Mobile Filming and Photography Course

Lesson 1 • Camera App Interface Essentials

Navigates native and third-party camera app controls. Establishes baseline proficiency for manual adjustments covered in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Image Format and File Settings

Compares JPEG, HEIF, and RAW capture formats and their trade-offs. Ensures students choose formats aligned with their editing and delivery goals.

Lesson 3 • Device Preparation and Maintenance

Covers lens cleaning, storage management, and software updates for reliable shooting. Prevents common technical failures before they occur in the field.

Lesson 1 • Manual and Pro Mode Controls

Teaches hands-on use of manual exposure settings in pro camera modes. Connects theory to practice by adjusting real-time exposure on device.

Lesson 2 • The Exposure Triangle on Mobile

Explains how ISO, shutter speed, and aperture interact within mobile constraints. Grounds students in exposure theory before applying manual controls.

Lesson 3 • Reading and Using Light

Identifies natural and artificial light qualities, directions, and color temperatures. Students learn to evaluate any scene's light before shooting.

Lesson 4 • Metering Modes and Exposure Lock

Covers spot, center-weighted, and matrix metering options on mobile. Students lock exposure independently from focus for creative control.

Lesson 1 • Color and Contrast in Composition

Uses color relationships and tonal contrast to guide the viewer's eye. Reinforces exposure knowledge by linking brightness to compositional weight.

Lesson 2 • Foundational Composition Rules

Introduces rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing techniques. Provides the structural vocabulary for all compositional decisions in the course.

Lesson 3 • Subject Placement and Negative Space

Teaches deliberate subject positioning and the power of empty space. Connects placement decisions to emotional tone and viewer attention.

Lesson 4 • Storytelling Through a Single Frame

Combines all composition tools to convey a narrative within one image. Students analyze and construct images that communicate without captions.

Lesson 1 • Tracking Moving Subjects

Applies focus skills to moving subjects using continuous autofocus and predictive tracking. Prepares students for the video and action chapters ahead.

Lesson 2 • Depth of Field on Mobile Devices

Explains how sensor size, focal length, and subject distance affect depth of field. Students predict and control background blur within mobile limitations.

Lesson 3 • Autofocus Systems Explained

Breaks down phase-detection, contrast-detection, and AI-assisted autofocus. Students understand why focus succeeds or fails in different conditions.

Lesson 4 • Portrait Mode and Computational Bokeh

Examines how portrait mode creates artificial bokeh and its strengths and weaknesses. Students apply and refine computational depth effects critically.

Lesson 1 • Audio Capture for Video

Addresses built-in microphone limitations and external audio solutions for video. Strong audio is positioned as equally important as visual quality.

Lesson 2 • Basic Shot Types and Camera Movement

Introduces wide, medium, and close-up shots alongside pan, tilt, and tracking moves. Students build a vocabulary of intentional camera movements for storytelling.

Lesson 3 • In-Camera Stabilization Techniques

Covers optical image stabilization, electronic stabilization, and physical grip methods. Students achieve smooth handheld footage without external gimbals.

Lesson 4 • The 180-Degree Shutter Rule

Explains the shutter speed convention for natural motion blur in video. Students apply the rule using ND filters or manual shutter in pro video mode.

Lesson 1 • Mixed Lighting Challenges

Addresses color casts from combining daylight and artificial sources. Students correct mixed lighting in-camera and understand when to embrace it creatively.

Lesson 2 • Portable Artificial Lighting

Introduces LED panels, ring lights, and compact on-camera lights for mobile shoots. Students build affordable, portable lighting kits for consistent results.

Lesson 3 • Three-Point Lighting Setup

Teaches key, fill, and backlight placement for portrait and interview scenarios. Students replicate studio-quality lighting with minimal gear.

Lesson 4 • Natural Light Mastery

Exploits window light, reflectors, and outdoor conditions for flattering results. Builds on Chapter 2 light theory with practical positioning strategies.

Lesson 1 • Editing App Selection and Setup

Compares leading mobile editing apps by feature set, RAW support, and workflow speed. Students configure their preferred app for efficient daily use.

Lesson 2 • Cropping, Straightening, and Export

Covers compositional cropping, horizon correction, and platform-specific export settings. Students finalize images for web, print, and social delivery.

Lesson 3 • Tonal Adjustments and Exposure Correction

Applies exposure, highlights, shadows, whites, and blacks sliders to fix and enhance tones. Reinforces exposure theory from Chapter 2 in the editing context.

Lesson 4 • Color Grading and White Balance

Adjusts temperature, tint, HSL, and color grading tools for mood and consistency. Students develop a recognizable personal color style.

Lesson 1 • Macro and Close-Up Mobile Photography

Applies focus and depth-of-field skills to extreme close-up subjects using clip-on lenses and native macro modes. Students reveal unseen detail in everyday objects.

Lesson 2 • Capstone Project and Portfolio Review

Students complete a self-directed project demonstrating mastery across all eight chapters. Peer and instructor critique refines work to portfolio standard.

Lesson 3 • Documentary and Street Photography

Applies composition and storytelling skills to candid, real-world environments. Students develop a documentary series using only a mobile device.

Lesson 4 • Long Exposure and Time-Lapse

Combines manual exposure, stabilization, and intervalometer tools for long-exposure and time-lapse capture. Students produce cinematic motion effects.