need recommendations on a photography course

fguihen

i know i can check google for courses on photography in dublin, but i want to do one that comes recommended so id like your recommendations. i want one that will teach me the photography basics, but is centered on digital, that explains the hardware side of things also, so that i will know how much zoom a lens will give me by the mm value on it.

i want to do this before i can justify buying a dslr. i live in the dundrum/ stillorgan area. something around there would be great, but im willing to go within reason ( along the green luas line) if a course is particularly good! please let me know your recommendations, or likewise, if a particular course is rubbish, let me know also so i can avoid it.

Thanks.

leinsterman

It sounds as if you are looking for something which deals with the basics ... in which case I can recommend one of the courses at the National Gallery of Photography in Temple Bar.

Glowing

fguihen wrote:

i know i can check google for courses on photography in dublin, but i want to do one that comes recommended so id like your recommendations. i want one that will teach me the photography basics, but is centered on digital, that explains the hardware side of things also, so that i will know how much zoom a lens will give me by the mm value on it.

i want to do this before i can justify buying a dslr. i live in the dundrum/ stillorgan area. something around there would be great, but im willing to go within reason ( along the green luas line) if a course is particularly good! please let me know your recommendations, or likewise, if a particular course is rubbish, let me know also so i can avoid it.

Thanks.

Don't take this the wrong way, but those details can easily be found from a book - you might be better off getting a good book and reading it from cover to cover, then when you've improved a bit and can take a photography course which will help you with taking better shots.

I found when looking for courses like that, that they tend to be either really really basic (i.e here's a digital camera, you connect it to the computer like this etc) or the other extreme - expensive courses or workshops for people who really know what they're doing. It's difficult to get something inbetween. Also you might have to have a DSLR for the course too - there's no point doing a photography course without a camera!

If you're really interested in developing your skills, why not buy the Canon 350d kit? It's very well priced now since the 400d came out, you could pick up the kit for about 500 quid. The best way to learn is by actually using the camera, reading up on the basics and practice practice practice!

I'd recommend Bryan Peterson's 'Understanding Exposure' - an excellent book , easy to read and it explains everything really clearly with some really cool photos too!

gandalf

I did the Dublin Camera Club one earlier this year and would recommend it. It gave me a good understanding of the basics and also the chance to hear the opinions and see the photos of some very good photographers.

fguihen

well i currently have a panasonic lumix fz7,which has a 36mm-432mm zoom lens, which, althouth is still only a point and shoot, is quite versatile, and until i can justify getting something better, i wont. i want to outgrow this camera first. yea, although no way near expert, i am well above "this is a camera, this is a usb cable bla bla bla. il look for a good book. thanks guys. any recommendatons on the book? i have one but it doesnt give much on lenses, and how magnification relates to focal length.

regarding camera, i really really want the nikon D40x. It just feels nice in my hand, right size and weight.

RCNPhotos

Regarding courses, what kind of time are you willing to put into it?

thebaz

fguihen wrote:

any recommendatons on the book? i have one but it doesnt give much on lenses, and how magnification relates to focal length.

regarding camera, i really really want the nikon D40x. It just feels nice in my hand, right size and weight.

as regards books , Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson , is highly recomended here (particularly Rymus) -- i'm half way through it -- and i'm an incredibly slow reader !!

fguihen

RCNPhotos wrote:

Regarding courses, what kind of time are you willing to put into it?

course wise, i was hoping for something that would have us in a classroom maby 2 or so hours a week, in the evenings. I would do any photoshop work at home and what not. i think a book, or a good browse on the web will locate any info i require for the time being though.

Calina

Based on what you said, I think you might find the Gallery of PHotography digital imaging course interesting - but the emphasis there is on post processing rather than taking photographs.

I have a very good book on exposure by Chris Weston (I think) which is pretty informative too.

rahtkennades

OP,
if you're looking for a book that has technical detail as well as photographic know-how, have a look at Michael Langford's Basic Photography. I have the 8th edition, it has a section on digital technology as well.

Flower Girl

www.elsevier.com is a website selling books published by the Focal Press.
This is the publisher of most serious photographic books including the Langford series which are the textbooks used in most 3rd level college courses. All updated for digital of course.
There are lots of other great books there too on photography, software and techniques...

Books are definitely a good start...

FG