NYIP..is it worth it?

[ericamcl]

I received an email from The New York Institute of Photography advertising their learn from home courses....is this worth the cost or can I learn more on my own by reading books, etc?

I have looked into taking some photo courses at the local community college but so far haven't found any that were available at times convenient for me...

your thoughts?

[MICKEY88]

I took the NYI course back in 1988, I highly recommend it to anyone who
asks, at the time I had been reading everything I could get my hands on, some things were still not clear tome, their course materia was so well wrtitten that I understood these things right away, my pictures improved greatly after the first lesson or 2, and friends and family all noticed and asked what I was doing differently..


the other great thing is being able to work at your own pace, when you have free time..

[DVC Jen]

YES YES YES YES and YES. ;)

I am half way through Unit one and already am loving it. Some of it is just basic review - but yet I am still learning so much - especially about lenses.

Also the very first lesson - "The eye of the photographer" - it makes you stop and think and really look at things differently when you bring that camera to your eye - or look at a potential subject.

I had a pretty good grasp on aperture and shutter speed = but still learned a bit in that area too.

Being able to study when *I* want to and not having someone elses deadline hanging over my head is so important. I am a busy Mom of 2 teenaged girls - I simply don't have time to put into going to a classroom and learning by someone elses schedule. I can do 30 minutes here - 60 minutes there and so on.

I bought a small tape player (wish they had cds) and some headphones so I can listen and study out by the pool - in the carpool line outside the high school - when or where ever I want.

They also keep stressing that you will get out of the program what you put into it. So if you go at it halfway - sure it will be a waste of your time. However - if you take it seriously - you will learn and as Mickey88 mentioned they make some things that are kinda confusing - easy enough for even ME to understand. ;)

[DueyDooDah]

Which course are you taking, Jen?

[AndrewWG]

I just got an offer in the mail for the complete course for $650. Still alot of money for me at this point, but I may just do it. I really need to learn more and it seems like the best bang for my buck at this point. I think I only have a week left to take them up on that offer, but I can't imagine it getting much cheaper. I'm glad to hear that people think it is a good program. I look forward to it being something I can really concentrate on this winter.

Andy

[ElizK]

I have the $650.00 offer, too. I really REALLY want to do it! Unfortunately, I have no way to pay for it right now, so it'll have to wait. Sigh.

[ericamcl]

I've been seriously considering it....I don't want to lay out the cash all at once but something I read said you can make monthly payments of $45 or something like that?

Now I have to decide which course I want to take if I DO sign up:confused3

[DVC Jen]

Which course are you taking, Jen?

The professional photography course.

[AndrewWG]

I have the $650.00 offer, too. I really REALLY want to do it! Unfortunately, I have no way to pay for it right now, so it'll have to wait. Sigh.

Well, I did it. I signed up today. I just couldn't let that offer go by. I doubt it will get much cheaper than that, but from what I understand, they will continue to mail offers like this, so don't worry. You will have other chances. I have been looking at this course for awhile now and just decided to do it. We'll see how it goes!

Andy

[ericamcl]

which one did you decide to go with?

[AndrewWG]

I just went for the full professional course. It will take me awhile to finish, I'm sure, but it should be very informative. My only hope is that it truly helps me to be a better photographer. I have a good eye for it, but my shots are usually not that spectacular. We'll see I guess.

[ElizK]

Well, I did it. I signed up today. I just couldn't let that offer go by. I doubt it will get much cheaper than that, but from what I understand, they will continue to mail offers like this, so don't worry. You will have other chances. I have been looking at this course for awhile now and just decided to do it. We'll see how it goes!

Andy


Congrats! Keep me posted! I want to know what you think.

[AndrewWG]

Congrats! Keep me posted! I want to know what you think.

Thanks. I'll be sure to let you know!

[Telynn]

For anyone who cannot afford thier course right now, sign up for NYIP newsletter! :thumbsup2 I've learned SO MUCH from the tips and the free online tutorials--my pictures have truely improved!

