Don't buy new kit - go on a course instead!

Manju69 · Apr 3, 2014

I love my NEX 6 and have been craving new lenses for it for months!... but I wanted to share how satisfying it was to spend £195 on a photography course instead of a new lens. What I learnt from the course will last me a lifetime (longer than the lens i bet!) and I had way more fun. I have posted a few samples from the course - all taken with the NEX 6 and either the 18-55 or the 35 prime. If you can sign onto a course near you - do it!. The course i did was "creative photography" at Gloucester University. I have captioned each picture with the theme. Still I do want a macro lens...

painting with light: 30 second exposure

Composition study - line and form

Diptych - wide and detail

Genres - Film Noir

Projects: impermanence

Projects: play of light

Food photography

bw7495 · Apr 3, 2014

Agreed - other than the initial expense of my camera and a prime lens to complement my kit - the money spent on twophotography classes was well worth it. It improved my understanding of photography and my gear far more than I imagined it would. It was also great for giving me a reason to just get out and shoot - the other great bang for the buck method to improve.

Great photos!

leafinsectman · Apr 3, 2014

Good job! I agree, definitely do a course if you're new to photography or just don't know what kinds of things you want to capture and how you want to capture them. It's so easy to get caught up on getting the latest gear and comparing camera/lens tests and things that I think some people forget to just go out there and capture something special. You've definitely taken some very nice pics so well done!

npires · Apr 3, 2014

Very cool photos! I wonder is there anything similar in London?

RonFrank · Apr 3, 2014

I spent years taking almost every photo course NVCC offered as well as running the Darkroom, and assisting. A great learning tool, a great way to share with others.

Studying film is a neat way to learn more about the photo roots, and getting involved with a club or class or university is very worthwhile.

Mel Snyder · Apr 3, 2014

So, so right. Two points:

1. We all can benefit from courses, no matter how many years/decades we have been shooting. The discipline of a course can productively focus us all

2. The course gave you assignments. We all can give ourselves assignments vs. simply going out and shooting.

Jefenator · Apr 3, 2014

Looks like you got your money's worth and then some!

--

Jeff Addicott

Explore Jeff Addicott’s 600 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

David28 · Apr 3, 2014

and you have presented here a strong body of work as well.

David

Alex 13 · Apr 3, 2014

There are other methods as well as a formal course, like dps weekly challenges for example. Researching methodology for each challenge, and submitting the "assignments" is a good way to learn.

Paying for a course you do get teachers who explain theory and methodology though, and as you've paid you're more likely to stick to it.

sriks · Apr 3, 2014

If there is nothing close to you or you can't find the money to join a class at the moment you could follow an online course like this

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www.reddit.com

Larnus · Apr 4, 2014

Maybe because I did graphic design & multimedia at university and learned everything technical by online manuals (lecturers always taught using archaic systems like Director when Flash was hip, or Softimage Eddy when After Effects was already big), I wouldn't spend my rather tight budget on a course.

There are plenty of free video sites with awesome tutorials, training websites and fine forums like this one where you can pick up ideas. There are also cool meetup groups where you can mix with like minded enthusiasts. 3 of my favourite lenses added together would cost the same as one of these courses!

Not saying I'm great, but I have a mate who took a year long course in photography and has even opened his own studio - and both him and others in our circle still think I take more interesting photos than he does.

I know gear talk can get tiring, but knowing your gear inside/out and the pros/cons of cameras/lenses are as much about photography as composition e.g. limitations of ISO, white balance, shutter speed etc.. If gear wasn't so important, we'd only think about using our mobile phones in this forum - although you can still take awesome pics with those these days.

Harbinder Marok · Apr 4, 2014

Hi, I hope you don't mind me asking and I genuinely would like to know how you feel that you are expressing yourself through these photos. Cheers.

CraigArnold · Apr 4, 2014

npires said:
Very cool photos! I wonder is there anything similar in London?

Lots.

You could try one of these for example: http://www.arts.ac.uk/csm/courses/s...s/media-arts/evening-and-weekend/photography/

DFPanno · Apr 4, 2014

…. but know that it is all online and most is free.

For paid coursework I reccommend Lynda.com.

Another great way to learn is to follow Flickr/500px, etc. and see what other people are doing. That is how the masters evolved their own work.

Manju69 · Apr 4, 2014

Harbinder Marok said:
Hi, I hope you don't mind me asking and I genuinely would like to know how you feel that you are expressing yourself through these photos. Cheers.

Hi - i was more showing what i did on the course rather than attempting to "express myself" Inevitably, as i look at them they express something of my interests and passions, but my intention was to stretch my skills and knowledge.

Manju69 · Apr 4, 2014

Thanks for all the tips, comments and appreciation. Our tutor was recommending entering competitions as a way of keeping motivated and inspired. I will do that and chase up some of the suggestions in your replies here.

1prime · Apr 4, 2014

Manju69 said:
Harbinder Marok said:

Hi, I hope you don't mind me asking and I genuinely would like to know how you feel that you are expressing yourself through these photos. Cheers.

Click to expand...

Hi - i was more showing what i did on the course rather than attempting to "express myself" Inevitably, as i look at them they express something of my interests and passions, but my intention was to stretch my skills and knowledge.

All the positive votes for your work here Manju, testify to how far your recent course helped you stretch to give your viewers new perspectives and new visual concepts. Isn't this what photography is supposed to be about? I so appreciate DPR, but frequently succumb to its prevalent message that gear makes great photos. Manju, you have successfully disproved that. Thanks, Don

Harbinder Marok · Apr 4, 2014

Appreciate the reply

pshojo · Apr 5, 2014

I am actually signed up for two class with a phototagrapher in Chicago in couple weeks when I visit. Main goal is to hopefully gain perspective on how to see people and everyday things differently. Hopefully it works well

Gato Amarillo · Apr 5, 2014

"Invest time before you spend money."

I don't always follow my own advice on that one, but when I do it almost always pays off.

If you can't find a course or workshop that suits you in your area there are any number of learning opportunities online -- many of them free or at minimal cost. Most photographers would see more real benefit from 20 hours spent on Lynda.com than from 20 hours worth of earnings spent on equipment.

Gato

Don't buy new kit - go on a course instead!

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