Next Level Photography
Take your Photography to the Next Level
Not all Photographs are created equally. There is an important distinction between Fine Art Photography and image production. Taking photographs is a technical craft. It involves mastering your camera, your exposure settings, your lighting, and your composition.
If you are looking for support in mastering your technical skills check out my course Illuminate your Photography: Photography Exposure and Lighting Essentials. However, this is not a technical course. Next Level Photography is a Fine Art Photography Course meant to build your artistic expression upon a solid Photography Foundation. If you are ready to take the plunge into Fine Art Photography, you have come to the right place.
What is Fine Art Photography?
Fine Art Photography is a form of the Visual Arts that uses the medium of Photography for the purpose of expressing the creative intent or message of the artist. Fine Art Photography combines Aesthetics, Style, and Narrative to shape the viewer’s experience of a work or body of work. Whereas Photography in general serves as a form of documentation, Fine Art Photography aims not only to relay information, but to present the images in a frame in a way that allows others to see, interpret, and understand the subject in a new way.
What you will learn in this Fine Art Photography Course?
This course is designed to help aspiring artists with a background in photography develop their themes, style, and understanding of Photography as a contemporary Artistic Medium. In this course, we will look at Contemporary Photographic masters to discover what approaches can be used to transform your images into meaningful works of art. We will also cover explore techniques such as creating narratives through a photographic series, staging a photographic scene, planning a photoshoot and filtering out your images to find the successful works that support your style and theme.
What do I need to take this course?
1. First, You will need a camera and basic knowledge of photography composition and exposure.
Basically, you should be able to take technically good images which are compositionally balanced and sound, not over or under-exposed, and sharp or unsharp in places you intended. In Fine Art Photography your technical photography skills are your visual vocabulary. Next Level Photography will help you formulate your message.
There are no specific camera specifications: You are free to use whichever camera you are most comfortable with.
As you explore your style, which equipment you use should reflect this style. For instance, if you lean towards motion blur in your images, you may need a tripod. If you are into bokeh effects you will need a long fast lens. You may even choose to shoot primarily with your smart phone camera, possibly using apps and filters to apply effects to your images.
Whatever equipment you decide to use, my advice is to remain consistent, at least throughout this course. I personally enjoy using Film, but this is only a preference and not a prerequisite.
2. Next, you will need an open mind.
Next Level Photography focuses just as much behind the lens as in front of the lens. In other words, exploring your intention and identity as an artist is just as critical as what you decide to photograph.
3. Lastly, you will need the willingness to Experiment and Enjoy the Process.
More or less, this involves moving out of your comfort zone, but there are no red flags here. Each person comes to this course with a different photography and fine arts background. And success is measured individually in your own practice.
Although you may reach new levels of understanding photography and new levels of being able to translate your intention to your work, as an artist, your work and creative production is a lifelong journey that has no end. Through this course and online resources, I would be honored to be part of your Fine Art Photography Journey.
Transform your Photography into Inspiring Works of Art
This Course Includes:
- Decode Visual Language
- Interpret Photographs for Meaning
- Find your Photographic Style
- Developing Themes in your Work
- Exploring Candid and Staged Images
- Visualizing and Planning a Photo Shoot
- Creating Narratives through a Series
- Deconstructing Photography through Alternative Processes
Sima Zureikat
Visual Artist, Professional Photographer & Writer
About the Author
Born in Chicago, I received my B.A. in Studio Arts with a concentration in Photography from Oberlin College. In 2001, I moved to Amman, Jordan where I worked both as a contemporary artist and as a photojournalist. I exhibited my photography in numerous exhibitions throughout the Middle East and internationally.
Eventually, I became the lead photographer for a Jordanian Lifestyle Magazine and Photo Editor for two regional publications: a Fashion Magazine and a Men’s Magazine. This allowed me to gain a second editorial eye for photography, as I regularly organized, commissioned, and published photoshoots from other talented photographers in the region.
While in Jordan, I also began teaching courses and workshops on Drawing, Seeing with Perspective, and Photography. I consider my teaching style to be somewhat radical but very effective and have received much positive feedback from my students through the years, who in turn became professional artists themselves.
In 2007, I moved to Berlin, Germany where I am currently based, and while I continue to expand my own fine art photography and contemporary art practices, I gain special joy and satisfaction from sharing my experiences and knowledge with my students.
To see more of my artwork click here.