[ElizK]

SOOO??? How's the course going??? We need an update!!!

[AndrewWG]

So far, so good! My only problem with it is this first lesson that they send to you is basically an overview of what I already know with some small amount of stuff that I didn't know. Just the basics aperture, shutter speed, etc. It is somewhat outdated material, but it still applies to anyone with a DSLR. I think it would be a little tough to do with a P&S, but not impossible, especially if the P&S has manual modes. It is alot of material and it is done well. Alot of reading, pausing, listening to the tape, reading, pausing, listening, etc.. That is nice because I find that it can get a bit boring just reading this material for long stretches of time and the tapes explain what you read in greater detail. The true test will be if I can get some decent shots to send in with my photo project! I'll be working on that starting next week. The cool thing is that for this first unit, the photo project is to have 3 photos one showing action, one showing shallow DOF and one of a landscape style deep DOF. These are all things that Kyle has had us working on in his threads! Way to go Kyle! :thumbsup2

I am pretty certain that in the end, I will be a much better photographer for having taken this course. That is what matters most to me.

[DVC Jen]

I think I am probably about a week or so further than Andrew. I finished unit one and am working on my photo project.

Went out last weekend - but didn't do so great (well at least I think I didn't). I was coming down with a killer cold and feeling kinda fuzzy. I am going to try to find some time this weekend to get some better shots.

Here are some that I took for the photo assignments - let me know what you think (be honest - like I said I am not overly thrilled with them).

Here is the one I was "thinking" about for the assignment showing distance with a high depth of field.
http://www.jenniferd.smugmug.com/photos/205318712-L.jpg

this one is for selective focus or small depth of field. i went back and reread the assignment after I had taken this and the main subject is supposed to fill most of the frame with only some background showing. I really don't think this is filling the frame enough.
http://www.jenniferd.smugmug.com/photos/205317549-L.jpg

for my photo that shows motion or action I took two and I am really having a hard time choosing one.

This one I think is just downright boring.
http://www.jenniferd.smugmug.com/photos/205318544-L.jpg

I like the motion in this one a lot better - but it the subject is so small due to me being so far away. It was really a spur of the moment shot. I heard the jet sky coming but didn't see it or have time to get closer to the water for a tighter shot.
http://www.jenniferd.smugmug.com/photos/205319880-L.jpg

Let me know what you think. Like I said I am not thrilled with them and hope to get some time to try and get something better this weekend.

[AndrewWG]

I think I am probably about a week or so further than Andrew. I finished unit one and am working on my photo project.

Went out last weekend - but didn't do so great (well at least I think I didn't). I was coming down with a killer cold and feeling kinda fuzzy. I am going to try to find some time this weekend to get some better shots.

Here are some that I took for the photo assignments - let me know what you think (be honest - like I said I am not overly thrilled with them).

Here is the one I was "thinking" about for the assignment showing distance with a high depth of field.
http://www.jenniferd.smugmug.com/photos/205318712-L.jpg

this one is for selective focus or small depth of field. i went back and reread the assignment after I had taken this and the main subject is supposed to fill most of the frame with only some background showing. I really don't think this is filling the frame enough.
http://www.jenniferd.smugmug.com/photos/205317549-L.jpg

for my photo that shows motion or action I took two and I am really having a hard time choosing one.

This one I think is just downright boring.
http://www.jenniferd.smugmug.com/photos/205318544-L.jpg

I like the motion in this one a lot better - but it the subject is so small due to me being so far away. It was really a spur of the moment shot. I heard the jet sky coming but didn't see it or have time to get closer to the water for a tighter shot.
http://www.jenniferd.smugmug.com/photos/205319880-L.jpg

Let me know what you think. Like I said I am not thrilled with them and hope to get some time to try and get something better this weekend.

Jen,

Here are my thoughts. The depth of field one I just don't really like for some reason. Maybe it is just too much water, I don't know. I think it makes me want to see more of a "subject" of some sort. It does, however, serve you well for DOF as it is nice deep DOF.

