Photography Courses

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Hey everyone,
I'm looking at taking a course to help me start taking some better photographs.

I don't really know anything about things like F-number, shutter speed, and ISO other than that they exist, so I guess I'm looking for a really basic intro course.

I found an intro to DSLR cameras at Mount Royal, and was hoping some folks here would have some insight into that course, or others that might be available.
Thanks

[Regulator75]

I've heard good things about that course.
I think they offer a couple more advanced courses too.

Read photo forums, basic books, learn composition, lighting, framing, depth of field and most of all shoot, shoot, shoot and shoot some more.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Just start shooting. Don't be afraid to fiddle with your camera. Play around with the settings, and click your camera off automatic, and never ever go back to it. Play with the ISO, shutter speed etc.

Don't be afraid to take a bad picture.

Take the course if you want, but for me.. I just played around.

[Bean]

I took a number of courses through SAIT and have had a great experience with them. There is an introductory course that was really well done. I think it was 6 or 7 courses for about $100.

Direct link is here: http://sait.ca/cometosait/continuing...tificate.shtml


If you buy a new camera from The Camera Store, they'll give you a free 2 or 3 hour weekend lesson on all of the things that you had listed as well. A great way to get your feet wet with all of the terms.

[bc-chris]

^^^ i was going to say 'check with the camera store'

i bought a 2x extender the last time i was in calgary from the camera store - they were super knowledgeable and really easy to talk to.

i'm not sure what kind of camera you're planning on buying - i've got a canon and found i learned a ton from www.photography-on-the.net - it's a canon forum - lots of great advice on the forum.

[Scotian Lotion]

I would skip paying for courses unless you want to get in to studio photography or something like that.

The best online resource that I have found, to explain all the basics and even lots of advanced stuff, is Adorama TV's channel on YouTube.

Find that and click on the Digital Photography 1 on 1 playlist, hosted by Mark Wallace and start watching.
The first few episodes are on Snapfactory's channel but most of them are on Adorama TV.

Adorama TV also feature a host named Bryan Peterson. Watch his stuff too. He gives tips on some more creative shooting and composition ideas.

Once you know what the exposure triangle is (Shutter speed, aperture, ISO) and how they work together you'll be on your way.
Then learn the correct use of single of automatic focus points, and single auto focus mode vs continuous auto focus mode and things will come together a little more.

Between those YouTube channels and your user manual you will learn as much as you will in any course.
And as was already suggested... Drag yourself out there and SHOOT!
If the photos look bad or things look off, check the exif data, figure what you did wrong and get out, try again and keep it fun.

[Bigtime]

All of this pretty much applies to DSLR's:

[edn88]

I took the SAIT certificate courses - enjoyed most of them.

Good thing about the courses is that you get some assignments and that helps in focusing on shooting stuff you might not have otherwise shot.

[ricosuave]

http://www.michaelthementor.com/

http://www.mavenforums.com/

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

All of this pretty much applies to DSLR's:

"Try to keep your light meter at 0" and "use high ISO during nighttime" as blanket statements might to more harm than good.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by edn88

I took the SAIT certificate courses - enjoyed most of them.

Good thing about the courses is that you get some assignments and that helps in focusing on shooting stuff you might not have otherwise shot.

To me this is valuable. Some people are really good at getting out there and challenging themselves. Others are good at getting out there and taking the same types of pictures over and over again (I fall into this category far too often). I like having a project or specific goal given to me to mix things up.

[Regulator75]

Another little challenge is to only bring one prime lens for a shoot;
10mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm or even a 300mm. What ever ya got.

Of course it helps to have more than a just a couple kit lens to achieve this.

No zooming, use your legs and eyes to setup the shots.
Plus by using one focal length, it forces you to look at things differently.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by SebC

"Try to keep your light meter at 0" and "use high ISO during nighttime" as blanket statements might to more harm than good.

True, but for a complete beginner it does help explain in a very easy way what those things are.

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Another little challenge is to only bring one prime lens for a shoot;
10mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm or even a 300mm. What ever ya got.

Of course it helps to have more than a just a couple kit lens to achieve this.

No zooming, use your legs and eyes to setup the shots.
Plus by using one focal length, it forces you to look at things differently.

I hope to finally get my first prime lens for Christmas, looking forward to it.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by edn88

I took the SAIT certificate courses - enjoyed most of them.

Good thing about the courses is that you get some assignments and that helps in focusing on shooting stuff you might not have otherwise shot.

I also took one at SAIT, many years ago.

