Unique University

Learn the five basic positions for portrait lighting on a set with Head Instructor Michael Downey! We'll work with continuous light and go from utilizing a single Nanlite FS-150 / FS-200 / FS-300 LED Monolight to multiple lights with reflectors, V-flats, and colors.

Michael will demonstrate the subtleties of placement and intensity for each lighting position, the effects of hard versus soft light (and how to apply them), and working with different face types. These simple, straightforward, tried-and-true lighting positions will be demonstrated to help build a good foundation for those just getting into studio lighting. Attendees will also have plenty of hands-on shooting time with our workshop model.

If you are interested in photography but don’t have a lot of time to spend in the classroom, we understand -- life gets in the way of your free time! Why not learn all you need to know about your DSLR or mirrorless camera in one day? In this intensive full-day class, master all of the tips, tricks, and techniques in our most popular trio of classes: Understanding Your Camera.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art's iconic building and world-class exhibits can provide great inspiration to your vision and help improve your photography. Join Michael Downey for a photowalk through the exhibits here, as well as the ones within the Rodin Museum.

There will also be a brief class on low light photography and shooting in museums. Michael will be around to assist as needed until 1pm, but you're welcome to stay later and continue shooting on your own.

*Limited to 15 registrants.
*Includes museum admission.
*No flash photography or tripods allowed.
*Details will be sent by Michael via email a few days prior.

Understanding the basics of exposure and metering are the building blocks to becoming a good photographer. This course will teach you these fundamental basics of photography such as the relationship between f-stops and shutter speeds, as well as understanding the positives and negatives of ISO/ASA sensitivity with your image sensor.

How your camera's metering system works, metering modes, scene modes, advantages of RAW versus JPEG image files, interpreting the histogram, exposure compensation, manual controls and much more will all be discussed!

Knowing all the science and mathematics behind photography can only take you so far. The art of photography is 90 percent seeing and 10 percent photographing. Learn the vital aspects and rules of image composition and graphic design as they apply to taking photographs, as well as how to analyze color temperature of light and its effects on your photographs.

Once we've covered the essentials of white balance and composition, students will spend the remainder of the class shooting and practicing everything they've learned in the "Understanding Your Camera" series of classes!

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Knowing all the science and mathematics behind photography can only take you so far. The art of photography is 90 percent seeing and 10 percent photographing. Learn the vital aspects and rules of image composition and graphic design as they apply to taking photographs, as well as how to analyze color temperature of light and its effects on your photographs.

Once we've covered the essentials of white balance and composition, students will spend the remainder of the class shooting and practicing everything they've learned in the "Understanding Your Camera" series of classes!

You have a digital camera and you know that the images are going to be far superior to the ones captured by your point-and-shoot camera, but maybe you're not sure how that happens.  This class is for beginners to amateur photographers looking to gain a better understanding of the automated modes and features, as well as the manual control and capabilities, of your digital SLR or mirrorless camera.

Get instruction on the importance of understanding the fundamentals (such as depth of field, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, metering, white balance, reading histograms, on camera flashes, lenses) and how they will affect your photos!

In the second half of the class, the students will work with their cameras and apply what they have learned.  The buttons and settings will be much easier to manipulate and each student will have develop the ability to capture the images closer to their vision.

Philadelphia Zoo's 42-acre campus is filled with a variety of animal exhibits. Each exhibit is designed to provide you and your family with an up close and personal experience. It's home to nearly 1,300 animals, many rare and endangered. See where you can get within inches of a lion, face to face with a gorilla, and nose to nose with giant river otters!

Meet up with Michael Downey and learn how to photograph animals as they exist in this simulated natural environment. You'll see how to make your images look as if the animals are in the wild, eliminating reflections, glare, and fencing in your shot. You can then stay with the group or go on your own journey through "the wild".

*Limited to 15 registrants.
*Includes admission to the zoo.
*Parking ($17) is NOT included.
*Details will be sent by Michael via email a few days prior.

You have a digital camera and you know that the images are going to be far superior to the ones captured by your point-and-shoot camera, but maybe you're not sure how that happens.  This class is for beginners to amateur photographers looking to gain a better understanding of the automated modes and features, as well as the manual control and capabilities, of your digital SLR or mirrorless camera.

Get instruction on the importance of understanding the fundamentals (such as depth of field, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, metering, white balance, reading histograms, on camera flashes, lenses) and how they will affect your photos!