The flower is awesome! I know that it doesn't fill the frame, and maybe you could go out and try for one that does, but I don't think it needs to. One thing that I had thought it said was that it wanted a "busy" background that was out of focus. When I was thinking about this type of pic, I was thinking not so out of focus, but like some of the pics in the book are, no focus, but you can tell what it is. Know what I mean? :confused3 I like this photo of yours anyways as the other flower is out of focus, but you can tell what it is. If you can't get one that fills the frame, I would send this one in.

I like the boat pic to show motion/movement. I think it does a great job, is a simple subject and should actually fit the bill for that. You might think it's boring, but it is perfect for the assignment. Could you have benefitted from a slightly slower shutter speed? Maybe, but I say send it in. The splashing water is showing the movement enough. It may have been cool as a panning shot too, but that is easy for me to say. I can't do panning shots worth a darn.

You are right about the jetski photo. The subject is way too small. It is a cool motion shot though.

I think you are doing a great job! :thumbsup2 You should be proud of these photos.

The shallow DOF shouldn't cause me a problem, the other two are going to be really hard for me. I'm not good with motion and there aren't that many great places for deep DOF around here that don't include water. I just think that unless there are a bunch of boats in the water, that deep DOF is hard to see with water shots. Sure, the other shore should be in focus too, but the whole water thing just throws it off to me. I'll have to travel a bit or keep a close eye on my surroundings. The more I look at the world from a photographers eye lately, the more I see. It's like a lightbulb going off in my head. :idea: I'm sure it is the same with you.

[DVC Jen]

I understand what you are saying about the lake shot - there isn't something there that you eye is drawn to as a main subject.

The thistle - well that was a whole darn field of them - i just zoomed in on one and set the camera at f/5.6 to throw the background out of focus.

The boat just bores me to tears. LOL I really like the jet sky - maybe I might see if I can do a tighter crop and still make a decent print out of it if I can't find something else.

The guy was flying on that thing - and I think the photo shows how fast he was going.

The motion assignment is the one I am going to have the hardest time with. The landscape with depth of field isn't hard for me to do - just hard for me to find something interesting enough for me to want to take a photo of it around here.

Guess I need to adjust my eye so I am looking at things differently.

I am hoping to head to the arboretum tomorrow. There is an area there that is high on a hill - looking down at White Rock Lake - and on the other side is the city of Dallas so maybe I can get something with that - maybe not. the concept isn't hard - the hard part is finding something around where I live that I can be happy with.

Thanks for your opinions :)

[tomorrowland]

I was searching for information on NYIP and came across this older thread. For those of you that started the program and have finished a few units, do you still think it has been worth it?

I am seriously considering it. I got an offer for $798 in the mail, but I would really like to see the $650 offer back. :)

[DVC Jen]

I think it is worth it. I am definately learning a lot. Especially technical stuff.

[tomorrowland]

Thanks for the response.

I can really tell a difference in your work in looking at some of the older posts and I was hoping that it was in part due to NYIP.

[AndrewWG]

Wow. Looking at this thread, I was in almost exactly the same spot in NYIP training that I am today. 4+ months and almost no forward progress. I did turn in my first photo project and have to re-do one of the photos but my advisor really liked the other two. Oh well.

Here is an explaination of why I have not gotten anywhere further. When I received all of the lessons I quiclky saw that the program was out dated. It was all written for film cameras. This isn't a big deal as the concepts are basically the same. I later learned that they were all being updated to be much more modernized with more digital photo information. When I wrote to them to find out if I could get the updated info, they told me that I would have to pay over $100 to get them. At that point I was a little disgusted with them and kind of turned off to the whole thing. Also, being winter, there isn't much to photograph around here. Recently I received all the new manuals for all the lessons that have been re-printed. I do have to buy the CD's that accompany them, but they are only $3 each and there are only 6 lessons so for $22 with shipping I can have them. I will pay that. They re-newed my faith in their company a bit with that move and I look forward to starting up again when the weather gets a bit warmer.

