A-Z of CREATING PHOTOGRAPHS (5-week course)

Discover the Art of Photography with Larisa Dizdar

In an age where snapping a photo takes just a second, have you ever felt the urge to slow down and truly refine your image-making skills? What if your passion for photography could grow into something more - maybe even a career?

Join professional photographer Larisa Dizdar for a 5-week course designed to deepen your understanding of visual storytelling. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to take that next step toward becoming a professional, this course offers the space and guidance to develop your unique photographic voice.

We’re offering 10 fully funded places, thanks to support from the Greater London Authority (GLA). Eligibility criteria apply - don’t miss your chance!

Larisa, a seasoned visual artist and accomplished commercial photographer, will guide you through photography’s rich history - from its earliest days to the modern world of smartphones and citizen journalism. Along the way, she’ll share her expert knowledge of both creative and technical aspects of photography, helping you sharpen your skills and grow your confidence.

The course consists of five 2-hour sessions and will take place at Chelsea Library.

You will be working in the studio environment as much as going to work on a location projects which will be set up in advance. *Please note: Change of program (indoor or outdoor session) depends on the weather conditions.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The course will be presented in five 2-hour sessions and will take place in Chelea Library's events room on the first floor of the library and on locations outside the library.

You can sign up to the whole course only. Please book only if you can attend all five sessions (!)

DATES:

Saturday 10 May, 11am to 1pm

Saturday 17 May, 11am to 1pm

Saturday 24 May, 11am to 1pm

Saturday 31 May, 11am to 1pm

Saturday 07 June, 11am to 1pm

The spaces on this course are funded by GLA. We have only 10 free spaces on this course, so book early, but please first check that you are eligible (!)

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR SPACE IS NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL YOU FILL THE ENROLLMENT FORM WHICH WILL BE SENT TO YOU BY THE TUTOR ONCE YOU BOOK HERE.

*Eligible: London residents aged 19+. ( RBKC residents will be given priority).

You are allowed only ONE of these free courses in one academic year.

The £3 booking fee is refundable (minus the Eventbrite fee) on responding to the tutor, regardless of whetreher you take up a place or not.

Contact libraries@rbkc.gov.uk if you have any queries about booking.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE:

Session 1: Introductions. We'll start with working out the levels of photographic knowledge we have as a group, and talk about individual interests and goals for attending the course. There will be presentations on the various genres and role of social media in the 21st century. Basic technical introduction to set us all ready for the course. Students to bring cameras or mobile phones they will be using for the next five weeks.

Session 2: Photographing Cityscapes - London has an iconic skyline and Portobello market and Notting Hill with it’s local architecture presents stimulating visual backdrop, so photographing a cityscape can be a great way to create interesting compositions. A good cityscape shot requires a bit of preparation, equipment knowledge and location scouting. In this beginner’s session, Larisa will detail the decisions you need to make in order to take better photos of cityscapes.

Session 3: Still Life Photography - Still life photography has historically been done in classic photo studios or fine arts classrooms. But cameras are changing, and so is still life photography. This session will give the basics and give you tips on how to create stunning compositions.

Session 4: Portrait Photography - Covering creative and technical aspects of photographic portraiture, hints and tips about using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses and getting the best portrait possible.

Session 5: Close-Up Photography – Our last session will be dedicated to wrap up of what you have learned, any questions will be welcome; also I will give an insights into this method of tightly cropping shots that show a subject (or object) up close and with significantly more detail than the human eye usually perceives.

To end: Final assessment of everything that was learned during the course. Q&A to support the group in working through any unresolved issues about their personal project.

ABOUT THE TUTOR:

Larisa Dizdar is a London-based photographer and visual artist with a career spanning over 25 years. Her beginnings in photography were routed in two great colleges she attended, Kingsway College, London and Bournemouth Institute of Arts, and mentors she has met along the way.

Some of the projects Larisa has worked on are: In house photographer for the Star Wars Exhibition, London; Portraits taken of the Mercury Award Winning artist "La Roux", BBC World Radio An interview on Larisa's life and Creative Work in London, Frith Street Gallery Exhibition, Mayfair Exhibition, Publication in the TANK magazine and many more.

You can see some of her creative /commercial work HERE.

TESTIMONIALS FOR LARISA:

I have known Larisa Dizdar for a number of years as a gifted communicator, experienced practising photographer and artist with unique and enviable qualities and abilities engaging with varieties of clients, initiating and resourcing projects and possessing a ceaseless determination to successfully facilitate and develop her own and others' powers of discovery and self expression. - Clive Barger - Lecturer

Larisa was lovely to work with, she is incredibly compassionate and supportive and made me feel relaxed in an unfamiliar, awkward setting around the camera. I would highly recommend her to everyone! I asked for private lessons after as my knowledge grew exponentially and I really enjoyed her teaching style and the overall experience. - Gaya Astrid

The ‘creative process’ for Larisa Dizdar is foremost a psychological state trough which questions of self , body and correlation are explored. - Peter Messingham- Curator

In my 20 years long acting career, I have worked with 8 professional headshots photographers. I was with Larisa, that I felt like ‘myself, on a good day’. Larisa has that ghost-like presence, we all look for in a photographer. From the moment I walked in, she interacted, but never intruded. Her thoughtfulness and focus on me expanded the mental timeframe I needed to relax and she needed to establish the rapport with me. I asked for an outdoors photo shoot. During the shoot, she alternately shadowed and guided me, so well attuned, that we hardly talked at all. I felt like I was her only client and like I had all the time in the world. - Adna Sablich- Actress