billbreezy Loc: md

Hey HH's!
Was thinking of taking a photography course, there is just sooooo much to learn, but read something very interesting, a pro stated that she has "never" been asked for her educational credentials when seeking a photo job, always lets see your latest work! But, one still needs to learn what thier doing right? So, Im putting it out there, what are your thoughts, experience, etc.?

emrob62 Loc: NEPA

A lot of it would depend on your personal situation. Do you ahev the time and resources to take the necessary classes or do you have access to a pro willing to take you on cheaply to teach you what you want to learn. Also, in OJT situations, make sure you are actually getting some hands on experience and not just being their packmule or gopher. Will they also allow you the ability to use their equipment for practice and experimenting on your time. Knowledge of any subject is priceless, but be sure the reputation of the teacher (school or pro) is up to the standards you need to get the skills you want.
Just my brief thoughts

billbreezy Loc: md

Thanx Emrob, made me think about a few things I hadn't thought of like the rep of a pro or "teacher" makes one say "hmmmm" lol also querry if you don't mind?.....where did you learn? School, OJT, or possibly both?

emrob62 Loc: NEPA

Its an ongoing process. Had one Photog class in '83 at a community college. B&W 35 mm. The rest has been personal experimentation. Shot sports and dance with a cannon ae-1 up until 3 yrs ago when I got a cannon t3i (currently confiscated by my daughter who has a great eye) Will be looking to gift myself again soon since she's taking it to college next week. The rest I have learned from poking around here. Good luck with whichever route you choose

billbreezy Loc: md

Hey Em
That comment about your daughter "confiscating" your camera?....too funny.....at least on this end, lol, was thinking of taking a class for $375 was wondering what I would actually learn...would it even be worth it? But as you said would serve me well to further invistigate, like what is actial cirriculum, experience of teacher, etc. Thanx again

emrob62 Loc: NEPA

no problem, just have fun and let your imagination be a guide in the work you capture

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Hi Bill
I mostly learned from OJT and personal exploration. The plus side of that is:
1. You learn a particular topic at a time when it is most interesting, or necessary, to you.
2. You can often generate income as you learn, rather than spend $$.
The negative side:
1. You're often learning at someone's expense and failures can be a burden.
2. You're learning is somewhat "helter-skelter" and does not follow in a logical order, thereby being rather inefficient.
3. OJT requires that you provide your own inner curiosity and motivation, it's easy to "sluff-off" because you haven't paid the big bucks for it.
4. Too often you learn the "what" and not the "why".
Food 4 Thought...

Frapha Loc: Tulsa, Oklahoma

I don’t think you should approach the decision as an “either – or” situation. Some folks learn better in class environments and some learn better from DIY (reading, trial & error, etc.). A lot of adult learners fall into the category of Visual Learners and those folks process new information best when it is visually illustrated or demonstrated. One of the advantages of a class is learning from other students as well as the instructor. Learning from peers can be every bit as effective and rewarding as learning from the “sage on the stage”. I’ve taken several classes, as well as doing things on my own such as reading, attending local camera club meets, etc. Personally, I like the hands-on, eye-to-eye interaction of most of the classes and I enjoy meeting new folks with similar interests and find that we learn a lot from each other. I couldn't care less about the "credentials" either. So, in short …. Maybe the answer to your quandary is a little of both, rather than the “either-or” approach. Just my thoughts …….. worth every penny you paid for them. :-)

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

I recommend you look into the New York Institute of Photography correspondence course. It is a well organized and structured program with personal counselling and a wide variety of subject matter. I took this course back in the days of film, but almost all of it still applies - lighting, composition and exposure control. There are sub-courses in macro photography, fashion, wedding, landscape, sports and a lot more. Enough to give you a good idea of what you want to do. This course lets you learn at your own pace and in your own time. I also recommend joining a local camera club; preferably one which is active with field trips, competitions and shows.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I would suggest looking at the Proud Photography school.

As mentioned before a camera club is good. Also look at photography meetup groups in your area, these are where you will find the most field shooting trips.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

Youtube has a ton of information on a ton of different photography topics. I learned a ton from it!

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

Best thing I have done over the years in my learning photography was take the NYIP (New York Institute of Photography) correspondence course... in the late 60's.
Second best thing I ever did was "COMPLETE" the course.
Third best thing I did was keep the 27 booklets and all the tapes for later refresher material.

