Instead of Photography Classes?

Question

I'm new to photography. My only experience is a couple of years with a small Canon SD200 point and shoot. I have a decent but untrained eye.

I recently found an old Canon EF film SLR and would like to get acquainted with photography. I considered taking some classes this summer but decided that a beginner's course would mostly consist of a technical manual and critique from a professional. I don't mean to belittle that approach but instead of spending money on lessons, I could buy myself a good manual and have my photos critiqued online and such. I figure that the most important factor for improvement would be practicing by actually taking photos and getting them critiqued.

Any opinions of this approach? Could you give any recommendations/advice on how I can teach myself and become acquainted with photography?

Book titles, whatever, all advice is appreciated! Thank you.

Answer 1

It's sad you feel a class would be a waste of both time and money.



I started in photography roughly thirty years ago; I'm essentially self-taught. I thought I was fairly proficient going into a college B&W darkroom course; coming out, I'd learned much, and the lessons learned there continue to benefit me nearly twenty years later. To me, it was time and money well spent.



I'm not a fan of online critique, if the responses to requests for critique here on Y!A are any indication of what one may expect elsewhere: "They're AWESOME," "Kewl," "Amazing," etc., all for photos that are essentially snapshots.



One thing I did, and continue to do, is be critical of my own results. Every time a photo turned out unacceptable in some way, I always asked myself what went wrong and how not to do it again. That's how I improved. As an advanced amateur, I still have pictures that come out poorly, but they're much rarer than when I first started out.

Answer 2

Rather than taking a course through a camera store or something, try a community college course. Community colleges are open to all, so no admissions issues, you just need your high school transcript.



Generally, the beginner's courses at community colleges are film based and so you will learn about using your camera but you will also learn about darkroom techniques. And so you will learn to process your own film. B&W is not only inexpensive to process yourself, it is also easy.



I will be taking my first photography class this fall. Once I learn my way around the darkroom, I am going to set one up for myself.



Taking one 3 hour class should cost you about $300 (maybe a bit more) at a community college and you would go for about 16 weeks in fall or spring and about 8 weeks during summer. Many people take courses to get training that they need with no plans to get a degree. You might be able to get financial aid.



One place that I have found where you can get decent feedback on images is on dpreview.com on some of the forums. I have never used the Nikon forums.



The problem with any photography forum is that you become something of a community and people really hate to say something that might hurt your feelings or run you off. But there are plenty of people on those forums usually who will tell you the whole truth no matter how pretty or ugly the truth might be. So, while you might get lots of comments on how that image of a sunset (which is similar to all the sunsets that have come before it) is just beautiful and great work, you will get a few grains of the truth as well and advice on how you could make it better.



Remember when shooting film to keep notes of the settings you used when you shot each picture. Then when you post them include that info. Otherwise the people on the forum won't know what settings might have worked better. (With digital, that information is recorded in the file so you don't have to record it.)

Answer 3

I agree with a lover and not a fighter - and I would like to add one thing to that.



I took a BW Film class. I learned a lot about the mechanics of the film camera, as well as how to develop film and the prints. I also found out how expensive and time consuming it was. But, because of that, I now have a small dark room in my home that I use, b/c in truth, I am addicted to developing the prints. There is something about it... maybe because it is a dying art... but it is something that I am glad I did.



I learned a lot in that class, about composition, rule of thirds, sweet 16, among many other things, that I feel has enhanced my capabilities as a photographer.



And even though, spending money on lessons might be futile to you - I felt that it was well worth it. There is a lot you can learn online, but there is something definitely to be learned when you have an old school photographer schooling you on the 'old ways'



Good luck

Answer 4

> I could buy myself a good manual



Good idea.

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> and have my photos critiqued online and such.



Probably won't work. You sees so much of people asking for critique and all you get is "they are amazing" even when the pictures are far sub-par.

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> I figure that the most important factor for improvement would be practicing by actually taking photos



100% agreed.

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> and getting them critiqued.



agreed. But how? Online? Hmmmm.....

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> I have a decent but untrained eye.



Very good point. You need to train you eyes. Only way to do that is to LOOK at other GREAT images. Consider these books:



http://www.amazon.com/Our-Time-Magnum-Photographers-Market/dp/0393311295/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239336035&sr=1-5



http://www.amazon.com/Life-Classic-Collection-Editors-Magazine/dp/1603200304/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239336056&sr=8-1



Study the IMAGES. And study them again and again until you can begin to identify what is a great image.





Good luck.......

Answer 5

Probably not what you want to hear, but there really is no better substitute for a good beginner's class. Manuals can be handy, but difficult to understand and put into use if you have no basic knowledge. Having a more experienced person there to explain it to you is invaluable, and you'll make friends with people on the same level as you and be able to give each other tips along the way.



And there is absolutely NOTHING like the smell of a darkroom.



So my vote is for a class, sorry.

Answer 6

there are a few reasons to use 35mm. 1. Most digital cameras do not have the controls that 35mm cameras do. You can learn more about photography because you can control more things. 2. Image quality is much higher in a quality 35mm image. On the extremely high quality digitals you get about 25megapixels. The average 35mm can create the same quality image easily. 3. Cost. Believe it or not a decent used 35mm rig is less expensive than a new high quality digital SLR. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Research the basics: aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focusing



Experiment with all of those.



Learn more advanced techniques.



Practice Practice Practice.



Create a flickr.com or deviantart.com account and ask photographers to critique, or join a photography group in your local area.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I suggest joining your local camera club. Competition judges are far tougher than any teacher and you'll learn quickly and cheaply.