Courses
Feb 22, 2019 16:55:59 #
I’ve used Steele Training for Lightroom and liked it. I haven’t tried their photography course, but if it’s as good as Lightroom, it is good.
Feb 22, 2019 17:00:52 #
Angel Star Photography
Loc: Tacoma, WA
Sreno wrote:
Being new to more than point and shoot, I'm wondering if any of you pros or semi pros would recommend taking accredited, online, photography courses? Is it a waste of time? I'm not looking to make a career out of it. Being medically retired, I just want photography to be more than a hobby and less than a job. Thank you for your time and answers.
Sreno,
My recommendations are similar to many others who have replied before me. I will elaborate on some.
Joining a club is good for the personal feedback as you learn. Likewise, you can also post photos here on UHH for critique and advice. There are here on UHH who are willing to help.
As for courses, there have been suggestions to take in some courses on Lynda or purchase Joel Sartori's course published by The Great Courses. Lynda is a subscription based service within which you will find a lot of course on photography by many professionals as well as many other topics relevant to photography such as post-processing software; e.g. Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, etc. The Great Courses offer a subscription based service as well as an opportunity to buy individual courses. The subscriptions can be monthly, $25-$35 per month or annually and you can cancel anytime. Both Lynda and Great Courses also work agreements with local libraries and I recommend that you check out your local libraries to see if they offer either, and if so, the cost to you would merely be that of a library membership. Regardless, I highly recommend Lynda. Lynda has a curated playlist titled, "Foundations of Photography", which takes you through the full range of topics from beginning to end.
Additionally, you can find many quick courses on YouTube. Some additional resources that I have often recommended are as follows:
Cambridge in Colour
https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/
https://digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-tips-for-beginners/
An article on free courses...
https://petapixel.com/2014/07/03/best-free-online-photography-courses-tutorials/
Also, look up Phlearn on Youtube. Phlearn covers mostly post-processing.
C. R. Smith (Charles)
Angel Star Photography
www.angelstarphotography.com
Feb 22, 2019 17:08:54 #
IDguy wrote:
You might try The Great Courses online. They have a number of them. The introductory course by Nat Geo photographer Joel Sartore is a great start.
They are not accredited but are very high quality.
They are not accredited but are very high quality.
These courses are great (pun intended), but not to learn how to use a camera. They stay away from the mechanical and technical details and concern themselves more with the art and attitude of photography. Sartore is terrific, and I highly recommend watching these videos, but not as "how to" lessons. Take a look at KelbyOne.com. If you are able to create your own curriculum, they have the courses that will teach you much of what you need. The other one that is great is Lynda.com. Like KelbyOne, they have a ton of courses, but they are not ordered in a learning progression. However, check with your public library. Lynda.com has arrangements with many public libraries that make it available for free if you have a library card. I get it for free and it's a great source of video learning for photography and a host of other digital sciences and business.
Feb 22, 2019 17:47:54 #
photography is actually two skills. One is technical,how to physically "work" the camera.. The second is art, and no one can learn to be an Ansel Adams or O'Keef"(?) no matter how much time you waste in class.. Ed
Feb 22, 2019 18:07:42 #
I agree with most of the other Hogs that have already responded to your question with joining a local photography club, local community college photography courses, Adult Education courses, or online via YouTube.
I would check out Bryan Peterson's website, https://bpsop.com/ and look at the online courses he has listed there. He also has a number of books also, with "Understanding Exposure" being the most popular. I have the third edition of it and found it to be very helpful. One of his online classes is "Understanding Exposure" also.
One of his courses that I am planning on taking is a 4 week class called "The Art of Seeing", which if you go to his website you can read a description of it, as you can do with all of the courses he offers. Check out his website to see all of the different courses he offers. Most run 4 to 6 weeks and each week something different is covered and there is a photo assignment for you to complete.
Good luck to you in whatever route you decide to pursue.
I would check out Bryan Peterson's website, https://bpsop.com/ and look at the online courses he has listed there. He also has a number of books also, with "Understanding Exposure" being the most popular. I have the third edition of it and found it to be very helpful. One of his online classes is "Understanding Exposure" also.