I agree that one great value of taking a course over just reading the information is that have to take a variety of photos in your assignments.

Another advantage is the opportunity to discuss your photos with the instructor and the others in the class. The instructor of the class I took worked for the Herald full-time and taught at SAIT for extra money, so he had a lot of good examples to show us and offered a lot of good advice.

When I took the class, digital SLRs were very new to the market and very expensive, so the class was still film-based, which makes it tough because you don't see your results right away. The great thing with the advances in digital technology now is that you can take 100s or 1000s of photos, trying all sorts of settings, and you don't have to write down what settings you used (because they're saved in the file info) or worry about the cost of buying and developing film.

I don't know what it costs now, but the class I took was $200 for, I think, 6 - 3 hour classes once a week (plus the cost of film and developing, which isn't an issue anymore). I thought I got good value out of it.


Probably the most important thing to know about photography is that you'll probably take dozens, if not hundreds, of mediocre photos for every one that turns out perfectly. The mark of a good photographer is knowing to not show people the ones that didn't turn out.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Thanks everyone.
Lots of good things to consider.
I've got a couple friends who are pretty savy with this sort of thing, so I'm thinking the best bet is to hit them up for advice over a few beers.
Thanks again

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I hope to finally get my first prime lens for Christmas, looking forward to it.

Not too sure which one you are looking at;
I'd suggest one of these lenses for your 1.6 DX Canon sensor.
Especially if you are going to be taking indoor shots of the family, the 50mm is just too long on the DX sensor.

Canon 35mm f/2

Canon 24mm f/2.8

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 - <<<< My choice for sure, much faster in lower light.

[Scotian Lotion]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Not too sure which one you are looking at;
I'd suggest one of these lenses...

What do you think of this lens?

Tokina AT-X M35 PRO DX 35mm f/2.8 Macro

I currently own a Tokina 11-16 and for the build quality alone, it's amazing. Made in Japan.
Among Sigma, Tamron and Tokina, Tokina definitely has the better build quality.

The only downside I see to this lens is that it's 'only' 2.8 and not 1.8 or 1.4.
BUT, it close focuses at 14 cm, which is a cool little bonus and it's made for DX.

I'm not shelling out $2k for the 1.4 Nikkor 35mm and the 1.8 Nikkor 35mm just feels so cheap in your hand.

For $300 US I might pull the trigger on this one. It has good user reviews, but I can't find any 'pro' reviews online that actually look at it in depth and no local retailers have this lens for me to try, as it's Special Order and it goes for $630 on this side of the border, lol

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by Scotian Lotion

What do you think of this lens?

Tokina AT-X M35 PRO DX 35mm f/2.8 Macro

I currently own a Tokina 11-16 and for the build quality alone, it's amazing. Made in Japan.
Among Sigma, Tamron and Tokina, Tokina definitely has the better build quality.

The only downside I see to this lens is that it's 'only' 2.8 and not 1.8 or 1.4.
BUT, it close focuses at 14 cm, which is a cool little bonus and it's made for DX.

I'm not shelling out $2k for the 1.4 Nikkor 35mm and the 1.8 Nikkor 35mm just feels so cheap in your hand.

For $300 US I might pull the trigger on this one. It has good user reviews, but I can't find any 'pro' reviews online that actually look at it in depth and no local retailers have this lens for me to try, as it's Special Order and it goes for $630 on this side of the border, lol

I also have the Tokina 11-16mm, great superwide.
The Tokina 35mm is good, though @ f/2.8 it's not fast enough for my likings.
I'd much rather the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 - focus is fast and for the price you can't beat it.
Just because it's light doesn't mean it's cheap.

It has the metal mount, none of my lenses have a plastic mount,
I've put the 35mm through it's paces over the past 2 years and it hasn't let me down.

Check out the 35mm shots here.

[SebC]

The Nikkor 35mm 1.8 is a good lens, but I don't find it particularly useful. I get better subject isolation at the long end of my 18-200 3.5-5.6, and 35mm is too long for the indoor events where I'd love to have the extra two stops. Forget about using it at a social event - if there's anyone with a point-and-shoot, you can be assured that they will stand in your way.

I know a lot of people love primes and tell you to get the shot by moving around, and it's useful as an exercise, but you have way more freedom to get the composition you want if you combine moving around with your legs. The key is to avoid using the zoom simply because you are too lazy to move - a prime will do that for you, but so will your mind if you use it right.

[Zevo]

I love my Nikkor 35mm 1.8. Very sharp and a great price.