Effective Photographic Design

©Nat Coalson

As photographers, we're all striving to improve our work. Every project provides opportunities to excel at what we do. And we hope (expect?) that over time our work will become more engaging and effective.

What does it take to continually make better imagery? A new camera? A faster computer? The latest release of your favorite software? Sure, the right gear can help. And you need to constantly improve your technical skills to get the most from your equipment.

But what about your design skills?

When you're making a photograph or other image, do you conscientiously use visual devices to create a specific impression on the viewer? Are you considering how color (or lack of it) affects your audience psychologically? When was the last time you purposefully employed the principles of photographic composition?

Most importantly: does your work effectively express your intentions?

©Nat Coalson

When you're making a photograph or other image, do you conscientiously use visual devices to create a specific impression on the viewer? Are you considering how color (or lack of it) affects your audience psychologically? When was the last time you purposefully employed the principles of photographic composition?

Most importantly: does your work effectively express your intentions?

To advance your art takes understanding and application of essential principles of graphic design. In this three-hour class, photographer and designer Nathaniel Coalson will teach you how to compose still or moving images that grab your audience and don't let go.

You will learn what makes strong images strong and weak ones weak. How geometry and color affect the viewer's thought process and determine their response. How proportion and dominance make or break an image. And, yes, you will get a thorough refresher on the fundamentals of composition.˜ This class will focus mostly on photography, with photographic examples, but the principles of design taught here can be applied to graphic design and fine art as well.

Through numerous real-world examples and interactive student exercises, Nat will explain important topics including:

• Effective composition
• Foreground/Background, Figure Ground and Depth-of-Field
• Psychology of Color
• Guiding your creative process thought conscious intention.
• The image as communication.
• Seeing Creatively
• ....and much more.

You will come away from this class with the knowledge of how to design your imagery with intention and direction. As a result, you will begin to see dramatic improvement in your photography.

Presented as a Lecture-Style Workshop: Affordable workshops designed to introduce a subject quickly and efficiently. Students can take notes from the instructor's projected computer screen, and/or bring their own computer to follow along.

Who Should Take This: You do not need to bring a computer. However, if you have digital images on removable media, feel free to bring themÊthere will be time allocated for still image critique.

Instructor: Nathaniel (Nat) Coalson is a Colorado-based photographer and designer with over twenty years experience producing graphic communications and commercial and fine art photography. He is an Adobe Certified Expert in Lightroom and Photoshop and is an experienced instructor. For more information and to see Nat's work, please visit NatCoalson.com.

For someone with zero, no, zip, not any, nada artistic training, it provided insight and vocabulary into the process to improve my own photos. ˜I also liked many of [Nat's] tips and tricks that shared during the class. ˜I was editing a few during the course last night, and found myself seeing design elements in landscapes driving to work. Thanks again for the great course.
~ Dr. Andrew N.

Following the class on image design, I had a chance to take some pictures on a trip I took to Jackson's Hole WY at the Grand Teton's and all the instruction [Nat] gave was very helpful. I noticed a huge difference in my photos. I plan on attending a few more classes.
~ Lauretta R.
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