Online photography classes

[SamaraGugler]

Anyone ever taken an awesome photography class online?

I need to get my camera off of auto.

[tlcaudle]

I have not taken one yet, but I have been told that the one offered here (http://karenrussell.typepad.com). is really good. You could also check out the class offered at Jessica Sprague (http://www.jessicasprague.com/)'s site. I think both have a long waiting list and are pretty pricey, but in my opinion, would definitely be worth it.

I am in the same situation. I would love to take a photography class. I just got a new lens for my camera and I still end up shooting most pics on auto, :)

[ColleenSwerb]

Read some books. Cheaper, and just as good. :)
Scott Kelby has some awesome books and so does Brian Peterson.
I also recommend www.ilovephotography.com. Just go and browse and wander and absorb like a sponge :)

[AmyM]

This isn't what you asked for, but it has helped me tremendously. I love this book and it's much cheaper than a class. Awesome tool for learning to see light in a whole new way. Good for anybody who's not already a pro in a studio....and maybe some of them too LOL

http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Photographic-Lighting-Techniques/dp/1584281332/ref=sr_1_47?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231094422&sr=1-47

[Shawna]

I second Scott Kelby's books, I have both of his Digital Photography books (Vol. 1 & Vol. 2) as well as his Lightroom book and they are great. I also have Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure but haven't read too much of it yet. I'm going to check into the book on lighting that Amy posted, that looks interesting and I really struggle with lighting.

Also here are a couple of free online things I've found useful:
Jodie Coston's (http://www.morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php) free online photography course
2Peas (http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/cg_display.asp?g=2&seed_id=26134) 12 Weeks to Better Photos (this link has downloadable PDF's for all 12 weeks)

and here's a list I have bookmarked from a DST thread:
http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/index.php
http://www.caughtonfilmphoto.com/forums/
http://www.ofzenandcomputing.com/zanswers/1147
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm
http://www.diyphotography.net/
http://blog.dubtastic.com/
http://www.earthboundlight.com/
http://www.fotohacker.com/
http://www.fiveminutephotographer.com/
http://www.3drender.com/light/3point.html
http://www.photoxels.com/tutorial_aperture.html

[nesser1981]

They have a ton of classes here.

http://www.betterphoto.com/home.asp

Not cheap. I really want to be better at photography, but the lighting in my house sucks, its dark half the year.

[schock77]

I need this too desperately! Seeing everyone else's 365 pic is making me depressed! I'm on a budget so the above recs are great- thanks!

[Voodoo_Bryn]

I agree with Col... read read read!!!
And you'd be amazed what you learn reading your manual!!

I love this pic I took of my bff the day after Christmas and I learned how to do it just by reading my manual!!!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RI9Z_4K8zo0/SVkC3Mv7qPI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/iLCPhMoiBUY/s400/IMG_2130December+26,+2008.jpg

also... I haunt this place
http://www.photo.net

[Mandy]

OMGosh I Love Photography is my favorite photography site. The people there are so inspiring!!

I think even better than taking courses is to just do it!
Just take your camera off of Auto and experiment with manual! That's what I'm doing and I'm learning so much already!

[SamaraGugler]

THANK YOU GUYS!!!!

I'm going to do the two peas course for right now. Seems like it was written for someone just like me!

Anyone want to play along with me?

The first week is Exploring Aperture. :)

[mummytothree]

I have to second (or third) Bryan Peterson's book to...love it!!!

Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure (http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231101157&sr=1-1)

Also I took a "course" through SBG last year and got tons of neat sites from it here are a few!!!

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/index.html
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/about-digital-photography-school/
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/digital-camera-modes/
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/introduction-to-white-balance/
http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/part2/2Ae.html
http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/part2/2Ad.html
http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/part2/2D.html

[CA Dreamer]

I seem to remember that Candace Stringham had a little series of videos on taking pics in different conditions. ALso, photographing children, etc. I took a class from her(in person) in August. She is great. I will keep looking for those links and get back to you.

[junebug]

i just checked out that Jodie Coston site and have a little better understanding of aperature and exposure. i usually try to shoot at least in the AV mode but never have i been able to use full manual without it being blurry. well, check out this picture i took of Aidan a few minutes ago!!

http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/junebug1978_30/IMG_0003.jpg

full manual, SOOC baby!! i probably will end up sharpening his eyes a bit an stuff but not too bad, huh?

[AmyM]

Check this out. I saw nothing wrong with the first picture, thought it was gorgeous. Boy do I have a long way to go!

http://ilovephotography.com/forums/index.php?autocom=tutorials&article=19
I tell you though, it made me feel better to look down a bit and see the original (which is also beautiful!). I think that post-processing is something I really truly need to work on. I don't have a clue in that area. Hard to do with nothing but pspxi.

