Why some photos work and others don’t

A lot of the time, the difference between a good photo and a distracting one is a small detail you could have fixed on the spot. In the first photo here, the person in the street pulls your eye away from the buildings. Moving a little to the side hid him behind the phone pole.

This course helps you notice details like that before you take the shot.

This course is for photographers who know their camera and want to get better at what’s in front of it.

Everything here works with the camera you already have.
This Course Is for You If You
  • Understand your camera settings, but your photos still feel hit or miss
  • Have trouble spotting good light or a strong composition in the moment
  • Spend a lot of time trying to fix photos in processing
  • Want a simple process to work through when you’re shooting a scene
  • Want a good grounding before moving on to more advanced topics

What You'll Learn in This Course

  • How the direction and softness of light change a photo
  • How to use shadow to show shape and texture
  • How to build a composition in layers, from foreground to background
  • How to clean up a busy scene by changing your position
  • When to choose color or black and white

"Clear explanations of the fundamentals, with solid examples and very useful assignments."

Bill Farrell
Everything that comes with the course
What's Included in This Course
9 Video Lessons

Just over two hours of video, each with a text outline. Captions in English, Deutsch, Français, Polski, and Español.

Practical Assignments

Exercises to try with your own camera, which you can send me for feedback.

Quizzes and References

Short quizzes and downloadable outlines you can review later.

Access & Support

Lifetime access, and you can reach me if you have questions.

How the Course is Structured

The course is split into three chapters, and each one builds on the one before it.

Learn how to read light and predict how it will look in a photo, including:

  • Where the light is coming from, and how hard or soft it is
  • How to use shadows to show shape
  • How the quality and direction of light changes the mood

Learn how to build a photo that leads the viewer’s eye, including:

  • How to think like a painter about what belongs in the frame
  • The basic elements of a composition, like lines and shapes
  • How to lead the viewer’s eye to your subject
  • How to use layers, from foreground to background and in less obvious ways

Learn how color affects a photo, and when a scene works better without it, including:

  • How color changes the mood of a photo
  • Which colors work well together
  • When to choose black and white
  • What makes a strong black and white photo

Try a Few Lessons Free

The full course is $59, with lifetime access

Start Free Previews Enroll for $59

This course is included in...

Also available as part of a bundle

MEET YOUR TEACHER

John Peltier

I've worked as a documentary photographer since 2012, with projects in Haiti, Guatemala, Uganda, and more, and publications including New York Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and the U.S. National Park Service.

Since 2017, I've brought that rigorous field experience to teaching, primarily to beginners working through the same struggles you're probably facing right now. These courses are built around a proven method to simplify the way you learn photography.

You can see my work at johnpeltierphotography.com.