Course or self tought?

J

jimmyD

Suspended / Banned
Messages
10
Edit My Images
Yes
As a new member to the forum i have been lookin in awe at many of the pictures posted by the members and one day i would like to post my own when capable at even half that level.

My questions are... Did you guys actualy study photography as part of a structured course or did you teach yourselves from scratch?

Also do you have any good links to sites with good tutorials, or recommend a good book? Sorry if this has been asked before.

Thanks in advance



my camera is Olympus E-450
 
Self taught apart from the darkroom side of things which I was taught on the fly. We had a good darkroom set up at school (B&W prints only and at that time, I only used B&W film so never bothered with C41 (apart from xp1 which had just been introduced) or E4, although that would have been possible.
 
I think surveys on this have been done before on TP and other forums.. always the resounding results are self taught by a mile...
 
I am a newbie like you, also I am a carpenter by trade. Did not get into carpentry until in late twentys. Went to college and was not learning any thing, so after a couple of months gave up the course, chucked myself in at the deep end, now in my 40,s and making a good living at it.

I intend to do the same with photography. I have met carpenters who have done 5 year apprenticeships and are crap at what they do.

If you are keen and have motivation and a great interest in what you are doing, then you will learn and improve, structured course or not.
 
I went to college and did a three year degree course in the 1970s. I learned a huge amount in many ways, and not much in others. Technically, you can learn pretty much most things on-line these days, but what college gave me was three years to indulge myself and try things I would otherwise maybe never get the chance to do.

Fully equipped studios and darkrooms, cameras from 35mm to 10x8in, everything from still life advertising to editorial fashion to press work, top pros visiting, the chance to assist them on all sorts of jobs, and so on.

Perhaps best of all was working alongside fellow students - projects together, learning from eachother, different ways of tackling the same task, three years up to my neck in everything photography. A couple of the guys I was with went on to become world famous, Bob Carlos Clarke was one and I always made a point of checking what he had in the print washer - he was obviously special even then.

Fabulous experience, wish I could do it again ;)
 
HoppyUK said:
Fully equipped studios and darkrooms, cameras from 35mm to 10x8in, everything from still life advertising to editorial fashion to press work, top pros visiting, the chance to assist them on all sorts of jobs, and so on.


Fabulous experience, wish I could do it again ;)
Click to expand...


There are very few assisting opportunities these days.
Given the choice of 3 years in the classroom and a qualification or 6 months of hands-on varied assisting, I'll take the assisting, stuff the qualification..
 
I was self taught since the age of 11 (I've just turned 17) and have learnt best through books and internet and hands-on experience. I started a course in September which was an ND diploma in photography and I quit it about three weeks ago because it was completely pointless and I weren't going anywhere. Depends on what your doing the course for I suppose, if you want a qualification then they are quite pointless but if you want to learn darkroom and graphic techniques etc then it's not so bad but I still wouldn't recommend it.

as John says, Give me the choice of 3 years of classroom work + diploma or 6 months experience I'd take the 6 months experience anyday :)
 
joxby said:
There are very few assisting opportunities these days.
Given the choice of 3 years in the classroom and a qualification or 6 months of hands-on varied assisting, I'll take the assisting, stuff the qualification..
Click to expand...

You can learn a lot assissting I'm sure if you are lucky enough for someone to take you on. Hoppy's experience sounds great and very worthwhile.

I myself chose an adult leisure-learning course at the local college doing dark room stuff. It was always fully subscribed at the time and you needed to book early to get a place. Then it was a local camera club, can be a bit over competitive during comps, but great to meet like minded people, and some were happy to pass on their knowledge/tips and others guarded it like it's Top Secret.
Youtube is great, I like Bryan Peterson,s videos, just google 'Bryan Peterson Youtube' Other good free video tutorials are all over the net, but here are a few faves:

http://www.learnmyshot.com/How-to-Photograph-Fire

http://www.youtube.com/user/PhotoGavin#p/c/13E73F9C73ED4E17/30/OBCL3ZtInXc

http://www.photoanswers.co.uk/Video-Tutorials/Search-Results/?N=509+531

Then there are video tutorials on line which you pay a subscription to. Mark Cleghorn's Photo Training For You is great and there is Will Crockett's site, smartshooter.com.
There are also some successful togs who do training courses up and down the country, lasting from a day to longer. I went on one local to me by Jeff Turnbull MPA, but depending where you are, what you can afford there is James Oliver Stone (advertiser /member on here), DoveCote Training, Damien McGillcuddy, and loads more.

