- Photography
- Video Production
- Event management
- Graphic Design
- Photoshop and Web design
- Studio Lighting
- Photographic & TV. Make-up
- Internet Marketing
- Darkroom Techniques
- Visual Communication
1. Photography
Photography (“to draw with light”) is an exciting, creative way to express your feelings. Photography makes it possible to relate to known famous people and places. When you go to the movies it is actually photography. Photo’s plays an important part in our lives; it is hard to think that photography didn’t exist about two centuries ago. Although photography can be a wonderful challenging hobby, it can be a successful and most rewarding career. So if you have the passion and the determination this course is definitely for you.
During the semester you will master the technique to use your camera to your fullest advantage including color theory, composition, equipment, digital, styling, visual communication, lenses and filters. During the first semester the student will do practical photo-sessions with professional models in the studio and outdoors. We work as a group and plan and style every shoot in detail.
You will complete workshops in:
- Documentary photography
- Advertising photography
- Food photography
- Industrial photography
- Aerial photography
- Commercial photography
- Art photography
- Landscape photography
- Sport photography
- Photoshop, photo manipulation
- Fashion photography
- Make-up for photography
- Theatre photography
- Photo studio management and Portfolio
At the end of this amazing course you will have a professional portfolio that will make it possible to find related work anywhere in the world. Always wanted to see the world? Now you can and earn vital experience and money while traveling as most of our students find jobs as photographer on the popular cruise liners in the Caribbean . Leria Brink an ex student of Sips traveled the past two years and visited 50 countries, and also did a 98 day world tour doing daily developing and photography
Come and share the magic with us, and help us to help you make your dreams come true.
2. Video Production
The Video Production Course take the student on the full turnkey Production route from A to Z. The basis of Pre-Production and the elements of script, budgeting, scheduling and crew, aim to cover the Pre-Production process.
The Production aims to place the student and their hardware in the role as head of a film department on a commercial Production. Not only will the student learn the fundamentals of the industry, but some of the unknown tips, tricks and cheats that are used.
The Post-Production part of the course will empower the student to be the independent filmmaker. The final aim being to give the students the knowledge of the complete Production process; how to use it, abuse it and make it work for you.
This is a full, hands-on course. The theory and tutorial classes work hand in hand to follow up and juxtapose each other.
At the end of the semester the student has a hard copy theory of Production, for outcome-based products and a marketing tool for a foothold in the industry. We also specialize in editing on Adobe Premiere.
As a group, we produced one minute advertising videos for the Matie radio, MFM. and won awards for our effort.
Welcome to fun, adventure and a new perspective on how you can express your creativity.
Course Outline:
- Parts of the Camera
- How Digital Video Works
- The Processing Line
- Shots
- Camera Techniques
- Using Stills
- Capturing Light
- Direction of Light
- Color of Light
- Quantity of Light
- Using Lights
- Lighting Setups
- The Production Process
- Pre-Production
- Production
- Post-Production
- Production Crew
- Camera Lights and Equipment
- Directing
- Editing
- File Formats
3. Event management
The course in a nutshell:
- Learn the fundamentals of developing and managing events of any size
- Gain the skills to design, administer and market events, and to manage event operations and risks
- Results in a Certificate in Events Management
Course modules:
Module 1: Introduction to events management
Module 2: Event role players
Module 3: Bidding and securing an event
Module 4: Event organization and project management
Module 5: Event operations and logistics
Module 6: Event design and concept
Module 7: Financial management of events
Module 8: Risk management
Module 9: Sustainability of events and event greening
Module 10: Event marketing and sponsorship
Who should attend this course?
This course is suitable for anyone who wants to acquire or sharpen their skills in the area of events management.
More specifically, it is useful for wedding planners, hotel or guesthouse staff, exhibition organisers, restaurateurs, florists and décor vendors, and those involved in the tourism industry. The content applies both to those who organise events themselves, and to those who occasionally need to oversee subcontracted event management companies as part of their job. Whether you want to become an event planner or are already involved with planning events, you will benefit from doing this course.
