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Gallery of photography courses/workshops

  • 26-04-2007 9:40am
    #1
    Morlar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,273 ✭✭✭


    Just a quick question - has anyone here completed any gallery of photography courses ?

    If so which ones and were they any good/how would you rate the instructor?

    I am thinking of doing one but they arent cheap and I would hate to pay that much non refundable money to find out they hired someone to teach it who has no practical experience/skills.


Comments

  • #2
    sineadw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,319 ✭✭✭sineadw


    I haven't taken any of their courses (yet) but Jeannie Wenham - one of the instructors there is a good friend of mine. She definitely knows her stuff and has a lot of experience. Some of her stuff is at http://www.myspace.com/jeannie_wenham

    She's been trying to get me in to do some stuff for months now. TBH i was a bit worried it'd all be basic "this is what aperture does" kind of stuff, but I had a big long (drunken) chat with her a few weeks ago and she assures me its not. If you let her (or whoever) know your level then I'm sure they'd work from there. You could always call in after the course some night and have a chat with the instructor before you sign up. You're right - it IS a lot of money to be forking out without being sure, and Jeannie at least is very approachable.

    Hope that helped. If you have any questions you want passed on I can give her a shout for you.


  • #3
    FreeAnd..
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,150 ✭✭✭FreeAnd..


    TBH i was a bit worried it'd all be basic "this is what aperture does" kind of stuff, but I had a big long (drunken) chat with her a few weeks ago and she assures me its not.

    thats exactly what it is, that and looking at newspapers and photocopies of pictures from books...the last night is a bit practical but hardly worth the money. Good if you have never held a camera, Jeannie is pretty sound though. Maybe they run a more advanced course now?


  • #4
    Calina
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭Calina


    I did the digital photography one which is good from the point of view of not knowing anything at all about image processing prior to the fact. I found it very useful.

    that being said it's not a good one to go for if you want to learn more about composition and photography theory.


  • #5
    Morlar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,273 ✭✭✭Morlar


    I was thinking of this one http://galleryofphotography.ie/courses/studio.html - I did a search looking for the instructors homepage to try and check their work but couldn't find anything. Probably being paranoid about it - just that there are some real chancers about the place.


  • #6
    FreeAnd..
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,150 ✭✭✭FreeAnd..


    looks a lot more useful...i'd definitely still be wary though. They might sound great on paper but maybe someone at a similar level to yourself who did that course might give you some better insight into the benefits.


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  • #7
    bovril
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,445 ✭✭✭bovril


    i did the black and white one in the darkroom about 3-4 years ago I think. It was worthwhile at the time because I hadn't a clue (some would say I still don't!!!). It was quite basic and it was 6 classes (I think), 4/5 of which were darkroom based. It was my first go at printing photos but again it was based on you not knowing anything about photography.


  • #8
    Benster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 657 ✭✭✭Benster


    I did that one myself years ago, found it very informative, even though I'd done dev & printing years before that in school. Had Pete Smith (?) as tutor, he's a sound guy. The course level was basic enough.


  • #9
    hot fuss
    Closed Accounts Posts: 421 ✭✭hot fuss


    Morlar wrote:
    I was thinking of this one http://galleryofphotography.ie/courses/studio.html - I did a search looking for the instructors homepage to try and check their work but couldn't find anything. Probably being paranoid about it - just that there are some real chancers about the place.

    Hi Morlar,

    The instructor for that course is Dave Monahan. He is a fantastic photographer, really knows his stuff, and works for the National Photographic Archive. I haven't done that course, but have heard that it is very good. It concentrates soley on studio portraiture though, so as long as you want to learn about studio lights, flash meters, both digital and film cameras - 35mm and medium format - then it would probably be worth your while.

    I would recommend calling Pete Smyth in the Gallery, telling him exactly what you want to learn and he will tell you honestly whether the course is for you or not. He's very nice and approachable.

    You're right to check things out because they are expensive. You do have to make sure the course you enroll on is teaching exactly what you want to learn and suitable for your level.

    Hope that helped!


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