For my birthday last year, my family all chipped in and got me the Canon Rebel XSI. I love it! But I have owned it for almost 10 months and I still don't use the camera to it's full potential.
I want to take some photography classes, but the classes that I find just don't seem to fit into my schedule. Also, all my friends who have a DSLR and who have taken classes all tell me that the classes are not worth it.
So for all of you out there with DSLR's. Did you take photography classes? is it worth it? if you didn't take classes, how did you learn to use your camera to it's full potential?
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I want to take some photography classes, but the classes that I find just don't seem to fit into my schedule. Also, all my friends who have a DSLR and who have taken classes all tell me that the classes are not worth it.
So for all of you out there with DSLR's. Did you take photography classes? is it worth it? if you didn't take classes, how did you learn to use your camera to it's full potential?
If you haven't had a chance yet, join in on my lovely giveaway!
19 comments:
I'm just like you! I have the same exact camera as you that I got 2 years ago and like you, I don't think I've used it to my full potential. I really want to get better at shooting manually and I've heard photography classes teaches you just that and more.
I eagerly want to take a class but I feel like it never fits into my schedule.
If you have extra time, you definitely should take it!
Hi Sweetie pie! I vote for your signing up for a photog class. Or if you don't want to, pick up this book; Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's a great book/tool for learning to shoot in manual. If that doesn't work, then definitely try a class. ;) I'm still hoping to upgrade and join the DSLR community... maybe the camera fairy will surprise me one on my bday.. just around the corner! ;)
Hope you are doing great! I've been sooo busy.. but it's feels good to be busy.
xx Love & Aloha
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I took photography classes all through college. The basic structure of them was to teach us the basics of the camera, then give us oodles of assignments that made us practice what we knew. I pretty much learned from shooting as much as I possibly could :) I can give you some ideas for assignments if you want! OR jpgmag.com does photo challenges that are pretty cool.
So basically, I live by the old saying "practice makes perfect"
Oh! That's the camera I'm saving for...what a perfectly lovely gift! I've never taken any classes and I only use a point and shoot. Sometimes, I think that with all the info to hold in for photography classes, you sometimes lose the reason for photography--that it is to see and hold beauty in the everyday. Just my rant.
<3,
--Hannah
What a beautiful blog! I'm so thrilled to find the good ones!
I did take a lot of photo classes in school...nothing to do with dslr training but I'd love to learn...don't have a good camera but it's definitely on my wish list!
-renee
Scott took a course through Vancouver Photo Workshops. He really enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. http://www.vancouverphotoworkshops.com/workshops/intro-to-digital.php It is kind of expensive though and late at night...
I actually think it depends on your tutor you get, some are really good and show you tonnes of examples of photos, where to point your camera etc.., ways to use your camera, programmes to mess around with your photos but then you have those that are so laid back and just set you a topic to go off and experiment with. Its maybe worth asking your friends what the tutors were like where they studied.
The best thing to do is read your manual, it sounds boring but when you actually sit down with it and your camera whizzing through what it says you'll be like oh I didn't know I could do this or that and you'll find yourself testing it out.
hi jozen! awww you have such a nice camera but haven't used it yet?? what lens do you have? those are usually more important than the body of the camera so make sure you have a good one!
i would definitely suggest reading books or taking classes to get more familiar w/ the controls of the camera. i actually took a photog class awhile back and the instructor was not very good so i cancelled it. then i picked up and took another class to learn about the basics. and now i feel like my photography is like the same all the time so now i want to take another class more geared about composition, exposure etc since i know a little of the basics now... but i still have SOO much to learn!! haha i'm not sure i was helpful at all, but i can't wait to see your photography!! =) and get some nice lenses!!
mm I'm not too experienced with my dslr either - I kind of just point and shoot, hahaha. it's terrible, but I get the pictures that I want. however, it would be nice to learn more. i'm not sure if photography classes are necessary though - ask some friends who know more about it?
that's so funny you posted about your camera because i'm just starting to look for one. i want to learn photography and i'm not sure what camera to get! so i think i'm going to sign up for a class - if i can find time!
I wish I had some type of advice for this. I know my friend just learnt things herself. I guess she looked up tutorials and asked questions from other photographers.
Unless you find a fantastic class they might not be worth it....Have fun with your camera though. That's a wonderful present!
A photography course can be worthwhile depending on what you're looking for. But you might want to try one at an art college vs. a regular school. Also, maybe look online and see if there's a camera club in your area. Good luck:)
i took a basic photography class but that was a freebie included when i bought my dslr. the lessons were okay, was taught of the functions of all those little buttons on the camera..but after a while i dont remember all of them techniques and terminologies anymore. probably because i only bought my dslr because i want to take sharper pictures compared to compact digicams. im also a bit lazy to practice. I do play around with the settings sometimes but i still usually go for the auto modes.
my suggestion, if you can study the basics yourself from the net or from youtube, do that first.
the thing im happy the most about that class was the friends i gained after. we sometimes meet up to do shoots but rarely since we all have different work schedules.
i took a basic photography class but that was a freebie included when i bought my dslr. the lessons were okay, was taught of the functions of all those little buttons on the camera..but after a while i dont remember all of them techniques and terminologies anymore. probably because i only bought my dslr because i want to take sharper pictures compared to compact digicams. im also a bit lazy to practice. I do play around with the settings sometimes but i still usually go for the auto modes.
my suggestion, if you can study the basics yourself from the net or from youtube, do that first.
the thing im happy the most about that class was the friends i gained after. we sometimes meet up to do shoots but rarely since we all have different work schedules.
wow, i totally missed this post! i took a few photog classes because it came with my camera but i have learned so much more via the internet and a couple of books that i have. photographing your family and understanding exposure are great books to help get you started. i agree with sandy that it's the lenses that you have is what's important. i've been thinking about taking a few online classes but not sure what and which one. i'm also on a lot of flickr groups and everyone has been so helpful with questions that i have. hope that helps! looking forward to your budding photography captures! have a loveLee day my friend!
I'm not a fan of classes much. Practice, practice, practice!!! Read your manual and try to do everything it tells you how to do.
If all else fails, put it in the box and mail it to ME! LOL! ;o)
ive just bought a dslr and im contemplating classes too. let me know what you do!
I could not find your email but I have your My Favorite Things swap parnter. please email me: lauren51990 AT aol DOT com
well, i don't use digital cameras or at least any for my professional work, but a lot of times a good place to find ANY camera help (as i did for polaroid facts and whatnot) is through the forums on flickr. whenever i have a question or issue, i'll google it and most of the time an article from flickr will pop up. so, i would go to flickr and search the forums for whatever tips you'd like. even the most odd questions i will find help for so don't hesitate to type in something you think might not be in there. :]
- L
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