Michael Freeman
Photography Foundation
- Regular price
- £93.50
- Sale price
- £93.50
- Regular price
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Tax included.
Award-winning photographer, author and teacher Michael Freeman guides you through the foundations of photography — from using your camera and working with light to mastering composition and framing. Based on the influential Bauhaus Basic Course, this programme gives you the skills and confidence to create images with meaning and style, while building your own portfolio.
You'll learn:
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Master the art of composition to create powerful, expressive images
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Use light, frames, and framing to transform your photographs
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Apply balance, rhythm, and contrast for visual impact
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Develop your own style and portfolio as you learn
The course includes:
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8 on-demand video lessons with Michael Freeman
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Lifetime access to videos, notes, and your interactive classroom
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Downloadable lesson notes for easy reference
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Practical photography assignments (Expert Level includes personal feedback from Michael)
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Learn anywhere, on any device — mobile, tablet, or desktop
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Small online classroom to connect and share ideas with fellow students
Time to complete
On average, the course takes around 28 hours to complete, including:
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4 hrs 15 mins of video lessons
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30 mins of course notes per lesson
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2+ hrs of assignments per lesson
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15 mins of classroom interaction per lesson
✨ Choose Expert Level to receive one-to-one feedback from Michael on your photos and assignments.
“ Great experience! Very professional and caring team focused on making the process of learning pleasant and outcome-oriented. All claims made in the description were met with success. I felt that the design, content, delivery, admin and IT, everything about the program was well-coordinated, responsive, functioning well and leaving participants free to learn. The class model works well. Nice! I learned a lot. ”
-Jean Bogais
Lessons
What You’ll Learn
Explore the lessons and topics covered across the course.
Composition has a purpose in both art and in photography. It has three possible jobs:
Create Order,
Direct the Viewer,
Create Interest.
Michael Freeman will teach you how to compose your photo, and you'll be submitting 2 new photos to demonstrate your composition skills.
Lesson length: 27 minutes
Assignment: Take a series of photos demonstrating creation of order, distracting the viewer's attention and adding interest (i.e. through unexpected content)
Learn how to frame your photograph.
Michael will show you how to choose which part of the image to include and what to exclude, and how to divide a scene.
You'll learn where the main subject of your photo should be and be taking photos alongside Michael and your classmates to demonstrate frame and framing techniques.
This class includes cropping techniques, stitching, vertical framing, creating frames within frames, how to use negative space and understanding historic ratios.
Lesson length: 29 minutes
Assignment: Take a series of photos based on the theme of frames/framing. You can either uses lines in the image, make a vertical framing, place an object in an extreme off-centre position or create a symmetrical and precise composition (choose 3)
Michael will teach you the fundamental concept of contrast and balance in photography.
You'll learn and practice how to contrast between elements and parts of the image, from brightness and texture to sensation and meaning.
You'll explore different kinds of balance, from static to dynamic, and finally the conceptual balance between content and the graphics of the image.
You'll be taking photos which demonstrate your understanding of contrast and balance in a photograph.
Lesson length: 30 minutes
Assignment: Take 3 photographs demonstrating contrasting qualities, balancing different sized subjects, deliberate imbalence or using vectors to direct the attention of the viewer
You'll learn how to use the viewer's eye in your photography.
Michael will explain the the psychology of perception as an aid to composition, and how to consider the different visual weight of subjects.
You'll see how to use eye scan-paths (and what the viewer's eye sees in a photo, and in which order), how to attract (or repulse) an audience, perspective and how to use repetition and rhythm in your photography.
You'll take photos to show how to satisfy or challenge your audience.
Lesson length: 30 minutes
Assignment: Take 3 photographs which demonstrate either an image in which a small figure is distinctly noticable, one of the 'Gestalt laws', a row/group of similar subjects or a 'flattened' image with little perspective
You'll learn how to use graphic elements and visual vocabulary in your photography, and you'll discover why Cartier-Bresson viewed photos upside down.
Michael will take you through using lines, shapes and vectors in your photos.
You'll be practicing by uploading your own example photos with graphic elements.
Lesson length: 34 minutes
Assignment: Submit 3 photographs demonstrating either a single subject as a single point, two subject which are distinct enough to have a graphic relationship with one another, lines dominating the composition, use of an implied triangle or an image containing strong vectors
Michael will take you through the mechanics and optics of the camera and lens
You'll learn how to use the camera and lens to create their own graphic elements and effects in the image.
This lesson includes an in depth look at focus (deep, shallow, tilted), shutter and motion, focal length and the family of lenses, from wide-angle through standard to telephoto.
You'll demonstrate what you've learnt in a series of photos showing focus, lens use and motion.
Lesson length: 37 minutes
Assignment: Submit 3 photographs demonstrating either deep focus, shallow focus, frozen motion, or motion blur.
This lesson takes you through the use of light and colour in your photography.
Michael will demonstrate high-key and low-key photography composition, you'll learn the art of chiaroscuro and you'll be exploring the use of colour including pastels, muted colours, and colour-accents.
You'll practice with a set of your own photos which demonstrate your use of light and colour.
Lesson length: 36 minutes
Assignment: Submit 3 photographs demonstrating either a high-key image, a low-key image, chiaroscuro, colour domination, a two-colour scheme, colour accent, a scene in which all colours appear muted or a processed black and white image
In the last lesson you'll learn how to find images and create a portfolio of images that satisfy your audience.
Michael will show you how to analyse your images, how to plan your photography and anticipate and create reactive shots.
You'll learn how to use juxtaposition, create expressive photos and use a documentary approach in your photography.
Lesson length: 30 minutes
Assignment: Submit 3 photographs demonstrating either a reaction shot of an unplanned moment, juxtaposition of two subjects, still-life or a situation where you could anticipate what would happen, but not able to influence
Learning options
Choose How You Want to Learn
Recommended
Expert
£269.50
A guided learning experience with expert support, feedback and recognised outcomes.
Peer
£93.50
Learn alongside others with a collaborative, flexible learning experience.
COURSE TUTOR
Michael Freeman
SUCCESS
What Our Learners Achieve
See the impact our courses are delivering for learners.
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Common Questions
Answers to the most common questions about learning with us.
Our online classroom is designed to help you learn from experts in a collaborative, social environment alongside a small group of learners.
Each lesson combines expert-led videos with optional assignments, giving you the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned and share your work with others. You can take part in ongoing discussions, ask questions, exchange feedback, and learn from a community of like-minded people from around the world.
By learning together in a small, supportive group, you benefit not only from expert guidance but also from shared ideas, perspectives, and experiences—helping you stay engaged and retain what you learn.
You can start your course at any time within 12 months of purchase. Once you begin, you’ll have lifetime access, so you can revisit lesson videos and notes whenever you like.
Courses are designed to fit around your schedule, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Each lesson video is typically 30–40 minutes, and we recommend around an hour for each assignment.
Both Peer and Expert options give you full access to the course content, including lesson videos, downloadable notes, assignments, and a collaborative online classroom with up to 20 learners. You’ll also have lifetime access to revisit the material at any time.
The Expert option includes everything in Peer, plus personalised assignment feedback, direct messaging with your expert tutor, and a certificate of completion.
With the Expert option, you can interact directly with your tutor throughout the course. You’ll typically have one week per lesson to ask questions and receive feedback on your assignments, with as much interaction as you need during that time.
Your tutor access begins when you enter the classroom and follows the course schedule (for example, a four-lesson course usually runs over four weeks). If you need more time or support, our team is here to help.