In January there is the SWPP convention with plenty of great classes/seminars if you can afford.

HTH

Edit: Look at the written tutorials on here too! Some good stuff there!
 
Last edited:
Currently self taught and i love the learning experience.

Going to university now next september to learn a lot more on lighting etc :)
 
Self taught with film SLR photography, then a 21yr gap. never joined a camera club either.
 
Im self taught, took a studio photography course last November/December and although I did pick up some useful information I spent most of my time helping the other students.

People belittle formal education, it is seen as pointless, useless, a waste of time. However I believe it does teach you things that you may not learn while learning in a practical atmosphere. It makes you ask bigger questions, analyses photographs for concepts and meaning (something that doesn't seem to matter to a lot of people)

Approached with the right attitude and the right motivation formal education does work, all too often individuals attend college or uni and expect to become an expert then criticises the institution when it doesn't happen, usually down to their lack of commitment and motivation.
 
Self taught as well. Nothing wrong in going to college/uni to learn, but I ask myself how much that you have been taught do you actually use in real life? Yes they can teach technique- show to use photographic equipment and the like, but they can't teach you how you should run your business-attract clients- interpersonal skills- where to run you business from -or even get you employment.

This is where the old style apprentice schemes scored, you worked for a company and did day release and/or night study at college. I did 5 years as it was way back then via this method (not in photography) and learned a whole lot more than I ever would have by just going into higher education only.

Realspeed
 
realspeed said:
Self taught as well. Nothing wrong in going to college/uni to learn, but I ask myself how much that you have been taught do you actually use in real life? Yes they can teach technique- show to use photographic equipment and the like, but they can't teach you how you should run your business-attract clients- interpersonal skills- where to run you business from -or even get you employment.

This is where the old style apprentice schemes scored, you worked for a company and did day release and/or night study at college. I did 5 years as it was way back then via this method (not in photography) and learned a whole lot more than I ever would have by just going into higher education only.

Realspeed
Click to expand...

Im a qualified engineer, and studied FT at college, id say in terms of confidence and ability I wipe the floor with many of the engineers that I work with now who took the apprentice route. They picked up bad habits from the old skeptical and negative guys they worked with while I was encouraged to think outside the box, question things and have conviction in my opinions.

I guess a lot has to do about who influences you in your learning environment and the type of person you are (if your naturally lazy and like a good moan you'll struggle in both environments)
 
Matt989 said:
Im self taught, took a studio photography course last November/December and although I did pick up some useful information I spent most of my time helping the other students.

People belittle formal education, it is seen as pointless, useless, a waste of time. However I believe it does teach you things that you may not learn while learning in a practical atmosphere. It makes you ask bigger questions, analyses photographs for concepts and meaning (something that doesn't seem to matter to a lot of people)

Approached with the right attitude and the right motivation formal education does work, all too often individuals attend college or uni and expect to become an expert then criticises the institution when it doesn't happen, usually down to their lack of commitment and motivation.
Click to expand...

Nail. Head.
 
Matt
MY quote " Nothing wrong in going to college/uni to learn " unquote

As you say it depends on who you were working with as an apprentice, but in my case I did day release and 2 nights a week at tech college and obtained my ONC . Not only did I get correct training on how to do things from college but was also able to apply what I had learnt in the field. Have to say this was way back when I started my 5 yr apprenticeship in 1960 as an electrical/mechanical engineer with a contract company working in houses/ offices/building sites and worked with/under several different qualified electricians. The last year becomming an "improver" and allowed to start training those comming into the industry as well.

That time is long gone and now I own my own entirely different business far as possible removed from those days but wouldn't have missed the experience for anything. Sometimes it was hell if you did something wrong, I won't deny it and other times it was great but you were learning.

