Open University: Digital Photography Course

clawz said:
Just to re-open this thread... who has actually signed up for the course?

I have and was really wondering if anyone else had? Apparently i have recieved all of the class equipment now to start it come the 1st of May (i'm away on holiday at the moment so i have no idea what or how you start the course yet, but im really looking forward to it!)
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All the info comes in a box.
paper work DVD's etc I have been playing around, and since I don't use Adobe ( I use PSP XI) Its taken me all evening to get to grips with the photo organiser :D
Ah well theres always tommorow, by which time I will have forgotten it anyway :lol:
 
photostar_1 said:
Just tried to install Elements 5 and it won't let me, cos it "knows" I've got CS2!! Bu***r, cos I was hoping to get it for "free". Will have to uninstall CS2, I guess.
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Thats weird, I have the free trial version of CS2 but it wasn't a problem installing Elements 5
(BTW I WON'T be activating the free trial but thats another story for another time :D )
 
That's doubley weird as I've just installed the Elements 5 that came with my course materials and I already have a full version of CS2 on this machine :thinking:
 
photostar_1 said:
Perhaps because its not the full version? Anyway, busy tomorrow and too tired tonight so will do it all on Monday.
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The download CS2 is supposed to be the full version but just expire in 30 days, as I don't know what CS2 actually looks like in full, though, I have no idea if it is actually a complete version.
Better luck monday, Photostar! ;)
 
I have just spent some time navigating and browsing through the various pages and forums. It will probably mean I am able to spend less time on TPF for a couple of months :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

Regards to software, luckily I started photography recently and have only used Element 5 so am reasonably familiar with that.

For those interested, the course content over the 10 weeks is split this way as tutorials:
Session 1
1.0 – Installing Adobe Elements 5 (5 minutes)
1.1 – Downloading images and introduction to the Elements 5.0 Organiser Workspace (13 minutes)
1.2 – A tour of the Organiser Workspace (9 minutes)
1.3 – Now where did I put that rhino? (6 minutes)
1.4 – Organising your T189 images using Collections and Tags (11 minutes)
Session 2
2.1 – How to crop an image to improve composition (3 minutes)
2.2 – Zooming in on high and low resolution images (3 minutes)
2.3 – Resizing and compressing images to share on the web (4 minutes)
2.4 – The Quick Fix editing workspace (8 minutes)
2.5 – The Full Edit workspace and the digital darkroom (12 minutes)
Session 3
3.1 – The Full Edit workspace and workflow in the digital darkroom (9 minutes)3.2 – The digital darkroom continued: using the Full Edit workspace to prepare an image for viewing on the web (15 minutes)
3.3 – The Full Edit workspace revisited: workflow and Adjustment layers (7 minutes)
3.4 – Introducing the Histogram tool (7 minutes)
3.5 – Brightness adjustment: using the Histogram tool with the Levels Adjustment layer (8 minutes)
3.6 – Converting an image to black and white (7 minutes)
3.7 – Careful sharpening with the Unsharp Mask tool (8 minutes)
Session 4
4.1 – Creating a narrow depth of field effect (6 minutes)
4.2 – Cloning, dodging and burning (15 minutes)
4.3 – Removing vertical perspective distortion (5 minutes)
4.4 – Correcting a tilted image (4 minutes)
Session 5
5.1 – Adjusting colour (3 minutes)
5.2 – Adjusting colour 2: adjusting individual hues (2 minutes)
5.3 – Removing colour casts (5 minutes)
5.4 – Enhancing saturation and brightness (4 minutes)
5.5 – Red-eye removal (2 minutes)5.6 – Adjusting skin tones (3 minutes)
Session 6
6.1 – Creating a screensaver slideshow (2 minutes)
6.2 – Creating a basic slideshow with Elements (5 minutes)
6.3 – Doing more with the Elements 5 slidewshow (5 minutes)
6.4 – Creating a printer test strip (6 minutes)
Session 7
7.1 – Ageing a photograph (6 minutes)
7.2 – Framing as anchorage (3 minutes)
7.3 – Multiple exposure (3 minutes)
7.4 – Digital montage (3 minutes)
7.5 – Exploiting conventions (2 minutes)
7.6 – Warholisation (3 minutes)
Session 8
8.1a – Touching up a portrait Part 1 (7 minutes)
8.1b – Touching up a portrait Part 2 (7 minutes)
8.2 – Tackling an ambitious cloning project using multiple layers (11 minutes)8.3 – The right selection tool for the right job (12 minutes)
8.4 – Tackling an ambitious selection by saving selections (5 minutes)
8.5 – Adjusting an overexposed image using layer blend modes (5 minutes)
8.6 – Adjusting the exposure of a washed-out sky (9 minutes)
8.7a – Adjusting an underexposed foreground using the Magic Extractor Part 1
(9 minutes)
8.7b Adjusting an underexposed foreground using the Magic Extractor Part 2
(7 minutes)
Session 9
9.1a – Assessing a panel of 10 images Part 1 (10 minutes)
9.1b – Assessing a panel of 10 images Part 2 (16 minutes)