27 Lessons on all aspects of photography dealing with composition, creating projects, lighting, exposure... all. Critiqued then by sending in images and getting back a cassette tape, etc.

While gear seems to be the focus of most of these forums, I think that's entirely wrong. Yes, you should know what your camera is capable of, but before that you should understand the principle of light, exposure, composition, etc.

A good friend of mine is a very accomplished photographer. However, he has often told me the very best education you can get to enhance photography is to study Art History. Art History covers all the areas that make photography communicate well to people.

On a final note. I have tried general community camera clubs. Worth a look, but the politics and power struggles for control of the clubs have often pushed me away. I want to learn to enhance my skills (even at 69 years of age). Camera clubs are so often about "Who's running this place", as opposed to "How can I help you advance your photography". Have never lasted more than a few months at various camera clubs without walking away. Bottom line for me... Waste of time. But then, I don't do Social Networking either.... What the heck is "facebook" again?

Bonus Site... Here is a web site with links to about 22-23 other sites on composition, rule of thirds, golden mean, exposure, etc.

http://www.photoinf.com

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

sorry dual post

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

I started my photo career many years ago just snapping shots of family with, what is now a very old slr camera. When I got into television with the US Air Force I did photos for our local station over seas. As my career grew and I left the Air Force for commercial television I did my first video, then it was on all 3/4 inch tape. I got all my knowledge OJT.

Now, of course, I'm shooting dslr cameras and the settings are about the same as they were for an slr given a certain ASA, now known as ISO and the lighting conditions on a particular shoot.

The real knowledge I found important was focus, framing, composition and how to hold a camera steady. I've also learned that in most dslr situations simply setting the shutter speed and allowing the camera to decide the aperture works very well. I manually keep my ISO at 200.
I could use 100 but at 200 you get a little less aperture which helps with focus. And at 1/200, where I like to shoot, it helps with any camera shake that may occur.

School isn't a bad thing, don't misunderstand. However "street" smarts will take you a lot further. These so called "street smarts" take longer to get but they last for the rest of your life. The lessons you learn will be with you for as long as you have a camera in your hand.

Good luck.

Jim

anotherview Loc: California

Short answer: Neither. I taught myself to do photography. You may, too.

Consider OJT will instruct you how another photographer goes about doing photography, with all his experience for sure but also with his limitations. For example, many accomplished photographers know next to nothing about flash photography. As another example, I met a photographer who’d won an award in a photo contest, yet this individual knew nothing about the Histogram. During a visit to a national park, I had a brief conversation with a photographer who adamantly believed he could get the same result using an aperture of f/22 as one could get applying the Hyperfocal Distance at f/8; evidently, he had not familiarized himself with either this technique or lens diffraction at tiny apertures. Of course, OJT may offer the opportunity to observe how a photographer who earns his living doing photography goes about his practice.

As to the classroom environment for learning to do photography, consider that photography functions primarily as a craft. Strictly speaking, then, another cannot teach you photography because you have to do it to learn it, like any other craft. Besides, the classroom will most likely include the history and the philosophy of photography -- an approach, I hear, so often intellectualized that in effect it divorces itself from the wordless visual medium of photography. In addition, a construct now popularized by the fields of photojournalism, street photography, documentary photography, and suchlike says every photograph tells a story -- an impossibility in the strict sense because a photograph alone presents and communicates itself to the viewer minus words, as a visual experience. Finally, the classroom environment may assume all attendees aim for a career as a professional photographer, thereby introducing an economic bias to the teaching of the subject matter. You may acquire these and similar biases in the guise of convention while sitting in a classroom. No doubt, however, the photography course will include time in the lab developing photographs and work in the field performing assignments. So you could pick up a foundation from the academic approach to photography.

As an alternative, teach yourself to do photography. Use the various other available means for learning photography. Web sites galore provide all kinds of information and instruction relating to photography. Magazines present tips and information, and instructional books will guide you. Many books today come with a DVD containing video instruction to supplement the book. Short workshops will instruct you in a variety of topics, giving you a foundational understanding while instilling confidence and shortening your learning curve. You will want to spend time and effort learning the capabilities of your camera and lens for best results. Most of all, though, you will have to shoot many photographs while learning from your mistakes and your successes. By this path, your photography skills will improve and so will your photographs.

Good luck.

Trail, Sunset Point, Capitol Reef NP (2012)