In the second half of the class, the students will work with their cameras and apply what they have learned.  The buttons and settings will be much easier to manipulate and each student will have develop the ability to capture the images closer to their vision.

Understanding the basics of exposure and metering are the building blocks to becoming a good photographer. This course will teach you these fundamental basics of photography such as the relationship between f-stops and shutter speeds, as well as understanding the positives and negatives of ISO/ASA sensitivity with your image sensor.

How your camera's metering system works, metering modes, scene modes, advantages of RAW versus JPEG image files, interpreting the histogram, exposure compensation, manual controls and much more will all be discussed!

Bring the whole family! Explore Washington DC and the Cherry Blossom Festival parade during the day, and then photograph the monuments with Michael Downey at night.

The night will begin with a a night photography seminar before everyone hops onto a party bus to embark on the "DC The Lights!" tour. This tour hits all of the major attractions in DC, but you'll get to see them lit up at night.

*Meet at Residence Inn by Marriott (2850 S Potomac Ave, Arlington, VA).
*Includes: Seminars, handouts, and transportation to each attraction.
*NOT included: Lodging, food, and transportation to/back from Washington DC.
*Please bring a tripod and remote shutter release. Details will be sent by Michael via email a few days prior.

Join Michael Downey at The Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton, NJ and practice your slow shutter speed photography!

Michael will go over the basics of shooting with slow shutter speeds and its advantages in daylight. Lesson handouts will be provided so you can follow along and use them for future reference.

Afterwards, everyone will set up along the village to begin shooting. The Red Mill Museum Village is the setting for over 200 years of history. Within the walls of a dozen buildings, contained in the wood and cloth of 40,000 objects are the stories of the growth of a community. There will be time to create images from several different positions on each side of the water. Michael will also demonstrate the use of graduated neutral density filters, neutral density filters, and polarizing filters with the Lee100 Filter System.

*Limited to 20 registrants.
*Keep an eye on your email for Michael's recommendations on the minimum and optimum gear to bring!

You have a digital SLR or mirrorless camera, you know that the images are going to be far superior to the ones captured by your point-and-shoot camera... but maybe you'rer not sure how that happens. This class is for beginners to amateur photographers looking to gain a better understanding of the automated modes and features, as well as the manual control and capabilities, of your camera.

Get instruction on the importance of understanding the fundamentals (such as ISO, aperture, and shutter speed) and how they will affect your photos! Additional topics include the grey spectrum, zoom/prime lenses, shooting modes, and more.

Understanding the basics of exposure, metering, and white balance are the building blocks to becoming a good photographer. This course will teach you these fundamental basics of photography such as the relationship between f-stops and shutter speeds, as well as understanding the positives and negatives of ISO/ASA sensitivity with your image sensor.

Additional topics include: how the metering system works, metering modes, scene modes, advantages of RAW versus JPEG image files, interpreting the histogram, exposure compensation, manual controls, bracketing, and much more.

Register for a 1-hour private online session with one of our instructors and get help every step of the way as you work towards achieving your photographic goals! This provides personal instruction that can help you learn how to use your camera, or focus on the area of photography you would like to explore further. Our highly trained photographic staff is ready to cater the session for you, your gear and your specific photographic needs.

Online lessons may take place on Skype, Zoom, or another media platform. The platform and date/time will discussed and decided between you and your instructor.

Professional photographer Judy Host discusses ballet photography and offers tips on lighting, dance positions, composition, lens perspectives, and more!

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Rediscover the fun of capturing your beloved pets with tips from Panasonic Lumix Tech Rep Brandon Cortez! You'll learn camera settings, locations, and composition tips suited for pet photography. Brandon will also go over best practices using Lumix cameras, but the lessons covered will be helpful to all photographers.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

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Making a camera that's suitable for both photography and videography is no simple task. The FUJIFILM X-T4 is the most powerful X Series camera to date with no compromises for stills or video. Using the 4th generation X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor, X-Processor 4, a newly developed compact in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system, new Film Simulation mode “ETERNA Bleach Bypass” and various other features that have evolved based on user feedback, this camera delivers image quality that can satisfy the demands of professional photographers and videographers.

