PG Diploma in Travel and Nature Photography & Videography

The visual landscape has undergone a sea change. From the way images are created to the way they are consumed, from the gadgets to the processes, across the board we are today dealing with a new reality - with AI being the latest entrant that has disrupted the process.

In this new norm, travel, nature and documentary photography, will need to be looked at differently. The function of photographs in these areas have always been to hold a mirror up to society so society can look at itself. More than at any time in the past, we need that mirror to provide a true, real and honest view of our fast-changing world that is affecting mankind in ways never imagined before.

At the heart of LLA’s ethos is the belief that a still image has a tremendous power to tell a compelling story. With the giant strides made by social media in marketing and the rapid growth of OTT platforms, the natural progression is to transfer it to the moving medium. Add to this, insights on creative communication strategies - we now have a course that will mould a more versatile visual communicator with the necessary knowledge and skills to set new benchmarks in the world of communication and art - in turn inspiring viewers to step out and experience the real world and protect all that deserves to be safeguarded.

This course is meticulously structured. The schedule is densely packed. It is assumed that the student will be very passionate, highly motivated and totally committed to get the best out of this course.

Learning is facilitated through a mix of lectures, visual presentations, demonstrations, assignments, critique sessions, workshops, field-trips, guest lectures and seminars, as required by each area of study. At Light & Life Academy, there is no concept of “failing”; the faculty constantly engages with students, providing inputs that cater to individual learning curves.

Benefits

Study under an industry-experienced faculty

Get mentored by Iqbal Mohamed

Access state-of-the-art facilities

Guidance with building a professional portfolio

Course Content

Duration:9 Months + Portfolio

The course has three parts :
1) Professional Photography
2) Video Production
3) Portfolio

Part 1: Professional Photography

Section A

Professional Photography Part 1

In-depth study of the fundamentals involved in creating an image.

Understanding the Camera: Technical and creative possibilities.
Aesthetics of Photography: Study of colour, design and composition
History of Photography
Natural Light: In-depth study of natural light and its qualities.
Moonlight & Astrophotography
Filters: Use of filters & their applications
Post Production: Essentials of processing RAW files and image editing

Every area of study has its own time-bound assignments with critique and grading. The faculty is available for collective and individual feedback while students are working on their assignments.

Section B

Professional Photography Part 2

In-depth and conceptual understanding of artificial light sources and their applications.

Portable Flash : Technical and creative possibilities.
Post Production Part 2 : Image editing, compositing and basics of retouching.
Photojournalism: The role of Photojournalism in today's world -making feature pictures, spot news, general news, sports, picture stories and essays.

Every topic (above) will be covered through lectures, slideshows, demos, followed by time-bound assignments with critique and grading.

Medium format cameras: Possibilities offered by medium format cameras through hands-on experience.
Tilt-Shift lenses: A workshop.
Aerial & Drone Photography: A workshop.

The above topics will be covered in workshop format with opportunity to handle the various equipment under supervision.

Section C

Nature Photography

The observation and appreciation of nature is an essential part of the ethos of Light & Life Academy. Cultivating the habit of observing nature in terms of shape, form, colour, texture and very critically, light - is therefore a very important component of the course. Capturing the essence of the subjects in all their dimensions and the mood of the moment with particular emphasis on creating an image that will inspire personal exploration and conservation will be the focus of this section. The lectures will cover different geographical terrains, a wide gamut from vast landscapes to nature close-ups and macro photography.

There will be time bound assignments with critique and grading. People working in the field of environmental conservation will interact with the students - essential from a sensitisation point of view. Field-trips with faculty will be an integral part of this section, where the group as a whole will produce a feature story.

Section D

Wildlife Photography

The fundamental requirement to be able to do memorable wildlife photography is to understand the habitat and behaviour of the subject being photographed. Learning about the unique challenges faced in doing wildlife photography. Capturing wildlife images using all that has been learnt so far. The importance of conservation and the role of the photographer in this process.

An established wildlife photographer will lead this session. There will be lectures and slide shows. Students will be taken to a Wildlife Sanctuary/National Park for a hands-on experience of wildlife photography. Assignments will be given that can be done around the Nilgiris. With critique and grading. There will also be a field trip to a destination. This is optional and will be planned for a minimum group of 12 students. At the end of the field trip, the group will do a feature story.

Section E

Travel Photography

Travel photography explores the richness of places, people, traditions, festivals, food, and cultural practices that define a region. By engaging deeply with these environments and creating meaningful images, photographers learn to share stories that celebrate diversity and inspire curiosity. This section covers portraiture on location — both candid and studied — using natural light and portable flash. Students learn to visually narrate the character, culture, and heritage of a place, focusing on storytelling through images.

There will be lectures and slideshows, case studies, sessions on how to research a destination, planning and executing a project. The faculty will work with the students and guide them through the execution of a project. Apart from still images, the students will also make short communication pieces, which can be used as content for social media and other digital platforms. A field trip will be an essential part of this section. At the end of the trip the group will produce a feature story.

Section F

The Concept of Communication

Every visual produced by the students will endeavour to communicate something interesting, evocative and memorable to an audience – and the emphasis will be on being creative, but purpose-driven. Understanding how to communicate effectively is essential.

The section will cover the following topics:
Visual Communication Basics : Principles of Design, Colour Theory & Basic Typography, Creating a picture with a story. Copywriting (The craft of persuasive writing)· These topics will be covered in workshop format at different stages during the course and will equip students with the essential knowledge on creating a piece of communication that tells a story.

Section G

Fine Art Photography

The foremost objective of practicing any visual art form is to fulfil the desire of creative self-expression. This module is designed to realise that objective.

Builds on earlier modules to help students understand the process of creating a fine art image. Covers key photographic methods and techniques for producing work suitable for exhibition or sale. Includes detailed study of Digital Black and White Photography, with a focus on creative post-production. Furthermore, students will learn about the process of curating, sequencing, formatting and presentation of images to suit various platforms.

There will be time-bound assignments with critique and grading.

Part 2: Video Production

Overview

Video Production

This part builds on the fundamental concepts of creating a visual (Light, colour and design) covered in the Professional Photography segment and gives an immersive learning experience on applying these to the moving image. Plus all that it takes to create a complete piece of communication in video. Students will work with their DSLR / Mirrorless cameras.