At Last - Taken the Plunge !

Daz R1

Well at long last after getting my DSLR in Aug last ive decided to do a course,starts in Feb, this one to be exact
http://www.galleryofphotography.ie/courses/digintro.html

Its mainly due to wanting to know more about getting "the pic" or even how to set the camera up to try and get it and its also mainly due to the amazing pics ye guys put up !
So just wanted to know from anyone thats done this course or any other course is there any tips for these courses i.e stuff to bring ,besides the camera ??

Oh ive the 450d with standard lense and a 70-300 ,but am looking to get a nifty fifty and a speedlite 430ii in the next few weeks .

Cheers

dan759

Definitely bring a notebook and pen.. Even if they give handouts it still gives you a chance to write down explanations from your perspective. It makes it easier when looking back at notes.

Other than that just bring whatever the course reccomends Best of luck!

Pinarello

Daz R1 wrote: »

Well at long last after getting my DSLR in Aug last ive decided to do a course,starts in Feb, this one to be exact
http://www.galleryofphotography.ie/courses/digintro.html

Its mainly due to wanting to know more about getting "the pic" or even how to set the camera up to try and get it and its also mainly due to the amazing pics ye guys put up !
So just wanted to know from anyone thats done this course or any other course is there any tips for these courses i.e stuff to bring ,besides the camera ??

Oh ive the 450d with standard lense and a 70-300 ,but am looking to get a nifty fifty and a speedlite 430ii in the next few weeks .

Cheers

Fair play to you.I'm in the same boat as yourself.I'm going to do a groups course with Peter Cox this year as i really want to know how to try and do things right.Learning how to use the camera properly and trying to learn Photoshop is going to be a trying few months...:)

Nanoc

Anyone been on this course and can recommend it? would like to try something like this!

melekalikimaka

To be honest you'll learn more here than anywhere. Unless you go down darkroom or studio lighting route

Daz R1

melekalikimaka wrote: »

To be honest you'll learn more here than anywhere. Unless you go down darkroom or studio lighting route

And I have done ,Ive learned loads on here, but im more of a "doing" than "reading" person,show me how to do something once -I'll never forget ! And in the future Studio lighting is defo on the cards.

Nanoc = Anyone been on this course and can recommend it? would like to try something like this!

Ive done a fair bit of searching on this forum and most of the results point to these course's ,yes theres otheres but for me it was location and cost that clinched it

decsramble

I did that course. It is ok, got me familiar with Photoshop but it is only an introduction so dont come away expecting to be a photoshop wizard. Personally I dont do much photoshop work so for me this was probably the least useful course in the gallery, the two darkroom ones were great however.

Bring a notebook and a memory key with photos on it. You will be editing and saving changes so you will want to bring the photos home when you are finished.

Daz R1

decsramble wrote: »

I did that course. It is ok, got me familiar with Photoshop but it is only an introduction so dont come away expecting to be a photoshop wizard. Personally I dont do much photoshop work so for me this was probably the least useful course in the gallery, the two darkroom ones were great however.

Bring a notebook and a memory key with photos on it. You will be editing and saving changes so you will want to bring the photos home when you are finished.

Althogh Im interested in editing ,Its more geting to know the camera ,Im an "auto" whore and want to get out of that ,what other course's besides the dark room ones did would ya recomend ?

Ballyman

melekalikimaka wrote: »

To be honest you'll learn more here than anywhere. Unless you go down darkroom or studio lighting route

I agree. You'll learn way more going out practising yourself. I only picked up a camera in July and was intent on doing a course but never got round to it but I wouldn't bother with one now, not saying I could do with one though!:)

The best advice anyone gave me was to get "Understanding Exposure" book and then take hundreds of photos at different settings to understand it afterwards.

It's simple after that

decsramble

Daz R1 wrote: »

Althogh Im interested in editing ,Its more geting to know the camera ,Im an "auto" whore and want to get out of that ,what other course's besides the dark room ones did would ya recomend ?

If you are looking to just learn how to use the camera and move it out of Auto than the Creative Approaches course would be better than the digital photography one. That will introduce you to the basics of camera usage F-stops, shutter speeds etc as well as composition and the like plus when I did it on the last night we went out with tripods and took some night time shots. I'd say the course is a little basic if you have knowledge already but if like me you prefer to learn through example then it's good as a getting started and jumping off point to learning more. Over time you will learn more from books, friends and the internet.

Daz R1

decsramble wrote: »

If you are looking to just learn how to use the camera and move it out of Auto than the Creative Approaches course would be bettter.

Will prob move on to that after

There should be a sticky/poll of what books people have and then you could go in and vote on them ..... just a taught ,maybe its been done

ThOnda

We already have such thread with recommended literature, not to repeat the same Understanding Exposure again and again and with even more pleasure again, because it is a very good read. Even my mother understood that!