Photography class - worth the money?

The local college is offering a Continuing Ed program for Photography. I looked at the description of the class. And to me, the first class looked like a course for a point & shooter. The description describes all the features on my SX40HS well. Please help me understand if this is a good course to take. Let me explain, from what I've read. The first two sounds like it's just a show & tell of all the features on the camera. It's more to do with familiarity with your unit. Nothing that you cannot read for yourself using the materials that came with your camera. To me it does not get interesting until you get to the third class. I understand that you must walk before you can run. But I don't know how much time they will spend on composition and DOF (which is where my interest lies). And I also know that sometimes they cannot really put everything in the description, and that's why I wanted to see someone else's point of view when they read the course outline.

Their site does not say the prerequisite so I do not know if I can just skip the first two and go to Class 3 right away (I hpe this does not make me sound conceited ). I just don't want to be force to spend approx $742 ($373/class) before I can take the course that I am really interested in taking. I intend to talk to the program coordinator about this but I thought I'd fire off what people here think about the program. I think I know the answer I just want to use you as a sounding board.

Thanks in advance.

Class 1:
This course provides students with the fundamental operating skills and practical knowledge necessary to operate any make or model of DSLR camera using the following shooting modes: AUTO, AUTO equivalents, pre-programmed modes, SCN, LiveView and any make/model-specific modes, as well as an introduction to the Creative shooting modes. Subject selection/targeting and AF modes for stationary and moving subjects are covered in depth. Photographic composition and essentials of Depth of Field are introduced and Field Assignments assist students in applying camera/compositional knowledge. A detailed equipment overview is provided and DSLR interfacing with external devices is explained. The course concludes with a practical Final Assignment.

MATERIALS AND SPECIAL FEES: Student taking this class will require access to a digital SLR camera (any and all models of Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and Sony cameras) to complete the workshop.

Class 2:
This follow-on to the DSLR Cameras I: Camera Basics course offers an in-depth, task-based exploration of the Creative Modes: Programmed Auto, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual mode. Also included are Canon’s A-DEP mode and other specialty modes such as Pentax’s TAv mode. Subject selection/targeting and AF modes, to address stationary and moving
subjects, are covered in depth. Photographic composition and essentials of Depth of Field are introduced and Field Assignments assist students in applying camera/compositional knowledge. The course also includes theory and exercises using Exposure Compensation, White Balance and ISO to correct photographic issues or enhance creativity. The course concludes with a practical
Final Assignment.

MATERIALS AND SPECIAL FEES: Student taking this class will require access to a digital SLR (any and all models of Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and Sony cameras) to complete the workshop.

Class 3:
"This DSLR camera course (for Nikon and Canon DSLR owners/users) takes your camera knowledge and shooting expertise to the uppermost level to capture accurate, expressive, creative images using the most challenging conditions using all of the advanced functions of your DSLR camera. Investigate with practical corrective and creative uses: White Balance (Custom WB, Kelvin, four-color WB shifts and WB bracketing), Light Metering (center-weighted, spot and matrix), Exposure Compensation (corrective and creative uses), ISO, noise (grain) & Noise Reduction filtering, Bracketing shots including WB bracketing, Drive Modes including high and low speed continuous shooting, the benefits of understanding and using Picture Styles (Canon)/Picture controls (Nikon), AE-L/AF-L locks, High Contrast shooting, High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, shooting in RAW and RAW post-processing and more.

MATERIALS AND SPECIAL FEES: Student taking this class will require access to the digital SLR camera (any and all models of Canon or Nikon cameras) and good quality tripod (a monopod is optional) as listed in the course description to complete the workshop."

There are many schools of thoughts here:
* If you are a self-driver, then you can buy decent books that teach you about the basics of photography, combined with reading the manual to understand your camera and just practicing yourself.
* You could also take online classes at reputed institutions where it is still similar to above but you can get guidance from a human if you are doing something wrong.
* Third is classes like you mention. From your understanding, and I agree the last one could be interesting. But the best way to find out if they will allow u to jump the the 3rd may be to call them.

talk to the coordinator, that seems like the right approach. personally, i like college classes, i spent 12 years of changing majors every 2-3 years just so i wouldn't have to leave. finally they caught on to my game and was told to finish one of them.

I would totally ignore that series of classes. Instead, find a way to learn the basics of photography - exposure measurement and control, composition (including perspective control), and lighting. Consider locking your camera into manual modes and using it as if it was a 40-year-old film camera. That will help you reinforce what you learn about the basics. Then, when you have mastered the basics you can start experimenting with the camera's automation because you will then understand what it is trying to do with each of the automation settings. The result is that you will be able to make the camera do what you want it to do instead of the reverse.

Good advice above. With POTN & all the free tutorials on the net, I suggest that you save that money for good glass when you find that you need to upgrade because there's something that you have an interest in that the SX40HS won't let you do. For now though, it looks like a pretty versatile camera.

rick_reno wrote in post #14963504
talk to the coordinator, that seems like the right approach. personally, i like college classes, i spent 12 years of changing majors every 2-3 years just so i wouldn't have to leave. finally they caught on to my game and was told to finish one of them.

