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The art or practice of taking and processing photographs.

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Photography is the art of making an image by capturing light with a camera, typically through a digital sensor or film. You can also photograph wavelengths of light invisible to the human eye, including UV, ultraviolet, and radio, with the right camera equipment.

Communication is the basic function of photography. Few individuals take pictures just to satisfy themselves. The majority of us take them because we want everyone to see them. We wish to inform, educate, entertain, reform or share some experiences with others, or are forced to do so.

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There are also many different types of photography, which include:

Portrait Photography

Still Life Photography

Landscape Photography

Food Photography

Sports Photography

Wildlife Photography

Macro Photography

Event Photography

Fashion Photography

Newborn Photography

Street Photography

Photojournalism

Documentary Photography

Stock Photography

Weather Photography

Architectural Photography

Long Exposure Photography

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Often referred to as candid photography, the beauty of portrait photography is that it enables you to capture the personality of a subject. Via poses, close-ups, and evoking actual expressions, this can be achieved. Professional photographers typically photograph supermodels or famous celebrities on red carpets or magazine shoots in this niche, although in some cases, for aspiring models and actors, they often do graduation photos, family portraits, and professional head-shots.

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Photography, as we know it today, started in France in the late 1830s. To expose a pewter plate coated with bitumen to light, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce used a portable camera obscura. This is the first picture reported that did not fade rapidly. The success of Niépce led to a variety of other experiments and photography advanced very quickly. In the mid- to late-1800s, Daguerreotypes, emulsion plates, and wet plates were created almost simultaneously. Photographers experimented with various chemicals and techniques with each type of emulsion.

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This popular photography niche primarily includes taking photos of objects, as the name implies. It crosses over to product photography, in which catalogs, magazines, and advertisements have advertised products photographed by advertising agencies. Just like in the photo above, you can feature just one main product or several that follow a central theme.

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Those who love to travel have certainly taken a lot of pictures of landscapes. This genre is not restricted to horizontal photos, contrary to popular belief. Shooting vertically allows you to shoot tall trees, mountains, and anything else that while exploring the great outdoors you may feel compelled to capture.

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The food photography niche would be a lot harder to break into if we were writing this article about a decade ago. Fortunately, we have been influenced by today's social media generation to keep taking photos of our food, whether for fun or for marketing purposes.

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A more professional niche that involves a lot of high-speed shooting is sports photography. Normally, photographers who shoot sports are armed with long and heavy lenses that can zoom in to where the action is. These lenses are also specifically designed to shoot at quick shutter speeds, without ending up with images that are underexposed.

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Wildlife Photography is another rewarding and well-paying market. A work in this niche needs substantial improvements in camera equipment and a lot of safety measures, due to the obvious difficulty of capturing good and accurate photographs of wild animals without intruding on their natural habitats.

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Those who want to take photos that are truly amazing appear to like macro photography. It's pretty simple to film objects to make them look far larger than they actually are, as long as you have the right equipment. You can simply equip your smartphone with a clip-on macro lens adapter, or use a macro lens with a DSLR or mirrorless camera for perfect high-resolution performance.

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Photography of events is a wide and common niche that includes several particular types of events, such as concerts, birthdays, corporate meetings, and weddings. As you can take pictures of everything from individuals and their candid moments to the location and the food, it typically includes a combination of various photography techniques.

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In high-fashion garments, shoes , and accessories, fashion images usually feature supermodels and celebrities. This niche typically includes a lot of full body shots because of the need to highlight the outfits. It can, however, also include some portrait shooting, so if you want to get into fashion photography, you may want to practice your portraiture skills.

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Photography of newborns, babies, or infants is the same as portrait photography, but due to the particular difficulties that come with it, we list it as its niche. Aside from being very delicate for newborns, their eyes are sensitive to light, so you'll need to get the right gear and learn how to make the most of the available light using your camera. Babies also have trouble controlling their body temperatures, so, depending on the clothing of your precious subject, your studio will have to be cold or warm enough.

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Street photography is an especially enticing niche for those who take their camera everywhere and enjoy enjoying their creative independence. In photography, it's a distinctive genre that records the human condition and captures unplanned events as they unfold, usually without a central theme or topic. The best part is, for street photography, you can use numerous types of cameras.

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Photojournalism is a discipline that usually covers unique scenes and reports for the press, not to be confused with street photography. To take objective images that are more historical, it uses elements of street photography. And since they appear to be published in newspapers, a fair amount of money for their work is paid to skilled photojournalists, particularly if they are affiliated with newspapers, magazines, book publishers, or certain agencies and organizations.

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Have you ever heard of photographers at war? Along with other photojournalists who cover social and political topics that are far more historically important, these courageous citizens of the press are part of the documentary photography niche. In real-life scenarios and big moments in time, they capture raw emotions. As they do not simply cover local protests or any other celebrity, photographs appear to be given more universal captions.

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Another rising niche among today's professional photographers is stock photography. Stock photographers supply and sell images for particular purposes that would be approved. While it's been around since the invention of photography, due to the increasing demand for it in blogs, websites, and digital marketing purposes, the market for stock images has increased significantly.

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Weather photography is essentially outdoor photography that predominantly shows various weather conditions, typically harsh and serious, such as hurricanes, snowstorms, sandstorms, hailstorms, and even thunderstorms. To catch the essence of what we are normally quick to hide and run away from, many photographers around the world chase life-threatening storms.

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To designers, architects, leasing firms, and potential buyers, photographs of the exterior and interior of buildings and other structures may be of great benefit. It is a mixture of creative and technical abilities, and some significant knowledge of the elements of art and proper composition may be involved. Often, this niche can be confused with real estate photography, which often includes photographing buildings and their interiors (mainly homes, apartments, or condominiums). Technically, you should go between the two, since they all use the same equipment and need a lot of the same abilities.

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Long exposure photography means using the technological expertise of your camera to keep the shutter open for longer periods, enabling you to catch unreal moments that we won't ever see with the naked eye. In what tends to be a bland black sky in real life, this genre crosses over to night photography and astrophotography, which can result in spectacular light streaks, starbursts, and beautiful gradients (at least). It also entails the use of an ND philtre to catch velvety smooth lakes and frothy rivers during the daytime.

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How you became involved with the topic/ How you came to know your topic

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How you became involved with the topic/ How you came to know your topic

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I became interested in photography at an early age. I have several family members who know many art techniques and enjoy photography! As I grew up, I watched my family take pictures and express themselves through these photos. Eventually, I started to develop this passion too! I have always been interested in arts and crafts, and photography was a good way for me to express myself, so I began teaching myself some basic photography.

My dad and aunt taught me some basic skills in photography. They taught me how to use a camera, how to use the rule of thirds, filters, how to take photos with different depths, etc. After learning the basics, I went on the internet and researched photography in depth. I learned a lot about photography through websites, books, documentaries and other resources. Some great photography books include The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman, On Photography by Susan Sontag, and The Negative by Ansel Adams.

Another thing that helped me develop more passion for photography was a club in my elementary school called the photography club. It started running when I was in grade 6, and I enjoyed learning different techniques and being more hands-on in photography. Because of this club, we got the opportunity to learn more about photography techniques from professionals and art teachers. In grade 8, I decided to take a photography class outside of school, however when the pandemic hit, it cancelled my plans. However, as soon as this pandemic ends, I am hoping to take a class to learn and experience more about photography. There is also a photography club at Bishop Reding that I am excited to take! If you want to visit more websites or learn how to join a class you can go to

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[bezel_page_title title="Burlington & Oakville Courses" subtitle="Join us in the Burlington / Oakville region for our interactive and hands on photography courses. Learn to capture the moments that are special in your life!" tag="h1″ text_align="text-center"]

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If you are looking for a truly unique experience that brings out the best in every one of our students, we encourage you to try out one of our photography courses. Our hands-on, practical learning style is supported by science as one of the most effective ways to learn a new skill ( Check out some of the resources we have used to design our courses here).

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Digital I Photography Course Date Options

Time: 10am - 4pm on just one day

Location: Brant Street Pier (April - October),

Royal Botanical Gardens (October - April)
dates are tentative due to possible COVID-19 updates

July

August

September

Sun. Aug 23

Sat. Sep 12

Sun. Sep 20

October

November

December

Sun. Oct 4

Sat. Oct 24

Sat. Nov 7

Sun. Nov 22

Sat. Dec 5

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Digital II Photography Course Dates

Time: 10am - 4pm on just one day

Location: Paletta Lakefront Park (April - October), Royal Botanical Gardens (October - April)

Upcoming Dates:

dates are tentative due to possible COVID-19 updates

Sat. Aug 29

Sat. Sep 26

Sun. Oct 25

Sat. Nov 28

Sun. Dec 13

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Digital III Photography Course Date Options

Time: 10am - 4pm on just one day

Location: Hilton Falls & Mount Nemo Conservation Area (April - October only)

** Please note there is considerable walking involved in this day.

Upcoming Dates:

dates are tentative due to possible COVID-19 updates

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People Photography Course Date Options

Time: 10am - 4pm on just one day

Location: Lakeside Park (April - October), Royal Botanical Garden (October - April)

Upcoming Dates:

dates are tentative due to possible COVID-19 updates

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Night Photography Course Date Options

Time: 8pm - 12am on just one day

Location: Brant Street Pier (April - October only)

Upcoming Dates:

dates are tentative due to possible COVID-19 updates

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Lightroom Photo-Editing Course Dates

Time: 10am - 4pm on just one day

Locations: Possible remote delivery due to COVID-19 restrictions

Upcoming Dates:

dates are tentative due to possible COVID-19 updates

Sun. Jul 12

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Flash & Indoor Photography Workshop Dates

Time: 1pm - 4pm on just one day

Location: TBA

Dates:
dates are tentative due to possible COVID-19 updates
Sat. Sep 19

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Lightroom II Workshop Dates

Time: 1pm - 4pm on just one day

Location: TBA

Dates:
dates are tentative due to possible COVID-19 updates

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[bezel_page_title title="Some of our amazing locations" subtitle="We take great pride in holding our courses in amazing locations around the city. Here are just a few:" text_align="text-center"]

[bezel_page_title title="More About Our Amazing Burlington / Oakville Locations" subtitle="It's all about location! And we have some of the best, most interesting, most photographic spots to run our courses in. Read more!" text_align="text-center"]

Hey Burlington & Oakville - you guys are beautiful. We absolutely love offering our photography courses in some of the fantastic locations you have to offer.

