Learning Photography

ketan · Nov 23, 2010

Hi,
I have understood that, there are broadly three options to learn photography. Books, DVDs or online interactive courses (like betterphoto.com).
As these are quite expensive courses (for me), request advise or feedback if anyone have derived benefits out of such courses.
Thanks
Ketan

redtippmann · Nov 23, 2010

I have been a subscriber to kelbytraining for a while and I think it is great! They have some free previews available on their site.

ketan · Nov 23, 2010

Thanks, Kelby training is more focussed on Adobe whereas I was looking for something to do with photography per se.

ann · Nov 23, 2010

check your local schools, getting hands on help is a terrific method to learning

NikonNewbie · Nov 23, 2010

redtippmann said:
I have been a subscriber to kelbytraining for a while and I think it is great! They have some free previews available on their site.

as i sit here right now, under my elbow are 2 scott kelby books...he's da man! if you have a hard time understanding stuff like I do (only because of ADD...not because I'm slow or anything.. :drool:

) then this guys books are for you. Also, Blake put up a link about a week ago for online tutorials...and there is another one I watch called Cannon Austrailia...for some reason I get more from him then the other guy (probably because he has an accent and I find it enthralling...lol)

so there ya have it-thats what this chica uses. :thumbup:

I also have Digital photography and photoshop cs2 for DUMMIES...and also...the camera manual explains alot too. Ebay has a lot of videos on there for photography and pretty cheap too, but then again you could just pirate the stuff off torrent

Stradawhovious · Nov 23, 2010

Without knowing your current education and/or skillset, let me offer this.....

Depending on where you live, check into community ed courses. Granted there will eventually be a limit to the knowledge you can gain from them, but in Minneapolis there are lots of offerings. I have taken a few courses to get me familiar with the SLR style cameras, and now have signed up for some basic lighting, flash and photoshop classes. There are several offered, and I plan to take them all. The best part, is that here they are only about $40 for a months worth of classes, which is about the average price for a book.

Rockstar deal if you ask me, and many many many cities throughout the states will offer similar selections.

Again.... depending on where you are.

Also see if there is a local community of shutterbugs. I know that here, there are large groups of people that get together and discuss their photos and techniques and go on "photo safaris" around the area together. Their experience ranges fom moderate to pro, and they are really willing to share knowledge. As soon as I can hold my own a little bit better, I will certainly join up with them.

Both of those options, IMHO are pretty much cheap as free.

NikonNewbie · Nov 23, 2010

Stradawhovious said:
Without knowing your current education and/or skillset, let me offer this.....

Depending on where you live, check into community ed courses. Granted there will eventually be a limit to the knowledge you can gain from them, but in Minneapolis there are lots of offerings. I have taken a few courses to get me familiar with the SLR style cameras, and now have signed up for some basic lighting, flash and photoshop classes. There are several offered, and I plan to take them all. The best part, is that here they are only about $40 for a months worth of classes, which is about the average price for a book.

Rockstar deal if you ask me, and many many many cities throughout the states will offer similar selections.

Again.... depending on where you are.

Also see if there is a local community of shutterbugs. I know that here, there are large groups of people that get together and discuss their photos and techniques and go on "photo safaris" around the area together. Their experience ranges fom moderate to pro, and they are really willing to share knowledge. As soon as I can hold my own a little bit better, I will certainly join up with them.

Both of those options, IMHO are pretty much cheap as free.

^^^ also a great idea! our town has classes in the community center..26.50 for 2 hours of learn how to use your digital camera...and DE has a large ...LARGE...photography club...very good advice sir!

PJL · Nov 23, 2010

It also depends on how you learn. I'm a book person. I love reading whatever I can get my hands on to learn about things. Some people learn through being shown how to do things. There's no "right" or "wrong" way, just "your" way. One person may benefit from taking a particular course whereas another may find it completely worthless. What you'll benefit from the most is first determined by your own honest evaluation of yourself.

Village Idiot · Nov 23, 2010

ketan said:
Hi,
I have understood that, there are broadly three options to learn photography. Books, DVDs or online interactive courses (like betterphoto.com).
As these are quite expensive courses (for me), request advise or feedback if anyone have derived benefits out of such courses.
Thanks
Ketan

You're missing some other avenues; other photographers, camera clubs, mentors, online forums, etc... I'm sure there's more out there.

Where do you live? I'm sure we could find you a camera club with a google search or two.

ketan · Nov 23, 2010

Dear Friends,

Many thanks for your replies.

I live in the UAE (mostly people know this place by Dubai). This is completely an urban area and desert. Jungle, wild life etc are not found here. I can get good sunset, high rise buildings (world's tallest building), elegant beaches etc.

Whilst I am fairly comfortable with camera basics, what I wish to learn is the art of composition and understanding light. I have read the books by Bryan Peterson on these but I am not able to put into practice.

Need to take good photography exercises and may be only a teacher can help in this. I wish to develop the 'art of seeing' (read the book..)

Thanks

Village Idiot · Nov 23, 2010

ketan said:
Dear Friends,

Many thanks for your replies.

I live in the UAE (mostly people know this place by Dubai). This is completely an urban area and desert. Jungle, wild life etc are not found here. I can get good sunset, high rise buildings (world's tallest building), elegant beaches etc.

Whilst I am fairly comfortable with camera basics, what I wish to learn is the art of composition and understanding light. I have read the books by Bryan Peterson on these but I am not able to put into practice.

Need to take good photography exercises and may be only a teacher can help in this. I wish to develop the 'art of seeing' (read the book..)

Thanks

Let me google that for you

**** dude. There's also one of the biggest shows of the year there. I think last year had attendees doing workshops and other events, people like David Hobby, Joey Lawrence, Zack Arias, Don Giannatti, Joe McNally, etc...

Gulf Photo Plus

KmH · Nov 23, 2010

The Internet has literally thousands of free web sites devoted to photography knowledge.

In short, the motivation of the learner is usually the only impediment to learning.

If you think some of the online traing for photography is expensive, just wait till you start looking at $2000 USD lenses and $8000 USD cameras.

I won't even mention the medium and large format stuff, where a camera body can cost $30,000+.