One of his courses that I am planning on taking is a 4 week class called "The Art of Seeing", which if you go to his website you can read a description of it, as you can do with all of the courses he offers. Check out his website to see all of the different courses he offers. Most run 4 to 6 weeks and each week something different is covered and there is a photo assignment for you to complete.
Good luck to you in whatever route you decide to pursue.
Feb 22, 2019 19:08:12 #
Sreno wrote:
Being new to more than point and shoot, I'm wondering if any of you pros or semi pros would recommend taking accredited, online, photography courses? Is it a waste of time? I'm not looking to make a career out of it. Being medically retired, I just want photography to be more than a hobby and less than a job. Thank you for your time and answers.
I see a lot of good suggestions already posted but don't overlook "UHH university"! We have a lot of Pros and Semi-Pros on this site as well as highly talented hobbyists. Look in the archive section of UHH and you will find good information on almost any subject related to photography.
Feb 22, 2019 22:58:19 #
AlfredU wrote:
Online courses don't do that. Find a good local class.
This assumes that such classes are available locally...which many times they are NOT if you live in a small market.
Feb 23, 2019 00:04:27 #
AlfredU wrote:
Can't resist answering this one. Online courses ar... (show quote)
Agree and disagree. For the very artistic component of photography (composition, light, DOF, etc) an in person class is best. For some of the mechanical aspects (shooting modes, focus, iso, metering, exp comp, etc.) those are things one can asorb in an online course and then go out and experiment over and over to determine what works best and when and why.
Feb 23, 2019 07:01:00 #
dsmeltz wrote:
I would suggest Northrup's Stunning Digital Photography course. It is a book and an online set of courses (14 hours). It is basic but a good place to start at $9.99.
https://northrup.photo/product/stunning-digital-photography/
https://northrup.photo/product/stunning-digital-photography/
A good place to start. In combines printed material with videos.
Feb 23, 2019 07:54:29 #
I took an online class from Understand Photography.They teach you how to shoot in manual but keep it simple.
Just google it and check it out.
Just google it and check it out.
Feb 23, 2019 08:14:56 #
ek2lckd wrote:
photography is actually two skills. One is technical,how to physically "work" the camera.. The second is art, and no one can learn to be an Ansel Adams or O'Keef"(?) no matter how much time you waste in class.. Ed
....well,that is a little strong,maybe a class could give me a checklist of Adams tecniques and if I followed the list my photo quality might be better.....but I would be just trying to copy Adams.....he didnt need a class GBG
Feb 23, 2019 09:17:37 #
Look into your local Community College. In St. Louis our Community College offers accredited classes as well as Continuing Education Classes. There is a Digital Photography Essentials Certification Program offered through the Continuing Education Department. To obtain the certification you have to complete (9) courses. (3) Core Classes-Introduction/Intermediate/Advanced Digital Photography (3) Field Classes-Studio, Portrait and Indoor Photography/Field Photography:Sports, Concerts, Weddings and Events
(3) Photoshop Classes-Adobe Photoshop CC: Introduction/Intermediate/Advanced. Each course meets 4 times. Classes are taught by Professional Photographers. Each class meets for 2-1/2 hrs.
So check with your local Community College.
(3) Photoshop Classes-Adobe Photoshop CC: Introduction/Intermediate/Advanced. Each course meets 4 times. Classes are taught by Professional Photographers. Each class meets for 2-1/2 hrs.
So check with your local Community College.
Feb 23, 2019 18:45:52 #
Feb 28, 2019 03:41:00 #
awesome14
Loc: UK
Photography can only be taught to a certain extent. I would get yourself a dslr, read the manual, and as you develop questions, then do google searches. Photography, even for pros, is mostly experience. It's in how you view your surroundings. I once wanted to take a shot of a US quarter dollar coin. So, I worked on it for half a day, and I got some shots that mirrored my imagination.