4. Graphic Design
If you enjoy creativity in drawing, designing logos and packaging, and are fascinated by the world of advertising and promotion, then this is the career for you.
The Graphic Design Program includes experimenting with a variety of typographic treatments, designing company logos, business cards, brands and corporate identities, brochures, posters, CD-covers, packaging, promotional literature for advertisements, magazines and newspapers and much more.
You will learn about the marketing of goods, services and information and the influencing of public opinion. You will also learn about the printing and reprographics industry. Design isn’t only 2-dimensional. Promotional packaging is an important part of graphic design, as are point-of-sale displays.
This is a foundation program in Graphic Design and will empower you to understand and apply the basic elements and principles of design and to speak the language of design. To master these invaluable skills, computer training will not be offered during the first six months of the program.
Program Objectives
- to teach you how to generate creative ideas and apply them graphically
- to teach you how to manage projects and time
- to empower you to convey a specific message effectively by means of an appropriate visual medium and how to communicate concepts to colleagues and clients
- to give you a wide range of Graphic Design skills which will make you employable in industry and productive from day one. The course will be updated constantly to meet the ever-changing needs of the Graphic Design business.
Program Structure
Each session will comprise of a theoretical as well as a practical component.
Our students work on realistic projects throughout the year, specifically aimed at developing creative and technical skills and preparing them for the real world of the design profession.
Program Content
Your program in Graphic Design is divided up and structured into nine separate study units, each covering a specific area of design. The program presents these study units in a study guide covering the following topics:
- Introduction to Graphic Design
- Thinking about visual thinking
- Media and techniques
- Elements of art and principles of design
- Typographic treatment
- Branding and identity
- Layout design
- Package design
- Poster design
- Printing and reprographics industry:
visit to practicing design professionals
Testing Methods
Continuous evaluation will be done. This could include class tests.
Practical exercises and projects will assist you in developing the basic skills needed to create visual products using typography (lettering) and graphic media.
The assignment projects will help you to put a portfolio together that you can use for further study or employment purposes.
Assignments
Assignment 1: Introduction to Graphic Design
Basic design:
Composition with shapes, letters and color
Assignment 2: Media and techniques
Exploration of media and techniques:
A3 full color advertisement – pattern, contrast, repetition, space
Assignment 3: Elements of art and principles of design
Color in theory and practice:
Comic book frame – composition, mood, atmosphere,
contrast, perspective, focal point
Assignment 4: Typographic treatment
Cropped character
X-word / X-ercise
Double page spread – Image & Type
Assignment 5: Branding and identity
3 Logo designs
Introduction to Corporate Identity
Introduction to client and market research
Logo design
Letterhead and business card
Assignment 6: Layout design
Brochure / Book cover
Assignment 7: Package design
Make-over of an existing design
Assignment 8: Poster design
Aids awareness campaign
Assignment 9: Printing and reprographics industry
Visit practicing design professionals
5. Photoshop and Web design
Basic Photoshop
Part time: January, June and November from 10h00-16h00 (part of photo evening classes and one-on-one classes)
Full time: Included in full time Sips photography course in the semester only.
Basic Photoshop is a course that aims to teach students everything they need to know to get them started in this powerful piece of software that is Adobe Photoshop. The Basic Photoshop Course consists of 10 Sections and practical assignments.
What you will learn:
- Workspace & Tools
- Pallets & Menu’s
- Image Adjustments
- Filter Menu
- Organizing files
- Correcting images
- Repairing images
- Retouching images
- Enhancing images
- Adding special effects
Advanced Photoshop
Full time: One morning per week from July to end of October.
Part time: Four days from 16h00-21h00, 18 January, 22 June and 5 December.
Advanced Photoshop takes an in-depth look at the software and the advanced capabilities of the tools and functions inside of Photoshop. The aim of the course is to equip students with enough skill and knowledge to use Photoshop accurately and with absolute control. The Advanced Photoshop Course consists of 10 Sections and 10 practical assignments plus a Photoshop Portfolio Design assignment.
