• "IF YOU WANT SHARPER PHOTOGRAPHS, BUY A NEW LENS. IF YOU WANT MORE COMPELLING PHOTOGRAPHS, START HERE."

  • No camera in the world will make captivating photographs on its own. Even the most amazing thing in front of our lens requires decisions from us to make that thing into an amazing photograph.

     

    Those decisions are the way we make a great moment feel great, gorgeous light feel gorgeous, and the lines and shapes take us to the emotional and storytelling heart of the image.

    Composition is the visual language of the photograph, and you can learn to use it more intentionally, creatively, and powerfully.

     

    Watch this video to learn how.

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    "The Compelling Frame is one of the best composition classes I've ever taken. It's truly different from any other photography course. Highly recommended!”

     

    ~ Marcus Taylor, Atlanta

     

  • Your Photographs Are About to Become So Much More Captivating.

     

    The Compelling Frame is an online course created to help photographers like you understand and use the visual language of composition to make photographs that are more intentional, more creative, and more powerful. Here's what The Compelling Frame promises:

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    19 Great Video Lessons

    Powerful video-based lessons to teach you the strongest visual language skills, each lesson is accompanied by summaries, key takeaways, creative exercises, and Study the Masters sections.

     

    Lessons include:The Intentional Perspective: POV; The Illusion of Depth; The Impact of Contrast; Isolation: The Art of Exclusion; Moments: Gesture and Geometry; Story: Relationships of Elements; Visual Mass: Pulling The Eye; Balance and Tension; Visual Echoes: Repetition and Pattern; and much more.

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    31 Creative Exercises

     

    We can learn a lot by reading or watching videos, but if words alone could make us better photographers, we'd all be Henri-Friggin'-Cartier-Bresson by now.

     

    Every lesson is accompanied by challenging creative exercises—each of them a chance for you to flex your muscles and apply what you're learning. If you were learning a language, you wouldn't get fluent by just learning the grammar and the vocabulary, would you? We all need to make this stuff our own, and these 31 assignments do exactly that.

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    Study the Masters

     

    One of the best ways to learn to make more captivating and compelling photographs is to study more photographs with those qualities; not just look at them and nod our heads, but to really experience them, and then to learn from them.

     

    Study the Masters is part of all 19 lessons of The Compelling Frame, a chance for you to be introduced to photographers who have made some of the most powerful photographs of our time.

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    About The Image

     

    Three of the 19 lessons in The Compelling Frame are image studies called About The Image—a chance to discuss all the elements and decisions that have been taught in the course, but in context of other elements and decisions. It's easy to talk about one abstract idea like Contrast or Tension, but how we apply those in the photographs themselves—and how those elements interact with others—is often much more difficult to pin down. About The Image is a chance to look at three images in that light.

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    + Exclusive Bonus Material

    In addition to 19 self-paced lessons designed to get you fluent in the visual language of photography, there are 4 additional About The Image videos, and 2 Craft & Creativity videos unavailable anywhere else.

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    Available Now.
    Always Yours.

     

    From the moment you enroll, all the material is available to you on a private site that works beautifully on all platforms. It's super simple to navigate and work through the lessons, and because the course itself is self-paced, you can do it on your own time and never feel either rushed or held back. So start now, or start in a month. Or do the course three times in one caffeine-fueled week. Totally up to you.

     

    The videos are available to stream or you can download them to watch later. And every lesson now comes with downloadable PDF worksheets so the complete course is downloadable and accessible offline. The content is always yours.

     

    If you're even relatively comfortable with focusing and exposing your camera, you've already got all you need to get the most from this course; it's designed to be as free from the technical and as focused on the visual and the creative as possible.

     

    If you want to truly become the best photographer you are capable of being and want to make the best photographs you can make (without spending a fortune on new gear and gadgets), and you're tired of the tips and tricks and so-called shortcuts that get you nowhere, The Compelling Frame will help you create the change you've been wanting in your craft and your art.

     

  • Real People Seeing Real Change in the Craft They Love.

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    "This course will change how photographers think about their craft and the art of photography; it would be a tremendous value at double the price! You’ve invested in all the gear; take a fraction of that and invest in yourself as a photographer. It will change the way you make photographs.”

     

    ~ Ian Enright, Calgary

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    "This course was addictive. I was eager to dig into each lesson, and then found myself even more motivated to study the masters, look at my past images with a critical eye, and discern my intent as I'm shooting in the field. I have never been so inspired to spend time with an online course. Invaluable!"
     