My advice: Wait until it gets cheaper again. I think that they will continue to update some of the manuals and you will get all the new stuff. One other good thing is that the audio portion is coming out on CD now and not audio cassette tape. That is worth waiting for all by itself!

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to know!

[tomorrowland]

Thanks for the information. I do think I will enroll and I am going to take your advice Andy and see if they offer it at a lower price.

Andy, I am glad you got everything straightened out with them on the upgraded material.

[jann1033]

andy, is the updated stuff much different? i would like to do something but not sure what...i figure if hub can spend 300 on rosetta stone( even though i am supposed to get a trip to france for anniversary #35 in 2 yrs when he masters it :rolleyes1 ) i can spend 700 on photo...shh don't say anything about the lightroom, new puter and hopefully 40d , we'll just concentrate on lessons we spend money on:rotfl:

[ericamcl]

I was actually pretty unhappy with what they sent me, so I called to ask about having lessons on CD vs. Cassette, etc. and I ended up "cancelling" my enrollment.

I'm planning on taking some courses at the community college this summer and fall and may then re-enroll in NYIP at a later time. There is also a "mom and pop" photography store in my area that offers hands on classes on a regular basis that I might look into as well.

I did see an ad in Popular Photography this month for NYIP that now says the materials are updated available on CD and I THINK DVD instead of VHS?

[DVC Jen]

Andy is pretty dead on - I have the newer stuff and I CAN tell an improvement. Now to be perfectly honest - they do still cover the film aspect - because they want you to at least have a grasp on that - their intent is to prepare you for any format you may find yourself working with in the future. The new CDs tell you to at least skim over it - not to by pass it totally.

I personally feel like learning anything - even film is going to help me in the long run. Since when is knowledge a bad thing? Several lightbulbs have gone off for me while reading through the lessons that primarily have to do with film.

They have added ALOT of stuff now with digital and the CDs cover it more than the written text does. I just finished the lesson on scanners and while I will more than likely NEVER get all that into scanning I found it interesting. While going through that lesson the whole resolution thing finally clicked with me and now I get it - and while I won't be using that knowledge with scanning - I will when resizing photos for print, cd or for the web.

Maybe I am just hard core wanting to learn anything and everything I can and NOT just what pertains to the format I will be using (digital).

I kinda feel like you have to know where you have been before you can know where you are going. So for me - it can be very interesting.

Also while researching which venue for education I wanted to pursue - I did realized that even our local community colleges start with film and scanners and dark rooms - they don't jump right into the digital world.

The fact that NYIP is self paced was the final draw that brought me to enroll. I am extremely busy with my family and budding business so not having to work around when someone else tells me to study was/is very important to me.

Now - with all that said - the number one thing that has helped me improve with my photography over the past year and 3 months - practice, practice, practice - and reading and reading and practice - and also checking out other peoples work and seeing what they did and how they did it.

I really think there is no one program, school or way of learning that is best. You have to find what works for you and then throw yourself into that as best you can. You will get out of a program, class, course what you put into it - regardless of where the education comes from.

[Nackerma]

I have debated for a few years now (pitiful) on taking the NYIP course, but held off b/c of the digital revolution. Curious if anyone new has signed up for this course with the new material (which is supposedly updated for digital) and any thoughts. Looks like the last post is in March, so I'm hoping there might be some new updates! If you are working on the course, how is it coming? :woohoo:

[MarkBarbieri]

What about the Brooks Institute (http://www.brooks.edu/)? I see that they are one of the sponsors here.

[DueyDooDah]

I have the updated course. It starts off pretty well, still covering older material but adding update booklets for the digital material. The CDs and DVDs are updated also. Some of them are good, some of them are a little flat, for me. The forum is a discussion between two or three photographers that attempt to cover areas in which the text may be lacking. The text covers the material so well that much of the discussions on the CDs are mostly memories of past experience. Don't get me wrong, that is not necessarily a bad thing. But, it does not always hit the target (IMO) and leaves me wondering the point of the CD.

