NYIP..is it worth it?

[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 ) 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

 

[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?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

What about the Brooks Institute? 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? 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. 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. 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 (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.

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

 

[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

woohoo welcome to the "class".

 

[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!