Our Digital I - Beginner Photography course takes place in two locations depend on the season. During summer we hang out at the gorgeous Brant Street Pier off of Spencer Smith Park right on the lakefront in Burlington. This incredible location provides a great mix of scenery for us to enjoy, and who doesn't love hanging out by the waterfront for the day. Here we cover our core foundations of aperture, shutter speed and ISO as well as the various modes on your camera (Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority & Manual Mode). The backdrop is perfect for our afternoon activities of lens selection, distortion and compression, and composition. During winter, this amazing hands-on photography course heads over to the Royal Botanical Gardens to their indoor space where we get to stay warm, dry and still have lots of fun with our camera!

Our Digital II - Motion & Light course also resides at the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) during winter. This is an amazing location to experiment with action photography and also to explore the beauty of composition using light. We're going to help you turn your photography from "meh" to "wow!" by using exposure compensation, directional light, spotlighting and of course sunstars! During summer we embrace the warm breeze and head to Paletta Lakefront Park for some sunshine and outdoor fun.

Our Digital III - Landscapes & Travel course takes you to a couple of spectacular locations near the Burlington / Oakville area. Your first stop is Hilton Falls, a gorgeous 10 metre waterfall surrounded by 645 hectares of woodlands, hiking and general outdoor adventuring. Next up you'll be heading to Mount Nemo Conservation Area for a short hike to visit a lookout (or two)! These two locations are perfect for mastering water exposures, practicing with filters, and experimenting with different compositions to create spectacular landscape scenery. Be prepared for any adventure with this course.

Our People Photography course heads back to the RBG in winter, taking advantage of this gorgeous backdrop to experiment with posing, communicating and photographing portrait photos using natural light. In summer, you will get to enjoy the backdrop of Village Square or Paletta Lakefront Park. These locations provide a lovely variety of topics to use and experiment with in your pursuit of the perfect portrait photograph.

For our Night Photography course you'll be heading back to the wonderful Brant Street Pier. This location is amazing for capturing a variety of different subjects - from the ever changing light patterns of the Beacon (seriously, check out their schedule for lights here!), to light trails, zoom lines, light stars, sunsets, light painting and SO MUCH MORE! We absolutely love our Night Photography course and know that you will too!

The last of our 6 core courses, our Lightroom Photo-Editing course is one of our only stationary courses. This course takes place in one of a few locations we have in the Burlington / Oakville area - generally in a coffee shop so that you are well fed and caffeinated (if that's your thing) during the entire course.

Want to take all of these courses? Make sure you check out our Ultimate Bundle to see what amazing savings you can enjoy.

[bezel_page_title title="Where do we get our unique style from?" subtitle="From research! We have carefully designed our courses to provide the best and most effective learning to all of our students - and we've done this by looking at the best research regarding teaching methods. Want to read where we got some of our ideas from? Check out our favourite resources below." text_align="text-center"]

Here are just a few of our favourite resources regarding teaching theory:

Deans for Impact (2015). The Science of Learning. Austin, TX: Deans for Impact,

Principles of Instruction (2010), Barak Rosenshine, International Academy of Education, American Educator,

Cognitive Load Theory: Research that teachers really need to understand (2017), NSW Centre for Education Statistics & Evaluation,

Putting Students on the Path to Learning, A Case for Fully Guided Instruction (2012), Richard E. Clark, Paul A. Kirschner & John Sweller, American Educator).

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Burlington & Oakville Photography Courses : : Get Started with Your Camera

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bezel_page_title title="Burlington & Oakville Courses" subtitle="Join us in the Burlington / Oakville region for our interactive and hands on photography courses. Learn to capture the moments that are special in your life!"

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There is always a reason why you enjoy something, and the three reasons why I enjoy photography are:
1. I love being able to give the gift of memories.

Perhaps you've heard the saying, "Pictures are worth a thousand words." Well, it's real, because pictures tell personal stories like that. They lead me back to such treasured moments with an instant recap of feelings that I would have entirely forgotten about otherwise. They cause me to relive those parts of my life when I look back at images that I will never be able to recreate again, and I'm beyond grateful to have them. The incredible power of photographs is to make me feel happy, excited, reflective, proud, grateful, calm, and an abundance of love.
2. I’m able to see the world uniquely.

Wherever I go, I note the things others might be unaware of, such as a single ray of light reflecting on the mountain through the clouds, which gives me calm, and the prettiest tiny dimple on a smiling face. Photography allows me to interpret facial expressions and to understand precisely how someone thinks. All the time, I put myself in other shoes and I treat others as I would like to be handled and I love people-related matters.
3. I get so excited about the moments when all the stars align.

This one is, I guess, the greatest fuel for my passion. I have a big heart and nothing more lights me up than when all the conditions in a situation match up perfectly, from the lighting to the natural feeling on the faces, to the overall environment and the powerful rush of inspiration that all this gives me. I jump up and down, literally, with enthusiasm and happiness! Times like this are divine intervention, and nothing makes me feel more full than these moments of exhilaration.

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Everybody has their reasons to love something. For example, you can read about why Steve Mc Curry loves photography:

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Steve McCurry, recognized universally as one of today's finest image-makers, is best known for his evocative color photography. In the finest documentary tradition, McCurry captures the essence of human struggle and joy.

Born in Philadelphia, McCurry graduated cum laude from the College of Arts and Architecture at the Pennsylvania State University. After working at a newspaper for two years, he left for India to freelance. It was in India that McCurry learned to watch and wait on life. "If you wait," he realized, "people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view."

His career was launched when, disguised in native garb, he crossed the Pakistan border into rebel-controlled Afghanistan just before the Russian invasion. When he emerged, he had rolls of film sewn into his clothes and images that would be published around the world as among the first to show the conflict there. His coverage won the Robert Capa Gold Medal for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad, an award dedicated to photographers exhibiting exceptional courage and enterprise.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Magazine Photographer of the Year, awarded by the National Press Photographers Association. This was the same year in which he won an unprecedented four first prizes in the World Press Photo contest. He has won the Olivier Rebbot Award twice.

McCurry has covered many areas of international and civil conflict, including Beirut, Cambodia, the Philippines, the Gulf War, the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Tibet. He focuses on the human consequences of war, not only showing what war impresses on the landscape, but rather, on the human face.

McCurry's work has been featured in every major magazine in the world and frequently appears in National Geographic, with recent articles on Tibet, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and the temples of Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

A high point in McCurry's career was the rediscovery of the previously unidentified Afghan refugee girl that many have described as the most recognizable photograph in the world today.

McCurry has published books including The Imperial Way (1985), Monsoon (1988), Portraits (1999), South Southeast (2000), Sanctuary (2002), The Path to Buddha: A Tibetan Pilgrimage (2003), Steve McCurry (2005), and Looking East (2006).

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Photographer Steve McCurry Biography -- National Geographic

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Steve McCurry, recognized universally as one of today's finest image-makers, is best known for his evocative color photography. In the finest documentary tradition, McCurry captures the essence of human struggle and joy. Born in Philadelphia, McCurry graduated cum laude from the College of Arts and Architecture at the Pennsylvania State University.

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You can also visit websites to learn more about why people enjoy photography: 

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by Jeff Cable

(Editor's note: This guest post is by photographer Jeff Cable and first appeared on the Jeff Cable Photography blog.)

I have been a professional photographer for more than 8 years now, and have been teaching photography for the last couple of years. And since all of my classes are online at the B&H YouTube Channel, and available for free, people often ask me why I do all of this. So I thought I would write a blog to let you know why I love photography so much. If you take and share photos, my guess is that you will be able to relate to many of these.

I see the world and light in a whole new way
Believe it or not, before I got into photography, I would see a tree full of fall colors, drive by a beautiful hill of flowers, look at snow covered mountains, see someone's face with tons of character, and honestly, I did not pay attention to those details. I remember driving with my mother and she would say "look at the amazing colors in these trees" and I would say "uh huh" and think nothing of it. It was not until I started capturing photos and seeing the beauty on my screen, that I began to see details, colors and light in a whole new way. Now, I will be eating in a restaurant and see someone sitting by the window, and think "wow, look at the perfect light on their face. That would make a perfect portrait." I feel like a veil was lifted and I see what I was missing for all those years before. I was just telling someone today, "Photography has changed the way the world sees me and the way I see the world."

