IOP offer more Tutor support than any other online photography course and we are often asked about our photography assignments and how they work.
We use photography assignments for a number of reasons;
- To create a relationship and narrative between Tutor and Student.
- To encourage creative thought.
- To create a learning structure that really works.
- Photography assignments provide a framework where the Tutor can really understand the challenges of each IOP student and give individual advice.
IOP never use templated responses – each piece of Tutor feedback you get will be bespoke to you based on your assignment submission. We guarantee that your Tutor will consider your images carefully and give you the best constructive feedback.
What this means in practice is that you learn the photography skills you want as quickly as possible.
On the Professional Diploma in Photography for example, you will receive bespoke feedback on 18 assignments, structured in a way to develop your skills step-by-step with no steps skipped.
Let’s look at an assignment example on our flagship Professional Diploma course;
Assignment 6 – Advanced Composition
Photography assignment brief:
Choose a static object, preferably outside. This could be a tree, a local monument or sculpture, or even your car. Your assignment is to take 36 pictures of your chosen object, and each one must be balanced differently. You should find that your last shots are better because by then, you will have been forced to see things differently. Submit your 36 shots for assessment.
Why do we set this photography assignment?
Composition is a challenging aspect of photography. At first glance, it seems simple. Follow the rule of thirds and your photography will look balanced. This is somewhat true although there is so much more to composition than the rule of thirds. This assignment is designed to push your skills to their limits.
Taking 36 good photos of even the most interesting or dynamic subject is extremely difficult. By shot 9 or 10, most students find they have run out of ideas. It is at this point that we push you further, asking you to explore the deepest recesses of your creativity to deliver compositions that you have never considered before. We want you to observe your subject beyond the obvious compositions.
Some of these shots will work and some will not, but ultimately, you will come out of the assignment with a deeper and clearer understanding of the rules of composition and almost more importantly, how to break these rules successfully.
Here’s an example of a previous student’s work on this photography assignment. Ian Nuttall delivered an excellent result by using light to great effect in this set which you can view here. He used creative techniques as well as producing images from different times of day and considering angles that are generally missed when photographing this subject.
Remember, we have 18 photography assignments in the Professional Diploma in Photography
You can enrol on this course by interest-free instalments for £45 per month over 10 months.
