really look at it – and it can transport you, change you. It tells a story in ways that other, more traditional art forms can’t.
A good photographer has strong visual awareness, a keen eye for aesthetics, excellent observation skills, and attention to detail. They also possess creativity, can think outside the box, and are able to connect with their subjects.
“The key to excellent photography lies in the depth of your observation and the authenticity of your connection with the subject,” said George Aiello, a fine art photographer based in Nevada.
But seeing the world in a unique way isn’t enough. A good photographer also needs to have the technical skills to bring their vision to fruition.
TAFE NSW offers Certificate IV and Diploma courses in Photography and Digital Imaging, which are ideal for enhancing the creative talent and technical expertise of aspiring photographers.
The Certificate IV is the entry level course. Here students learn camera skills, composition, studio lighting and colour theory. They also explore art history and how it can influence their photography.
“The kind of student who would be attracted to the Cert IV is someone who wants to close their eyes and imagine a photograph and then be able to actually execute it with their camera,” said Dario Gardiman, Head Teacher of Photography and Digital Imaging at TAFE Ultimo.
“They have this mental image and say ‘This is what I’m seeing, how can I create it? … How can I make this photograph not just something that someone looks at quickly and flicks through, but that makes them actually stop and ponder, and really digest and take in?’ “
The Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging builds upon the solid foundation provided by the Certificate IV course. It focuses on preparing students to work independently in the industry and to run their own photographic business, rather than being on payroll and taking direction from others.
“The beauty of the Diploma is that there is a lot of hands-on instruction by your facilitators. However, there’s a lot of room for you to learn and grow and become your own photographer,” Gardiman said.
“I like to think of it more like you’re being mentored through your study, as opposed to being told how to study and how to do things.”
Catherine Cranston had been a keen photographer for years before deciding to undertake both the Certificate IV and the Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging.
“There were things that I knew – how to use my camera and how to freeze action and things like that,” said Cranston.
“But I came into it wanting to learn studio photography. So that was a big plus, having really great equipment to work with. And the teachers were fantastic.”
Cranston feels that completing the Certificate IV and Diploma courses has changed the way she engages with her photography.
“Especially with the Cert IV, the way they taught you how to look at light and the quality of light, and colour. Because they’d get you to look at the textures on shadow, and is the shadow sharp or soft,” she said.
“So, learning to really look at light and use light, I think that was a game changer.”
Photography is undergoing enormous change with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Photos are no longer just being captured. AI tools can now suggest compositions, remove objects, replace backgrounds, and even generate entire images.
But a feeling of sameness creeps in when every phone and AI tool can produce technically perfect images. This has given rise to counter-movements that favour intentional imperfection and human-based creative choices.
For instance, there is a move to more authentic photography, with a preference for candid moments, minimal editing, real emotions and genuine connections.
A related trend is the comeback of film photography. The grain, the way that colours render and the depth that film provides result in images with a raw and authentic feel that is difficult to reproduce digitally.
Shooting with film forces the photographer to pause, compose a shot carefully, and make each shot count. Furthermore, film captures a moment as it actually was, unlike a digital image, which can be extensively manipulated.
Overall, Gardiman is optimistic about the future for photographers.
“I think AI is an amazing tool,” he said. “AI will certainly take away some market sectors, but I really believe that there is still a huge place in the market for sound, solid photographic skills.
“AI can only harness knowledge that it’s already been told, and the human brain is amazing and can come up with amazing concepts and experiences and creativity. That is, for me, the key. And that is something that we try and nurture here in our studies with our students.”
Feature image: A good photographer has strong visual awareness. Photo: CC/TMg/Wikimedia.org