The text answers any question I've ever had about photography and covers material from the absolute basics, through composition, lighting (artificial and natural), equipment, portraiture, pets and kids, modeling, architecture, etc. It is well rounded. It reminds me of college, in a way. It seems there is alot of stuff you will never need (remember calculus?) but it may come in handy if you ever need it.

What I find most helpful is taking the time to really learn each topic by doing. When the material discusses image capture, for instance, it helps to go out and attempt to capture shots that the material covers. This is time consuming, but it is well worth it. The lighting section has actual practice sessions to work on, but it helps to also try your hand in other areas that the material does not specifically assign you a goal.

All-in-all, I am happy with the material (although the numerous booklets they provide are of different sizes and numbered out of order, but I think this is because I joined right when they switched material sets and they had not finished all the materials when I asked to have the bulk of it sent to me [which you can do if you pay in full]) and I am really happy with the substance.

Sorry for rambling. I had a long day. I hope it makes sense.

[AndrewWG]

What about the Brooks Institute (http://www.brooks.edu/)? I see that they are one of the sponsors here.

I recently signed up for more info from the Brooks Institute. The guy called almost immediately and let me know that they were an actual school in California and that I would have to attend classes daily. When I told him that the 3000 mile commute would be a bit much, we decided it wasn't for me. :lmao: From his description, it sounded like a real good school though.

As for NYIP, I haven't done much with it for a few months. I really have to get on the ball and concentrate some efforts on it or I'll never finish!

[DVC Jen]

While I haven't had much time to put into the course lately (thank goodness it is an at your own pace course) - I really think I am learning a lot from it.

There is quite a bit of stuff that I don't know if I will ever actually use - BUT - with that said - those things have sometimes triggered lightbulb moments in another area of photography.

Some of it is really dry and boring - a bit outdated. However, with the new digital books added and the discussions updated to include digital I think it is much more relevant to today.

I am not nearly as far along in the course as I was hoping to be at this point - due to a busy family life, but I haven't regreted signing up for it at all and look forward to moving onto the next unit.

[Nackerma]

I looked at the link for Brooks, but noticed it's not a home study course..so that's not really feasible. Just seems that I take a class here and a class there, some good and some bad..I just think it might end up being cheaper, better and more consistent if I found one place!! And NYIP, being self paced, just seems so convenient.

DueyDooDah, AndrewWG, DVC Jen - Seems all-in-all you are pleased with the course, so that makes me feel better.:yay: Do they hold to the 3 yrs rule of wrapping it all up?

I kept hoping they would drop the $$ on the course more when you wait some time out :rolleyes1 (like they have in previous years), but $800 may be the bottom now.

[DVC Jen]

i just started last fall. I thought you had 2 years to finish? I am not certain on that though.

LOL at the rate that I am going - 3 years might be nice. ;)

[DueyDooDah]

You do have 3 years! Breath a sigh of relief.

[DVC Jen]

You do have 3 years! Breath a sigh of relief.

:woohoo:

Thank goodness!

[Nackerma]

I finally bit the bullet and signed up. If I'd only done it several years ago, is what I kept thinking..so I don't want another several years to pass me by (and struggle thru). So, I may check in with you guys to see where you are in the course! Appreciate your input :yay:

[DVC Jen]

I finally bit the bullet and signed up. If I'd only done it several years ago, is what I kept thinking..so I don't want another several years to pass me by (and struggle thru). So, I may check in with you guys to see where you are in the course! Appreciate your input :yay:

woohoo welcome to the "class". :thumbsup2

[Nackerma]

DVC Jen - I just realized you are in Rowlett.. I live in Plano! ;)

[DVC Jen]

DVC Jen - I just realized you are in Rowlett.. I live in Plano! ;)

Oh wow - small world! :)

[DisneyFreak06]

Are you all still pleased with the course? I am not truly interested in becoming a total photographer, but I am a teacher and have summers off, so I thought it would be fun to try to do something on the side. The latest offer I got in the mail (today) said that the price is $950 payed in full, but I have a $150 off coupon and they'd give it to me for $798. They also said that it is going up by another $200 in the middle of September.

