Amazing online photography courses?

L

Laetitya

Suspended / Banned
Messages
12
Edit My Images
No
I am a complete beginner when it comes to photography and was wondering if there are any amazing online photography courses out there? I have googled and found many but would rather get a recommendation from someone who really knows rather than give out money and find out that it is not a good course. Thank you!
 
Take photos - post them here - get feedback - ask questions - learn & grow!

Simples :D
 
I did look into this a while ago and after reading lots of the reviews, i came to the conclusion that some of them are a bit of a rip off. So, as suggested above, i just got the camera out for and went for it !!

Having said that, i am saving up for some workshops and 1-1 training, which i personally believe will help me more.
a bit like having golf lessons!!! (which i need as well, incidentally)

good luck
 
I'm signed up to the DMZ Photography course. Not started it (paid for it in October). They've not nagged me or anything, but I'm hoping once I get started it'll be good. Plus I get a recognised qualification at the end of it.
 
Back when I bought my Nikon D60 I considered exactly the same thing but decided against it as it just didn't seem right and I thought many of them were rip offs. A qualification means squat if you can't take a decent photo.

I ended up borrowing a copy Understanding Exposure from a forum member (Cheers Dean) and began to post pictures on here. People came back to me with hints and tips on how to improve, I think I have improved no end since that first shoot I did a couple of years ago and I am more than happy with my progress.

Taking good pictures is a lot more complicated than I thought but on here, the advice is free and I have concluded that no question is a stupid question.

It can get a bit frustrating at times watching a picture you have posted get absolutely no comments at all but stick with it and all comes good.

PS. Get the book Understanding Exposure, read your cameras manual from cover to cover - three times, and get out there and take some pictures.
 
One word practice it's the best way to learn.

If you are stuck just ask on here there are plenty of members willing to help. If you can get to one of the meats then go it's worth the trip and you can get help there from the more experianced members.
 
I am currently finishing off "foundation in digital photography" course with Amateur photography magazine...

Details here... http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/spi/

You have 7 modules to complete on different topics... focal length,aperture,shutter speeds,white balance etc...

Details given in book, then have to take photo to show example...send in photos...receive feedback on photos...

:thumbs:
 
Why not join a local camera club, they are amine of info and people are only to willing to pass on advice etc
 
If you are familiar with google, then you'll have no problem finding all the info out there for free.

There are lots of acclaimed photographers out there telling us exactly how they achieve their work, and the theory behind it.
 
There is a wealth of information on here but if you would prefer a little more structured learning then you could do worse than the Open University. T189 is the course and the course material is pretty good too. It covers all the basics in terms of apertures, shutter speed, ISO, lens selection, use of colour and composition. Have a look at the OU for more information. A few of the members here have done it too so there is always advice on hand.

HTH
 
i would have to agree will most of the posts here, it dose't matter how many courses you take and how many qualifications you get, if you can't take good pictures it means zip.
when i was starting i read books all the time, and i still ask questions, you can't beat experience!! and the people here have bucket loads. and as lots of people here have said "practice" is key, imo, you can only learn through making mistakes, and i'm sure everyone here can say they've made a few. so save some money, join a library and keep taking pictures, the rest will follow.....remember: your pictures make you a good photographer, not qualifications :0)
 
BouncyMelons said:
There is a wealth of information on here but if you would prefer a little more structured learning then you could do worse than the Open University. T189 is the course and the course material is pretty good too. It covers all the basics in terms of apertures, shutter speed, ISO, lens selection, use of colour and composition. Have a look at the OU for more information. A few of the members here have done it too so there is always advice on hand.
Click to expand...

I was looking at this a while ago, as I don't have time to join a full-time study course and can't really even commit to evening classes because of my shift pattern. Most of the reviews I've read about the OU course on their own website are quite critical - they frequently say that there is no tutoring on the course, and by and large students are left to post photos and comment on each others' work. Was that the case for others here?
 
Yes I'd say that was a fair comment. There are something like 600 students on each course so there is no way you are going to get any 1 to 1 tutoring.

If you want 1 to 1 tutoring then the Open College of the Arts is a much better bet, but then it IS far more expensive.

A case of getting what you pay for to a certain extent in terms of tutor's time.

