Photography course Q?

[mangii]

There is a course in Cairns that I'm thinking/dreaming about doing. The cost is $1590 for 32hrs of tuition.
It's a small class of only 10 students and just looks so good.

Being on one wage with all the kids, this is a lot for us to afford...but I think it would be really good for me. I find with my settings on my camera etc I need a real life person who can explain things to me..not just me reading it and trying to figure things out myself. Also being up so Far Nth, there isn't really that much on offer either.

I've removed the link...just in case I'm not allowed to have it in here.

So do you think that is a reasonable price for that amount of time? How does one know if a course is good or not? Anything I should look out for? Or ask?

[Cookster670]

I dont think it would be an issue if you posted the link. I think it would help determine how good it would be

Does the schedule specifically address the things you want to learn? Does it include assignments and critique? Can you find any previous feedback?

I was dissappointed by my last course so am cautious about them now


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[mangii]

I just felt a bit funny after I posted the link , not sure why.

Anyway here is the link. http://www.peterbrownphotographer.com/8W%20Pro%20Photo%20Course%20Overview.html

Thanks for your feedback :) I appreciate it.

[rpo83]

Hi Manda,

It is hard to give great feedback to your question when you describe your needs as "I find with my settings on my camera etc" It doesn't really help us know what you want to learn.

So here are my thoughts, not knowing how much you know/don't know.

My comment on the course is that he seems to cover a ton of information, maybe some of it won't be interesting to you or you may feel overwhelmed?

Do you like his work, have you looked at the images he creates? If so, and you think you won't be overburdened with information, give it a go.

I spend a bit of my time training people on aspects of audio, i know that when you try and cover too much stuff, or 1 fundamental premise is not understood, the benefit of the training is not realised.

Would it be easier/cheaper to try and find a like minded local who you can learn from, a local camera club maybe?

I would recommend taking it slowly, learn the basics at your pace then maybe a course like the one mentioned would provide the next step??

[Hokey]

Hey there,

I like the look of the course, and the fact that it is only on one morning a week means that you can't get too much information overload as there is plenty of time in between sessions.

Having said that, I think you will find that 'the basics' are covered in week one, and after that there will be no real mention of the camera again as there is a LOT of material to cover. Also, he states that you will need to do work in your own time so if you have kids it may be hard to concentrate on the homework (I know, I have a 4yo girl myself).

I fully get what you are saying though, about needing someone to show you. If I were you I would join a camera club (as suggested) and try to organise one of the Top Guns you meet there to put on a 'basics' course (you already have $1590 worth of incentive to spread around before you even get anybody else interested in attending the training) or even to do some one-on-one work with you at the local park on a Saturday morning etc.

The other thing is that there are lots of really good training DVDs out there. This one, on strobe lighting, is awesome in my opinion... http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/05/now-available-strobist-lighting-dvds.html and I am sure if you ask around there will be plenty of people on this forum happy to point you in the direction of other great material.

Hokey.

[mangii]

Thanks for your thoughts Steve and Hokey :) I want to learn more then just about manual settings. I think I'm ok with constructing a photograph, as in the visual side of it. I'm not too bad on editing either..I don't understand things like lighting, shooting in harder stiuations with low light, how to use a flash more effectively..things like that. I had the word sitting on the tip of my tongue, but now it's gone. I want to learn as much as I can. I thought as well, because he'd have lights to play with that it might make it easier to learn with.

I'll look around for a camera club up here. Dvd's are a great idea Thanks Hokey. The homework doesn't really worry me...I like that his work is portraits, because thats what I like to shoot....and I have lots of models for my homework.lol Maybe I'll wait and see how I feel towards the September one.

Thanks again :)

[rpo83]

Manda,

Also check out youtube, there are hundreds of tutorials there.

Here are a couple that i checkout

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=prophotolife#g/u

http://www.twin-pixels.com/category/photography/

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/

[mangii]

Thanks Steve. :)

[Cookster670]

yeah..it's really hard to say. There is a lot to cover, and it's hard to determine how much you know now and therefore how much you will get out of the course.

You will definitely learn something, but $1600 worth..hard to say.

In my case, i have received 0 value out of courses, and have learned most of what i know from photography podcasts. They have given me the theory, which I can then practice on my own time. I also research online and youtube have a wealth of information on photography..particularly portrait and lighting stuff.

Then I post stuff up here of course for critique.

I think with the right course I could improve even faster, the trick is finding that course. But I feel you'd be better off learning the basics on your own, then spending the money on a course on somtehing more specific. ie Portraiture. I know that might be hard being in Cairns, but perhaps there is something you can do online.

[Cookster670]

As mentioned in the other posts, you're way beyond this course. I have not looked or tried but have heard very good things about scott Kelby training. Might be worth checking it out. They have lots of different online courses


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[sejac]

I've thought about this, and discussed it with a few other photographers, and they all agree - don't. Too much money, better spent on lenses etc.

A course like this may be absolutely great, and I'm sure it is, but it's no 'silver bullet', no substitute for practice and experience learnt over time. It won't provide an instant solution to being a photographer.

Let's be honest. Photography is not rocket science. Buy some books, go on-line, team up as an assistant with someone local and shoot, shoot shoot. Make yourself available, volunteer to do shoots for community groups, local businesses, record local events. Go out and have fun! That's how you'll learn and improve, and soon you'll be giving the course to others.

Charles

[JJdubble]

Just did the course with Peter Brown....It was amazing. I would highly recommend it!!

[Scottymc]

You should look into tafe see if they run up there. It is alot cheaper than this.
JJdubble - What were the things you learnt from the course and what level of photographer do you think you are? Surely there was some highlights?

[Glyn]

The good thing about digital is that you can play till your heart's content....stuff up dozens of pics and it doesn't really cost you a cent. Practice makes perfect. With film you didn't want to stuff up any as the cost became prohibitive. If I had $1600 to spare it would go on a new lens.

[gerry]

One thing to remember now is: there is money to be made by teaching the armies of newbies with DSLR's so there is alot of people jumping on the bandwagon. I personally would only consider a course at this cost if it included things like a trip to certain locations or access to models and studios etc.

Take your time in deciding, maybe get a good book (recent release) and start there.

I had a quick look thru your flickr stream, you do alot of portraits and family shots, make sure whatever course you do covers what photography you currently do and possibly what else you would like to get into.

On a side note, you have some awesome locations up there in FNQ I would pay good money to go up there and do some photography :)

good luck

[plusnq]

PM sent Manda