Is there much of a digital editing portion of the course? I also asked for the information on the Adobe Photoshop course they offer, but I'd like to improve my photography skills first I think before I try to improve my editing skills.

Any new info for me?

Thanks in advance!

[DVC Jen]

Are you all still pleased with the course? I am not truly interested in becoming a total photographer, but I am a teacher and have summers off, so I thought it would be fun to try to do something on the side. The latest offer I got in the mail (today) said that the price is $950 payed in full, but I have a $150 off coupon and they'd give it to me for $798. They also said that it is going up by another $200 in the middle of September.

Is there much of a digital editing portion of the course? I also asked for the information on the Adobe Photoshop course they offer, but I'd like to improve my photography skills first I think before I try to improve my editing skills.

Any new info for me?

Thanks in advance!

i am very pleased with the course. It doesn't have a lot of detailed photo editing in it - at least not that I have seen so far. BUT - with that said - if you learn to take better photos - you will have MUCH less to edit.

Just a thought. ;)

[DisneyFreak06]

i am very pleased with the course. It doesn't have a lot of detailed photo editing in it - at least not that I have seen so far. BUT - with that said - if you learn to take better photos - you will have MUCH less to edit.

Just a thought. ;)

Good point! I am definitely looking to take better pictures first, so that helps.

[ElizK]

My DH signed me up for NYIP Complete Digital Photography Course for my
40th b-day!! :cool1:

Unfortunately he paid full price for it:scared1: . Oh, well, it was a very sweet thing for him to do. He knew how much I wanted to do the course.

Anyway, I've done Unit 1 and 2. Very basic stuff, history of digital cameras, etc. I'm looking forward to really getting going!

[dburg30]

Any more updates from anyone? Appears their prices have gone up recently :(...Dunno if I have the $950 or so to plop down in one chunk. If you do the monthly thing, I would guess that you will only get information they think you need, not the whole course at once then :confused3

[DVC Jen]

Any more updates from anyone? Appears their prices have gone up recently :(...Dunno if I have the $950 or so to plop down in one chunk. If you do the monthly thing, I would guess that you will only get information they think you need, not the whole course at once then :confused3

They send the units out every two months as long as your payments are current. I now have all 6 units but am only on unit 4. :confused3

[jann1033]

i've looked into this a few times ( having been impressed by those using it here) but for me i just can't decide if i would ever use some of the info( like i think there was a fashion shoot section if i am remembering it right) guess it's good to to "well rounded"but i am trying to decide if some of the more specific courses like adorama offers would be better, although more expensive, for me...anyone ever use anyone else or have any info about any other courses ( online)????

[ElizK]

I'm just about finished with the 1st unit (just need to send in the photo assignments). Specifically, I'm doing the Digital Photography course. I'm not just thrilled with what I've received so far, because I really don't care about the history of digital photography or how to get pictures into the computer (the curriculum was written when most people were still shooting film and would need to digitalize pictures using a scanner). I'm looking forward to receiving the next package, though. Can't wait to start learning the Photoshop stuff!

Also, an amazing (to me!) thing has happened since I started this program: Everywhere I look I think how I would take a picture of this or that, I critique pictures just about anywhere I see them, I think about lighting and cropping, and other photo stuff.

[DueyDooDah]

... I now have all 6 units but am only on unit 4. :confused3

Braggart - I just finished unit two.

[DVC Jen]

Braggart - I just finished unit two.

:lmao: :rotfl2: :rotfl:

[AndrewWG]

Braggart - I just finished unit two.

Braggart - I haven't even finished Unit 2! :lmao:

[DVC Jen]

Oh you two! <giving you that MOM look>

No more TV until you finish your homework!


;)

[AndrewWG]

Oh you two! <giving you that MOM look>

No more TV until you finish your homework!


;)

Oh, MOM! It's the weekend! I don't wanna do homework! *pouting face*