This is a fascinating area of photographic study which any good photographer needs to understand in order to not only take good photos, but also identify and understand problems when they occur. This course is equally relevant to digital and film covering such things as image formation, light, lenses, filters, colour and the sensitivity of film or electronic surfaces that record the image.

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Image Formation
   • Interaction of light with matter (Reflection, Absorption, Transmission, Deviation, Dispersion), Lenses (6 main types -Double Convex,. Plano Convex etc), Understanding movement of light, Image formation in a camera.
2. Lighting
   • Characteristics of light (Spectrum characteristics, Overall Output, Consistency, Efficiency, Illumination, Quantity, Economy etc); Natural Light, Artificial Light (direction, intensity and colour); Generating Light (From Burning, Heating, Spark or Arc of Electricity, Electrical Discharge); Lighting Equipment (Tungsten Filament Lamps Tungsten Halogen Lamps, Fluorescent Lamps, Flashbulbs.
3. Sensitometry A (ie. Film Sensitivity)
   • How a Negative is Created; Film Contrast Characteristics (medium, low or high),Resolving & Grain, Speed, Light Meters
4. Sensitometry B
   • Luminance range, Scatter affect, Under & over exposure, Callier coefficient,, Diffuse & parallel illumination
5. Understanding Colour
   • White light, Primary colours, Subtractive colour, short & long wavelengths, Colour differences in negative and positive film.
6. Chemistry of Colour Photography
   • Colour chemistry, Colour image development, Alternative methods of image formation and processing.
7. Optical Filters and other activities
   • Applications for different filters, for special affects, comparing with and without filters.
8. Lenses
   • Wide angle Lenses, The Standard Lens, Telephoto Lens, Zoom and Macro Lenses; Applications for different lenses

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Describe in technical terms, how an image forms when a photograph is taken.
• Explain the nature of light and how this relates to the finished photographic product.
• Describe how sensitivity of a photo sensitive surface and its development affect the photographic image.
• Explain sensitivity relates to development affect the photographic image.
• Explain the composition and manipulation of white and coloured light to create different photographic images.
• Discuss the chemical process that occurs in producing a colour film photograph.
• Explain how the photographic image may be manipulated by using optical filters or other camera attachments, other than lenses.
• Explain how the photographic image may be manipulated by using lenses.