What photography/software courses do you think are needed?

digitalbeginner

I'm looking for suggestions from forum members for new digi cam/photoshop/elements courses. What do you think is needed? No matter how off the wall a suggestion might be, I'd like to hear it anyway.

For example, Photoshop [€833] is the bees knees when it comes to image manipulation, but not many people have it because it's so expensive, so would courses in Elements [€90] (which is at least 75% of photoshop anyway) be a better option?

Or what about a course on Digital Workflow, concentrating on the technicals of taking the image from camera to print with consistent results?

Please let me know your thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

Morlar

digitalbeginner wrote:

I'm looking for suggestions from forum members for new digi cam/photoshop/elements courses. What do you think is needed? No matter how off the wall a suggestion might be, I'd like to hear it anyway.

For example, Photoshop [€833] is the bees knees when it comes to image manipulation, but not many people have it because it's so expensive, so would courses in Elements [€90] (which is at least 75% of photoshop anyway) be a better option?

No - photoshop cs2 is not the same as elements. You wont get the same interest in people investing in training for elements as you might in a balanced comprehensive photoshop course that doesnt waste ANY time on getting pictures from a camera or how to click on file-save.

You might be surprised at the amount of people who have access to photoshop.

digitalbeginner wrote:

Or what about a course on Digital Workflow, concentrating on the technicals of taking the image from camera to print with consistent results?

Name one person who needs the part about getting the image from the camera ? That would put me off right there - the idea of paying for training where some of the time is going to be spent covering the fisher-price level of things - it people pay for training they have a right to expect that it is relevant to their skill level.

digitalbeginner

Thanks Morlar. I see your point.

elven

Yup, I agree... no point in providing training that's limited to the functions of elements when in reality, most people do actually have CS/CS2 - I'd say it'd be easier to point out which sections don't apply if you only have elements and let the people decide whether it's worth upgrading

I've also been annoyed at the beginner level of most courses that do say "This is a USB cable, this is how you save an image" - but I would also say that the RAW process can be quite daunting (it was to me, and I'm a geek!!!) especially if you're not inclined to read up on things in google or just try it and see what happens. So an element of the RAW process would be useful, because even though you might know how to physically get your pictures onto the computer and do the RAW processing, you may not be doing it to the level where you get the best out of the pictures.

Does that make any sense at all?

antifuse

I would appreciate a course on RAW workflow alone, frankly. I'm not all that concerned about getting images from the camera or putting them out to print, as 99% of my shots just get uploaded to Flickr for sharing with family/friends/online critiquers.

I would also appreciate a range of CS2 courses. I find Photoshop courses are TREMENDOUSLY hard to find, and when you do find them, they're either outrageously expensive, or extremely basic, or extremely advanced. Nothing for the "I know the basics of layers and history and I can find the crop button, but I couldn't tell you what 'dodging and burning' means".

digitalbeginner

Thanks guys, this is great. Elven, you're making complete sense, Antifuse is saying something similar.

Score so far:
Photoshop 3 - Elements 0

Journey so far:
Digital workflow with Adobe Camera RAW processing using CS2 and going to the next step of levels, curves adjustment layers?

elven

Blending modes!!!!

Sorry I just thought of that when people were talking about layers. I think there's definite room for a course that just goes beyond the basics of layers and levels and the other main tools - but how do you use them WELL, and also in conjunction with the other stuff?

Morlar

Something that covers curves, levels, duo and tritones too. Also channels layers the usual stuff but in enough detail to make it all 'come together' - not such a tall order after all ! hehe.

Good luck with it btw - I am still thinking about the studio night one in october - which reminds me - will that one have a model attending ? and if so would it be say - 15 x photographers and one model or would there be any real time one on one as part of the studio course ?

FinoBlad

I'd like to do one of the digital imaging workshops by Guy Gowan. Cant find his website atm, so not 100% sure what the format is but think its aperature or lightroom / colour management / retouching / workflow.

5uspect

I mentioned this a few times before here but one more time can't hurt!
There are some great tutorials on everything you've discussed above on the Photoshop TV video podcast. Its by three guys from NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals). It assumes you know the very basics basics and then goes onto show you how to use the different features such as channels, image modes, blending etc to create some really cool effects. Also one of the guys also does a quick 60 second daily video podcast called Adobe Photoshop CS2 Killer Tips which is great for workflow tips and general program usage hints. Photoshop TV is about 30 mins long every week and can be quite entertaining too.
If you can't find them on itunes ask the googleweb - they've a website somewhere or other that has an eposide guide so you don't have to download all 40 or so half hour episodes.

Fionn

i suppose theres a need for different levels of photography courses
like Beginner, intermediate and advanced, i think it can be subdivided further into -
Creative: (composition, lighting, digital processing - not necessarily PS, workflow stuff, lightroom etc.) framing, albums etc.

Technical: Advanced Camera functions, lenses filters etc., aperture, shutter & exposure issues, Flash Photography, printing

and whats been said above

Fajitas!

Photoshop and Raw definitly.

A course on directing shoots I'm sure would be much appreciated too, but I'm not sure if that's your thing!

Printing is another one. From getting you colours set up to printing true monotone etc. Though I'm sure each wouldn't take long enough to be a course!

Fenster

I will fourth (or fifth?) a course of Photoshop. Torrents for Photoshop CS2 for both Mac and Windows have beeen consistently popular for a long, long while now, so its pretty easy to get a copy of it, if pirating is your thing.

Besides which, even as a Linux head I would be interested in it as the Gimp can do nearly all of what Photoshop can, once you translate the UI over.

Philistine

Whats wrong with a course in Photoshop elements ? Not everybody has photoshop CS/CS2 ! There are a lot of advanced features in elements, its not just for total beginners. If a company wants to provide a range of courses, why not run one for elements also ?