    ~ Karen O'Hern, Denver

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    "The Compelling Frame is one of the most useful things I have done for myself and my photography in the past 10 years. Not only has it changed how I create, it has also given me the language and comfort to assess my own work and the work of others in a deeper, more reflective way. If there are two pieces of advice I could give someone starting out, or who really wants a deep dive into their craft: take this class and do the work. It’s worth it."
     

    ~ Sylvia Mioduszewska, London

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    "I have taken several on-line photography classes and several “live” courses. David’s wins hands down! This course has it all! This course has enabled me to re-examine my work and to approach image-making with a wealth of new information and a renewed enthusiasm. I now have a much better, stronger foundation to make photos that are well composed, tell a story, and bring a “wow” from the viewer! Take this course: you will not be disappointed!"
     

    ~ Bill Stroup, Philadelphia

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    Want More?

    Introducing The Photographer's Process

     

    In 2019, I offered a one-year program called Making The Image. Part of that program was a series of videos called The Photographer's Process. I would choose one of my images and, showing you all the out-takes and the shots that didn't make it, walk through the way I made it: what was I thinking, what was I aiming for, what were my settings, why did I compose it the way I did, choose that one particular frame while editing, or post-process it the way I did? Those were the questions I was aiming to answer. Making the Image won't be offered again, but those 14 videos—almost 5 hours of teaching—are now available for the first time to everyone.

  • Watch A Full Episode of The Photographer's Process Now

     

    Rather than ask you to imagine what The Photographer's Process is about, I'd like to invite you to watch Episode 12 for free. This is just one of 14 episodes, all designed to help photographers like you understand the full creative process of making compelling photographs. The Photographer's Process makes an excellent addition to The Compelling Frame.

  • 6 out of 5 Stars!

    What others are saying about The Photographer's Process Series

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    "I would wholeheartedly recommend this course to others. David’s openness and honesty about his thinking and workflow is more mentoring than just technique. 5 stars—all gold!” - Lynne Murphy

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    This is an outstanding course. We get to see behind the scenes of how an image is made. The value is off the charts for a David duChemin course. 1 or 2 videos would be worth the price of the whole course. I would give this 6 out of 5 stars if it were possible. - Jon Vizzini.

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    "In this straightforward course on process, David generously invites us into his head however untidy things might sometimes appear. As he works, we see decisions he both makes and discards, and why. I enjoyed being shown glimpses of the struggle to finish an image as it superbly emerges. I’m reassured that even the great are challenged behind the viewfinder. Worth my time and money, no hesitation.”

    - Kay Beausoleil

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    "How often do you have the opportunity to get inside the head of an accomplished photographer, and gain insight into his or her goals, choices and process for creating high impact images? From his first exploratory images to his final editing decisions, understanding David’s example has taught me to intentionally slow down, and modify my approach to get continually closer to what I envision. David is an extraordinary instructor—authentic, humorous, inspiring and a skilled communicator and I give this course 5 Stars."

    - Linda Wilson

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    "In some circles people apologize for "overshooting." In The Photographer's Process, David makes you feel comfortable with the process of creating many highly important sketch images to fine tune a composition. He takes you through the process of shooting in, out, around, and through an interesting scene or subject to finally get to a point where a vision is seen, created, and followed through to completion. I love the authentic and candid work David does and these videos are incredibly helpful, valuable, and inspiring!”

    - Jennie Morel

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    "The Photographer's Process gets 5 stars! I have studied with David, online, for some years and have always found his teaching and inspiration worth my time, effort and money. His teaching is worth much more than it costs. His confidence, expertise and approachability are remarkable in today’s marketplace. As a humanitarian photographer who is stuck at home due to COVID-19, let me tell you he will instruct, entertain, and inspire you till you can get out and get back to full throttle." - Hank Henley

     

  • Have Questions?

    Here are some of the more common questions I've been asked about The Compelling Frame. If you're curious about something else, just drop me an email through the link at the bottom of this page.

    Q: Can composition really be learned?
    A: Yes, it can. Not by me talking about it, but by you understanding the principles and then going out with your camera in hand and experimenting, and making these ideas your own. Too much credit is given to talent and too little credit is given to the simple power of learning and doing. Watching the videos will help. Doing the Creative Exercises will be where the real learning happens. But if what you're really asking is, "Is there hope for me?" the answer is a resounding yes!

