Beginner Photography Classes in Dublin?

A Neurotic

Recently took the leap and bought an Olympus mirrorless, looking to get my head around how to actually use it and came across a few places offering beginner classes:

Dublin Photography School 14-hour course
- pricey at 280

The Photo Academy also have a 14-hour course
- equally pricey at 280

The Darkroom in Smithfield offering 12 hours
- still expensive at 200 but location-wise would suit me the best

Dublin Camera Club 13.5 hour course
- looking like a winner at 110

Leaning towards the camera club based on the huge price difference but just wondering if anyone has any advise or wisdom on any of these these, or other options generally?

Thanks

Bluefoam

I did the Dublin Camera Club classes recently.

Turned up on the first night, there was over 40 in the group, including allot of people who hadn't signed up. The room was packed and uncomfortable. The class consisted of a slide show, which was prepared a long time ago, referenced old style cameras and equipement & didn't relate to modern usage. The photos in the presentation were visually poor & we were told constantly "this is what not to do"... I didn't stick around after the second class & felt it was a big waste of money.

I'm still interested in learning, but a seminar environment like that is not a compelling experience for me. I'd rather spend some one on one time with someone knowledgable.

uck51js9zml2yt

Bluefoam wrote: »

I did the Dublin Camera Club classes recently.

Turned up on the first night, there was over 40 in the group, including allot of people who hadn't signed up. The room was packed and uncomfortable. The class consisted of a slide show, which was prepared a long time ago, referenced old style cameras and equipement & didn't relate to modern usage. The photos in the presentation were visually poor & we were told constantly "this is what not to do"... I didn't stick around after the second class & felt it was a big waste of money.

I'm still interested in learning, but a seminar environment like that is not a compelling experience for me. I'd rather spend some one on one time with someone knowledgable.

You missed out by not staying. I did the course and then joined the club.
Novice workshops every 2 weeks. Meetings with speakers every week.
I learnt so much in that year and placed in a competition soon after the course finished.

CabanSail

The DCC Course is a very good course on Photography. If you look at the syllabus it covers a lot of ground and is excellent value for money. The option to join the club at a huge discount is worth taking up too if you really want to progress your photography.

Having said that it is NOT a workshop to specifically instruct on the operation of the particular camera you have just bought. There is opportunity during the course to spend some time with experienced photographers who can give advice on the operation of your camera but the overall course is meant to teach photography.

You can get instruction on your model of camera, and you can also RTFM too. This is often less useful than the person seeking the course realises. Someone spending time one on one going through how to use all the functions on a particular model is actually of limited use when most people do not know WHEN and WHY to use the various features. Many things are there to sell cameras and are gimmicks. The sales people have been marketing cameras with the same guff for decades. Buy this camera and you will get great photos like this because this camera has "yfgbsbssfsgfsfogsg". It was not true 50 years ago and is not true today.

Consistent good photographs are a combination of knowledge of the photographic process, skill and imagination. You need the tools to do this but they are not the first priority.

The DCC Course is intended to give you the knowledge of the photographic process. This takes time and effort.

magicbastarder

Bluefoam wrote: »

didn't relate to modern usage

the basics haven't changed really, so i'm curious as to what was out of date about it?

CabanSail

I know the lecture to which you referred.

As stated above the fundamentals have not changed so it is not out of date.

The basics go back to the Camera Obscura and hundreds of years. The more modern Recording Camera has only a few parts added to the Camera Obscura, namely a Sensor (Chemical or Digital) a variable Aperture, a variable Shutter and a Focus Mechanism. All these parts have improved over the years but still perform the same functions. They were in the equipment Ansell Adams used to make his images and they are still in the top of the line DSLR's today as well as the camera in your phone.

If you want to learn about Four Stroke Engines you first learn Suck Squeeze Bang Blow rather than study the function and programming of Engine Management Computers. Photography is the same.

endacl

Honestly, OP. Those courses are a bit of a swizz. You won’t learn anything you couldn’t get just as easily from any introduction to photography book. And join your local club, where you’ll find a wealth of information available from people who know what they’re talking about. For free.

Edit: If you go down the ‘buying a book’ route, get this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Photography-Book-Part/dp/0321934946/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1547777527&sr=8-7&keywords=Scott+Kelby

CabanSail

The Book I recommend is Mastering Exposure

Hardtochoose

https://www.udemy.com/photography-masterclass-complete-guide-to-photography/

Has anyone done this? It looks good from the videos.

uck51js9zml2yt

CabanSail wrote: »

I know the lecture to which you referred.

As stated above the fundamentals have not changed so it is not out of date.

The basics go back to the Camera Obscura and hundreds of years. The more modern Recording Camera has only a few parts added to the Camera Obscura, namely a Sensor (Chemical or Digital) a variable Aperture, a variable Shutter and a Focus Mechanism. All these parts have improved over the years but still perform the same functions. They were in the equipment Ansell Adams used to make his images and they are still in the top of the line DSLR's today as well as the camera in your phone.

If you want to learn about Four Stroke Engines you first learn Suck Squeeze Bang Blow rather than study the function and programming of Engine Management Computers. Photography is the same.

There are none so blind as those who will not see!

I couldn't of put the benefits of the course any better. The advantages of a course over a book or online tutorial is of course the ability to ask a question and be given practical hands on experience.
And of course there is access to paurics club workshops for free which in my opinion were worth the time going to. Nothing like having a critique of your photos from the professionals.

sorrento100

I'm a complete novice photographer bought a Panasonic LUMIX few years ago with intention of learning how to properly take photos but alas I haven't done anything to date. I've been looking at courses with the;

https://www.photographyacademy.ie/

What I'm not sure about is whether it would be possible to learn the art of photography from a home study course as I can't really commit to travelling to Dublin for the course. Can anyone advise please?

CabanSail

sorrento100 wrote: »

What I'm not sure about is whether it would be possible to learn the art of photography from a home study course as I can't really commit to traveling to Dublin for the course. Can anyone advise please?

IMHO the best way to learn is to join your local camera club. Then you get out what you put in. Ireland has many fabulous clubs all over the country.