Learn to Light Classes- anyone ever take?

Has anyone had any experience with or attended these classes?

http://www.learntoligh​t.com/index.html

I want to take one but wanted to see if anyone here had any comments first.

Thanks!
James

The only experience I have with this person is a dvd I bought (Lighting Essentials 1) and paid for back in August 2008... and never received.

Actually he responded once on October 13, 2008 that he knew what the problem was and that he was sending out the DVD the next morning... and he hasn't responded since nor sent the DVD that he took the money for.

The guy is full of information, I soo admire his work, his openess with information and helping of others and I honestly would love to attend one of the workshops... but... I only lost $39US ... and definately not willing to give up a cent more.

medic583 wrote in post #7278311
The only experience I have with this person is a dvd I bought (Lighting Essentials 1) and paid for back in August 2008... and never received.

Actually he responded once on October 13, 2008 that he knew what the problem was and that he was sending out the DVD the next morning... and he hasn't responded since nor sent the DVD that he took the money for.

The guy is full of information, I soo admire his work, his openess with information and helping of others and I honestly would love to attend one of the workshops... but... I only lost $39US ... and definately not willing to give up a cent more.

Anyone can put together a spiffy website or sales brochure.

If you can't even trust the guy to come thru on a $39 DVD how the hell would anyone be willing to send him $450? You'd have to be out of your mind.

There are enough reputable seminars out there to learn from, I'd concentrate on finding a good one of those instead of questionable deals like this guy. Word of mouth from other photographers would be my choice in finding a good one.

learning to light

practice,,practice,and study this forum,,,,,,,alot

there is some seriously talented people that use this forum. start following the posts and watch for thier comments. you will learn more here than you will ever learn in a class

DennisW1 wrote in post #7278849
Anyone can put together a spiffy website or sales brochure.

If you can't even trust the guy to come thru on a $39 DVD how the hell would anyone be willing to send him $450? You'd have to be out of your mind.

There are enough reputable seminars out there to learn from, I'd concentrate on finding a good one of those instead of questionable deals like this guy. Word of mouth from other photographers would be my choice in finding a good one.

Which is why I am asking here. Multiple Google searches don't show anyone screaming or complaining. I will probably find some previous students and call them. If I were in LA or New York or other reasonably large city it would be easier to find a workshop/class but here in Memphis not so much.

As for the previous poster saying to practice and read, I am. And I know that will work, although at a much slower pace than if I had somone teaching me.

Thanks for the feedback!

I've taking the course in January 2009 and found it to be very informative. Two days of learning to light with plenty of hands-on practice. The class was small (5 people) with 2 models on Saturday and three on Sunday. The information presented and the way it was presented was excellent.
Here is the link to the Flickr pool:
http://www.flickr.com …lighting-essentials/pool/
if you have any questions contact Don or you can PM me.

James33... have you looked at any of Zach Arias' One Light Workshops? Another thought ... just waiting to see what is announced for this year (his dad isn't doing to well... ) and even though it's 750+ miles to the closest one planned for me... really keeping an eye on it.

Zach Arias Blog and 2009 Workshop Info

Edit: Maybe thanks to this thread and yet another email sent off... I got a response today and supposedly the dvd is being shipped, again...

Sometimes camera stores will host a lighting class. I have taken one, $100 for about 9 hours studio time, 3 hours a session. That way one can absorb and appy what you have learned from each class. I found it a great experience if you understand the basics of exposure . A group of 8 took it and we enjoyed it alot. At Community colleges , you have to take too many entry level classes to get to take the Studio lighting class.

You will have lots of questions , you just will, thats why I find the class's with small groups and question ready instructors so valueable. Questions and detail will help so much.

Good Luck

freebird wrote in post #7280971
Sometimes camera stores will host a lighting class. I have taken one, $100 for about 9 hours studio time, 3 hours a session. That way one can absorb and appy what you have learned from each class. I found it a great experience if you understand the basics of exposure . A group of 8 took it and we enjoyed it alot. At Community colleges , you have to take too many entry level classes to get to take the Studio lighting class.

You will have lots of questions , you just will, thats why I find the class's with small groups and question ready instructors so valueable. Questions and detail will help so much.

Good Luck

What you suggest would be awesome and I have been looking here in Memphis for something just like that and have not been able to find any classes being offered (yet). The only camera store we have that I know of is Wolf Camera. Their employees do not strike me as being qualified lighting instructors at all. If you look at the Learn to Light website they limit the number of people per class to 12. Some may not fill up which would be even better.

There is also a local forum for Memphis photographers and I have posted there as well but nothing has come up.