FAQ

This course is aimed at anyone who wants to learn how to take better photos. Not everyone has the time or money to enrol in a course at higher-learning facility – this online course is an easy alternative. Whether you want to know which settings to use to photograph a lion in Botswana, or if you just want nice photos of your family, everyone is welcome. The content covers the basic principles of photography and the different functions of your D-SLR camera. If you recently bought a new camera, we’ll help you figure out all the buttons and dials.

Any camera, whether it’s a compact point-and-shoot or even your cellphone. We’ll cover techniques that you can apply no matter which camera you use, and we’ll also show you how to share your photos on Instagram and how to print photo books. That said, there’s a strong emphasis on cameras with interchangeable lenses, as these are the kinds of cameras most enthusiasts use. If you have a D-SLR or a mirrorless camera that can accept different lenses, you’ll get the most out of the course.

The course is presented in six modules. Each module consists of a number of lessons around a specific theme. You have to complete each lesson and pass the accompanying quiz with at least 50% before you can move on to the next. The lessons are text-based and don’t contain video, so they shouldn’t take too long to load or use a lot of data. However, there are plenty of photographs to illustrate the text.

No, everything takes place online. You buy the complete course and you can work through it at your own pace – with a cup of coffee in your pyjamas if you so desire!

When you register and pay, you’ll receive a username and a password. Your profile won’t expire and you can work through the course material at your own pace.

Keep an eye on the blog for photo discussions and tips. There’s also a student gallery section where we’ll show off the photos taken by the course participants.

Yes, as soon as you’ve completed a module, it will be accessible when you sign in with your username. You can refer back to previous lessons to refresh your memory, even months after you’ve completed the course.

There’s a short quiz after every lesson. It consists of a few questions you have to answer online. The questions are either multiple choice or true/false. You have to get 50% to move on to the next lesson, but you can retake the quiz until you pass. The aim of the quiz is to help you remember what you’ve learnt.

There are no stern school principals here! Just go through the lesson again and retake the quiz until you pass.

Photography is an interesting field of study: It has a lot of theory, but it’s all about going out and practising in the field. You won’t have to hand in assignments for marks, but to really master the coursework – and to get the most value for your money – you should get out there and apply the techniques you’ve learnt

As soon as you’ve worked through the last module, you’ll be able to download a certificate to show that you’ve successfully completed the course.

AGo out and take photos! You can send us your best travel and nature photos – we publish a selection of reader pictures in the magazine every month. E-mail takeyourpic@gomag.co.za. We’re also on Instagram. Follow us and our sister magazine Weg for travel and wildlife pics from all over: Search for @gomagsa and @menseselense. Use the hashtag #takeyourpic and #menseselense and we might repost them on our page.