I want to do an evening course
Discussion
...but I'm not quite sure what I should expect from it. I have had a DSLR since the summer and have reached the point where I would like a bit of experience to teach me how to get the best from it.
What are other peoples experiences of these sorts of courses? There is one starting this month at my local college, but it sounds a bit "arty", rather than technical, which is what I want (I think!). It also runs for 20 weeks @ 3hours/week, which is a bit more then I was expecting!
For example:
To use photography to express feelings and emotions
Im not really sure what this means? Any ideas? I have rang the college but couldnt speak to the person who will actually be running the course, so couldnt find out.
It also gives a qualification: NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Creative Craft (Photography). Again, the I'm not sure about the "creative craft" part of the title
Sorry for the long-winded post
What are other peoples experiences of these sorts of courses? There is one starting this month at my local college, but it sounds a bit "arty", rather than technical, which is what I want (I think!). It also runs for 20 weeks @ 3hours/week, which is a bit more then I was expecting!
For example:
course information said:
To use photography to express feelings and emotions
Im not really sure what this means? Any ideas? I have rang the college but couldnt speak to the person who will actually be running the course, so couldnt find out.
It also gives a qualification: NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Creative Craft (Photography). Again, the I'm not sure about the "creative craft" part of the title
Sorry for the long-winded post
bulb763 said:
course information said:
To use photography to express feelings and emotions
Get the bucket.
I'm probably the worst person to respond to this (I HATE courses). I'd say just carry on taking photos and when you find a particular problem/issue, then solve it using the net, the manual, and people on here etc.
If you took the pic of your bike, then I think you are way beyond a course teaching how to express feelings and emotions.
Unless you want to find members of the opposite ISO of course, in which case a photography course is ideal
All IMHO
Steve
I did a City and Guild evening class in photography a number of years ago (about 10 or 11 I think) and I found it mainly to be a waste of time. It taught me a little but I have learnt way more from talking to people on here and from going out experimenting than I learnt on the course.
I did learn how to develop my own shots though which was great but redundant for you.
See if you can get in and talk to the tutor and see what the emphasis is about. This is the best way to suss out the course and something I wish I had done before I started mine.
I did learn how to develop my own shots though which was great but redundant for you.
See if you can get in and talk to the tutor and see what the emphasis is about. This is the best way to suss out the course and something I wish I had done before I started mine.
Steve, if you mean the one with the trailing lights, then yes I did 
Thanks for the compliment!
I must say, every problem or query I've had so far, I've been able to answer with the 'net. However, if, on a course, I am able to solve these queries by speaking to an experienced individual, who might then demonstrate the answer and respond to any specific questions I might then have, I would prefer this to sitting at the PC. I guess this is what appeals to me about a course
Thanks for the compliment! I must say, every problem or query I've had so far, I've been able to answer with the 'net. However, if, on a course, I am able to solve these queries by speaking to an experienced individual, who might then demonstrate the answer and respond to any specific questions I might then have, I would prefer this to sitting at the PC. I guess this is what appeals to me about a course
I went on "Art and Design (Photography)" evening class, O-Level.
As opposed to a "Photography" O-Level.
I liked it as it concentrated purely on the final image and did very little nerdy stuff.
Learning was typically finding photos we liked, thinking about why we liked them, and using that knowledge to take better pictures.
Course did not try and turn us all into technically perfect GetCarters (unless that's what we wanted).
Hence awesome Evo style shots would have been fine as reference material.
Happy hunting - Nacnud
www.priddypictures.co.uk
Edited to add URL
As opposed to a "Photography" O-Level.
I liked it as it concentrated purely on the final image and did very little nerdy stuff.
Learning was typically finding photos we liked, thinking about why we liked them, and using that knowledge to take better pictures.
Course did not try and turn us all into technically perfect GetCarters (unless that's what we wanted).
Hence awesome Evo style shots would have been fine as reference material.
Happy hunting - Nacnud
www.priddypictures.co.uk
Edited to add URL
Edited by Nacnud on Monday 8th January 13:32
I did one at my local college before I moved to Hants - a B+W master and guilds "course". In fact I and two friends signed up every term for a couple of years and purely used it to develop and print our B+W stuff, we did none of the lessons or exams at all besides the amiable tutor sometimes walking past and looking at our folders, saying "that's good stuff, don't bother coming to the lessons" .
I'd love to do something similar again as I prefer film to digital for B+W, and have rolls of developed but unprinted film loafing about, some half-decent stuff too.
Used in this sort of way a local college course is a good thing, the actual content seemed very basic and trial and error plus books of the types of shots you like for inspiration are better for learning IMHO.
. I'd love to do something similar again as I prefer film to digital for B+W, and have rolls of developed but unprinted film loafing about, some half-decent stuff too.
Used in this sort of way a local college course is a good thing, the actual content seemed very basic and trial and error plus books of the types of shots you like for inspiration are better for learning IMHO.
I have looked many, many, MANY times into doing courses and none of them seem quite right. The emphasis, in my untrained eye, is always on the wrong thing.
There are courses about photography but only film - and so most of the course is how to develop, chemicals etc.
There are courses about digital, but that emphasises on the post-photograph photoshop work, which is not what I'm after.