Fujifilm's John Haggerty offers a virtual first look at the X-T4, including a presentation, short demonstrations, and Q&A.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

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Join Unique Photo and Sony Artisan Paul Gero for an online livestream on "The Storyteller's Way" and how to use your Sony mirrorless camera to take compelling stills and videos of your family and others! Topics include gear, controlling exposure, how to recognize and capture moments, and creating compelling portraits with simple tools.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

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Join David FitzSimmons for beautifully-illustrated journey to some of North America’s most spectacular cascades. Along the way, learn about composition, exposure, lighting, filters, and post-processing software. See example after example of approaches to depicting these popular landscape features. David will conclude by sharing how to turn your images into paid publications in magazines, books, and other media.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

Explore the connections between landscape photography and the work of great painters over the past centuries. Learn the history behind the aesthetic terms "beauty," "picturesque," and "sublime," ranging from the philosophical to the visual, from Longinus to Asher Durand, from Emmanuel Kant to Ansel Adams. Let past thinkers and artists help you hone your photographic vision.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

Join David FitzSimmons for a fun-filled presentation of beautiful and bizarre Curious Critters. Learn how David turned his mesmerizing animal portrait series into four traveling exhibits, numerous magazine articles, and a children's picture book series that has won a dozen national book awards and sold over 200,000 copies.

After explaining the history of the project, David will talk about the techniques, challenges, and purposes for photographing creatures against white backgrounds. Hear stories of animal antics and see amazing images, including shots for his forthcoming book "Curious Critters Dogs."

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

Learn how to produce extraordinary close-up images of plants, animals, and other small subjects. Understand how to choose the best subjects, how to select equipment, and how to create stunning compositions. Award-winning nature photographer David FitzSimmons will share his time-proven macro field techniques and talk about best lenses, accessories, and software for making your macro images. See plenty of examples, from wildflowers to wildlife. David will then narrate how he uses his macro magic to inspire people to connect with nature through photography.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

Join Padma Inguva, Adventures in Photography, and Unique Photo for a livestream on creative flower photography with a light box!

Flowers are popular subjects for macro photographers, especially when the photographer is new and just learning about color and shape, light and shadow. However, you can still be limited by factors you can't control, such as weather. Just try and get a tack-sharp focus on a windy day or fix lighting issues on a dreary, rainy day. It can also be hard to get the right angle on a flower whose stem is still attached to its roots.

To overcome this, Padma began bringing flowers from her garden indoors. With the use of a light box, she could create arrangements that helped convert her pretty garden snapshots to beautiful fine art. Additional topics include gear, how to choose the right flowers and subjects, different compositions and arrangements, post-processing, and more.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

Included in registration of Flash Mentoring with Neil van Niekerk.

Included in registration of Flash Mentoring with Neil van Niekerk.

Included in registration of Flash Mentoring with Neil van Niekerk.

Whether you’re new to Sony cameras or a seasoned owner, Sony cameras have a lot to offer. So in this time of "shelter in", let's take the opportunity to learn more about some of the amazing features your camera has to offer.

What is expected to be part 1 of a series of instructional classes, Sony Tech Rep, Gene Everett Szucs will take you on a 1 hour tour of some of his favorite features and get you on the road to maximizing your creative potential. Some of the topics include: updating your firmware, Function Menu, Custom buttons, Eye AF, focus peaking, Creative Shooting modes, Imaging Edge & Capture One software.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

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Included in registration of Flash Mentoring with Neil van Niekerk.

Join JC Carey as he shows you how to get the most creative control out of your camera and lenses with High Speed Sync and the Westcott FJ400!

In this livestream, JC will be showing techniques that will allow you to liberate your gear and make creative choices to help make your work stand out. With a series of easy to follow steps based on his "From Fear To Flash" class, you'll learn how to look at any situation and create dynamic light in the most challenging situations.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

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Included in registration of Flash Mentoring with Neil van Niekerk.

Mike Grippi is a photographic professional based in Brooklyn, NY. Through his 12 year career, Mike has PA’d, assisted, tech-ed, retouched, and shot for dozens of photographers and clients across the US.

In this conversation, Mike will cover topics outside of buttons and dials -- how a photographers relationship to gear evolves, how your attitude can shape your career, the importance of not just networking but maintaining relationships and building community within your industry, and the many, many mistakes made along the way and how he learned from them.

Technical questions will surely arise, and anything Mike can't answer himself will be handled by Rich Myers, our featured guest caller.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

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Dramatic lighting is emotionally powerful and can be bold, theatrical and evocative. The lights define the subject and craft a strong impression. It's important to take control of the lights and use them effectively to establish the mood. Dramatic lighting is often dark, using split or edge lighting to produce a sense of mystery that leaves a subtle or profound impact on the viewer. This two-part presentation features lectures and behind-the-scenes videos by Bobbi Lane to help you understand how to use the quality, direction, and depth of light to construct a persuasive and commanding image.