The camera helps me meet amazing people
The photo above shows me with an Olympic gold medalist, but as cool as it is to get to know Olympians and other well known people, I am talking about your average interesting people who surround us in our daily lives. I can not tell you how many times that people have seen me with all of my equipment and asked what I was shooting. Or, assuming that I know what I am doing with a camera, they will ask me to take their photo. Many times this leads to a conversation with these strangers. And I have met some really amazing people across the globe. Even just last week, if you read the previous blog entry, I met 3 people from Europe and ended up joining them for lunch and dinner and getting an invite to their place in London.

And it is not just people who I am meeting face-to-face, it is the chance to interact with all of you. I get numerous emails every day from blog readers, people on the Facebook page, and others who want to share images or ask questions. I was very lucky early in my career to have so many great photographers willing to share their knowledge with me. I like being able to do the same for others now.

I get to capture family history and memories
Sure, when I shoot an event like a bar mitzvah or wedding, I am making money doing that. But that is not the only reason that I shoot these types of events. I love being there to capture that important moment in time, a moment that will hopefully be remembered forever through my images. This was never more true than my own experience taking a photo of my mother, who passed away 2 1/2 years ago. Four months before she died, my mother took the extended family on a cruise to Mexico. I took a photo of my mother, on the formal night, that even she liked (and she never liked herself in photos). Four months later, she was gone and I am SO thankful to have that one photo. It was at this time that I realized that we are not photographers, we are historians!

I will also tell you that there is nothing that makes me happier than to walk into a friend or neighbor's house and see, on their walls or mantle, countless family photos that I have taken for them over the years. Did I charge any of them for those photos? Nope. But I feel like I was well paid, in their sheer appreciation for the photos.

( Note: I wrote this blog on Saturday morning, and then headed out for a day of fun with my family other family friends. When we got to our friend's home, we were happy to see that their granddaughter was there as well. Since I had my camera with me, I thought it would be fun to take some photos of Brooklyn in their backyard. I shot a whole bunch of photos of her, and then at the end of the evening, she came downstairs in her pajamas and handed me this thank you card. It just melted my heart, and, I thought to myself, "this is exactly what I just wrote about in the blog!")

I can inspire and teach others
I never once thought of becoming a teacher, and surely never pictured myself teaching photography. (Pun intended) But here I am many years later, and even though I never intended to become a teacher or mentor to others, it happened. I have so much passion for photography and really love sharing that with others. I have received many messages from others who tell me that I inspired them to take better photos or rekindled their love for the art. I love that my influence, in some way, has helped other people have that veil lifted to see subjects, color and light in a whole new way!

I get to share photos with others
What good is it to take photos if nobody is ever going to see them? I love capturing images for myself and my family, but also to share with others. It is for this reason that I started this blog and created the Facebook page. Of course, when I first created the blog, it was for friends and family to see what I was up to. Now, with more than 30,000 readers a month, I am sharing to a wider group around the globe. And I am very thankful to have all of you who view the images, ask questions and give your opinions. You are a big reason why I love photography.

I get a chance to travel the globe and experience so many amazing things
I have been traveling the planet for more than 20 years, and feel so fortunate to see parts of the world that most do not. I have hung out of a helicopter (with the doors off) over New York City to shoot an ad, been on race tracks during Formula One races, been feet away from historic Olympic events. Because of my photography, I am invited to explore the world and capture its beauty. Even though I have traveled from the US to Australia 14 times, I still pinch myself when I get there. I never take any of this for granted. Some people like to come home from a new place with a t-shirt or mug, I like to come home with at least one great photo. I am about to go to Russia for my fourth Olympic Games to capture images of some of the best athletes in the world. I am lucky.

I get to give back
To me, the most important word in the English language is "passion." And I try to do everything with passion. Whether it is interactions with my friends and family, playing ice hockey, driving, or shooting photos, I do it all with passion. And through my photography and this blog, I get to spread that passion to others.

(Jeff Cable is the owner of Jeff Cable Photography. He is also director of Marketing for Lexar Media.)

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Why I love photography! (Friday Inspiration)

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by Jeff Cable (Editor's note: This guest post is by photographer Jeff Cable and first appeared on the Jeff Cable Photography blog.) I have been a professional photographer for more than 8 years now, and have been teaching photography for the last couple of years.

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So what makes a photo interesting? What makes us choose subjects? What makes us shoot what we shoot? Well, that all depends on you! Our subjects and interests are what makes photography so personal and unique.

Some like landscapes, wildlife, or nature, while others are interested more in people, street scenes, and architecture. There are quite a lot of genres out there but most of us don’t get to shoot them all.

As artists, our interest determines the photos we take. It does not interest anyone in what interests us, and vice versa. The very fact that we do not take images of nearly everything we see just implies that our subjects are picky. We also want to catch stuff that we want to see, stuff that is important to us. But while one photographer of wildlife may see one bird as fascinating, another may see it as an unnecessary effort. This can be a product of many factors. Like all forms of art, photography can be subjective in the sense that something which looks interesting to one person may look uninteresting and boring for someone else.

To find out what makes you interested in photography, you should explore subjects, settings, lighting, exposure, etc. You can also read books and websites to develop your interest. An amazing website that helps you explore these interests is

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I was once exploring photos from other photographers while browsing a photography forum when I came across a rather interesting post. Someone had posted a photograph and requested a critique of the shot. The post was interesting not merely because of the image but because of the conversation taking place.

Image by Brannon Naito

While I think the photographer created a decent shot, there was one who commented that the photographer shouldn't have taken the shot in the first place since the subject wasn't interesting. This sparked a discussion of whether or not subjects have to be interesting before you photograph them.

The opposing side argued that it's all about how the photographer presented the photo and not if the subject was interesting to begin with. This made me curious allowing me to think of my own thought process when it comes to shooting different subjects. It also made me wonder - why do we shoot what we shoot?

What Makes a Photo Interesting?

So what makes a photo interesting? What makes us choose subjects? What makes us shoot what we shoot?

Subject:

Some like landscapes, wildlife, or nature, while others are interested more in people, street scenes, and architecture. There are quite a lot of genres out there but most of us don't get to shoot them all.

Image by Harry Kessell

Interests:

Our personal preference as photographers defines the images we take. What interests us may not interest others and vice versa. The mere fact that we don't take photos of absolutely everything we see only means we are picky with our subjects. We only like to capture things we like to see - subjects that are interesting to us. But while one wildlife photographer may see one bird interesting, another might see it as a useless effort. This can be a result of many things.

Like all forms of art, photography can be subjective in the sense that something which looks interesting to one person may look uninteresting and boring for someone else. So, what makes a photograph interesting?

Here's one example. A new photographer on his first visit to Hawaii will find Pacific sunsets very fascinating compared to a local Hawaiian photographer living right across the beach who might find it nice but quite usual and common. The interest may be there for both photographers, but the level of excitement will differ and will determine whether or not the photographer will take the shot.

Standards:

With my story, the one who commented may argue that uninteresting subjects should be avoided, but I would like to believe the photographer who shared his image for critique found something interesting in the subject and that's why he captured it. The only problem is that it didn't look interesting to some or he wasn't effective in making it stand out. This leads to another question:

How Do I Find Subjects That Are Interesting To Others Too?

Let's quickly look at five considerations:

Part of the objective of the photographer is to get as many people to appreciate what they capture. Yes, we can't please everyone but it's a good goal to look at the standard of the majority, or specific people you wish to target.

Ask yourself the question - Even if this looks interesting to me, does it look interesting to the people I want to show this to? Like the Hawaiian sunset example, if your target audience sees something they normally see, they would more likely think it's uninteresting.

Here's an experiment you can do. Find some travel photographs featuring your own town. Afterwards, find and compare some travel photographs of a foreign place with a totally different culture from yours. Without looking at how well the photographer took the shot, which subjects interested you more? I bet it's the foreign place. The more uncommon and unusual it is to people, the more interesting it is.

2. Is the light and colour interesting or is it poor and flat?

Even the most fascinating of subjects can be considered a waste with poor and flat lighting and colour. To make good photographs, a good understanding of light is very important.

Imagine being able to spot a beautiful rare bird but it's hidden under the dark shade of a barn. While taking the shot would probably earn you points for spotting it, being able to showcase it for exhibit is out of the question.

Beautiful light results in beautiful colours, textures and depth in photos. Serious landscape photographers understand this concept and this is one of the keys to their success. They know that there is a big difference when it comes to time of day because of the light. One can take the same scene but with different lighting conditions and one can stand out while the other can get lost in the rubble.

Nature photographers of course cannot control the lighting when a moment happens, even if you happen to be at the right place at the right time, but if you are shooting portraits and other genre where you have the option to make use of artificial light, then use lighting knowledge and make the best out of the situation.

3. Does the subject's form make it obvious?

What's the difference between taking a photo of a car from the front and taking a photo of it from the side? A subject's form can make it interesting or uninteresting.

