Individual Photography School (IFS)

Focus

The Individual Photography School (IFS) is an exceptional project within Czech landscape photography. During six months of intensive training you will be equipped with all the information that will enable you to take photographs according to your wishes. Due to the focus and experience of the photography lecturer Jan Šmíd, you will gain the most comprehensive know-how in the field of landscape photography.

Starting with the very basics for those of you who are new to photography, through capturing multi-row panoramic photos in combination with dynamic layers (exposure bracketing), anti-reflective images and multiple planes of focus in one photo (focus bracketing). We will also focus on capturing nightscapes with stars, both static and dynamic (startrails). You will learn how to photograph stars with your existing equipment, but you will also delve into the ins and outs of working with a parallactic mount to achieve uncompromising starry sky quality.

We will also cover post-processing (photo editing). From the most elementary procedures, through composing panoramic photos with bracketing layers, masking (including precision masking), adjustment layers, connecting seemingly disconnected parts of a photo with dynamic structure (flying clouds, flowing water), to final editing for web presentations or large format prints.

IFS is for those of you who want to pursue landscape photography in a truly honest way. It is the highest level of photographic training/education and individualized instructor-to-student approach you can offer.

Itinerary

Jan Šmíd's Individual Photography School is always tailored to your ideas, experience, knowledge and goals. The basic principle of IFS is that you will learn everything from A to Z. However, the program is always individually tailored to you and you alone, taking into account your previous photographic experience.

It does not matter whether you have been taking photos for several years or whether you bought your first camera a few days ago. In other words - IFS is designed for both beginners and advanced photographers.

The IFS program consists of several modules:

Module 1: Theoretical Preparation

The theoretical training aims to provide you with all the knowledge to be able to take photographs in the field, from the simplest to the most demanding panoramas consisting of dozens and dozens of background photographs. Module 1 is conducted in a face to face interactive manner for maximum efficiency of information acquisition. If availability is complicated, the first module can be taken online.

Duration of Module 1: 9 hours or more in total (minimum of three sessions)

Module 2: Field practice

The field placement is the second step, where you will try out the skills acquired in Module 1 on your own. The aim of Module 2 is to teach you to "shoot without limits". By the end of the field practice, you will be able to shoot any composition even in the most challenging exposure conditions. You will master the compositional construction of a photograph with respect to the desired result and viewer appeal.

Duration of module 2: 24 hours or more (6 individual sunrises/sunsets, night landscapes and water compositions, all under the supervision and assistance of the lecturer Jan Šmíd)

Module 3: Photo editing (post-processing)

In this module, you will learn all the editing of your photos so that you can either present them on a website or send them straight to a printer for large format printing.

Module 3 duration: 12 hours or more in total (minimum of four lessons)

In each module you are guaranteed a minimum number of hours of full attention from the lecturer Jan Šmíd. If it turns out that the basic number of hours is not enough, the number of hours will be individually (and free of charge) increased so that you can complete 100% of each module.

The course, content and dates of the modules are individually prepared at the first informative meeting between the lecturer and the student and are adjusted during the Individual Photography School.

Equipment

All you need is the equipment you currently have. If you intend to buy or expand your equipment, lecturer Jan Šmíd will recommend the optimal brands and types of cameras, lenses, outdoor clothing, etc., all taking into account your financial possibilities and requirements.

All other details of the course will be arranged individually at the first meeting of the lecturer with the participant, taking into account your possibilities.

Price

The price of the course is payable before the course starts.

The price of the course is 36 990,- CZK.

The price includes the minimum number of guaranteed hours in each module, possibly additional hours free of charge so that the participant can master all the modules. It also includes printed materials necessary to deepen the participant's knowledge. The price does not include transport to the IFS participant and to individual photographic locations and is always settled individually by agreement.