[kim21673]

Read some books. Cheaper, and just as good. :)
Scott Kelby has some awesome books and so does Brian Peterson.
I also recommend www.ilovephotography.com. Just go and browse and wander and absorb like a sponge :)

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson is AWESOME. I highly recommend it. I just bought my second SLR camera and read this book last year after buying the first camera and have been in manual since! It is a great book!!!

Scott Kelby has some great PP books...digital photography for... (insert your PS here) I have the CS2 one and have learned so much.

I am also a member of ILP and highly recommend it. I don't get there often enough though.

Start by reading your manual and checking out Understanding Exposure and that will point you in the right direction!!!

[SamaraGugler]

I'm playing with Aperture and I understand it!!!! Sooo excited!!! These were taken with my d70. I know the lighting could be better, one thing at a time.

I did no post processing, these are straight from the camera.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/SamaraGugler72/Week1-1web.jpg

[SamaraGugler]

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/SamaraGugler72/Week1-2w.jpg

This is the first picture processed and cropped.

I used Doug Boutwell's Totally Rad Action - Boutwell's Magic Glasses.

[junebug]

isn't fun to play though? i used to have a sony cybershot. i loved it, but as i started to get more interested in photography i decided it was time to upgrade. so i convinced DH to let me get a Canon Rebel a little over 2 years ago. and LOVE my camera. it is my best friend, lol. if we ever had a fire, i would grab it and my kids and leave asap, lol. granted i would love to upgrade again to one of the newer ones, but i was lucky to get this one so i'm not complaining as of now. maybe someday. anyway, my point is i at first just used auto. now, i starting to realize that since i got it to learn more in the first place, and its capable of letting me take better pics, then i need to learn. i have learned a lot, but i still have a ways to go i think. so thanks for this thread! its full of new information to absorb!

[Shawna]

Great photo Samara! I love the black & white frames you're using too, did you make those yourself or buy them somewhere?

[ColleenSwerb]

The white is probably a stroke action on each photo. The black might be as well, not sure.

Aperature is a great place to start when going to manual. I got my D80 and went straight to manual and fiddle with it as I went, but I had also read up on a lot of website and forums and such. So it came a little more natural for me.

Brian Peterson gives my FAVORITE explanation of aperature ever, using a bucket and paint to represent the sensor and light. I read it and was like OMG, DUH!!

[SamaraGugler]

Thanks Shawna!!! I'm so excited that this class is in a language I understand, I get what they are saying!!! :)


The frame I'm using is just a stroke applied to the photo, usually 20-25 px and set inside the photo. :)

[jessica31876]

I have read cover to cover my manual which came from my camera and "The Joy of Digital Photography" by Jeff Wingnall and "Digital Photography" by Michael Wright

[SamaraGugler]

Seriously, I'm having way too much fun!

This is Chicken, yes she's a cat.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/SamaraGugler72/Week1-3w.jpg

1.25s
f4.5
105mm
iso1000

[ColleenSwerb]

Seriously, I'm having way too much fun!

This is Chicken, yes she's a cat.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg214/SamaraGugler72/Week1-3w.jpg

1.25s
f4.5
105mm
iso1000

Whoa woman, is that really 1000 or did you push 1 too many 0's?
Your iso should DEF not be set that high.

[junebug]

Whoa woman, is that really 1000 or did you push 1 too many 0's?
Your iso should DEF not be set that high.

i was about to say the same thing!! sometimes mine might be set at 400, but i don't think i've ever had it higher. and i hate setting up at that! the higher your ISO the more noise you are likely to have. but the picture is awesome!! what cute kitty!

[ColleenSwerb]

Mine is set to 100 and I never change it (even when I forget about it, and SHOULD change it, like at my friends wedding back in september - oops).

[SamaraGugler]

LOL, yes 1000!!

My house is really dark.

[ColleenSwerb]

Holy mackeralfish! Lol! Well, fyi, you don't really want it up that high. :p

[Voodoo_Bryn]

I think it's okay that high if your pics are still coming out that clear, it's not too noisy at all. But my house is really dark, too... I'd trade off by opening the blinds and taking pics near the window and drop my ISO. That's what I do. All of my pics in the house and I mean ALLLL of them, are taken near open blinds, no flash.

[my3hens]

YEah I agree the higher ISO's are sometimes necessary unfortunately :( I have the xti and it does HORRIBLY with anything over 400. I can't wait to get my 5d! I think your photo looks amaizng for 1000. Seriously wouldn't have even known. I also use the free version of imagenomic noiseware if I must and just run the photo through before hand. BEautiful photo honey, I think your a natural!