For example, a box is just a square when taken directly from the front. It will only look like a box with a 3-dimensional form when you choose to capture it at a certain angle. Perspectives make a difference.

Here's a challenge. Get the most uninteresting yet accessible object you can find. Without moving the subject, take 50 shots of the same subject and find a perspective that will make it more interesting. No two angles should be alike. I bet that you'll make that subject look interesting in one or two of the 50 images just because of the difference in form and even in lighting.

Image by I.am_nah

4. Is the story or the message clear?

Clarity of story is important and some of the best or greatest images in history have a story to tell. Photographers need to focus on the story of the moment rather than look for unique subjects, more like photojournalism when photographing people or events.

Some ways you can tell stories through images are, when you see something in a subject like a pretty smile, some texture in the bark of a tree, or a raging storm across the horizon, it doesn't mean that it would immediately translate into viewers being able to see what you saw. This is where the understanding and use of effective composition takes place.

While composing a photograph, the photographer chooses what goes into the photograph and what needs to be excluded. The photographer places the main subject in a part of the frame that creates more impact and then adds supporting elements to the frame that complement the main subject but at the same time does not clutter the frame and take away the attention from the subject.

Image by Yohei Shimomae

Make use of the various composition techniques like rule of thirds, negative space, rule of odds, leading lines, perspective, framing, etc. to make the image/story interesting. Also, make sure you incorporate emotions into the image as humans are drawn to genuine portrayal of emotions a lot. These moments can keep the viewer's attention for a long time.In other cases, post processing for enhancement ( not for added effects) is necessary. The more you are knowledgeable about composition and the elements of design, the more you are able to make your message clear.

In other cases, post processing for enhancement ( not for added effects) is necessary. The more you are knowledgeable about composition and the elements of design, the more you are able to make your message clear.

5. Is it presented in an interesting way with the right background?

Choosing subjects isn't just about main elements. Subjects will look more interesting with the right presentation. Although it seems we're talking about composition, sometimes we have to look into the character of a subject and if the background compliments it to create a stunning presentation.

Does the subject create a certain contrast with its surroundings? Or does it blend in?

Subjects will either stand out or shrink back depending on the environment they are in. A photo may work compositionally but the right background elements can even heighten the interest of a viewer. Looking out for those background elements can help make photos more interesting.

Image by Gabriel Silvério

Final Thoughts

Have you been shooting uninteresting subjects? I believe you haven't. It is a photographer's instinct to shoot only interesting subjects. Either that or they look into making uninteresting subjects look interesting. The decision is up to the photographer. The photographer creates that result.

Further Resources On Choosing Subjects:

1. Photography tips: choosing your subject

2. Choosing A Photography Subject

3. Learning to Choose Your Subject In Photography

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What Makes A Photograph Interesting? | Light Stalking

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I was once exploring photos from other photographers while browsing a photography forum when I came across a rather interesting post. There was a discussion on whether or not subjects have to be interesting before you photograph them. This made me curious allowing me to think of my own thought process when it comes to shooting different subjects.

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If you have been studying photography for a while now, you have tried to experiment with at least three genres of photography. When you're just starting, it's perfectly normal to try different styles of photography, but if you want to succeed in one, make it a profession, and market yourself successfully as a particular form of the photographer, you'll ultimately have to choose just one. And this all depends on what you enjoy doing, and what you are good at.

It's a positive indication that you might have found the right one for you if you enjoy discovering a specific photography niche. Why would you keep doing something that doesn't attract you or suit your personality, after all? What you like doing, though, is not necessarily going to be what you're good at. There can only be two alternatives to this, either you do your best to strengthen the category you enjoy before you get highly qualified or you learn how to love what you have a natural talent for.

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What are the strategies or techniques associated with the topic?

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What are the strategies or techniques associated with the topic?

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There are many strategies associated with photography from the business side, to the technique side. So whether you consider yourself selling a service or a product, there are two fundamental sides to most small businesses, including photography businesses: the product/service side and the business/marketing side.

The steps to starting a photography business are:

1. Decide what types of photography services you’ll offer.

2. Develop your business plan.

3. Decide your business structure.

4. Create a business name.

5. Officially establish your business.

6. Gather needed equipment and supplies.

7. Create marketing materials.

Now that you have the marketing side down, let’s talk about simple techniques that every photographer needs to know. Even long after you’ve become a professional shooter, this photography composition “rules” will always come in handy.

1. Simplification; The easiest way to have a clear and strong composition is to keep things simple. Instead of having too much going on in the frame, keep the focus on a single subject.

2. Filling the Frame; For this technique, move in closer to your subject to strengthen your composition.

3. Rule of Thirds; This basic composition technique is based on the idea that placing your subjects off-center yields a stronger, more natural-looking composition and allows you to make creative use of negative space.

4. Framing; Also called sub-framing, this type of compositional technique involves using or adding frame elements to emphasize and lead the viewer’s eye towards your subject or simply add interest to your image.

5. Colour and Contrast; Another easy photography composition technique is the use of colour to create stunning photographs and strengthen the message behind your images.

6. Contrast; As an essential form of colour, contrast works similarly in improving your composition, more so for monochromatic images.

7. Leading Lines and Shapes; Other significant elements of art that our eyes are naturally drawn to are lines and shapes.

8. Symmetrical Balance

9. Asymmetrical Balance

10. Depth and Layering

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How can you make a connection from your topic to technology?

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How can you make a connection from your topic to technology?

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Over the years, equipment and techniques for photography have grown to become its art form. Technology continues to change, continually changing the world in which a professional photographer works his trade. Electronic tools, systems, devices and services that produce, store or process data are digital technologies.

Digital technology has changed the role of photography in society in many ways. Technology has advanced so much that photographs can be captured anywhere and anytime. Photos can be now sent to another person through text messages, shared online on emails, internal hard drives, and save onto USBs and memory cards. The role of photography has changed so much in society that even younger kids know how to work with them. Now, pictures are not just taken on special occasions, but almost all the time for the littlest things. People take a lot of “selfies'' and share it on social networking. In conclusion, digital technology made photography much simpler and affordable.

• With this technology, you won’t need to purchase a film anymore. It has the ability for you to review the shot taken and if you don’t like how it was taken, you can always capture the image over again. This helps save money because there is no waste of a negative.

• The storage capacity for digital technology is enormous – you can easily store your pictures and keep your lovely memories for as long as you wish. Traditional photography, on the other hand, can not do this and you will have to pay more to have them printed.

• Digital photography allows you to print them as well if you want. If you don’t want to print your digital images, simply delete them or store them on your computer for future use.

• Digital technology allows you to review and edit your images almost instantly after the image is captured. Traditional photography requires many more stages before the image can be reviewed and edited, and each stage costs additional time and money.

• With digital technology, you can perform enhancements and add information on the picture such as added text or even the date. This process can usually be performed within the camera itself.

• ISO speed settings are easier to change. All film settings are much easier to adjust and set on a digital camera compared with a traditional film camera.

• It saves time and enables a faster turn-around on investment when shooting for a client since the traditional ways of photography took more time to show the customers the image results.

• The cameras used lately are a bit smaller and much easier to carry around. They are handy and not bulky.

• There are digital photo printers and computers that are available almost everywhere. These eliminate the cost of expensive processing equipment – dark rooms are now a thing of the past.

Also, photos are being used to identify individuals through Machine Readable passports, Face recognition through Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Animation, Face recognition and many more use cases. With the introduction of 5G, it is not too far, where you will be able to track the movement of an individual throughout the city, with the help of interconnected sensors, the Internet of Things and Face Recognition technology.

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As I mentioned before, I took a few photography classes in school. Here are some images or assignments from that class.

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There are many resources to help you learn photography in and out of school. For example, The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography will tell you everything you need to take an astounding picture. Some online resources and courses include:

Marc Levoy’s Free Lectures on Digital Photography

Introduction to Photography and Related Media

Canon Australia Explore

Lifehacker Night School the Basics of Photography

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It can get kind of difficult to learn on your own. First of all, motivation is hard to come by. If you're not part of a photography club, you'd have to come up with your own ideas. And photography is expensive.

Owning a camera, even a pre-loved one, can cost you a holiday or two. Photography classes are expensive, and the clubs are, too. So here are some amazing free resources you can access online.

1. Marc Levoy's Free Lectures on Digital Photography

Marc Levoy is a former Stanford lecturer turned Google researcher. His lectures on Digital Photography is set up exactly the way a college class would be. No prior knowledge on photography is needed to take the course.

If you want to take photographs and improve your picture-taking skills, this course is an outstanding resource, with assignments to post to Google Photos and then the community. This 11-week course comes with no formal evaluations, unlike his other course taught at Stanford.

2. Introduction to Photography and Related Media

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Open Courseware or MIT OCW has a series of courses on photography as taught to undergraduate and graduate students. Introduction to Photography and Related Media, which was taught in the fall 2007 semester is your go-to resource for the fundamentals of analogue and digital SLR, film exposure &amp; development, black and white darkroom techniques, digital imaging, and studio lighting.

There is a previous version of this course as taught by Reiner Leist in the fall 2002 semester, titled Introduction to Photography, which is also available on the MIT OCW website.

