Do you have any formal training?

[shniks]

Hey there,
I was just wondering, what type of training have you all done? Have you done any courses, or just taught yourself? Is photography something that you can excel at without formal training?
I myself have only just started with all of this, and have been borrowing photography books from the library.

[defordphoto]

When I got my first SLR at 17 there was an older man on the block that had a darkroom and had been shooting for many years, so he took me under his wing and I learned a ton of valuable info there. That and I read anything and everything I could get my hands on. Still do. But no, I have not had any formal training.

[Canuck]

Nope, none here other than a class taken in high school in '96. All self taught other then reading stuff from shutterbug and other mags and such in the US and UK.

[PacAce]

I've been shooting pictures since I was in grade school so photography for me was just part of growing up. What made it easier for me was the fact that my father was also into photography so I had all the darkroom equipment I needed to learn with.

[Laziferous]

I didn't pick up photography until last summer. I bought my G2 at the end of March, and I ws hooked right away. I really should try to take some kind of course or something. I'm just kind of flying by the seat of my pants :shock:

What does that expression mean anyway :? :?:

[Scottes]

I'm just kind of flying by the seat of my pants

What does that expression mean anyway


One choice:

Flying by the seat of your pants

Meaning: To do something without planning, to change course midstream, to figure things out as you go.

Example: Most stock investors are not making educated decisions, they are just flying by the seat of their pants.

Origin: Before airplanes had sophisticated instruments and flight control systems, and even today, planes are piloted by feel. Pilots can feel the reactions of the plane in response to their actions at the controls.

Being the largest point of contact between pilot and plane, most of the feel or feedback comes through the seat of the pants.

If you are "flying by the seat of your pants" your are responding to the feedback received.

[Laziferous]

Origin: Before airplanes had sophisticated instruments and flight control systems, and even today, planes are piloted by feel. Pilots can feel the reactions of the plane in response to their actions at the controls.

Being the largest point of contact between pilot and plane, most of the feel or feedback comes through the seat of the pants.

If you are "flying by the seat of your pants" your are responding to the feedback received.

Booyah!

That's what I was looking for. We need a thumbs up smiley for occasions such as this.
http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/happy/1055.gif
So it seems that directing your path in corrulation with bootie jigglins' isn't such a bad thing :D

[Jesper]

I did three courses the past two years; two general photography courses, in which we learned shooting with black and white film, developing the film and printing photos ourselves in the dark room, and a portait and model photography course. For that last course, I mainly used my 10D.

I also learned a lot from books and websites, but it's fun to learn together with fellow photographers and it helps creativity if you're doing things together. I'd highly recommend doing a course! :wink:

[IanD]

No formal training, no courses. Quite a while ago I sort of racked up my knees in a ski race and had the chance to spend a few months in bed. A team mate of mine was into photography and he lent me an Pentax 35mm to record my days in the hospital and recovery. One thing led to another and soon I had my own outfit and for years shot B&W.
Got into digital a few years ago with a HP "something" and now use a 10D.
I do read as much as possible both in print and on the web.

[Vegas Poboy]

Started @ 12 years old with the Kodak 126 & then to the 110 camera and over the years kept buying, reading and trying things. Now @ 39 I started taking courses at a local college and I've been having a blast every since. School has really put alot of those unanswered questions to rest. To bad I had to wait for the family to mature so I could get more free time.

[shelbix2020]

I got my G2 last January and just got hooked on taking pictures ... now Im starting photo classes at OCC [Orange Coast College], Im taking Basic Photo - B&W film and a Digital Media Arts class on Photoshop and Image Ready .... so to answer your question .. no...

next semester I plan on taking the Digital Photography class they offer

[mookiemeister]

I bought some digital photography book and read up on some hint and tips. Then I go off and experiment by taking pictures in different conditions.

[garethhhhh]

I have no formal training.

I had a film SLR for 2 years before I made the leap to digital last June, when I broke my ankle, :cry: & needed a way to view my pictures without leaving the house to get them developed. 8)

I subscribe to a few photography magazines & have small collection of books on the subject (which i am always reading). :D

[ssim]

When I first got interested in photography back when I was about 20 I got a part time jop working in a studio doing grunt work. This studio also had a retail section so I got to know the equipment pretty well. The owner took me to a seminar on wedding photography and posing people. It was really informative.

Then came along marriage and kids and I didn't have the time to committ to it so I took about a 15 year break in serious photography.

Since I have gone to digital I have taken a photoshop course at the local college and it was well worth the money.

[G3]

Seems like I'm sort of in the minority. Most folks are self-taught it would appear. I've taken several courses over the years (starting in the late '70's) at local Universities ranging from Basic Photography and Basic Darkroom to Portrait and Wedding Photography, as well as Photography workshops for Nature Photography. I'm currently enrolled in another Certificate Program that includes Photoshop (I've already taken one Photoshop course and completed 2 tutorials). No matter how familiar I think I am with a particular subject, I've never failed to learn at least one new thing from a course, workshop, or tutorial.

[Malok]

No formal training, but have read lots of books, spent time at numerous galleries, have hung around real photographers, and have asked a lot of stupid questions on forums like this. I also got into photography when I damaged my leg (achilles tendon). I guess I'm about the third one on this forum who started in this way. :)

I'm still learning, but making progress and selling photos.

Malok

[shniks]

Thanks for all the replies. I was contemplating whether or not to sign myself up for a course or not. They are a bit expensive, but I wouldn't mind meeting a few like minded people. I still havent decided if its worth it, maybe I can do this on my own.....???
Keep the replies coming!

[JadeCat]

I took a few semesters of photography classes in jr. college.
I took Beginning Photography (pre-req for any other photography classes), and took a few B&W classes. I was all geared to do the Color Photography classes, but that fell through due to time constraints on my schedule. Blah.

It served as a good foundation for everything else. I've also read a lot of books, gone to galleries, and just taken pictures in general.

BTW, I do recommend taking classes at your local junior college (i'm in California). They are pretty inexpensive. It was $8/unit when I was there, and I think it's $15/unit now -- still pretty damn cheap. You just pay for additional lab fees that cover chemicals and whatnought.

Digital photography is a little bit of a new animal, esp. with learning about post-processing etc. Luckily, my line of work has allowed me to take Photoshop/Illustrator classes and have it PAID for. :D So, this gives me a little bit of an edge when it comes to actually sitting down and doing post-processing, but I'm still reading books (like Eisemann's Retouching Book) for more information.

Its just now, I'm not breathing in chemicals or fumbling in the dark looking for the can-opener to pop the film canister open. :lol:

[GimpyPoop]

Yo,
Ha ha oh god NO. Just a couple photography books.
Total amateur. My Canon G5 is my first ever camera, aside from my camera phone, ha ha ;)
Me, the Flea

[IndyJeff]

I have an ST degree in photograhy from HK University.

[PeterS45]

Started about 30 years ago with my first SLR (no autofocus, no automatic exposure) and did everything by hand. After one year I could set up aperture and lensopening just by looking at the light and learned evrything the hard and expensive way. Developing and printing cost about the same in those days, but the 20 cents you had to pay for a print were almost enough for a pack of smokes. I read a lot of books and learned how to develop and print both B&W and color because doing it yourself was cheaper than the local drugstore.

So now I don't smoke anymore and spend all my money on digicams :lol: and cigarettes are more expensive than a 20 x 30 print.

My advice? Read some books and take lots and lots of pictures, show them to others and learn from them.

[maderito]

My first formal training came via an online photography course at an obscure website: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/ .

Perhaps it's still around. :wink: