PHT224 Studio Lighting Design (8)

This subject covers professional photographic studio skills and practices with emphasis on hands-on technique and technical theory which includes location and studio flash lighting, colour temperature manipulation and sophisticated photographic projects. This subject provides fundamental knowledge of the relationship between the physical properties of light and human visual perception with a focus on the creative use of lighting for photography and design. The subject covers requisite workplace health and safety requirements for site specific lighting work in real world scenarios.

Availability

Session 2 (60)
On Campus
Wagga Wagga Campus
Online
Wagga Wagga Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: PHT224. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Social Work and Arts

Enrolment Restrictions

This subject is not available to students who have already completed PHT117 as it shares similar content.

Assumed Knowledge

This subject assumes that a student is capable of the basic use of a digital camera and functional understanding of manual exposure control. This subject also assumes that a student has fundamental skills in the use of appropriate industry standard digital imaging software.

Subject Relationships

PHT117 Shares similar content

Incompatible Subjects

PHT117

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to demonstrate the creative application of sophisticated digital imaging processing and enhancement skills;
  • be able to demonstrate their understanding of the principles of natural and artificial lighting, and effectively apply these in and out of the studio in a creative context;
  • be able to describe the relationship between the physical properties of light and human visual perception;
  • be able to demonstrate the use of lighting as a creative medium;
  • be able to generate and document lighting designs in response to creative briefs; and
  • be able to demonstrate an understanding of the use of colour temperature manipulation in photographic imaging.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • The digital SLR (Single-Lens reflex) camera and its controls
  • Enhancement and processing of photographs for output in a variety of applications
  • The physical properties of light
  • Lighting planning
  • Artificial studio and location flash lighting
  • Exposure metering techniques
  • Colour control in digital and analogue imaging environments
  • Creative use of light
  • Workplace health and safety

Special Resources

Students will require access to a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) or mirrorless camera system with options for full manual control and capable of shooting in a RAW format. The minimum lens specification for the camera is 24105mm or 2470mm (or the equivalent focal length for a non-full-frame format). The maximum aperture of the lens must be at least f4, however, f2.8 is preferable.

Students also require access to a strobe studio lighting kit. The minimum standard is 2x flash heads, 2x soft boxes, 2x light stands and 1x wireless trigger or sync chord). Also essential for studio lighting is a handheld light meter capable of reading flash and ambient light in both incident and reflected modes. (e.g. Sekonic L308X). This is essential for using studio lighting equipment, and highly recommended for accurate light metering in all other aspects of photography.

Students also require access to image editing software (such as Adobe Photoshop or Affinity Photo) for post-processing, and studio lighting simulation software (such as Elixxiers set.a.light).

Other resources and requirements for all cohorts will be detailed and advised through the interact site in the session of offering. These requirements are reviewed and updated annually.

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: June 2022. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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