3. Canon Australia Explore

Learning photography with Canon Australia through its Canon Explore section of the site is bound to be a wonderful experience. You can learn from stories told by professionals and ambassadors of the brand, exploring new empowering skills and be part of worldwide events and world-class ideas.

In Stories, Canon shares visual explorations from real people and explain their why. In Learning, you will find photography tips based on their level of difficulties, tutorials, and workshops to attend - some are free and some are paid classes. Canon Collective Events are all year long, and Challenges provide you with a wide range of exciting challenges to participate in.

4. Lifehacker Night School's the Basics of Photography

A comprehensive guide for complete beginners. The course consists of five parts and will take you from understanding how your digital camera works, your camera's assisted and automatic settings, composition and technique, to the different editing techniques to modify your images. It is self-paced and completely free, accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

However, if you have other time commitments, you might need additional sources of motivation to keep you on your track. To interact with other readers of the tutorials and post a comment, you would need to get a Kinja account.

5. Phlearn Photography Section

On the Phlearn website, you'll find hundreds of free tutorials, so it's easy to get lost if you don't know where to search. Their Photography section provides up to 390 listed materials, including interviews with photographers, contest, and inspiration. You will have to go through the Photography Basics section to find what you need to learn and be specific because they seem to have plenty of tips and very specific how-tos on other topics as well.

6. Udemy Photography: Ditch Auto-Start Shooting in Manual

The ultimate free course on digital photography by Jerad Hill on Udemy. Jerad will teach you how to use your camera in manual mode, how to maximize the potential of your camera, and how to feel more confident shooting with a DSLR. There will be a certificate of completion and students are guaranteed lifetime access by the learning platform.

The material in the course consists of 37 lectures and one article, so a total of 4.5 hours of video content. This is not for total beginners, but it will help you build up your confidence if you're stuck in beginner's rut. If you have time on your hand, browse through Udemy's hundreds of photography courses to find even more interesting tutorials such as Green Screen Photographyand Creating a Photography Website with Zenfolio.

7. Photography by Academy of Art University on iTunes U

There are nine lectures taught by working photographers in the Academy of Art University Photography podcast. All are free and are designed for teaching university students the technique, aesthetics and conceptualization skills to create a body of work demonstrating their personal signature. Speakers include Alison Wright, Deanne Fitzmaurice, Michael Garlington, Greg Gorman, John Paul Caponigro, and Joyce Tenneson.

8. B&H Photography Podcast on Soundcloud

Interesting and inspiring resource for photographers of all levels. You will find out what is happening in the world of photography, listen to interviews and get information on the changes that are happening around you as they happen. The topics are wide ranging and B&amp;H itself has been around for 40 years as a valuable resource to photographers worldwide. The B&amp;H Photo Video, located in Manhattan, New York City, is the largest non-chain photo and video equipment store in the United States.

The podcast is not going to teach you beginner's hands-on tips and tricks, but it will enrich your understanding on photography, and even if you're not a working photographer it is still worth listening.

Ever found yourself in need of resources for tilt + shift photography? You've found it. This comprehensive article written by Peter Hill on RedBubble explains to you everything about the effect and how you can achieve it.

10. History of Photography Podcast

The History of Photography podcast is prepared by photographer Jeff Curto who is a Professor Emeritus of Photography at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The textbook used in the course is "A World History of Photography" by Naomi Rosenblum, third edition. The podcast series and the technical online course might just improve your understanding and enrich your current work.

11. Documentary Photography and Photojournalism: Still Images of a World in Motion

Learn more about the works of great documentary photographers and photojournalists with this free MIT OCW course. The most recent course was taught in the Spring 2016 semester, but an archived 2009 version is also available to download from the site. The course does require some prior technical knowledge on photography and some familiarity with the camera.

12. A Beginner's Guide to Digital Photography

A well-written and essential guide to digital photography that you can access from Makeuseof. There are 10 subtopics in total with ample links to even more resources. The guide is 59 pages of useful information for photographers of all levels, along with exercises to complete. It covers all the basics, including which camera to choose, which accessories to get, software editing basics, and glossary.

Which photography resource is most inspiring to you? Do you have any other favourites that are not already on the list?

Consider sharing this article on social media or forwarding it to people who might need the resources.

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12 Amazingly Free Resources to Learn Photography on the Internet

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It can get kind of difficult to learn on your own. First of all, motivation is hard to come by. If you're not part of a photography club, you'd have to come up with your own ideas. And photography is expensive. Owning a camera, even a pre-loved one, can cost you a holiday or two.

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If you are looking for a photography career, you should consider taking the SHSM Arts and Culture program. This program will encourage you to explore different types of arts and photography.

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SHSM Policy and Implementation Guide - Arts and Culture

The SHSM-Arts and Culture enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus - for example, on dance, dramatic arts management or technical production. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

The SHSM -Arts and Culture has the following five required components:

1. A bundle of eight Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits

These credits make up the bundle:

four arts and culture major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills. The four courses must include at least one Grade 11 and one Grade 12 credit, and may include one cooperative education credit related to the sector. (This cooperative education credit would be additional to the two that are required in the bundle; see below);

two other required credits from the Ontario curriculum. Schools may commit to including a contextualized learning activity (CLA) for the arts and culture sector in each of the two credits. In each credit, some of the course expectations are then met through the CLA. (Schools that do not formally commit to including CLAs are still free to offer them in one or more of the credits.) The two credits include:

one in business studies or Canadian and world studies (or a cooperative education credit related to the sector, which would be additional to the two cooperative education credits required in the bundle; see below);

two cooperative education credits that provide authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting, enabling students to refine, extend, apply, and practise knowledge and skills outlined in the cooperative education curriculum as well as sector-specific knowledge and skills.

1. Note that a compulsory English credit is required in Grade 11 and in Grade 12 for graduation with an OSSD. Schools may determine whether the CLA, if offered, is completed in the Grade 11 or Grade 12 English course.

Note: Multiple credits in the Ontario technological education curriculum allow additional instructional time for the practice and refinement of skills needed to develop student performance to the levels required for certification, entry into apprenticeship programs, or participation in school-work transition programs (see The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Technological Education, 2009, page 17).

2. Sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs

This SHSM sector requires students to complete a specified number of compulsory and elective sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs, as indicated in the following table. NOTE: Where an item in the table is capitalized, it is the proper name of the specific certification or training course/program that is appropriate for the SHSM. Where an item is lowercased, it is the name of an area, type, or category of training for which specific certifications or training courses/programs should be selected by the school or board. The requirements are summarized in the table below.

Three (3) compulsory

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ( CPR) Level C - includes automated external defibrillation ( AED)

Standard First Aid

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System ( WHMIS) - generic ( i.e., not site-specific) instruction

Three (3) electives from the list below

advanced training in a technique ( e.g., figure drawing, conducting, sewing)

advanced training in a technology ( e.g., 3D printing, laser cutting, Serato)

advanced training in an art form ( e.g., mime, tapdance, improvisation)

advanced training in art therapy

fall protection

first aid/ CPR/ AED awareness

framing and matting

game design

pyrotechnics

recording equipment

sector-specific software 1 ( e.g., animation, graphic arts)

sector-specific software 2 ( e.g., photography)

3. Experiential learning and career exploration activities

Experiential learning and career exploration opportunities relevant to the sector might include the following:

one-on-one observation of a cooperative education student at a placement in the arts and culture sector (an example of job twinning)

a day-long observation of an artist (an example of job shadowing)

a one- or two-week work experience with a member of an industry association or a professional in the sector (an example of work experience)

participation in a local, provincial, or national competition focused on one of the arts

attendance at a sector trade show, conference, symposium, or job fair

a tour of a local theatre, museum, studio, or art gallery

4. Reach ahead experiences

Students are provided one or more reach ahead experiences - opportunities to take the next steps along their chosen pathway - as shown in the following examples:

Apprenticeship: visiting an approved apprenticeship delivery agent in the sector

College: interviewing a college student enrolled in a sector-specific program

University: observing a university class in a sector-related program

Workplace: interviewing an employee in the sector

5. Sector-partnered experiences (SPEs)

Students engage with a sector partner and apply skills to gain insight into the relationship between this sector and ICE (innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship), coding, and/or mathematical literacy.

See the table illustrating the four pathways and required credits leading to completion of this SHSM.

Awareness building (Grades 7 and 8)

See Section B3.4 for information on building awareness of SHSM programs among students in Grades 7 and 8.

Exploration (Grades 9 and 10)

See Section B3.4 for information on providing Grade 9 and 10 students with opportunities for exploration of SHSM programs. In addition, students considering this SHSM can be encouraged to enrol in the following courses to become better informed about careers and postsecondary options in the sector:

A Grade 9 arts course or Exploring Technologies: These courses are recommended because they allow students to develop skills and acquire knowledge in a particular area of arts and culture and to benefit from doing so at an early age.

Career Studies (compulsory) and Discovering the Workplace: Some of the expectations in these Grade 10 courses provide opportunities for students to explore occupations and other postsecondary options in the sector and to participate in experiential learning activities.

A Grade 10 course in the arts or technological education: These courses are recommended for students considering enrolling in an SHSM-Arts and Culture program. These courses provide students with opportunities to further explore the area of focus being considered and develop their skills, and to gain a better understanding of the program.