What you will learn:
- Blurring filters
- Sharpening filters
- Masking
- Working with Layers
- Layer Styles and Adjustment Layers
- Layer Groups and Comps
- Text and Texture Effects
- Understanding Blend Modes
- Transformation Tools
- Advanced Retouching and Creating creative backgrounds
Web Design
Full time: One morning per week from July to end of October.
The Web Design course will teach you how to build your own professional website by using HTML. and WordPress.
What you will learn:
- Getting Started
- Getting to know the User Interface
- Site Control
- Document Basics
- Linking
- Understanding Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
- Working with Type
- Working with Tables
- Layout Design
- Designing for Devices
- Creating Rollovers
- Understanding HTML & XHTML
- Creating Forms
- Working with Behaviors
- Working between platforms
- Using Templates and Library Items
- Automation Functions
- Accessibility
- Using Media Objects
- Publishing your website
6. Studio Lighting
One day workshop to help you to understand artificial studio flash lighting and to set–up your own studio.
Most people buy studio equipment to photograph people. There are many approaches to lighting people,
a fashion and beauty portrait needs to look different than that of a character study or the portrait of a child.
The course is designed to teach the student the different lighting set-ups in a studio, for portraits, fashion and products.
Working with people in a Studio, Planning your shoot , Posing your model, Basics of studio make-up. Discussing different lighting set-ups used by various Photographers, Studio Lighting Equipment, backdrops and reflectors, High key vs Low key lighting and a simple set-up of each, Light Terminology and the principles of light, Quality of Light, The Color of Light, Direction of Light, Light Control, Light Modifiers
Capture on lightroom and edit, Studio Lighting Techniques for Portraits, Studio Lighting Techniques for Fashion, Studio Lighting Techniques for Products, Mixing studio flash light with outdoor light using Nikon creative lighting units
7. Photographic & TV. Make-up
One morning per week – February to May
Make -up plays an important role in our lives and especially in the photographic and moviemaking business. To compliment your photography, moviemaking and fashion design career you have to know how to apply make-up.
Our Syllabus:
Introduction (Theory) The skin · Skin types (Dry, Oily,· Combination) Basic Skincare, Cleanse, tone, Moisture · Products:· Foundations: Liquid, Cream, Powder, Blushes, Glosses Professional Products: Make-up kit, Intro to Industry, Notes, Basics of Make-up, Photographic Make-up / Stills
Beauty Make-up, Editorial Make-up, Catalogue Make-up, Bridal Make-up, TV, Film, body painting, Stage make-up, Wedding make-up, Special effects, prosthetics (Theatre, Face painting, Latex ageing, wounds, blocking out eyebrows) Period Make-up, History of Make-up (1500 – 1900) 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80. Photo + video Make-up for blacks, Working on film, Working on stills, ramp make-up. Drag queens + character, Theatre + body painting.
Best of all, you will do REAL make-up for our weekly shoots and gain PLENTY experience and finish with a brilliant portfolio.
8. Internet Marketing
The course in a nutshell:
- Understand the internet marketing landscape and how to reach your target audience by using tried and tested internet marketing tactics
- Gain the skills and confidence to implement your own online marketing tactics and strategies
- Results in a Certificate in Internet Marketing
Course modules:
Module 1: Introduction to internet marketing
Module 2: Website design and development
Module 3: Online copywriting and web PR
Module 4: Email marketing
Module 5: Online advertising
Module 6: Search engine optimize
Module 7: Social media and viral marketing
Module 8: Web analytics and conversion optimize
Module 9: Mobile marketing
Module 10: Internet marketing strategy
Who should attend this course?
