Photography is one of the modern day's most powerful means of communication. It is a language of its own, expressed with pictures, not words. Photography is a creative form of expression that transcends social, cultural and geographical boundaries. It is a universal medium and perhaps the only form of communication that is truly global.

Photography not only reflects our lives, it can shape them too. From the wedding photos and pictures of our family and friends throughout our houses, to the images of war torn countries thousands of miles away, our need for pictorial reinforcement is powerful. Photographs are neutral, and do not judge or cast moral dispersions. Unless we want them to. They often supply some of the most damming evidence of the human condition, and yet have the ability to celebrate the good in people and the world around us like nothing else.

Practical Uses of Photography

Photographs are prevalent in virtually every sphere of human existence. From being used extensively by newspapers, websites, magazines, books and television to supply information and to advertise, to astronomy, science and medicine.

Photography as Art

Today Photography is seen as a fine art. Photographs are displayed in Museums and Art Galleries, prized by collectors, and studied in history, art history and social studies courses. But it hasn't always been this way.

When photography first burst onto the scene it was very much thought of as the poor relation to the more traditional arts like painting and drawing. Many critics thought that because the camera was a mechanical instrument this somehow involved less skill than the older arts. Detractors claimed that photography required no imagination as the photographers subject was ready made and there was less of the the hand - eye co-ordination or the manual skills essential to painting and drawing.

Of course we know now that the very opposite is true. Photography puts your creative mind to use like nothing else. It is unique in the creative arts. Photographers take a camera and, using it as a tool, an extension of their artist's eye, create a picture by a process of selection. Not only does the photographer have to choose what to shoot, from what angle, and what to include from the scene, but they must select the right lenses, the right apertures, and most importantly, the exact right time to take the shot. Photographers can create a practically infinite number of effects with different lighting or flashes, choice of film or filters, and afterwards in the darkroom, many more options are waiting.

If you're thinking about studying Photography, our tutors and facilities are some of the best on the country, and many of our students go on to study Art and Photography course at University. To find out more, give us a call on 0 20 7935 8411 or visit our website at www.dldcollege.co.uk.

Life in London Photography Competition

And for all you bidding shutter bugs, we are running a photography competition at the moment. Share you photographs of Life in London and you could win 2 tickets for the Sony World Photography at Somerset House in London. Have a look at our Facebook Page for all the details.