Schools and boards can also provide opportunities for students to explore occupations in the sector through experiential learning. These experiences could include job shadowing, visiting art galleries, and participating in the Ontario Arts Council's Artist in Education workshops.

Specialization (Grades 11 and 12)

Students acquire the sector-specific knowledge and technical skills required to earn their Ontario Secondary Diploma ( OSSD) with an SHSM -Arts and Culture by completing its five required components. Students and their parents/guardians are encouraged to consult with guidance counsellors and teachers to select the courses that will enable students to pursue their goals.

Some students may need to earn some of the required credits for the SHSM in arts and culture in the summer or evening, or through e-learning. Co-op placements that focus on cultural activities are often scheduled at those times.

Students in Grade 12 may want to earn the arts and culture major credits required in that grade in the first half of the school year so that they are better prepared for college and university portfolio interviews and performance auditions, which are usually held in January and February. For the same reason, students may also want to complete as many sector-recognized certifications and training courses/programs as they can in the first half of the year. Wherever possible, students should include documentation such as a certificate or proof of completion of these certifications and training courses/programs in their admissions portfolio or résumé.

Students pursuing an apprenticeship pathway should consider the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program ( OYAP), which enables them to start an apprenticeship while earning their OSSD.

Students pursuing a university pathway are advised to complete their required cooperative education credits in Grade 11, in order to allow room in their timetables in Grade 12 for credits needed to meet university entrance requirements.

When helping students plan their SHSMs, particularly with respect to the selection of courses to fulfil the requirement for credits in the major, teachers should bear in mind that technological education courses can be offered as single-credit or multiple-credit courses.

Program Pathways: SHSM-Arts and Culture

This template shows program requirements for the SHSM-Arts and Culture in Grades 11 and 12, along with some of the additional credits needed for an OSSD. It is provided to help guide students in choosing the credits they need to meet the SHSM requirements in the pathway of their choice. Students should always review their pathways plan with their parents/guardians and their teachers to ensure that they have all the credits they need to graduate with an SHSM -Arts and Culture.

Shaded boxes represent required credits in the bundle for the SHSM-Arts and Culture.

(C) represents a compulsory credit for the OSSD.

The SHSM bundle of credits must include two cooperative education credits, but may include a maximum of four. The possible options are noted below, and explained fully in Section A1.2 of this guide.

1 English credit (C)*
(in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)

1 English credit (C)*
(in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)

1 English credit (C)*
(in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)

1 English credit (C)*
(in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)

1 business studies* or Canadian and world studies credit* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)
A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted.

1 business studies* or Canadian and world studies credit* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)
A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted.

1 business studies* or Canadian and world studies credit* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)
A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted.

1 business studies* or Canadian and world studies credit* (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)
A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted.

4 arts and culture major credits (including a Gr. 11 and a Gr. 12 credit)
A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted for one of these four credits.

4 arts and culture major credits (including a Gr. 11 and a Gr. 12 credit)
A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted for one of these four credits.

4 arts and culture major credits (including a Gr. 11 and a Gr. 12 credit)
A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted for one of these four credits.

4 arts and culture major credits (including a Gr. 11 and a Gr. 12 credit)
A cooperative education credit related to the sector may be substituted for one of these four credits.

2 cooperative education credits related to the sector (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)**
May be used as (C) credits

2 cooperative education credits related to the sector (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)**
May be used as (C) credits

2 cooperative education credits related to the sector (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)**
May be used as (C) credits

2 cooperative education credits related to the sector (in either Gr. 11 or Gr. 12)**
May be used as (C) credits

* A contextualized learning activity ( CLA) must be included in the course in schools that have committed to offering CLAs (see "Other Required Credits" in section A1.2). (Note that students must take Grade 11 and Grade 12 English to graduate with an OSSD, but the CLA may be offered in either grade.)

** May be taken the summer before Grade 11

Note: To guide students and teachers in the development of their SHSM program, schools can access the latest approved SHSM course list for each sector through their SHSM board lead.

The following table provides examples of occupations in the arts and culture sector, with corresponding National Occupational Classification ( NOC) codes, sorted according to the type of postsecondary education or training the occupations would normally require.

Apprenticeship Training

College

Artisans and craftspersons 5244

Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, and the performing arts 5226

Painters and decorators 7294

Actors and comedians 5135

Announcers and other broadcasters 5231

Artisans and craftspersons 5244

Audio and video recording technicians 5225

Broadcast technicians 5224

Film and video camera operators 5222

Graphic arts technicians 5223

Graphic designers and illustrators 5241

Interior designers and interior decorators 5242

Other performers 5232

Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, and the performing arts 5226

Photographers 5221

Supervisors, textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing production supervisors 9217

Technical occupations related to museums and art galleries 5212

Theatre, fashion, exhibit, and other creative designers 5243

Authors and writers 5121

Conductors, composers, and arrangers 5132

Conservators or curators 5112

Dancers 5134

Painters, sculptors, and other visual artists 5136

Producers, directors, choreographers, and related occupations 5131

Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations 1123

Camera, platemaking and other prepress occupations 9472

Desktop publishing operators and related occupations 1423

Graphic artists and illustrators 5241

Musicians and singers 5133

Other performers 5232

Photographic and film processors 9474

Textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operators and workers 9441

Weavers, knitters, and other fabric-making occupations 9442

Note: This information is based on the 2016 NOC. An update to the NOC in 2016 resulted in changes to the codes and titles for some occupations, and in some cases to the occupations included in the group. For more detail, refer to the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development ( MLTSD) web page, Ontario's Labour Market ( https://www.ontario.ca/page/labour-market). (Note also that some of the names of occupations listed here reflect common usage in the sector and may differ slightly from those used in the NOC system.)

The following are examples of programs and training related to careers in the arts and culture sector and the accreditations associated with each.

Apprenticeship Training

Entertainment Industry Power Technician

Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification

Gem Setter/Goldsmith

Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification

Native Clothing and Crafts Artisan

Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification

Painter and Decorator

Certificate of apprenticeship/certificate of qualification

College

Theatre/Drama/Performing Arts

Acting for Film, Television, and Theatre

Diploma

Audio Production, Recording, and
Engineering Technology

Diploma

Comedy Writing and Performance

Diploma

Entertainment Business

Diploma

Musical Theatre

Diploma

Performing Arts Administration

Diploma

Theatre - Dramatic Arts/Performance

Diploma

Theatre Production and Technical Production

Diploma

Visual/Media Arts and Design

Advertising Design and Media Sales

Diploma

Computer/Digital Animation

Diploma

Digital Video Production

Diploma

Fashion Arts/Fashion Design

Diploma

Fashion Marketing and Merchandising

Diploma

Fashion/Video Makeup Design

Diploma

Film and Television Technician

Diploma

Game Development/Multimedia Development

Diploma

Graphic Design - Advertising and Package Design

Diploma

Interior Design/Decorating

Diploma

Internet Graphic Design

Diploma

Radio Broadcasting

Diploma

Residential Design

Diploma

Television Broadcasting

Diploma

Visual Merchandising Arts

Diploma

Visual, Creative, Design, Digital, and Media Arts

Diploma

University

Training for the Workplace

Theatre/Drama/Performing Arts

Introduction to Performing Arts Careers

Certificate

Performing Arts Preparation

Certificate

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shsm policy and implementation guide – agriculture

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SHSM Policy and Implementation Guide - Arts and Culture

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SHSM Policy and Implementation Guide - Arts and Culture The SHSM-Arts and Culture enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace.

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You should also check out this website to learn more about photography careers:

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As with most professions, a degree can open the door to opportunity. In the field of photography, degree holders are often considered for jobs as commercial photographers, photojournalists, digital photo editors, videographers, and even educators. Here are descriptions of the most common photography careers.

Photojournalist
Photojournalists photograph newsworthy people, places, and sporting, political, and community events for newspapers, journals, magazines, or television. Some work as salaried staff employees, while others own their own businesses and are known as freelance photographers. Freelance news photographers may license the use of their photographs through stock photo agencies or contracts with other types of clients.

Fine Art Photographer
Fine art photographers sell work to individuals, galleries, interior designers, architects, libraries, community centers, churches, banks, hotels, government and elsewhere on a freelance basis or by commission. Fine art photographers enjoy creative freedom not generally allowed to freelance or staff photographers, but they must also be extremely self-motivated.

Commercial/Industrial Photographer
Commercial/Industrial photographers capture images used for books, advertisements, catalogs, and wide media. They take pictures of a wide variety of objects and subjects, including models, landscapes, buildings, and merchandise. An industrial photographer might take pictures of machinery, workers, and other products that can be useful to workers in analyzing, public relations, and business strategies. Industrial photography takes place at the site of its use.

Studio/Portrait Photographer
Studio/Portrait photographers often work in their own studios, taking pictures of groups or individuals. They often specialize in particular events, such as weddings, religious ceremonies, or school photographs. They also may work on location. Some portrait photographers may own their own business, which requires them to arrange for advertising, schedule appointments, mount and frame pictures, purchase supplies, keep records, bill customers, and possibly hire and train new employees.

Freelance Photographer
Freelance photographers are hired out on a job-by-job basis, which is a nice perk for those who prefer to make their own schedule or to work on a variety of projects. Freelancers do many of the same jobs as staff photographers, without the benefit of a consistent paycheck. Some freelancers specialize in areas such as portraits, aerial photography by plane, weddings or fashion.