And, nowadays cameras have a lot of nice features to save on time or to make sure you get the shot. So, much will depend on which exact dslr you purchase. Before you get that far, though, learn about the relationship between ISO number, shutter speed and aperture; and why you might want to adjust them for a particular shot.
Above, someone mentioned to understand exposure. I basically said the same thing in a different way; not to steal anyone's thunder! I also like Nikon dslrs, because they can use virtually any Nikon lens. So, if you don't want to pay $12,000 for the latest 600mm f4 lens, you can go on eBay and pick up that lens in manual focus for $1,200!
No other dslr manufacturer allows you to use virtually every lens ever made by them on the latest bodies! But, if you're just starting out, it doesn't matter as much as if you had already invested in lenses. And Canon dslrs are much more popular (50% of the total market vs Nikon's 25%).
I also like the ruggedness of Nikon bodies. It's tough to break them. But they're also more expensive. If it's for hobbyish use, reliability isn't as important, because you don't lose much in the event of equipment failure. I always buy bodies new at bandh.com, because with bodies it more tricky than with other equipment, like lenses.
Bodies often require service, depending on how rough you handle them, and for warranty work. But dslr manufacturers will not service bodies owned in the USA unless they are USA models, which they can tell by the serial number. Bodies for sale in other countries can be gotten much cheaper, but it's a big risk.
Lenses I never buy new, unless no used ones are on the market yet. Lenses don't fail nearly as much as bodies, but the same rule holds true. If you're a USA customer and you have a lens made fort sale in a different country, the manufacturer will not service it, even if you want to pay them.
Many other photography products are the same way, or even worse. I recently acquired a Sirui 2204 with K-20x head. But I read the warranty fine print first. If it isn't purchased from an authorized Sirui dealer, they won't even give you tech support! They will not service the unit for all the tea in China!
In other words, if you buy it on Amazon, Sirui offers absolutely no backing. And they are very definite about it. So, I bought it from bandh.com. It costs about $30 more than Amazon or eBay, but that's what you pay for the warranty!
And, nowadays cameras have a lot of nice features to save on time or to make sure you get the shot. So, much will depend on which exact dslr you purchase. Before you get that far, though, learn about the relationship between ISO number, shutter speed and aperture; and why you might want to adjust them for a particular shot.
Above, someone mentioned to understand exposure. I basically said the same thing in a different way; not to steal anyone's thunder! I also like Nikon dslrs, because they can use virtually any Nikon lens. So, if you don't want to pay $12,000 for the latest 600mm f4 lens, you can go on eBay and pick up that lens in manual focus for $1,200!
No other dslr manufacturer allows you to use virtually every lens ever made by them on the latest bodies! But, if you're just starting out, it doesn't matter as much as if you had already invested in lenses. And Canon dslrs are much more popular (50% of the total market vs Nikon's 25%).
I also like the ruggedness of Nikon bodies. It's tough to break them. But they're also more expensive. If it's for hobbyish use, reliability isn't as important, because you don't lose much in the event of equipment failure. I always buy bodies new at bandh.com, because with bodies it more tricky than with other equipment, like lenses.
Bodies often require service, depending on how rough you handle them, and for warranty work. But dslr manufacturers will not service bodies owned in the USA unless they are USA models, which they can tell by the serial number. Bodies for sale in other countries can be gotten much cheaper, but it's a big risk.
Lenses I never buy new, unless no used ones are on the market yet. Lenses don't fail nearly as much as bodies, but the same rule holds true. If you're a USA customer and you have a lens made fort sale in a different country, the manufacturer will not service it, even if you want to pay them.
Many other photography products are the same way, or even worse. I recently acquired a Sirui 2204 with K-20x head. But I read the warranty fine print first. If it isn't purchased from an authorized Sirui dealer, they won't even give you tech support! They will not service the unit for all the tea in China!
In other words, if you buy it on Amazon, Sirui offers absolutely no backing. And they are very definite about it. So, I bought it from bandh.com. It costs about $30 more than Amazon or eBay, but that's what you pay for the warranty!
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