Learn By Doing
Practise your skills and reach your photography goals, project by project
Each project gives you simple step-by-step instructions to follow and direct feedback from Karl along the way, then a chance to display your finished images in the gallery. It's the fastest way to turn what you've learned into real, finished work - and to keep building your skills, one project at a time.
"I'll show you exactly how to do this in easy steps - shot with just one light and a couple of mirrors to bounce the light back. I'm challenging you to create a stylish old-masters-style still life with one light too." - Karl Taylor
How the project works
1
Live Launch Show
Karl walks you through the brief live, with time for questions before you start.
2
Bite-Sized Training
Short, focused lessons will guide you through the key stages of the project, including prop sourcing, light placement, surface choice, composition, colour and post-production.
3
Build and Test Your Image
This is where the learning happens. Move the light, change the distance, adjust the objects, test the shadows and refine the image until it starts to feel intentional.
4
Mid-Project Discussion
We’ll look at progress, discuss common problems and help you keep learning. Rough attempts, lighting tests and behind-the-scenes setups are all useful at this stage
5
Upload to the Project Gallery
Share your results, a work-in-progress shot, or a behind-the-scenes setup. This is not a competition. Every upload helps other members see what was tried, what changed and what improved. You can upload or update any of your images at any time during the project.
6
Review and Peter Lippmann Interview
I’ll review selected member submissions during the project review. Peter Lippmann will also be joining me for a live interview, where selected project images will be shown as part of the discussion around still life, lighting and composition.
WATCH HOW 'RAKING' A SINGLE LIGHT BRINGS THE IMAGE TO LIFE
On this project you will create your own still life image with one light, carefully chosen props, controlled shadow and refined composition.
What You'll Learn
Choose props that tell a story and feel considered
Build a composition around a single light source
Use fabric, surfaces and background texture
Create an old-master-inspired mood in post-production
"These projects bring 30 years of professional lighting experience into simple exercises anyone can try at home."
Curated by Karl TaylorLoved by photographers at every level
What members are saying about the Visual Education projects.
"Just signed up, i have to say this is one of the best live/class i have watched on photography in a long time. Really made me feel really excited to create my images."
Cashfire
"Great class! I’ve learned many new things and revisited others. The project’s direction is very motivating, and I look forward to participating. Thanks a lot!"
Iglika
"Fun! Thanks Karl and team for creating an environment which encourages learning and sharing. This class was a great excuse to get in the studio (aka garage), just start shooting, and now sharing results."
Joe
Start Learning Today
Want to take part in the full project?
Join Visual Education to participate, upload your work, access the project tutorials, take part in the review process, earn badges, and continue learning with the full project. The sooner you join, the more of this round you get - including the live Mid-Project Review.
Launched
29 Jul
Mid-Project Review
Join in time
Closes
27 Sept
Monthly
£19.00/month
Pay as you go.
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ANNUAL - 40% OFF
£11.00/month
£228 £132 Per Year, Billed Annually
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Project Gallery
See what our members are creating for this Project.
Comments
Hey Karl, thanks for the session with Peter Lippmann and the reviews. They complemented each other really well.
I know time is tight during the live reviews, but I was left wondering a bit about your feedback on my image. You mentioned it had potential, but aside from the white flower on the cup, I wasn’t entirely clear on what’s missing or what I should focus on improving.
If you have a moment, could you elaborate a bit on what direction you’d take it?
Hi Karl, thank you for the review. I agree when I cover the books it does give some breathing room to the photo on the left side. I was hoping that the cheese knife would point to the books and the leading lines on the stacked books would take you around again. The books just seemed aged and The Wanderer seemed nuanced. I’m glad that you liked the lighting and post production.
Looking forward to the next one.
And almost no comments on the “blooming” effect or the noise/grain. I tought that they were somewhat requisites.
For some reason, my picture in the video looks ALOT greener than the original on my computer here. My screen is calibrated with Display Cal. So I don’t know. Anyway, good. show.
Nice work everyone! Great critique. I felt my final was a bit too green as well but when I pulled it back, it didn’t seem “green” enough like Karl described in the initial video describing the project. Good thing is, I can redo that part of it before sending it to print. It was great seeing what everyone came up with. This project was tons of fun and I look forward to the next… maybe. 😉 LOL
Hello Karl, I added bubbles to my photo because I learned during my research that they were regularly used by painters of that period. I actually found several examples of it. But I agree that it looks a bit “anachronistic.”
Aside from that, this photo review is extremely enriching. In just a few moments, you managed to put your finger on exactly what was bothering me about my photo, which I couldn’t quite put into words. Thank you, and bravo for the impressive feat of critiquing photos for two hours straight!
Impressive work! I decided very late to get in on this one. I hope to reshoot mine in the near future – this was a challenge.
Hello! This project will close on midnight your time on Sept 27? I just moved studio locations and I’m trying to finish before the deadline. 🙂
This was so interesting to learn, shoot and edit. I’m still learning my way around Photoshop. I don’t have any skulls laying around and a key didn’t seem to work for me so I added some old books. I did watch all the videos but only the first one shows completed. Not sure why. Looking forward to the interview with Peter!