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As with most professions, a degree can open the door to opportunity. In the field of photography, degree holders are often considered for jobs as commercial photographers, photojournalists, digital photo editors, videographers, and even educators. Here are descriptions of the most common photography careers.

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If you want to learn photography without schooling, you should check out this website that gives you tips and tricks!

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Photography is undoubtedly the art form of the modern day - almost everyone has access to a camera and simple, high level editing software has exploded the medium.

Due to all this, a new generation of amateur photographers are upon us, in numbers greater than ever before. But for those who want to exit the rookie realm, do they need photography school?

Teaching any kind of creative discipline enters touchy territory, especially for people's ideals and bank accounts. But, in a day and age where many career photographers struggle to get paid work - do you need the formal training to stay competitive over the millions of images on Instagram and Flickr? First it's important to figure out why you want the skills.

What's the purpose of your photography?

Not everyone can take a hobby and flip it into a career, and not everyone wants to. When weighing up the importance of enrolling to study, you have to ask yourself if it's a good investment. As anyone with a degree can tell you - they're not cheap. The average annual cost of tuition fees in the US is $33,000. That's a lot of money to throw at a hobby.

If you want to take good photos but don't want to drop big bucks on being qualified, there's a ton of ways to develop your skills - we'll get to those in a bit.

The pros and cons of photography school

You're aware of the cost but want to look further into study - let's lay out the major pros and cons of photography school.

Better understanding of the art, its history and its development.

Refine your natural skills and learn from people who have succeeded in the business.

Gain a thorough understanding of lighting and composition techn iques.

Make connections throughout your degree that could help in your professional life.

Tuition expense is high and average yearly salaries are low, meaning it could take you decades to pay back your debt

Equipment is also super pricey, making it hard to balance the cost of lenses, cameras and accessories with the price of study.

Employment isn't guaranteed, especially as art and photography degrees are limiting.

Possibility of having to go back to school to pursue more education if your photography career doesn't flourish.

Which side carries more weight for you?

Passion, patience and hustle

If you take a passion and run with it - can you be successful without the formality of the classroom? Can drive, a thick skin and persistence be all you need to get skills, money and connections?

For some - yes.

Take . In 2010 he quit his 9-5 job to pursue a career in photography. Seven years later the self-taught photographer has an Instagram following of over six hundred thousand and some pretty impressive clients, including Apple, Target and The New York Times. In an interview with icanbesociety , Chris said 'I made a conscious decision to improve my skills and just began studying photography and shooting like crazy.'

A post shared by Chris Ozer (@chrisozer) on Oct 13, 2017 at 11:40am PDT

A post shared by Chris Ozer (@chrisozer) on Sep 25, 2017 at 6:27am PDT

Regardless of what you want to achieve with your photography - here's some sure fire ways to improve your skills without a degree.

01. Get familiar with your camera

I know what you're thinking - no way am I reading the camera manual. But, it really is a great tool when trying to master your chosen model. It's not to say you have to read 300 pages cover to cover, of course you can skim areas you already know about or leave particular sections for later, but the humble camera manual holds more importance than you think. Taking the time to research your kit is important for a couple reasons:

You need to know about every aspect of your camera

No one knows the camera better than the people that made it

02. Watch online tutorials

With the inception of the internet making most people think of manuals as artifacts, you can also go to the net to learn. Especially if you find reading difficult/uninspiring, there will be countless videos and blogs on how to use the model you've picked. This is great when looking for reviews from people who have actually used the rig for a while. YouTube in particular is filled with reviews, tips and warnings for photographers, check out popular channels like Mango Street or Peter McKinnon for easy to follow videos. And remember to put what you've watched into action!

03. Hit the books (and online portfolios)

Indulging in a good book or online portfolio will help you absorb details in a creative, colorful and interesting ways. They will inspire you and help you figure out niches that you want to play around with. Whilst you're learning portfolios can also be a source of great frustration, as you look at what others can achieve and struggle to mirror it. Don't let it get you down though, just like every good art form, it takes time to master.
Here's three great photo books to start with:
1. ZZYZX by Gregory Halpern

ZZYZX is the result of Halpern spending six years travelling to locations across California, often randomly selected from Google Maps.

2. The House of Seven Women by Tito Mouraz

Based on a ghost story, Mouraz explores the myth of seven mysterious women who cast a spell on his adult imagination. This is a great book for people interested in black and white imagery.

Since 2004, Misrach has been documenting the border between Mexico and America. Alongside images of landscapes and buildings, he has photographed evidence of migration, like water bottles, clothing, shotgun shells and parts of the wall.
And, three great online portfolios to check out:
1. North Landscapes by Jan Erik Waider

Jan Erik Waider's online portfolio is a collection of raw nordic landscapes. He's amazing at taking photos of misty mountains, snow covered trees and flowing waterfalls with some high profile clients like The British Museum, Apple and HTC.

A post shared by Jan Erik Waider (@northlandscapes) on Sep 23, 2017 at 3:46am PDT

2. Nicholas Evariste Photography

If you want to see someone take black and white photography and turn it into minimalistic aesthetic perfection, have a look at Nicholas Evariste's online portfolio.

3. Cassandra Klos Photography

A true testament to 'film is not dead,' Klos uses 4×5 film to capture insane scenes that look like they were taken on Mars, but are really in locations like Hawaii and Utah.

04. Practice, practice and more practice

Nothing is going to help you more than experience - so bring your camera everywhere and shoot anything remotely interesting! You can take fifty photography courses, read every book about lighting and exposure and talk about it all day - but taking photos is what is going to allow you to unlock your style and natural skill. As hundreds of photos build up on your memory card, you'll see what needs improvement and where you excel. It's good to keep some early evidence of your trials and errors so you can look back and see how far you've come!

05. Learn how to network

Studying, reading and ogling photographer's works and words is important, but you also need to hit the streets and network. Contacts and referrals enable you to gain valuable skills and, if you want to make money, get clients. Networking is all about figuring out who you need to know and how you're going to build long-term relationships with them.

Photography is a very personal business, networking lets you get to know people

You are your brand, making yourself known as a person and not just a photographer helps you get repeat customers

Networking is cheap in comparison to other marketing strategies

Without good relationships - no business will succeed.

is a self-taught photographer from America, he believes that solid networking is far more important than a degree, 'my first publication didn't come from an interview or random email. It came from making friends with all the right people.'

06. Get a mentor or apprenticeship

Mentors and apprenticeships are a surprisingly overlooked way of breaking into photography. Ask many successful self-taught professionals how they learned the ropes and many will credit working their way up the ladder at an internship.

A big tip though - do your research into who you are going to be working for. You need to connect with someone who is generous with their knowledge and encouraging in their style. The wrong kind of experience can leave you sitting behind a desk all day, filing paperwork and answer phones.

Stefen Chow is a photographer based in Beijing, in 2008 he said he saw the true power and impact of mentorship - 'I went to the Eddie Adams Workshop ... the instructors [were] from the biggest magazines such as National Geographic and Time.... they were all there for the singular purpose of teaching and imparting their knowledge and wisdom to emerging photographers like me.' Chow said, 'I felt there was no greater gift than to be a receiver of such unsolicited goodwill.'

A post shared by Stefen Chow (@stefenchow) on Mar 4, 2017 at 4:14pm PST

07. Attend a workshop

Continuing from above, going to a workshop is another great way to learn. Workshops are particularly good for people who might want to go to photography school, but don't want to commit to 3+ years and shell out tons of cash. That's not to say that workshops aren't expensive, some are quite eye watering - but - put it in comparison to a degree and it's quite the bargain. Workshops also tie in to a lot of things we've already discussed - they're great for making connections, finding internships and discovering styles/niches you love.

08. Join a photography forum

Photographers love talking about photography - and where do they unleash? Forums. Whether you want some honest feedback on your work, want to learn more about a particular style of photography or have a question about your camera - forums more often than not will hold the answer. Don't always take what someone has said on a forum as gospel though, it's always good to back up claims with further research.

Some good forums for general info are

There are also thousands of forums for more specific enquiries, Google away!

09. Set yourself a photography bucket list

Is there any better feeling than writing a list of challenges and working through them till there's none left?! I don't think so. Your photography journey can benefit from this as well. By setting goals or a photography 'bucket list,' you can find yourself feeling more motivated to get out and get shooting.

10. Enter a photography competition

Photography competitions are a great way to get some feedback on your work if you're finding it hard to get critiques from anywhere else. Some photography competitions can also have pretty hefty cash prizes, so if you're looking to make money off your shots then this could be your chance. But, be warned - a lot of photography competitions are more of a money making scheme for the host than a legitimate way to celebrate talent - research the comp and don't pay more than $30 or $40 for an entry.

11. Make an online photography portfolio

Once you start building up a catalogue of work, you need a place to present it.

Use it as a resume: show off your expertize and past clients as a way to lock down more work

It's a marketing tool: gain visibility of your personal brand by giving your social media posts a call to action

Look back on your work: it's a great way to see how far you've come with each photography project

Organize your work into themes: it'll allow potential clients to quickly and easily navigate your site to see if you're a photographer they'd want to work with

Show you best work: don't make people go through hundreds of average pictures - highlight the good stuff.

