A Passion For Photography – What Makes the Difference?

October 5th, 2010 by | No Comments | Filed in Article

At one point or another, all beginning photography students (digital or otherwise) have to ask themselves one question. What makes the difference? Why is his work better than mine, or why is mine better than hers? I have been a Photographer for over 30 years. I have had 5 or 6 photography courses in my life (New York Institute of Photography, US Military Photography Training, etc.) and by far the most useful and enlightening training I ever had in photography, was NOT in photography.

Photography as a physical skill is not that hard to learn. Photography as a creative passion on the other hand, takes more than knowing the mechanics. The greatest influence on my photography career did NOT come from photography training, but instead can from ART training. As a graphic art major in college I learned things like: leading lines, composition, balance, repetition, the rule of thirds, etc. As you apply these types of lessons to your photography, you start to pull away from the pack.

Now a days, anybody can pickup a quality camera at a low price at places like Wal-Mart or Best Buy, but that does not make them a photographer. The photography Masters like Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Dorothea Lange, or Imogene Cunningham all had something in common, they knew how to visualize. They could all “See” creatively. I believe that comes from actually understanding “art” concepts and applying them to your photography. (more…;)

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Are There Any Free Courses Offered in Photography?

September 12th, 2010 by | No Comments | Filed in Article

I am a research writer by profession. A few years back, as part of a regular exercise to enhance my skill portfolio, I decided to learn photography. I felt that it could be an added feather to my cap of existing achievements. I did set out on a mission to find an apt photography school. A photography school that will not wipe me off my years of savings as well as deliver the goods as promised. Did I find one? That is part of another story. 

However, there are a few key findings which I thought I need to share with people around so that you don’t end up committing the same set of mistakes that I did. For instance,

1) I highly recommend photography as a career path only for those with an artistic sense and see the beauty beyond what your eyes can see. (more…;)

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The Effects of Digital on Photography and Photography Education

September 11th, 2010 by | No Comments | Filed in Article

As working photographers how would you describe the effect of Digital in your photography career?

The consensus was that the greatest benefit is that the moment you take the picture you know whether you have the image or not! On a large budget shoot it is incredible to have the client look at final takes from a shoot before they leave the studio. But also to Photojournalist, Portrait Photographer or on Weddings the benefit is immense. Other benefit were the total control of the image once in the studio, the option to become the retoucher and to not have to outsource. Any Photographer can layer any number of layers and images to create any kind of Photograph. Ten years ago that was not possible without a very large budget or with the help of a professional retoucher. The major problem we agreed on is the enormous and never ending learning curves. and the amount of time required in front of the computer. For any educators it is a difficult situation. Educators have to know and have gone through Photoshop CS to CS2 to CS3, to Adobe Lightroom, and Apple Aperture. But also may include software such as Capture Pro, iView and many other.

What other comments do you have about Digital? (more…;)

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Photography School – 5 Tips To Pick The Right School

September 5th, 2010 by Novi | No Comments | Filed in Article Photography, Tips

There are a lot of people who seriously consider photography as a career. There are many who feel that engaging their life in taking pictures is a fulfilling experience. But this venture requires a sound education in photography.

Just like any school, it is essential to select a photography school that will meet all the needs and requirements of the students for a good quality education. Here are some tips that will help you select a photography school that suits your needs:

- Look beyond
While choosing your school, you should be able to see the bigger picture. You need to consider your general goals pertaining to your career before selecting a photography school. There are a number of tracks that chosen in the photography field. If you want to involve yourself artistically through photography, there are a number of subjects you could choose that will facilitate this. In case you are more commercially inclined, there are a number of schools you could choose from that offer business courses along with the photography lessons. (more…;)

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