     

    Q: Will this be practical and actually improve my photography?
    A: I promise. Unless what you mean is, "Can you just give me some tips and tricks so I can go make eye candy?" in which case the answer is, "Nope." I love this craft too much—and respect my students too much—to ever give you hope in short cuts or gimmicks. In the long term, they just won't serve you. These are principles of visual design and creativity and they are what make photographs more compelling. If you can't do it using these ideas, you can't do it.

     

    Q: What if I’m not really "advanced"? What if I'm not really a "techie"?
    A: Perfect! I'm not a techie either. Craft matters, and most of us need to keep getting better with our gear, but that's a long journey. This is a course about composition—what we do with the elements in a scene, how we recognize them and combine them (like words on a page), not a course on how to use a word processor. Know what I mean? If you can focus your camera and make a decent exposure most of the time, this course will take you miles ahead of where you are now.

     

    Q: How is the course structured?
    A: You'll log in to the site with credentials you create when you enroll. The moment you enroll, all course content will be available to you: videos, creative exercises, and all downloads. Boom! Right there for you. It's a self-paced course, so you go as fast or as slow as you like. Repeat lessons as often as you like. Once you're in, you're in.

     

    Q: Can I take my time? Will it always be mine?
    A: I don't like fine print and I don't like sneaky tactics. When you enroll, the course is yours and is accessible 24/7. And all the course components are downloadable. Going on a vacation? I'll be here when you get back. Send me a postcard! Or, download a few lessons and take me with you on the plane (you know, when we can do that kind of thing again).


    Q: Are prices in USD? Aren't you Canadian?

    Yes they are, and indeed I am. Sorry. The majority of my audience comes from around the world and USD is more easily understood by more people. Also, when I charge in CAD, people start asking if they can just pay with maple syrup, beaver pelts, or canoes instead and my wife says if I bring one more rack of moose antlers into the igloo there's going to be trouble, eh?

     

    Q: Is it really worth it?
    We all value things differently, so I'll let one of my students, Ian Enright, speak for me:

     

    "This course (The Compelling Frame) will change how photographers think about their craft and the art of photography; it would be a tremendous value at double the price! You’ve invested in all the gear—take a fraction of that and invest in yourself as a photographer. It will change the way you make photographs and you’ll love the results.”

     

    I agree. We spend a lot of money on some pretty, shiny toys, but so few of them will actually make our photographs more compelling. For less than you'd spend on a(nother) tripod, you can get in on something that will actually help you make more powerful photographs—photographs that connect and give the best expression to the thing you're trying to show. Photographs that appeal not just to eyeballs but to hearts and minds. What's that worth? Only you know that. But I stand by my guarantee and if you spend time with this course and decide it's not helping, let me know within 30 days and I'll refund your full tuition.

     

    Q: How do I pay? Are there options? Is it secure?
    A: I want to make this as easy as possible as I can for you. Payment is by Stripe or PayPal, both secure, trusted payment gateways that give us access to none of your personal information.

     

    Q: Can I use it on my iPhone or iPad?
    A: That's just crazy talk. Of course you can! You'll need an internet connection for most of it, but there's no reason you can't download the videos to watch offline. You're going to want to set a little time aside as this course assumes you're going to do the work and engage with the material. It isn't the kind of thing you learn by just watching a video. The actual learning is up to you. I put my heart into this course; you should, too. This craft deserves our best and has a way of rewarding that kind of effort.

     

    Q: And you say there's a money-back guarantee?
    A: Absolutely. I stand behind what I've created for you. I welcome you to try the course and if it's not for you, just talk to me or my team within 30 days and we'll be happy to refund your tuition.

     

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    Your Mentor

    I'm David duChemin. With almost 35 years experience making photographs, my calling is to help photographers like you make photographs that are more than just sharp and well-exposed. I want to help you make photographs that light a spark in people, that communicate clearly, that captivate imaginations and grab the attention and hearts of the people who will see them. As an international workshop leader and author of best-selling books like Within The Frame and The Soul of the Camera (most of them published in over a dozen languages), it's been my honour to teach students this incredible craft on all seven continents.

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    Need Help?

    If my team or I can answer questions or help you with your enrollment, please get in touch. We're here for you. Just click the red email icon above to send us an email.

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