Get your head around SEO (search engine optimization): your site won't get a lot of action without it.

Use a website builder as opposed to a custom website: website builders like WordPress and Squarespace make it easy for you to design your layout - and they still look beautiful

12. Present your photos to your friends

Feedback is super important when trying to learn any new skill yourself - so gather up some honest friends and get them to look through your work. Keep in mind that they may not have any knowledge of photography techniques or styles, but get them to tell you which ones they like and which ones they don't. You'll likely get good points to think about from their opinions, and it's a good opportunity to relate it to how your future clients (some of which may also not know much about photography) could view your work.

13. Find your own style

An important thing to remember when learning how to take photos is: be inspired, but don't copy. Sure, you could look at someone else's work and think 'That's exactly the type of photo I want to take,' but no two photos will ever be the same - so don't bother trying to mirror others down to the last detail. The best way to develop your style is to keep taking photos - shoot as much as you can, whenever you can, until you figure it out.

14. HUSTLE

Hustling is the secret ingredient to winning the photographer game - take it from someone who's done it, photographer says his formula for success is this:

" Hustle: how hard you work. The hours you put in studying. The hours you put in creating stuff. Taking risks. Putting yourself out there. Learning how to brand and market yourself.

Luck: Being at the right place at the right time. Being given a 'lucky break.' Being born in the right era. Meeting the right person, or having the right connections.

We cannot control luck. But we can control hustle."

15. Follow lots of photographers on social media

Social media is an incredible tool for photographers - particularly Instagram because it favours beautiful imagery. You spend so much time trawling through feeds as it is - why not make it so that what comes up actually inspires you? Here are five Instagram's to follow to get your creative juices flowing -

A post shared by Adam Senatori (@adamsenatori) on Oct 25, 2017 at 12:44pm PDT

Theron's star subject, his adorable dog, makes his photos impossible not to love.

A post shared by Theron Humphrey (@thiswildidea) on Sep 6, 2017 at 10:04am PDT

A post shared by Simone Bramante (@brahmino) on Sep 16, 2017 at 9:40am PDT

A post shared by Jussi Ulkuniemi (@skwii) on Jun 22, 2017 at 9:02am PDT

A post shared by Scott Schuman (@thesartorialist) on Nov 8, 2017

16. Travel

Travelling pushes you outside of your comfort zone - creatively, this is a great thing. Next time you hit the road bring your camera, shoot everything that interests you - fill up your memory card with souvenirs and lessons. Especially when you're starting out, taking photos of models or moving objects can be hard - so finding stunning landscapes to photograph is a good place to begin.

A post shared by Alif Ngoylung (@shbabalif) on Oct 11, 2017 at 3:10am PDT

A post shared by Nirrimi (@fireandjoy) on Apr 9, 2017 at 6:46am PDT

17. Learn to use post production tools like Lightroom

Taking a photo is one thing - editing it to make it perfect is another. Programs like Lightroom and Photoshop are an investment, but if you really want to catapult your images to the next level - watch tutorials and read up on how to use post production programs to benefit your work.

18. Experiment and make mistakes

If you're wanting to become a film photographer then this advice might be a bit costly, but for all those digital users - the beauty of a memory card is that you can take hundreds of duds and it doesn't matter. Take photos from every angle, experiment with light and don't be afraid to play around with your subject. You may see only one good photo out of dozens when you're starting out, but what's important is to look back and see what works and what doesn't for you.

19. Photograph what excites you

At the end of the day, nothing makes photography more fun or rewarding than photographing what interests you. If you love dogs, take photos of dogs, if you love flowers, take photos of flowers... you get where I'm going. Having your favorite things motivate you to do photography is what can keep you shooting and learning for a long time.

20. Passion (this is why you're reading this)

Use the passion you've got and apply it to every photo you take, every book you read, every video you watch and every program you learn. Photography is art, and the best art comes from a place of passion.

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20 Effective Ways to Learn Photography Without Going to Photography School - Learn

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Photography is undoubtedly the art form of the modern day - almost everyone has access to a camera and simple, high level editing software has exploded the medium. Due to all this, a new generation of amateur photographers are upon us, in numbers greater than ever before.

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I have complied what I think are some of the best photography related reviews and videos you will find on the internet. Take a look around and be sure to che...

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My name is Chris McCann, and I'm a photographer based in San Francisco. In this post, I'm sharing a list of photography videos I've found that have been helpful to me.

I have watched all the videos on my list on multiple occasions and have gone back and referenced them during photo shoots and post processing. I've watched 100s of these kinds of videos, and the ones I've selected are the ones which have been seriously helpful. So, it took me a long time to get down to this list.

Before we get into the list, here's a few caveats:

1. These videos aren't geared for photography 101. For that check out /r/PhotoClass or the new /r/photoclass_2016 on Reddit.
2. This is not a comprehensive list of educational photography videos. It's just a curated list of ones I think are good.
3. I mostly shoot nature, wildlife, city, etc (basically anything except people), so the videos below are biased in those areas. However, I think it's very educational to watch other styles of photographers (ex. portrait retouchers) as you can learn a lot from other styles.

Without further ado, here's my ultimate curated list of videos:

The Basics

The Three Basics of Exposure and Photography: I know I wasn't supposed to include beginner videos but this one is too good not to include.

Lightroom Basics

Anthony Morganti Lightroom Training Videos: If you are just getting started in post-production, these are great tutorials.

Composition

Understanding Composition: Composition taught by a CGI artist which makes the perspective so interesting. This video is very helpful. The same creator also has a video on understanding color which is equally as awesome.

Visual Flow: Mastering the Art of Composition with Ian Plant: More geared to photographers, watch the above one first.

Lighting

Strobist: It's not a video but this collection of posts is so good once you start wanting to learn about flash. He also has a great video series on lynda.com (requires subscription) which shows how he thinks about lighting one a few of his assignments

Post Processing
(These have a heavy emphasis on Photoshop)
Photoshop CS6 for the Photographer: Once you move past just using Lightroom, this is a good introductory guide to Photoshop.

How to Make Colors Come to Life in Photoshop: A good end to end video on a single image, Phlearn also has other good videos to learn from.

Cinematic Color Grading (Movie Loke Effect) - Photoshop Tutorial: it's mind blowing what you can do with just the curves adjustment.

Mastering Dodging and Burning with 4 Techniques: Very interesting example of dodging and burning, with the most interesting being the frequency separation technique he shows at the end.

How to Do Frequency Separation: It's incredible to see what a pro retoucher can do with primarily just dodging and burning.

Removing Complex Objects from Photos in Photoshop: Although the photographer cheated a bit to get the final result, some good lessons on aligning, cloning, stamping, blending areas, etc.

Fine Art Architecture Processing in Photoshop: Shows off how using multiple layers and effects can change an image. I was always curious on architecture processing as well so this was a good look into this world.

Make Skies POP with Luminosity Masks: Shows off the power of masks and being able to select specific tonal values in an image. He also has a few other good videos on luminosity masks.

How To Do Sky Replacements In Photoshop: Even though I don't really do composites, this shows off the power of the blend-if blending option. Honestly this is something I am still learning about.

How to Make a Pure White Background in Photoshop: Another great video showing off the use of blend-if.

Camera

How to Clean Your DSLR Sensor and Mirror: You'll have to do this one day

Inspirational

Scott Kelby Crush the Competition: Scott Kelby's photos are a little over the top sometime but this is a good video. This is for when you at a beautiful place and you're frustrated because the weather sucks and all your photos aren't coming out well, good look at how to handle these situations.

Photography Styles
(Videos on specific styles of photography, highly dependent on your own personal tastes)
Pixels After Dark: Shooting the Night: Shooting at night.
Insights Into the Art and Craft of Landscape Photography
Scott Kelby's Photoshop for Travel Photographers: Skip the long intro and all the ads.
The Basics of Nature Photography from Michael Melford
How to Photograph Stars and Photoshop an Astrophotography Image: Even though I don't shoot astro-photography, given this video's highly technical nature you can learn a lot from it.

You Suck at Photoshop: For fun :)

If anyone else has any great videos to learn from feel free to share in the comments below!
About the author: Chris McCann is a photographer based in San Francisco, California. You can find his work on his website and on 500px. This article was also published on Reddit in /r/photography.

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My Ultimate List of Photography Videos to Learn From

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My name is Chris McCann, and I'm a photographer based in San Francisco. In this post, I'm sharing a list of photography videos I've found that have been helpful to me. I have watched all the videos on my list on multiple occasions and have gone back and referenced them during photo shoots and post processing.

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Thank you for listening to me blabar about photography. Now it’s time for a Kahoot!

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Join a game of kahoot here. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn – any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages!

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Basic Photography Composition Techniques, https://www.adorama.com/alc/basic-photography-composition-techniques.

How Digital Technology Has Changed Photography, 3 December 2016, http://www.onlinestartupbox.com/news/how-digital-technology-has-changed-photography/.

Cox, Spencer. “Photopgraphy Life.” Introduction to Photography, 11 April 2020, https://photographylife.com/what-is-photography.

“17 Types of Photography: Which Niche is Right for You?” https://www.adorama.com/alc/17-types-of-photography-which-niche-is-right-for-you.