Photography courses?

[bass_junkie83]

Having had a couple of really busy months lately and not having the chance to get my camera out until last weekend i have really got the urge to get into this photography lark some more.

I really want to advance my skill level, but i think i will should really get the basics driven home first.
I am tempted to do a basic introduction level photography course, but having done some searching there is so much available i'm lost.

I have an understanding of appature/shutter speed relationship, but still struggle to make the right choice through anything other than luck really. The whole exposure thing leaves me completely baffled.

I don't really know anyone local who i can go out with and learn from, which is why i am thinking some sort of intruductory course will help me. If i have someone that can teach me the basics and i can get it nailed then i will be in a better position to get out and improve by myself.


Firstly i can rule out anything full time, that isn't what i am looking for. I think i would do better with an actuall class to attend rather than something home learning or internet based though i'm not ruling this out.

I don't really know what is involved with these courses, i am sure it differs from course to course. I am already working full time and doing part time civil engineering degree so am already pretty stretched. One evening a week would be ideal.

A qualification at the end of it isn't importand, but it would be a little bonus. Also cost comes into it too, if i had £500 to spare on a course i would have gone and bought a new lens already.

This is one i found based at my local college, does it look any good?
http://www.hotcourses.com/uk-courses...38554/page.htm

Any advice or reccomendations would be very helpful.

Cheers.

 

[akr]

Hi

I am similarly looking to do a course, however I think in terms of the aperture \ speed etc that you are struggling, I think you really can teach yourself this a bit.

Many people suggest camera clubs as a good way to learn and exchange info, as well as sites like these.

I think the course will only teach you so much, you really have to get out and practise. If money is an issue, before doing the course and to ensure you get the most out of it, why not get a good book which has some practical tests for you to do.

I remember when I first started (I am still very much a novice) I couldn't tell my f4 from my ISO or my Shutter Speed.

Like most things in life I think the key is to break things down in small sections and concentrate solely on those.

So for example spend one day simply experimenting with - eg put your camera on the AV setting and change the f numbers and practise getting something in focus with the background blurred, to getting everything in focus.

Then the next time experiment with shutter speed (use the TV mode) and practise freezing the action, or creating a blurred effect. I always founf a good one to try is somewhere busy taking someone still with people walking past, a slow shutter speed will have them in focus and everyone else 'ghostly'.

If you do those two it will make you think about what you want to do with the picture you are about to take.

I'm sure a course would help but I think you might gain more with a little practise beforehand.

Good luck!

Al

 

[bass_junkie83]

Thanks.

I may have sold my abilities a little too shorts.
I have been going for about a year now. I know in what situation i want a shallow DOF and when i don't and i know how to get this.
I know i need a large appeture, but exactly what i don't know, this is where it gets a bit trial and error. I know roughly the settings i should be using, it's the fine tuning i'm not sure on.

Maybe an introductory course would be too basic then. One key area where i think i let myself down as i already said is the exposure. I never adjust it on the camera as i dont know when to, and as such often find i adjust it quite drastically at times during the processing.

I thought a course would be good because it would be nice to have someone confirm the areas where i'm getting it right, but can tell me where i am going wrong and get me going in the right direction. Being sure in myself that i have the basics covered would mean i am at lest set up ready for improving.

A good book may be the way to go then. Is there a photographers 'bible' that is reccomended?

 

[EdBray]

Exposure is easy really.

All meters are designed to meter to a mid grey. This is the tonal equivelent of light tarmac, green grass, a red pillar box and blue sky (approx 90 degrees from the sun), if you meter of something like this then your exposure should be pretty much okay. If you are unable to meter off a mid grey tone then you should look for something a little lighter or a little darker and adjust the exposure accordingly. I often meter from the darkest area in which I want to retain detail and then open up the exposure 2 stops (thus a meter reading of f2.0 @ 1/60 would require me to set f4.0 @1/60. If I was photographing a brides dress I would expose for the highlights and choose the brightest tone in which I want to retain detail and then reduce the exposure by 2 stops to take the picture, thus a brides dress may give me a reading of f8 @ 1/250, I would take the image at f4 @ 1/250 or more likely f5.6 @ 1/125.

 

[akr]

Hi

What about the camera club option, you might get some valuable feedback and may even get to meet some people you could go shooting with locally?

I'm not sure about a bble as such, but plenty of people read Understanding Exposure by Bryan Paterson. I've read it and found it useful, I actually made a lot of notes from the book and took them out with me so I could refence rought speeds for trying different things out.

I'm not clear what you are not understanding as such, but if you feel like doing the course then why not, as you say once you have the basics nailed the rest will follow, and we all learn in different ways so what works for me might not for you.

Good luck!

al

 

[kimo]

Someone was asking the same sort of question a while back don't know how they got on, but I told them of this guy www.artescapephotography.com (Steve) he is in Essex like you (South Woodham). I was in your similar postion and done his courses which has really helped. He also keeps in touch so you can always get more help if needed
HTH