So every time I find one it's just 'not quite right' - as a result, I've not done one yet! I do keep looking though. HOwever, I would say that if you find one you like the look of; DO IT!!!! The worst that can happen is that it teaches you absolutely nothing. I very much doubt that would happen though - you will always learn something and the experience alone will be worth it.
There are courses about photography but only film - and so most of the course is how to develop, chemicals etc.
There are courses about digital, but that emphasises on the post-photograph photoshop work, which is not what I'm after.
So every time I find one it's just 'not quite right' - as a result, I've not done one yet! I do keep looking though. HOwever, I would say that if you find one you like the look of; DO IT!!!! The worst that can happen is that it teaches you absolutely nothing. I very much doubt that would happen though - you will always learn something and the experience alone will be worth it.
I did one recently through one of the big local colleges. There were 14 of us in the class and on the first evening, the tutor asked what everybody wanted from the course and tailored it to suit. We had assignments to do each fortnight which really made you think about your picture taking, plus it was an opportunity to use the techniques etc which had been discussed in previous weeks. I found it really really useful and it was good to be amongst like-minded creative people.
The Open University now do a Digital Photography course. I had thought about enrolling on it but it's all online stuff, you don't have any tutorials in person. Unless you are very very disciplined, I find it very hard to find the motivation to work on my own.
As above, even if some of the course descriptions don't sound 100% what you want, you might find that the tutor there will cater for what people want from the course.
The Open University now do a Digital Photography course. I had thought about enrolling on it but it's all online stuff, you don't have any tutorials in person. Unless you are very very disciplined, I find it very hard to find the motivation to work on my own.
As above, even if some of the course descriptions don't sound 100% what you want, you might find that the tutor there will cater for what people want from the course.
Tony - thats what I find too! I'm not interested (at the moment) in PP - I want to learn the fundamentals first, such as composition, and gain experience with shooting different subjetcs, so I can learn what makes a good picture. PP would come after this, and I think thats the best way of learning it (can't pollish a turd 
etc).
I certainly dont want to learn about developing film.
It seems the choice is between the two. But there is a cross-over between each medium, concentrating on what I mentioned, which I cant seem to find a course for!
I've decided to put it off for now anyway, and have a look again in the summer. Thanks for the input
etc). I certainly dont want to learn about developing film.
It seems the choice is between the two. But there is a cross-over between each medium, concentrating on what I mentioned, which I cant seem to find a course for!
I've decided to put it off for now anyway, and have a look again in the summer. Thanks for the input
I can't get excited about PP either - I just don't have the time for it, apart from anything else. Whether it's my DSLR shots or my slide scans, taking the shot better in the first place is the key, particularly with fairly uniformly-lit landscape shots there is not much need for PP if the shot was well taken. If they were not well taken then they never seem to be able to be brought back to the same level as if well shot in the first place. I suppose a once in a lifetime shot that has some marked flaw and needs rescuing would be a requirement for uber-PP skills, but otherwise I don't feel I've missed out much by just using Photoshop via trial and error - when (if!) I have the free time I'll try and do some tutorials but they are SO dull!
Edited by jwyatt on Tuesday 9th January 13:31
Weeeell, I started an A Level night class and found it to be a *complete* waste of time - all arty and no technicalities. Half way through I switched to a City and Guilds which was useful to some degree but far too slow and basic once I'd learnt what I wanted - DoF, shutter speeds etc.
One good way is to join a camera club and enter competitions, although they can be up their own backsides half the time, not to mention full of old codgers. The best way I found was to do a day course with someone like Andy Rouse - he's top drawer and you'll learn a hell of a lot.
Re the comment on digital courses and their often dubious content, I fully agree. I'm actually teaching a 10 week digitial photography course at a local college starting next week. Syllabus is entirely up to me, and it won't be any photoshop stuff at all - emphasis will be fully on principles of photography and how they relate to digital cameras. Obviously there'll be a tiny bit on computing but it's a photography course in the main- not a post processing course.
One good way is to join a camera club and enter competitions, although they can be up their own backsides half the time, not to mention full of old codgers. The best way I found was to do a day course with someone like Andy Rouse - he's top drawer and you'll learn a hell of a lot.
Re the comment on digital courses and their often dubious content, I fully agree. I'm actually teaching a 10 week digitial photography course at a local college starting next week. Syllabus is entirely up to me, and it won't be any photoshop stuff at all - emphasis will be fully on principles of photography and how they relate to digital cameras. Obviously there'll be a tiny bit on computing but it's a photography course in the main- not a post processing course.
Timmy2TARs said:
One good way is to join a camera club and enter competitions,
Very good ideas actually. There is a local camera club to me (very local, in fact) and I keep looking at their site and will join them soon, I hope. This will probably be more value than a course.
Competitions even as 'simple' as the PH monthly one are gerat because they give a purpose to work to - whihc is why I'm enjoying thinking of stuff for this month's!
Don't know about courses, but have a look at;
Gives basic explanations about the camera and lenses etc.
http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/enjoydslr
On-line course which seems to be reasonable
http://box115.morguefile.com/archive/
Gives basic explanations about the camera and lenses etc.
http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/enjoydslr
On-line course which seems to be reasonable
http://box115.morguefile.com/archive/
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