Photography Basics

Entry Requirements: you will need a digital camera with manual exposure settings (such as P, A, S, M modes), that can photograph in RAW file format. No prior experience in photography is required to take this course.

This 7-week course teaches you how to take control of your (digital) camera, and how to combine the technical with the creative. During the course we’ll discuss the fundamentals of photography, such as exposure time and depth of field, but will also discuss light and composition.

We will combine photographic principles with inspiring examples of famous photographers, to guide you into the world of photography. The course includes weekly photographic assignments that will require some time outside class to complete. These assignments will be discussed collectively. 

What you will learn

• The fundamentals of photography (the exposure triangle) 
• How to implement techniques to shoot creative images 
• How to analyze and discuss photographs 
• Where you can find inspiration 

About the teacher

Jasper Zijlstra (1990) is a “photographic explorer” dedicated to inspiring wonder and improvement through his work. He uses his camera to gain access to complex, unknown, or hidden worlds, ranging from sterile laboratories to personal stories. Since 2021, he has focused on making scientific research more accessible by collaborating with researchers to visualize their methods and results in new images. At Parnassos, he teaches both photography courses and – surprisingly – bookbinding.

For more information about the teacher, visit www.jasperzijlstra.com.