Fundamentals of Photography II

Class Preview

Take a deeper dive into the secrets of powerful photography.

Find the Picture

Meet Joel Sartore and begin class by learning how to find perfect shots in the midst of crowded “problem areas,” from a historic mansion to an abandoned farmhouse and even shots you may not have known you wanted.

Understanding Light

Take a more measured, thoughtful approach to various light sources, techniques and effects,including back lighting, side lighting, floor lighting and colored lighting.

Working With Light in a Landscape

Learn the art of excellent landscape photographs next. Discover the secrets of expert landscape photographers, including when to shoot and how to frame your foreground, and do it all without fancy diffusers and flashes.

Taking Photos Under & Around Water

In this lesson, experiment with underwater shots (and have some fun!) using everyday tools such as smartphones and a 10-gallon aquarium.

Photographing Reflections & Reflectivity

Reflectivity in photography can transform the annoyances of reflections and glares into powerful splashes of brilliance in layered images. In this lesson, find out how to make reflections work for you instead of against you.

Photographing Shadows & Backlighting

Learn how to handle shadows like a pro. From turning off your camera’s flash to finding (or creating) elegant lighting in shadowy scenes, you’ll discover how to build dramatic, memorable backdrops.

Big Results From Little Lights

In this lesson, Joel shows you how to effectively wield the small lights that come with basic cameras. Explore what happens when you take the flash off your camera, diffuse it with a tissue and even adjust shutter speeds.

Taking Studio Lights Outdoors

Studio lighting and setup doesn’t have to be intimidating! In this lesson, explore the two basic types of studio light and find out how to take the studio lights outside to experiment with ambient light.

Human Portrait Photography

Joel shares tips for unforgettable portraits next. Focus on candid, environmental portrait photographs outside the studio. And get professional tips for deeper connections between the portrait’s viewer and its subject.

Animal Photography

From dogs and snakes to lively zoo animals, discover the secrets of interesting animal photography that stands out from any pet pictures you’ve seen before.

Night Photography

Overcome your worries about night photography and sharpen your skills at working with (and capturing) moonlight, starlight and even urban lights.

Art Photography: Perspective & Illusions

Follow Joel on several shoots and discover how to take photos with a more artistic eye, and how to do it all without the aid of digital post production.

Art Photography: Having Fun

Continue your exploration of more artful photography with a lesson on setting up and shooting outrageous scenes and subjects. Prepare to think (and shoot) outside the box.

Art Photography: Still Life

Learn how to add layers of intrigue to indoor and outdoor still lifes by changing your perspective, shooting through objects, adjusting your depth of field and more.

Black & White Photography

Learn how black-and-white photography works in just about any light and allows you to create compositions and moods you could never achieve in color.

Elevating Your Perspective: Photos From Above

Try your hand at aerial shooting next. Whether you’re planning on photographing large crowds or vast landscapes, get tips for getting off the ground and capturing fresh perspectives.

Smartphone Photography

Transform how you use your smartphone’s camera and make the most of panoramic shots, different filters and more.

The Decisive Moment in Photography

Learn how professional photographers capture the “decisive moment” in their work, from anticipating great compositions to knowing when they’ve captured that perfect image.

Live Event Photography: Farmers Market

Learn how to take vibrant farmers market photos. Visit a Nebraska market on a summer day and find out how to deal with a variety of obstacles, from crowds to high contrasts between light and shade.

Live Event Photography: Tee-Ball

Visit a tee-ball game to ease into shooting sporting events. Along the way, learn how to use motor drives, fast shutter speeds and autofocus. Plus set up angles and find out how to how to approach action scenes with a keen eye.

Live Event Photography: House Party

Discover the secrets to shooting a family social event. Joel shows you how to cultivate the skills you need to record special days and capture delightful memories, all while enjoying the party.

Live Event Photography: A Day at the Ranch

Take a trip to a beautiful Nebraska Sandhills ranch and watch Joel overcome visual chaos to capture the drama and action of a day of cattle roundups and branding.

Live Event Photography: Family Fishing Night

Continue your study of live-event photography as you learn how Joel uses establishing shots, detail shots and interesting lighting effects to tell the (sometimes hidden) stories behind fishing, cookouts and family fun.

Editing, Culling & Critiquing Your Photos

Learn how to visually critique your photographs, from the background to the lighting and focus, as you find the few that truly capture what you want to say.