Hope I haven't infringed any copyrights there......just showing those interested some of the content. Much of the course is taken up taking photos and critiquing other peoples photos in groups of 20 randomly chosen each week as there are approx 1500 people on the course.

Jas
 
photostar_1 said:
Well it's all installed now! I have to say, I don't really like the organiser....much prefer the Bridge in CS2. Starting to find my way around "first class" now.....why so many different ways of doing the same thing.....nearly as bad as Windows!! :lol:
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Glad you finally got there :thumbs:
Its a nightmare I am still struggling to find my way around as well:(
 
Jas said:
6.1 – Creating a screensaver slideshow (2 minutes)

Jas
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Oh well done Jas! I have only found upto session 5 we are supposed to be getting the other disc later on
6.1
1minute! sign upto "webshots" and it does it for you :lol:
Chris
 
Cobra,

that info is on the T189 Homepage on one of the tabs, Resources I think.
 
Would be interested to hear from those doing this how it is going - first thoughts etc? :)
 
Have to say not impressed so far (and I'm an OU graduate from a few years ago). Software is flaky......can't upload images at the moment and got to wait for fix after BH w/e.

Images get posted into a "community" and we are encouraged to comment, but the size of the images is too small (IMHO) to do this well. Although its a course for beginners, there are some VERY good photographers posting....can't think why they are doing the course......and that makes it a bit disheartening for those of us who really are beginners. The man's voice on the video training sessions is sending me to sleep....he talks soooooo slowly! To be honest, I think I'd have been better subscribing to Digital Photo and doing all the lessons there! Cheaper AND a free gift!!

Oh well, its only the end of week one....perhaps things will improve soon.
 
Photostar,

don't be too disheartened, I think there are just a few people showing off with their pics. This should be about the tortoise vs the hare! Seems that many people haven't really got going yet....although I did the tutorials earlier in the week, still haven't posted any pics. It has shown me how much I have learnt on TPF though!

Jas
 
just out of interest, to all those on the course, are you given objectives for taking a photo or is it just a "how to use photoshop" course? I'm asking as there's another course running at a college near me, at the same time as the next one of these, thats more of a photography course than what's outlined above in this one....

I'm quite interested to hear feedback from those who are doing this just now.
 
The course is is split up into sessions which last a week.
Each session consists of photographic theory on webpages with different themes followed by an Openstudio 'assignment'. Openstudio is their photo-sharing web package (very poor in my opinion and the subject of many complaints on the course forums as it's buggy, often doesn't work, compresses your images and takes some of the colour/saturation/brightness out of them).
Some candidates have split off and started to share their images on Flickr....
You are supposed to take, upload and share 5-6 images per week around a certain theme (taken from the theory subject for that week). You then comment on other peoples images and they comment on yours.
There are also a set of Elements 5 tutorials on 2 DVDs to accompany the theory.

There is not enough commenting going on and the spread of knowledge and experience is quite wide. For example, I uploaded a technically flawed photo of a leopard taken at Marwell Zoo and most of the comments were 'aaah, nice leopard, good photo' etc. etc. I think people are too polite to comment on the problems with the image (focus, exposure, DOF, distracting background etc.) or they are not experienced enough to notice them.

The course lecturers don't seem to comment on anyone's images.....strange.

There is a web-based, multiple-choice assessment in the middle of the course which tests your understanding of the first half of the course material (10% of mark) and a final assessment at the end, the format of which has not been published as yet but you will have to submit a portfolio of images (90% of mark).

