Photography Training Help

I'm a novice photographer with a new Canon 5D that I'm thrilled with. I'm interested in learning more in-depth photography skills, and I wondered if anyone has had any experience with online courses, particularly from the New York Institute of Photography.

I requested materials, about the course and all i received was absolutely the worst designed material, filled with hype, cheesy testimonials and terrible photographs. Shocking! There was nearly nothing about the curriculum, only tons of hype. As a graphic designer who works with photography every day, I was shocked they'd send out such poor work. Not a good impression at all.

With that, I still wish to learn and would hope there are better courses, assuming NYIP is poor based on their materials sent.

Can anyone recommend or offer any advise?

I have seen the NYIP Materials

I don't think that they are much better than stuff you can get free on the internet.

Thanks for your response. I'm studying a lot on my own and learning, and I'm highly motivated. I guess I'll keep looking for a better one.

start talking to REAL photographers..ask some of them if you can pay them for some private instruction,,,most will be glad to help..read the forums on this site,. THEY WILL WALK YOU RIGHT THROUGH THE BASICS,,,,WHAT YOU DONT UNDERSTAND,,ASK...AND START TAKING ALOT OF PICTURES.

i would also start reading and understanding everything you can in the flash and lighting forums. the guys there are pure genious. read,study and learn the lighting threads and your pictures will improve by leaps and bounds. the people on this site are very helpful...ive learned a ton over the past 8 months.

puggle wrote in post #5792927
I'm a novice photographer with a new Canon 5D that I'm thrilled with. I'm interested in learning more in-depth photography skills, and I wondered if anyone has had any experience with online courses, particularly from the New York Institute of Photography.

I requested materials, about the course and all i received was absolutely the worst designed material, filled with hype, cheesy testimonials and terrible photographs. Shocking! There was nearly nothing about the curriculum, only tons of hype. As a graphic designer who works with photography every day, I was shocked they'd send out such poor work. Not a good impression at all.

With that, I still wish to learn and would hope there are better courses, assuming NYIP is poor based on their materials sent.

Can anyone recommend or offer any advise?

It depends on your learning style. I started with NYIP, but didn't continue, in part because there are so many excellent books that will give you greater in-depth knowledge, and ultimately, it wasn't conducive to my style of learning, and experimentation with photography. Your mileage may vary.

Regardless of how you proceed, the rest of your "training" will come by just shooting, shooting, shooting.

I'm currently finishing up a couple of courses with BetterPhoto.com and am so far very pleased with the results. They may seem expensive at first, but I've progressed much faster in my understanding of lighting and metering, as well as the more basic concepts like using Av and Tv modes, and what metering mode to use. Before the courses, I didn't really play much with Manual, but find that's what I mostly use now.

I agree you can learn from books and practice, I just seem to do better when I have some structure.

Thanks everyone! With your excellent feedback, I will continue as I've been, by reading, and shooting tons of pictures, and visiting this forum when I get stuck.

I'm currently reading the two Scott Kelby books, and Bryan Peterson's book "Understanding Exposure".

I like the tip about asking a pro photographer for tutoring. In fact, I have several pro photographer friends. One, I'd never ask, because he's funny about giving away his secrets. The other friend, I've contacted and asked, but have yet to spend time. He is close to 70 yrs old now, has traveled the world 10 times over, shooting annual reports, and anything you can think of. I'm in awe of his work. He's pretty much hung up his Nikon F4, never getting into digital, and he's now a prolific painter. He has a painting in the smithsonian in Washington. He's an amazing person, and I'm hoping he'll be a mentor to me.

Question and Answer Sessions with some noteable POTN Members

CAMERA LESSONS by Canon: = Enjoy! Digital SLR camera =
http://www.canon.co.jp​/Imaging/enjoydslr/ind​ex.html

Virtual Camera
http://www.photonhead.​com/simcam/
Notice the background change when you use his "Shutter and Aperture" settings!

Sticky: Ben's Newbie Guide to Digital SLR Photography

Jodies Coston’s Free Online Photography Course
http://www.beedigital.​net/blog/?p=803

Lee Filter Reviews & great comments! by Joe Cornish
http://www.warehouseex​press.co.uk/photo/corn​ish/joecornish.html

Lighting 101
GoingManual.com :: A guide to digital photography and post processing

You could also look at local camera shops and see what they have to offer. I learned on film, but went to a night class at a shop to get familiarized with the digital format. It was immensely helpful and I found things on my then new camera I perhaps never would have found. There were class assignments and I found them very helpful. Good luck.

shazza wrote in post #5793493
I'm currently finishing up a couple of courses with BetterPhoto.com and am so far very pleased with the results. They may seem expensive at first, but I've progressed much faster in my understanding of lighting and metering.

+1 for BetterPhoto. Their courses are good, and the online forum method is a great place to learn. In the course I took, our photos were critiqued in depth by a very experienced teacher. You have access to all the students' photos and critiques. It was extremely helpful. Highly recommended.