Intermediate photography group course

Develop your skills in photography

Explore new subjects in photography and put them into practice
Experiment with a range of styles and develop your own vision
Learn the techniques of master photographers and get inspired

Schedule and pricing

Each photo course is comprised of five two-hour sessions
Schedule: 16 february to 16 March 2021
Times: from 19h to 21h Tuesday evenings
CHF 400.-
Group course: 4 participants maximum
Covid safety measures: obligatory hand sanitiser and wearing of masks and max. 5 people including instructor

Overview

This five-part course is designed for those who have either completed the introduction course or beginner workshop, or already have the basic fundamentals of photography under their command. In each two-hour session, we’ll focus primarily on elevating the quality of your images, while learning new techniques and perspectives. Accompanied with teaching are examples, slideshows, and demonstrations. Homework is assigned, which is essential to your progress. Your results will be analysed and reviewed during the following lesson.

What you will learn

Image quality: digital file types, dynamic range, optimal exposure, auto focus systems, lens quality, lighting, image style settings, post-production options.
Photographic style: developing your own vision, artistic expression, photo stories, visual characteristics, camera settings.
Colour photography: white balance & saturation, lighting for colour, interpreting images in colour, banal realities & abstract fantasies.
Flash photography: introduction to using flash lighting, the flash aesthetic, contrast and shadows, basic flash lighting techniques (direct, diffused, zoom, off camera, multiple flashes), flash look, ambiant light with flash.
Post-production: Lightroom, Photoshop, JPEG optimisation, developing RAW files, retouching tools.

Program

Classes 2-5: Review of homework (each class)
Class 1: Image quality and shooting for best file results
Class 2: Flash photography
Class 3: Photographic style
Class 4: Colour photography
Class 5: Post-production options and retouching techniques

Workshop address

Oliver O’Hanlon Photography
88 Rue de Saint-Jean, 1201 Geneva
Public transport: bus 7 stop Ormeaux tram 15 stop Mercier
Walking: 4 minutes from Manor department store or 6 minutes Cornavin railway station

Student photographs

Here are student samples from the intermediate course. You can also check out the introduction and advanced galleries here

What are students saying?

Having been an amateur photographer for a long time, I had taken many albums of amateur photographs. Now an Alumnus of Oliver’s courses I am taking photographs I am genuinely proud to show and really enjoying my photography more than I ever had. The structure of the classroom and the practical courses works well, thanks to Oliver’s, enthusiasm, sense of humor and honest but constructive feedback. While the expanse technical knowledge Oliver shares inspires confidence, his emphasis is always on the creative, using collections famous and more obscure photographers to demonstrate. The themed assignments are fun but challenging to experiment beyond the comfort zone. Having roamed obscure parts of Geneva in a variety of weather conditions, no situation phases me now.

David Welsh Intro., Night & Flash Portrait Workshops & Intermediate Evening Class 2015-2016.

I wanted to develop my skills beyond the typical portrait and landscape photography, so I decided to give Oliver's lessons a try. I liked them so much that I repeated not one, but three times, taking a total of three group courses and one set of one-to-one lessons. Oliver takes you one step further and guides you through photography understood as an art, while helping you hone your technical skills. What I most liked about his teaching style is that he pushes you to explore and try out new things in photography that you might not have thought of before. His feedback is, above all, meaningful--very honest and very encouraging at the same time

Antia Collazo Ageitos Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Evening Courses and individual course summer 2016

I joined the Beginner's photography course offered by Mr. Oliver O'Hanlon. It was an intensive day workshop with three hour technical session explaining fundamentals of photography, lighting and efficient technical control of a DSLR followed with 6 hours of intense hands-on experience at multiple outdoor locations with varied natural lighting. My feedback

•   Mr. O'Hanlon is an expert on the science and arts of photography
•   Mr. O'Hanlon has the ability to explain complex technical or artistic items in simple terms with examples from eminent photographers. He not only generates enthusiasm on photography technically, but also challenges us to embark on the arts of photography
•   His technical knowledge is paramount where he personally tuned and adjusted all our cameras with rational explanation
•   Selection of the outdoor locations must have been carefully planned as we covered a large spectrum of lighting. He showed us simple rules which we could use to manage the varied lighting situations.
•   He explained with hands-on demonstration do's and dont's on street photography and portrait.
•   Beauty of the course was that it was very well designed and not prescriptive allowing each of us artistic freedom
As a result of this workshop, which was a birthday gift to me from my wife, I have taken a fascination to photography and have already enrolled for the intermediate course. I am eagerly looking forward to the next course.

Sukrit Bhattacharya Beginner Workshop and Intermediate Evening Class, 2016.

There are two things I like most about Oliver's sessions, actually, three: the video clips of photographers from different schools and his knowledgeable explanations at the start of each session; the photo reviews with his feedback (always stirring us up to go beyond the obvious) ...and Oliver's sense of humor and his unassuming way to talk about photography. Photography through Oliver's lessons has become a means of self-expression and engagement with every day life. An observation exercise in which shutter speed or panning, exposure or composition are tools to express your personal view of the world. And one more thing, he has made me discover the power of Black and White.

Laura Chumillas Photo-Walks, Beginner and Intermediate Evening Courses 2015-2016

Doing courses and photo walks with Oliver helped me in many ways. Firstly, it obliged me to get to know my camera and it's various settings. Secondly, having homework to do on a predefined topic (flash, portrait, movement etc.) encouraged me to think about my photos, and knowing that the group would all be there to review each other's work the following week, concentrated the mind wonderfully! Lastly, I benefited from Oliver's knowledge and experience in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

Gregory McBride Introduction, Intermediate and Advanced Evening Courses 2015-2016

Oliver’s course was incredibly inspiring. Not only he transmits technical knowledge in a fun and engaging way, but also his approach to photography explores different aspects of art in general and personal creative processes. It was a great experience doing Oliver’s workshop, I have now discovered a hobby that I truly love!

Thais Porto Introduction and Intermediate Evening Courses, 2016.