Realspeeed
 
Last edited:
Self taught, though did get shown how to develop and print photo's after school by a mate of my dads.

Left school at 16 and went straight into running a print & darkroom for the local estate agents.
 
I am self taught, but I feel I am missing out the finer details. There is a lot of things I don't understand, and I feel a course would help me. But as others have said, you can gain most knowledge from this forum or by looking online.

I think Photography is a talent, it's not something you can be taught. I believe you either have the eye or you don't.
 
Doddy1974 said:
I think Photography is a talent, it's not something you can be taught. I believe you either have the eye or you don't.
Click to expand...

I disagree, its not that black and white (pardon the pun). My photographs were *******s when I started....perhaps they ain't great by a lot of standards but I have learnt how to take an acceptable photograph.
 
Matt989 said:
I disagree, its not that black and white (pardon the pun). My photographs were *******s when I started....perhaps they ain't great by a lot of standards but I have learnt how to take an acceptable photograph.
Click to expand...

I think I didn't get my point across. Yes, you learn different techniques, settings to use etc whic helps improve your pictures. But I still think you need an eye for it...Just my opinion.
 
Thanks guys for all the feedback, i done the Uni thing before, Law with Politics and think in this sense i would prefer to teach myself. Lots of great info here and cant wait to post my first pics when get a chance to take them, hopefully this weekend.

Got my first DSLR this week and OMG, the thing is a quadmire!!! Sooo much to learn settings etc. Will do my best.

Thanks again.
 
I've done a few night school courses which have been hugely beneficial, not just for learning technique but for the exposure to all kinds of stuff like I'd never done before - studio and flash, food photography, product photography, etc. The feedback I got on my photographs from the lecturers was also really really useful. It's also good to get to know (in the flesh) people with similar interests - I learnt an awful lot off them as well.

Thing is though, it's the application of the stuff you learn that makes the difference. You can learn all the technique in the world from college, books or the internet, but you develop a style by getting out there and taking lots of photographs, constantly evaluating your own work, looking at really good photographs others have taken and then taking more of your own. And you can't be taught that.
 
Whatever I have learnt it is from books and TP.

I would not say I am Self Taught, I am still Self Teaching.............
 
Last edited:
Self taught (well partially taught as still a long way to go) myself

Someone on here pointed me in the direction of this site when I was just starting to get to grips with the basics

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

Good luck, you'll get lots of help on here

Mike
 
Scott kelby has a number of great books to get you started.
Nothing wrong with uni or college, my partner has a masters in photography and loved it.

Does it make her a better photographer than me?

She would certainly like to think so!
 
oskanoears said:
Scott kelby has a number of great books to get you started.
Nothing wrong with uni or college, my partner has a masters in photography and loved it.

Does it make her a better photographer than me?

She would certainly like to think so!
Click to expand...

Would the real question not be, would a Masters in Photography make YOU a better photographer? I'd hedge my bets that it would!
 
I would have loved to be trained academicly in photography. But I caught the bug too late in life. I am only shooting for enjoyment at the moment, but in business it is possibly your portfolio rather than your qualifications that will sell you. (Putting aside, being good in Business that is.)
 
someone i know was desparately trying to defend photography degrees - claiming to be apro you needed one


i dont know one pro who has a degree!!!..................



p.s im a student, a business management one. I have no intrest in gaining a photography degree, nor being a photography pro.

i like taking pictures of my dog and horse. that is all ! :)
 
I know someone who is doing a BA in photography. Good luck to him. I wouldn't. I never intend to turn pro, at 58 years of age it would be foolish, lol. Maybe in this day and age it may give him a head start over his competitors.
 
Self taught here too, but then if i look into the ins and outs of it, im not actually self taught, ive taken and used advice from people at the ebuyer forums and these forums in particular (as well as others) but on top of that ive learned by looking at peoples photos on flickr aswell, so in a sense im 50% self taught and 50% taught by the internet community..... so on that note THANKS ALL :D

EDIT: As a side note i am intending to go pro (26 years old now) and i was considering a course of some sort but from the advice of a lot of people im not going near one, practising is my degree :)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top