Photography Classes

[NILOLIGIST]

I have probably asked this before and I am bound to ask it again, has anyone taken any photography classes? Are they considering taking any classes?

I have signed up to take two classes. One is Photoshop CS, I suck at Photoshop or at least I am now getting the results I want.

I have also signed up for a Studio Photography class as well.

I will be in class all summer....Bummer!! LOL

NiL,

[pradeep1]

I haven't taken any classes, so you will have to let us know the answer to your own question. Consider it my questions. :wink:

[G3]

Yep. A bunch of them. I'm thinking about taking one of the workshops around here this summer if I have the time. Right now it looks like the early summer is shaping up to be pretty busy with wedding and product work.

I think it's a good idea to take a course every year or two, even if it's something that's not directly related to the type of photography you do. There are techniques and ideas in every type of photography that can be modified and applied to other types, especially with lighting.

[robertwgross]

I have probably asked this before and I am bound to ask it again, has anyone taken any photography classes? Are they considering taking any classes?

I have signed up to take two classes. One is Photoshop CS, I suck at Photoshop or at least I am now getting the results I want.

I have also signed up for a Studio Photography class as well.


Photoshop is a photography class? I don't see how.

Photoshop is an image editor program that has nothing to do with capturing images with a camera. Now, if you have captured your image, then Photoshop users can do a good job of refining the image, but there are good Photoshop users that don't know which end of a camera to point.

Studio photography could be good, if that is what you are trying to learn. It is very traditional. But my area is nature photography, and studio techniques don't help me much. Once, many years ago, I took a photography composition class, but it mostly just directed us to locations, and we all shot indiscriminately there.

---Bob Gross---

[Mr.B]

Photoshop is a photography class? I don't see how.


At the risk of turning this into the tired debate of "is P-shop a valid weapon in the photographer's arsenal or is it a cheaters crutch", I would argue it is our digital darkroom, and every photography class that I have personally taken has had at least some discussion of darkroom techniques. Photoshop class only seems like the next logical step to me.

[Lamplight]

I would like to eventually, but right now I don't have the time or money, and I have no idea where they might be held in my town. I've heard people mention photography classes at community colleges, but the local one is strictly industrial type classes. We also have a state university in my town, but you can't just take any class you want because they will be filled up by the seniors first. So I'd basically have to go to college all over again. :eyes

[robertwgross]

I don't know about the classes in Tennessee, but there are some classes where I live. The local community colleges all have either traditional photography classes or digital photography classes. Some even have a wet darkroom class, but that one is going out of style. The local parks and recreation department has a composition class that is alternated with another one or two photography classes. The senior center even had its own class.

---Bob Gross---

[G3]

See if your State college has a Continuing Education department. They usually offer Photography course. You don't get regular college credits, but you get CEU credits. Some of the courses may be included in a certificate program.

[cowman345]

Just took a college photo (101) course since I'm strictly digital and wanted to learn what the "other side" is like. Here's what I learned:

I can't see my LCD, which is slightly frustrating, but makes me think more before clicking.

Developing is time consuming, black and white film is WAY forgiving compared to digital, and the darkroom is like photoshop.

I also learned that I want to push my photography further toward a more artistic style, so this has given me new motivation as I return to digital (and color).

-dave-

[Tom W]

My modest experience developing old oscillograph films was enough to tell me that I don't really want anything to do with the chemical darkroom. Digital, however, is a different story. :)

[Vegas Poboy]

Yes, I started with beginning photography in the Jan 03 & has completed 7 classes since then. It has helped me greatly over all there was things I felt I would never shoot but after a completing a few of the classes I've learned that you pretty much have to be able to shoot everything until you get a major break in the area that you want.
School is also a great way to purchase equipment on discounts and here locally the college will pass jobs along to the students that they feel is ready for the real world. I don't think anyone in photography with an open mind would regret taking courses, the only thing is finding a good program to start with & Beware most courses will start you off with B&W film before letting you turn in digital work.
good luck

[Tom W]

Yes, I started with beginning photography in the Jan 03 & has completed 7 classes since then. It has helped me greatly over all there was things I felt I would never shoot but after a completing a few of the classes I've learned that you pretty much have to be able to shoot everything until you get a major break in the area that you want.
School is also a great way to purchase equipment on discounts and here locally the college will pass jobs along to the students that they feel is ready for the real world. I don't think anyone in photography with an open mind would regret taking courses, the only thing is finding a good program to start with & Beware most courses will start you off with B&W film before letting you turn in digital work.
good luck

I suspect that the B&W portion is taught primarily to give the students an eye for exposure and brightness, independent of color. Exposure is paramount to photography, but if one doesn't develop the eye for light quantity, they might not be as successful with difficult contrasty situations. Of course, it also offers the opportunity to get into the darkroom and learn what "burn" and "dodge" used to mean (actually, I wasn't familiar with those terms until I started using photoshop elements). :)

[Vegas Poboy]

Your very correct Tom, B&W has helped me a great deal overall with exposure. Quality in Quality out, PS is great but I've found out get it right on the way in and it will save you time in PS.

[Ballen Photo]

Photoshop is a photography class? I don't see how.
---Bob Gross---

Wouldn't this be considered as a "Digital Darkroom" Class??? :shock:
To answer your question Nil, yes, I've taken some photography classes, both formal and informal. This was a long time ago though.
.........Bruce

[cgratti]

I have probably asked this before and I am bound to ask it again, has anyone taken any photography classes? Are they considering taking any classes?

I have signed up to take two classes. One is Photoshop CS, I suck at Photoshop or at least I am now getting the results I want.

I have also signed up for a Studio Photography class as well.

I will be in class all summer....Bummer!! LOL

NiL,

I will be taking a photo course at my college in the fall... as part of my credits to get my degree.... I cant wait for the classes...

[ootsk]

Have you looked at PortraNet.com?
There's a TON of information there. It's helped me improve my portraits 100%.

[burkdog]

I'm considering taking a digital photography class at the community college this summer. The classes here are a tremendous value. I've taken a digital video course. I learned quite a bit. I hope the same will be true with the digital photography class.

[elkootcho]

Have you looked at PortraNet.com?
There's a TON of information there. It's helped me improve my portraits 100%.

Are you a fully paid member, ootsk?(if you even read this considering the post is over a year old!) The site looks interesting but I don't think the "free" section is laid out very well. For $1800/yr I'd like to see a little more of what I'd be getting.

The images shown look VERY enticing.

[BobL]

I suspect that the B&W portion is taught primarily to give the students an eye for exposure and brightness, independent of color.

Yep, that's correct. This year I was under pressure to close our Department's student film/paper dark room because we were given sufficient funding to go all digital. However, my Department decided it was worth retaining the dark room partly for the above purpose and because students still love the magic of a regular dark room. As film/paper/chemicals become more expensive I suspect we will eventually have to close it.

Oh yeah we also use and teach PhotoS as part of the Digital Darkroom.

[tim]

I did a basic digital photography claass, they taught us the basics of exposure, apertures, white ballance, and very basic composition. Beyond that i've read, looked at pictures, and learned on my own. I'd like to do a lighting course some time, but I suspect I can learn that by trying and a bit of reading too. There aren't a lot of classes in my area, at least not many that I can find.

[the7ferret]

im takign a combo course of digital photo and photoshop at my local comunity college, it has helped a lot with simple thing that I have used to better my photography.

[gasrocks]

I'm curious - need some opinions. I teach many photography classes. Some students asked that they be held "on-line" as people always have trouble finding the time for class, driving a distance, parking, etc. Does anyone think this would work? I can think of some good & bad things about such.