PART 2: Three+ Lights & Dragging the Shutter
Sometimes it necessary to use more lights to make a compelling impression. The traditional three light set up is: main light, background light and either a hair or slash light. From there the possibilities are endless! For one person there could be two edge lights, a background light, and a fill light from the front. For an athletic or body shot, there could be multiple lights on the subject and multiple lights on the background. Some of the examples are the Hollywood Glamour Style of George Hurrell, who would use 6-7 lights for one person. Learning how to drag the shutter or balancing strobe and ambient light, adds a formidable new technique to your lighting skill.

[ Click here for Part 1 ]

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

Sponsored by

Dramatic lighting is emotionally powerful and can be bold, theatrical and evocative. The lights define the subject and craft a strong impression. It's important to take control of the lights and use them effectively to establish the mood. Dramatic lighting is often dark, using split or edge lighting to produce a sense of mystery that leaves a subtle or profound impact on the viewer. This two-part presentation features lectures and behind-the-scenes videos by Bobbi Lane to help you understand how to use the quality, direction, and depth of light to construct a persuasive and commanding image.

PART 1: One & Two Light Setups
The key to any successful portrait is to match the lighting with the concept of the photo. The first step is learning the lighting patterns: Split, Rembrandt, Loop and Butterfly using only one light. The second light can be used for hair light, background light, or edge lighting, giving more depth and dimension to the image. It's not necessary to have a lot of lights to fashion excellent photos, since there is so much potential with just a couple of lights. Part One concentrates on headshots, directing your subject and crafting the lighting techniques to describe the mood.

[ Click here for Part 2 ]

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

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Included in registration of Astrophotography Mentoring with Temu Nana.

Included in registration of Astrophotography Mentoring with Temu Nana.

Included in registration of Astrophotography Mentoring with Temu Nana.

Included in registration of Astrophotography Mentoring with Temu Nana.

Included in registration of Astrophotography Mentoring with Temu Nana.

Included in the Photoshop Deep Dive Mentoring Workshop with Blake Taylor.

Included in the Photoshop Deep Dive Mentoring Workshop with Blake Taylor.

Included in the Photoshop Deep Dive Mentoring Workshop with Blake Taylor.

Included in the Photoshop Deep Dive Mentoring Workshop with Blake Taylor.

Included in the Photoshop Deep Dive Mentoring Workshop with Blake Taylor.

Join Unique Photo, Sigma, and professional photographer Heather Larkin for an informative class on macro photography and tips on what to expect at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Lens recommendations, shooting tips, and more are also covered.

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, this video will be available on your account under "Unique University Online". You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

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Learn everything you'll need to begin shooting and editing night sky and astrophotography images with this 4-part video series from Temu Nana's online mentoring program! From simple starscapes to Milky Way and composite star trail images, you'll learn how to capture them all! Specific topics include:

•  Required—as well as recommended—equipment
•  Preparing for a night shoot (planning/packing)
•  Camera settings (exposure and non-exposure)
•  How to focus and frame at night
•  Evaluating on-site and adjusting settings
•  Post-processing techniques in Adobe
•  Understanding star trail planning
•  Creating timelapse videos from star trail files

INCLUDES 4 VIDEOS:
•  Session 1: Intro & Basics / 1 HR 25 MIN
•  Session 2: Intermediate / 1 HR 12 MIN
•  Session 3: Experienced / 1 HR 25 MIN
•  Session 4: Advanced / 1 HR 43 MIN

HOW TO WATCH: Once registered, the four recorded videos will be viewable under your "Unique University Online" account tab and can be rewatched at your leisure. You can also watch this video tutorial to see how to access all of your online classes.

For those with a desire to peer past the veil of darkness and glimpse hidden wonders through their own lens, join astrophotographer Temu Nana to learn more about the beginning stages of deep space astrophotography.

You'll be shocked to learn what you're able to capture — galaxies, star clusters, nebulae — with fairly basic equipment and post-processing. We'll discuss everything from equipment to camera settings to image stacking to calibration frames. Don't feel overwhelmed! If you're willing to put in a little effort, a literal galaxy of images await.

Have you ever wanted to image the night sky but weren't sure how to get started? Join experienced astrophotographer Temu Nana as he discusses everything you'll need to know to begin imaging the night sky.

We'll cover equipment, planning/packing, camera settings, evaluating images on-site, and just a touch of post-processing. In short, it's everything to get your feet wet in the incredible world of night photography.

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