I had a similar much shorter experience, but you're my Hero, Rick! ; D

ps_n_dslr wrote in post #14963430
There are many schools of thoughts here:
* If you are a self-driver, then you can buy decent books that teach you about the basics of photography, combined with reading the manual to understand your camera and just practicing yourself.
* You could also take online classes at reputed institutions where it is still similar to above but you can get guidance from a human if you are doing something wrong.
* Third is classes like you mention. From your understanding, and I agree the last one could be interesting. But the best way to find out if they will allow u to jump the the 3rd may be to call them.

rick_reno wrote in post #14963504
talk to the coordinator, that seems like the right approach. personally, i like college classes, i spent 12 years of changing majors every 2-3 years just so i wouldn't have to leave. finally they caught on to my game and was told to finish one of them.

Lol I called my nephew a professional student once as a joke. But boy was he upset. He's now a very successful man so the joke's on me.

SkipD wrote in post #14963522
I would totally ignore that series of classes. Instead, find a way to learn the basics of photography - exposure measurement and control, composition (including perspective control), and lighting. Consider locking your camera into manual modes and using it as if it was a 40-year-old film camera. That will help you reinforce what you learn about the basics. Then, when you have mastered the basics you can start experimenting with the camera's automation because you will then understand what it is trying to do with each of the automation settings. The result is that you will be able to make the camera do what you want it to do instead of the reverse.

I agree with you 100%. Nothing in their class that I cannot pick up on books and other tutorials that are out in the cyberspace. It's just the lazy in me tells that there's someone out there that could tell me the "shortcuts". if you know what I mean. I don't mind paying $400 but not times 3 so I'll give them a shout then go from there. That same $400 could buy a lot of books and other stuff that could help me get better.

Thanks to all of you. They are all sound advice.

I would also skip these classes. Not only is all of this easy to find in books or on the web, but the content of all these classes could make it into one. The college is ripping off students.

check here... https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1226009

Read your manual to learn how to use your gear, learn what the exposure triangle (SS, Aperture, and ISO) and be able to adapt to different situations and go from there. No need to waste money on courses. Think about the other things you can get with the same money other than courses. A course like that you can buy a nice lens instead a book. Practise practise practise.

Nope, it's not worth it.

Apricane wrote in post #14963864
I would also skip these classes. Not only is all of this easy to find in books or on the web, but the content of all these classes could make it into one. The college is ripping off students.

I would not disrespect college as a whole but when it comes to these classes. I would have to agree with you . On the other hand they are up front what they're going to be teaching so I'd say buyer beware applies.

chauncey wrote in post #14963873
check here... https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1226009

You know the saying "don't quit your day job"? Believe me I have no intentions of changing careers. Looking at these classes is for self improvement only. But as everyone agreed on, there's a lot lacking on the curriculum.

Tony_Stark wrote in post #14964972
Read your manual to learn how to use your gear, learn what the exposure triangle (SS, Aperture, and ISO) and be able to adapt to different situations and go from there. No need to waste money on courses. Think about the other things you can get with the same money other than courses. A course like that you can buy a nice lens instead a book. Practise practise practise.

I do need to add a UWA on my gear list

I've started teaching people how to use their camera, we generally meet at a location and do a combination of talking & technique... I do have a rate, depends on the person (if I've met them before) -- honestly, I feel that it's better because it's one-on-one, versus a classroom esque setting

I for one would love to find a real Adult Ed (as it is often called in the UK) course that just dealt with the "Art" aspects of photography. You know composition and colour and all that sort of stuff. The problem is that all of the classes that are available locally are the how to use your DSLR, and also seem to assume that you will be shooting in JPEG rather than RAW, well at least from the prospectus' that I have seen. Actually the prospectus' locally all seem to use identical wording to that of the ones posted by the OP, even down to the three "levels".

Alan

BigAl007 wrote in post #14970767
I for one would love to find a real Adult Ed (as it is often called in the UK) course that just dealt with the "Art" aspects of photography. You know composition and colour and all that sort of stuff. The problem is that all of the classes that are available locally are the how to use your DSLR, and also seem to assume that you will be shooting in JPEG rather than RAW, well at least from the prospectus' that I have seen. Actually the prospectus' locally all seem to use identical wording to that of the ones posted by the OP, even down to the three "levels".

Alan

Waht about taking an "art" class (as opposed to a "photography" class) and then applying what you've learned about composition/color/etc to your photos? There've gotta be some "art classes" around that emphasize understanding of color/composition/etc, even if they require painting or drawingor something.

Seems to me that all three classes are all about the gear and how to use it. The third class just covers the more advanced functions, is all. In my opinion you don't need any of these classes, Jun. Instead I would look for a local photo club where you will find people like yourself. You will learn much more for less or no money and will be inspired by others as you will inspire them. Just my opinion of course...