However, bear with me with my thinking here. :) If you were to do the OU course but run the pics through here as well, they you would get the best of both worlds. You get all the course material and if you share them on here, you get the benefit of some CC from some very experienced photographers rather than your course buddies because you are roughly the same level.

Perhaps worth considering as an approach?
 
I wouldn't bother, I've never found any worthwhile camera courses in the UK. As many here have said you can get 99% of the info online for free.
 
It depends on how you as an individual learn best though. Some learn more with a structure and some are happy to wander around assimilating information.

I learn using four methods. One was the structured learning from the OU, the second is here where I have learned loads and still do. The third is online/dvd training. I have a subscription to phototraining4U and a pile of DVD's. Then there is the seminar/group/1 to 1, live, camera in your hand training. I also do my own shoots specifically to try a certain kind of lighting or to look at a different method of metering. Can't beat putting it into practice.

For me a combination works best and I learn something new almost every week.
 
I never want to be a pro photographer therefore I learn only what I want to learn. For instance, I currently have no desire to do studio photography, flash photography, macro or wedding photography, commercial photography etc. If I did a course you could bet that there would be some aspects that wouldn't interest me.

By looking and asking on here I can be specific and concentrate on improving the photography I like to do. Ok it wont get me a qualification but hopefully what it will give me is confidence to go out and take some shots knowing they will more than likely be better than those I took a year ago.

I am by no means any good, I do it because I enjoy it, if I didn't enjoy, I wouldn't do it. I like taking pictures at Motor rally's, the odd natural portrait, landscapes and waterfalls I am keen to dabble in night photography too. All these subjects I can get top notch advice on from experienced photographers on here, for free. On a course I would probably have to spend weeks on subjects that literally bore me to death.
 
BouncyMelons said:
There is a wealth of information on here but if you would prefer a little more structured learning then you could do worse than the Open University. T189 is the course and the course material is pretty good too. It covers all the basics in terms of apertures, shutter speed, ISO, lens selection, use of colour and composition. Have a look at the OU for more information. A few of the members here have done it too so there is always advice on hand.

HTH
Click to expand...

T189 is £185.
If you have any Tesco Clubcard points then you get a £40 voucher for each £10 clubcard points you have, so the full price is only £46.25 in points !
The points are issued in the name of the card holder and that is the person who has to sign up for the course, and who gets the certificate.
 
When I first got my DSLR I was looking at courses, I did the one in a magasine that was free similar to the above amateurphotographer one. Do some research if you are going to pay for a course because some of them you get most of your critique from the other students, you can all of that from more experienced photographers here for free.

I have learnt mostly from online forums and going along to meets organised by the forums.
 
hi..

2 good books from Amazon ..........

"Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson

"Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography" (Paperback)
by Brenda Tharp

but - yes, post here too
I did, and was pleased to get very helpful C&C..............:thumbs:
 
A friend of mine has done a DMC online photography course, and has spoken very highly of it. I've checked out their website and it looks very good. The tutors are professional photographers, and the courses are accredited. Each course costs £250, but if you enrol on more than one the price goes down to £175 per course; this seems to me to be a very good price. My friend had his own personal tutor, and was able to contact him either by phone or email.
 
A couple of 2p's...

My neighbour teaches A-level photography and she is often asked questions like this.
She says that learning at distance courses can be OK, but ought to meet independent standards so that there is verification that the teaching is up to par. She also says that for the money it is preferable to get some sort of achievement/qualification to take forward to your next step.

It is worth giving camera clubs a go, but they can be very variable
Visit a few and see if you click with the attitude at any of them.
The most useful thing I believe you get out of a camera club is seeing other peoples work that they are proud of.
You may often wonder why they bothered putting their image into a comp and you may be mystified why your own images don't get unanimous praise - it's a valuable lesson about humanity......
A classic illustration is our club's enprint challenge which is voted on by the members. Each member gets 4 votes and there about 30 people voting.
The winning image will often get as few as 6 votes and very few images get no votes :eek:

TP is a great resource; use it
Put images up for comment, but see my earlier comments about camera clubs as you often get completely opposing opinions. Bask in the praise and be prepared to ignore opinions you don't agree with; everybody has their own opinion and both of you are right.....
Get along to a TP meet - I believe everyone who goes to one learns something new.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top