Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

Yeah, well that and porn.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Nice thoughts Walt. I've been here at the Hog for about 14 months, serious about photography for about 2 years and UHH and the friends I've made here have been a good thing. I actually met one of my fellow Hogs for coffee here in Austin last week and it was great to find that we are not disembodied spirits! The Hog, the Internet at large and Kindle books that include links to video tutorials are all a blessing. So is practice, practice, practice. Not sure I'll ever sit in an actual classroom, but with B&H and others sharing world class instructors for free, why bother? I would say I'm self-taught, but that's not true. I've had a lot of help from UHH members and, like you, the wealth of info that we now have at our fingertips. Pretty cool. You might check to see if there are meetup groups of photographers anywhere near you. That's another good resource.

Genessi Loc: SoCal

How do you like Viewbug?

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

I love it. It links me with photographers from all over the world who post amazing shots and at the same time I can take part in multiple photo contests and challenges. It's very encouraging to receive peer awards on a photo only to find out the giver of that peer award is an amazing photographer. In a way it can be quite humbling and encouraging at the same time.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

I'd say you're self taught in the same way I am. You took the initiative to research online resources to get the knowledge necessary to learn. Keep on shootin'.

Walt

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Nice post Walt! I too have really enjoyed the web. But I have found most of the ones I have been on are either to techy or the folks are not friendly and no help at all. But I found this site! Made a lot of friends along the way and I think my digital camera is getting better at taking what I see.:)

Our JVS here has a class for photography. Jeff (a friend) teaches it and he asked me to help. I do the camera part of things with his help and he does the computer part of it. It is very very relaxed class and the folks coming in are not the young folks but the older ones. We have a good time learn together.

I am trying to buckle down and get better shots now. But it is a hobby for me and I am really enjoying the ride!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

No doubt about it, including seeing things that you just have to buy. A few years ago, I looked at our local community college to see what online photography courses they offered. They had one I wanted, so I signed up. As it turned out, it was a course offered throughout the country by community colleges in general. There were students from many states posting questions.

Trentc Loc: Denver, CO

I agree wholeheartedly. After dabbling with PP software, and having no luck on my own, I kind of gave up and joined the "SOOC is the way to go" club. After seeing so many fantastic examples of post-processing done right, and becoming interested in HDR, I decided to make another run at learning PS. I was, and still am, amazed by the number of free tutorials and educational material out there. It has upped my game significantly in a short period of time. Still have a lot to learn, though...

KynaCreative

Truth!

Ignorance, in the age of the internet, is a choice!

The information may not always be perfect, but it gets me thinking in ways I may not have consider.

UHH is a delight!

Youtube is a fantastic resource for tutorials, what items are used for and inspiration.

I love that I can search the library system from home for books and videos on photography. I queue them up and have everything delivered to my local branch.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Walt - the internet connects many of us in rural areas with the "rest" of the world! As a physician in a very - VERY - rural area in Maine (the nearest traffic light is one hour away! ) - I rely on the internet greatly in order to stay up to date on advances in medicine. I use online video education (I just completed a 24-hour course on wound care) as well as an online service which is actually called "Up-to-Date", on which I can search any medical condition. Articles are updated constantly by experts in the field. We are indeed lucky to have such technology!

Basil Loc: New Mexico

I have an older Epson Printer/Scanner and the LCD display went dark a few years ago, rendering the unit useless. I did a search on the internet and found a post on some forum which described the exact problem with this model printer and also how to fix it! The issue was a blown fuse link (very tiny) on the circuit board of the display unit. Per the instructions, I soldered across the fuse link with a very fine filament of solder and viola, the display sprang to life and my printer has been working ever since.

I've found many similar solutions to seemingly impossible problems over the years. Of course you have to have enough sense to discriminate the information you glen from the internet, but on the whole, it has been a game changer in many ways.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

When you think of the"Information Super Highway", as it was referred to in early days, it has changed the world, not only photography. It has made the world smaller. With technology like Skype, talking in real time to folks on the other side of earth, viewing wars, natural phenomenon as they happen, it's awesome. But for all the world shattering inventions for the betterment of mankind, there is always a down side. An abuse or exploitation of the negative.

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

I second this thought and totally agree about not missing out on any opportunity because of the "rational" might be's.

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

I write a series of blog posts and contribute regularly to Internet sites on issues concerning purchasing and selling small businesses. The one thing I know about the Net is that many, many sources of information are bogus. (Not mine, of course; I know where some of you were going!) In many cases, you get what you pay for. So, while you can learn some invaluable things for free, validate what you are reading, carefully. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "You cannot believe everything you read on the Internet!"

Kuzano

Your local community college is missing a bet on no classes. Do they not have a Community Education Program?

Our CC in Bend Oregon has about a dozen classes in the community education (often called Adult Education) on photography, post processing (3 on Photoshop, 2 on PSE) and a few weekend field seminars thrown in to fill out the need for training. The classes are well attended and real money makers.

I have taught the PSE class a few years ago. I'd say these classes have been stout income producers for the college for about 15 years now.

The photography classes are taught by local professional photographers, as are the photo processing classes, and members of our local camera club. The positions are paid and community education classes do NOT require teaching certificates or degrees in the field.

I've been teaching computer classes, including eBay classes for 22 years now. Teaching such classes also results indirectly in work for my computer consulting business.

You may want to contact that local CC and talk with whoever develops course structure for the classes.

They have no idea of the demand, the ease of finding instructors in the community, and the income loss by not offering such classes.

In fact, our head of the program is wide open to anyone from the community who can offer a course outline and do the work to teach the course. Our course catalog is huge, with about 25 non credit courses in computers alone.

"Basket Weaving" anyone.... Yes a real course in our course catalog, in fact 3 or 4 differing classes, for different ethnic make up of the basket weaving processes.

Do your community a favor by contacting the college adult education or community learning department. You may even be able to offer up a course and get the program started.

I am always amazed at how teaching classes a few hours a month has enhanced my career in computer consulting and how much I have learned by designing and teaching my ten-odd courses. More than I would have learned by now, just doing the work alone.

And, it's been hugely fun. In fact, I had a great class yesterday, with the wrap-up tomorrow. Next Class "Buy and Sell on eBay" on the 19th of this month.

Just received an eMail from a student in my last eBay class a month ago. Just sold his first item on the Bay.

Consider it!

:thumbup:

NOTE: BTW, I have been selling strictly FILM cameras on eBay for the last 15 plus years. Growing market. Pocketed after expenses last month-$766. Have had some $2000 to $3000 months over the past few years. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: