Open University Course

Hi I am doing a course through Amateur photographer web site (spi foundation in photography) which was £300. You get a book, course book, a few other bits, also allows you to but photoshop cs4 (i think) for around £220 saving £650. The course is split in to modules and cover all most aspects. You send your photos as well as a brief on your subjects and multiple choice questions. These are marked by a tutor and sent back. Finding it a really good course for the money. hope this helps. James
 
I dont know what this course entails but would be very interested in finding out what you do.
 
Hi I am doing a course through Amateur photographer web site (spi foundation in photography) which was £300. You get a book, course book, a few other bits, also allows you to but photoshop cs4 (i think) for around £220 saving £650. The course is split in to modules and cover all most aspects. You send your photos as well as a brief on your subjects and multiple choice questions. These are marked by a tutor and sent back. Finding it a really good course for the money. hope this helps. James


Had a look at the looks a good course actually, what are the institute courses like?
 
On the spi course you have 9 modules.
The first 5 are compulsory
1- Picture shapes - composition
2- exposure
3- perspectives
4- focus and sharpness
5- shutter speeds and movement

Modules 6 - 11 you choose 3
6- Action
7- Buildings and structures
8- Macro and close up
9- Landscape,cityscape and seascape
10- People and storytelling
11- Wildlife and nature

Module 12 is a personal project, up to you what you do...

You have 3 years to complete the course. The tutor feed back is very good, lets you know where you are going wrong or right.

I am just starting mod 3. struggling a bit for inspiration at the moment.

Hope that helps.

James
 
is this a home learning based thing that you send off things to people or is it based at a centre?
 
I was just wondering if anyone was doing / had done the Open University course - Digital photography: creating and sharing better images?

Interested in doing it but I wanted to see what was entailed first?
What would you like to know? Fire as many questions at me as you can and I'll do my best to answer them.
 
I looked at those courses as well, they a few different ones too http://www.amateurphotographer.com/spi/ Just not sure if they are worth £300??

I have some questions :D :

When they allow you to buy CS3 (or 4) do you have to buy that there and then or can you wait and buy it anytime between starting and finishig the course?
Do they cover photoshop in the others as well?
What sort of assignments are you set?
How do you send the modules to be marked, computer or post or either?
Are the tutors available at other times as well as for marking (to question or if struggling)

I am currently doing a college course (20 weeks) and the first half was very very basic on the controls of the camera etc, this 2nd half if focusing just on self portraits which to be honest I am not really enjoying as it is not an area of photography i enjoy so was thinking of signing up to something else. I find doing courses is a good way to keep me taking pictures and keep me motivated.
 
Hi, I am pretty sure you can buy it through out the course. You send the modules as either printed images or on a usb/cd. You can email tutors if you need help or phone the person who runs the course. (i thinkl its him anyway).

For say the first module you submit 5 photos they are a square image, horizontal panoramic, vertical panoramic, horizontal rectangle, vertical rectangle. You pick 5 subjects out of a list of around 10 subjects. It basically about choosing a good subject to suit the size photo.
module 2 is seeing how camera records white, black and grey images, using a grey card and exposure.
You can see my spi modules on my flickr site.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesrcrawford
 
Was thinking about doing the course too, I think the next intake is in May? I was going to do it in September until a friend of mine advised me that the weather would be a factor, too many dull days I guess!
 
Cheers James, I might look into doing that after college. Cant hurt to have another qual to put on the old cv
 
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