I have a few years under my belt photographically and would have been able to get nearly all of the questions correct in the multiple-choice test without reading any of the course material but I suppose it is aimed at a wide audience.

Reading through the forums (not an easy task given the ancient-looking newsgroup style software) there are quite a lot of people who are not happy with the course, some are petitioning for a partial refund and a lot of people who really like it.

I would guess that the less experienced people with compacts and mobile phone cameras (yes!) are happier with the course than more experienced people as the theory is aimed quite low. If you are a good photographer with a DSLR and a good understanding of Photoshop or Elements, this course may not be for you.

I think it's OK but was expecting more from the lecturers in terms of actually critiquing my work and giving feedback but I suppose it's difficult considering there are 1500 students on the course.
I have enjoyed and learnt some things from the DVD tutorials however and the format has forced me to go out and about with my camera for a change.

You pays your money......
 
Hmmmm, interesting I've just found this thread, because the OU course is the one I'm planning on doing next (I'm an OU addict and did my degree with them, and I'm just finishing doing the Web Applications Certificate with them (on the last course)).

Cobra said:
I read somewhere that it was 7/8hrs a week
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They usually say 10 hours for the 10pt short courses, but it does seem to vary a lot. I did one on genetics (I was bored :lol: ) a couple of years ago, and that wasn't much work per week, but on the current qualification I'm doing (made up of 6 of the short courses), most students have been complaining you have to put in a lot more than the recommended 10hrs a week in (especially at the end of the course, where I've just been booking the final week before the final project's due in off and living on caffeine), and that they really do make you work hard for the measly 10pts (that qualification is very techy though), so it'd be interesting to see how this one compares to some of the other "10-pointers"
 
Clint_Black said:
The course lecturers don't seem to comment on anyone's images.....strange.
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I think part of the problem's that the lecturers on the whole are part-time associate lecturers in a lot of cases, and don't tend to frequent the conferences much. The full time ones (often the ones that have written the courses) tend to work office hours, so don't often tend to be around evenings and weekends when most students are wanting advice etc. One of my pet gripes.

There is a web-based, multiple-choice assessment in the middle of the course which tests your understanding of the first half of the course material (10% of mark) and a final assessment at the end, the format of which has not been published as yet
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The CMAs are usually issued in PDF format, downloadable from the course site, and are submitted via the web interface accessed via "student home" - put ticks in the relevant letter's box for each question then hit submit.

Reading through the forums (not an easy task given the ancient-looking newsgroup style software) there are quite a lot of people who are not happy with the course, some are petitioning for a partial refund and a lot of people who really like it.
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Ah yes! My top pet gripe! The FirstClass system is truly appalling! :razz: I was told though when I complained that it's 56K friendly and other such tripe. Considering that a lot of the courses now, especially the short courses are entirely web based, it's not good, and from a web accessibility perspective (one of my pet topics), it's appalling! The desktop version's marginally easier to use (ignoring the flaky connection and the OU server's habit of disconnecting you on a regular basis), but having upgraded everything else (I've been studying with them many years on and off), I can't believe they're still using that antiquated system.

I doubt very much whether they'll have any luck in getting any kind of refund. Full courses (30pt and 60pt) do have a system in place for getting a partial refund if you pull out part way through, but for the short courses, they don't usually issue any kind of refund once the course is started.
 
hmm, i think, purely for the interaction with the lecturers i'll probably be more likely to go to the one in the college down the road, it's roughly the same price, so i think for that i'd like to have a more personal learning experience.

cheers for your replies :)
 
Hi

I am doing the OU course and I think it is great.

It is just what I needed which are actual tasks to complete to put the lessons into practice. The lessons are great and although I spend tons of time on the internet and reading magazines I am still picking up new information from them. The Video tutorials are mind numbing though, as previously mentioned one of the tutors speaks so slowly he has sent me to sleep a couple of times literally!

I can see a difference in my photography already. However, the feedback from the other students on my photography and in the "Openstudio" is very polite as I think people are too frightened of offending each other.

This course is worth doing, especially as it only cost £37 in Tesco vouchers.

Regards
 
I am also on the course and how useful it is for you depends on your level of experience with a digital slr. The course states you need any form of digital camera, but in my opinion, with some of the assignments set on subjects such as depth of field, macro, blurring part of a picture....etc you can use 'scene modes' on a normal compact for these but are probably not going to get the most out of it.