The course is suitable for anyone who wants to acquire internet marketing skills. More specifically, it benefits marketing professionals in small, medium and large businesses as well as small-business owners and entrepreneurs. Anyone involved in the marketing function will benefit from an understanding of internet marketing concepts and how they relate to marketing their organizations. Specialist eMarketing professionals will also benefit from a broad education on the subject of internet marketing.
9. Darkroom Techniques
You will need a film camera to shoot black-and-white film. We made this module optional, for the student that work on a budget. If you plan to become a serious commercial or advertising photographer, then this module is a must. Also great for Art lovers and if you want to produce great black-and-white prints. We will also explore the digital black-and-white version on photoshop. Our darkrooms are well equipped for developing and printing of black-and-white film. Charl Best is a excellent and very experienced darkroom specialist, doing scientific printing for CSIR., and media.
10. Visual Communication
Photography plays an important role in visual communication. Photography is everywhere.
Photography is the process, activity and art of creating still or moving pictures by recording radiation on a radiation-sensitive medium. Photography has many uses for business, science, manufacturing, art, and recreational purposes. Photography today has acquired great commercial value and has become a source of earning and comfortable living for thousands of people. Photos are an essential part of today’s world.
Visual communication can be described as the conveyance of ideas and information in forms that can be read or looked upon. Visual communication relies on vision, and is primarily presented or expressed with two dimentional images. Visual communication is a tricky endeavor, because it involves a language that is only partially understood as well as mysterious and complex brain processes.
Visual communication design is an integral part of our culture. It is an exciting and growing industry where vision and creativity are paramount. It is also used to anticipate many problems, both social communication and commercial problems.
Visual communication has a role in everything we buy, read, etc.
Photography offers the opportunity to communicate visually. Effective visual communication is achieved by displaying information in a way that enables people to clearly see an accurate presentation of the message. A designer can make use of photography to fulfill the role in visual communication.
Images can serve as a powerful communications vehicle, conveying a wealth of information as well as emotional impact. The color, composition, content, lighting and sharpness of an image all contribute to a viewer’s response to that image. These characteristics are used by professionals on web sites, magazine covers and printed advertisements to draw attention, communicate a message and leave a lasting emotional impression. Because images hold such power, people like to use their photos to tell their own stories.
Color is a basic design principle that affects mood and emotional response. Darker pictures evoke depressing moods. Lighter colors evoke a happier, more positive response. Reds and blacks may be used to suggest violence or blood shells. Negatives of photos often send a message of uncertainty. It is notable that most pictures about eco-friendly practices incorporate greens and blues.
The evaluation of a good visual communication image is mainly based on measuring comprehension by the audience. Using pictures can record information, tell a story or reveal a condition. I find it so muck easier to look at a picture than to read its story. All images have messages.
Second Semester
1. Advanced Photography
Prerequisites: Photographic literacy or the first semester photography course completed successfully or the Distance training Photography course presented by us.
Moving towards the second semester the student will learn more advanced specialized techniques that will prove the student a truly professional photographer. The student will attend weekly workshops in: Documentary photography, Advertising photography, Food photography, Industrial photography, Wine photography, Commercial photography, High speed photography, , Landscape photography, Art photography, Fashion photography, Photographic make-up and hair, quick styling, Theatre photography, Photo studio management and Portfolios
Practical Projects:
You will also have to complete a thesis of every workshop attended and most workshops will have a theoretical lecture or an oral that will be presented by each student. Your portfolio will consist of the above workshops and you will also work in a one hour lab for one week to gain practical experience of lab management. Black and white darkroom work will also be compulsory. Through this course you will find yourself taking enjoyment in developing a personal style of your own. At the end of this one-year course you will have a professional portfolio that will make it possible to find related work anywhere in the world. Always wanted to see the world? Now you can and earn vital experience and money while traveling as most of our students find jobs as photographer on the popular cruise liners in the Caribbean Islands.
- Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- WordPress web design
Practical Projects:
You will manipulate your own photographs from the semester. Design your website and learn in depth Adobe Illustrator as a graphic design program with many designs for your portfolio.
3. Video production
See above.
