photography classes..

[grover]

Have most of you taken photography classes of some sort??
What type of classes?
Just curious

 

[Master Mason]

Have most of you taken photography classes of some sort??
What type of classes?
Just curious

my only photography class was long long ago, I had a summerschool class in 7th grade. We learned all about developement of B/W pictures.....but that was about the extent of it. I still remember that smell of the darkroom though, nothing else on earth smells quite like that.

 

[Furgus]

I am taking on this year. Starts on Oct 23rd for 8 weeks. I can't wait to start.

 

[0bli0]

let's see - i took one class 24 years ago...

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I still remember that smell of the darkroom though, nothing else on earth smells quite like that.

I don't particularly remember the smell, but I do remember that I needed to ask for a hall pass every single class. Being in the darkroom with the constantly running water always got to me.

I haven't taken a formal photography class (the darkroom experience in high school was for graphic arts), but I'm looking to take one now. I was checking out our local community college's web site, yesterday, in fact. They offer a self-paced online course. I may look into that, or I may continue to look for something in a live classroom setting.

You can also look at the canon web site. They have a beginners course for digital photography. Canon's D-SLR beginner's site

There's also the Canan Digital Learning Center for more advanced topics.

 

[boBQuincy]

Walking into a darkroom, the smell of Dektol fires synapses that just shout "photography!". If the printer manufacturers could add that smell to their ink...

I took more than a few photography classes over the years, the most important was learning the Zone System so I could always know I have the correct exposure (when I take the time to do it).

The next most important "class" has been to go out and see photography exhibits, to learn what I like and don't like, and how to get similar results.

 

[mabas9395]

I took a one day class from our local parks department. It was a beginer SLR class but I had already read Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" book so I had most of it covered. It was nice having a live person to ask questions to though.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I haven't taken one, but I would love to. I've done most of my learning from books, websites, and videos. I think hands on time with an instructor would be great. My preference would be to take a class out in the field.

 

[JR6ooo4]

couple books, many hours with the camera manuals. Many hours shooting. ANd many many many hours on photog forums
Mikeeee

 

[grover]

i see so many amazing photo's here--you all have done a wonderful job of educating yourselves!

i just recently purchased my canon S3, so a big learning curve ahead of me, but doing as some of you have, reading, hanging out in forums, practising,playing around. I am taking a 1 hr seminar to cover a couple of the features on my camera. Maybe a class in the new year-we'll see. But for now I just need to get comfy with it for our trip in Nov.

ahh yes..high school photography, took that, one of my overall fav classes!

 

[0bli0]

yeah - i love the smell E6 fixer in the morning. it smells like... photography

 

[GabbyMom]

I've taken two semesters of photo classes, I was going to take digital this semester but they didn't run it . Now I work in the photo lab at school. My boss is wonderful. He'll teach me anything I don't already know. like digital .


mmmmm i love the smell of D-76 in the morning. means fresh negatives

 

[barrie]

let's see - i took one class 24 years ago...

Seriously?! Your photos are so good - how did you learn?
Barrie

 

[0bli0]

wow! thank you very much

basically just taking lots and lots of pictures over the years. having kids helps tremdously, but i treat it more as an excuse to take more photos.

the class that i did take focussed on the technical aspects - f16@125, etc. and darkroom technique. we now live in an age where technology helps make up for being technically innaccurate. our cameras have auto-focus, light metres, 'green box' settings, adjustable ISO, and so on. if i take a technically bad photo - slightly underexposed, blown highlights, crooked horizon, mis-framed, etc., i can use post processing in a similar fashion to darkroom to correct it.

what they didn't teach me in class, and it's the aspect most people i deal with are primarily interested in is the artistic vision side of photography. personally i don't think it's something you can learn in class. but it's the one thing every single one of us can easily learn and discover for themselves that they truly possess very strong artistic talent. for me, it's taken several hundred thousand photos and i'm still learning new things - by trying and failing. i also know what looks good to me and most often that's the best approach to pleasing others.

my father was a good photographer, as are all three of my sisters, but my mum would have her finger in 3 out of 10 shots she took . the point where i think i really began to enjoy photography is when my father gave my little sister (CarolC) and i a 110 camera and we spent the day taking b&w pictures of 2 stuffed dogs 'on an adventure'. Carol - remember that?

the camera i use doesn't have 'Auto' settings - just modes like AV, TV, and manual. i learned a lot about composition by using a prime (fixed focal length). hire one or force yourself to not use the zoom and use your feet to recompose.

again, thanks for your comments. it really means a lot

 

[grover]

this is so encouraging!
i love photography, and it is great to see that it truely is something that you can learn by "doing"...granted not every shot is going to be spectacular right, but for me the fun is in getting the shot!
thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[PoohJen]

I really want to take a class; I read books, but I learn better with an instructor.

I looked into our local community college for the fall. They have a 101 class - but it meets for only one week: 4 HOURS each night for 4 NIGHTS STRAIGHT!!! geez!!! How can you take it all in; more importantly, how can you practice what you learn b/t classes?!!! Might as well just read the book!

 

[grover]

that sure sounds pretty intense..i agree--i would want some time in between!