For my part, I do agree with a lot of Clint's comments on his post. I can get over the technology of the OU and the typeprint etc, it's the lack of critique on your pictures is the biggest gap for me. Where it's entirely valuable as a course is to learn elements 5. Although at a snail's pace, that's where most of my development was needed anyway.
 
Just in case this is missed from not reading the other OU Course thread....

From contacting (even harrassing) Adobe, they have agreed that course members can get the student prices for the Adobe products. That means, instead of paying £500ish for Photoshop CS3, you only pay £140 including delivery. Although you already get a free copy of Elements 5, for those people wanting other Adobe software this course almost pays for itself!
 
Jas said:
Just in case this is missed from not reading the other OU Course thread....

From contacting (even harrassing) Adobe, they have agreed that course members can get the student prices for the Adobe products. That means, instead of paying £500ish for Photoshop CS3, you only pay £140 including delivery. Although you already get a free copy of Elements 5, for those people wanting other Adobe software this course almost pays for itself!
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Crikey! how do we do that then?

PS I'm in the Blue group, but just can't bare to spend hours on those awful forum pages.
 
No. It's an even mix of how to take better images and how to process them. It's very basic, but there's nothing wrong in that. I have found I've learned just as much from magazines, but for someone new to photography, it's ok....just not worth the £150 I paid....didn't know about Tesco vouchers until too late.
 
whitewash said:
from what people on here seem to be saying is it more of the photoshop course than a photography course? is that the case?
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Elements 5 plays a big part in the course and is supplied.
I would say maybe 50 /50 image capturing and manipulation techniques and of course "tagging" and "filing"
The end of course assignment is a PDF slideshow "made" in Elements.
To be honest if you are not wholey conversant with manipulation I think that its worth it, just for that.


Edit as photostar says I am not totally convinced that its worth the £150, Wish I'd know about the Tesco vouchers too!
 
"Crikey! how do we do that then? "

Photostar...I went on to the Adobe website and went through purchasing a student version and you get to a point where they will process the whole thing but not take payment until they are able to verify that you are indeed a student.

I ended up getting a phone number to contact and they wanted a student ID card. After stating i didn't have one due to being an online course, you can email (if you can scan your documents) or fax through the Course Enrolment Acceptance along with a photo id like passport or drivers licence. They accepted this from me and have taken payment although still waiting for the software, hopfully sometime this week.
 
This has been a very interesting thread but I'm getting mixed impressions.

I thought photography was just as much about "doing" as it is about "thinking".

What I mean in... Photography seems a very "physical" activity... You are holding the camera, you are looking at what you need to take photos of. There is a lot of theory, but only theory you learn when practicing.

Would I actually gain knowledge/experience of photography by sitting at a computer screen and just reading...?

Also - how do you get the course for £37 in vouchers?
 
[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the tip about CS3 :thumbs:

 
Would I actually gain knowledge/experience of photography by sitting at a computer screen and just reading...?
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Amnesia, depends on learnng styles as well. For me, it was a structured way to learn about the camera and why/how it takes the pictures as well as understanding it's limitations. The theory then has to be put into practice and this is demonstrating in sharing 10 pictures most weeks as an assignment that is not actually marked. The course won't be for everyone, but for anyone on a further education course regarding photography would naturally have to learn the physics element of it i.e. depth of field, depth of view etc.

The most I have learned about is regarding post processing. I was too lazy to learn and practice before the course. I have now cut down the amount of time I will need to spend on each picture as I always shoot in RAW format.
 
Thanks for that Jas... I have a few books I'm reading through. One of them being "Understanding Exposure"".

This may be something I might look into next year, not so much for the qualification... but because I know it's structured and will be helpful to learn from.
 
starting photography - langford and andrews good book for beginners.

I was looking at course does have one bonus at end The Royal Photographic Society recognise the course and you can apply for Licentiateship Distinction (LRPS) in still photography. How much this is recognised i'm not sure but you can add LRPS at end of your name :D only 20% of student gain award
 
Week one of the 2nd OU photography course is just coming to an end.

I've had a quick look at the next few weeks and at the half way assessment questions.

The assignments are just what I needed to get me out and about with the camera again. I had a lot of fun shooting 6 letters of the alphabet.

Is anyone here on this course ? I'm in the blue group.
 
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