Going on a one day photography course

[Ari]

Just signed up to do this one day course:

http://www.goingdigital.co.uk/photographycourses/a...

Not sure what I'm going to learn, just feel I've hit a bit of a wall having grasped the basics and hoping it'll give me a lift. It's only £75 so even if I don't learn much, as long as I come away with something it'll be good.

Anyone done one, or anything similar?

[markmullen]

I did the Joe Cornish workshop last year, had a great day.

[ian in lancs]

That looks a great day

[Craikeybaby]

I've done one day course before (ones specialised in landscape photography) and found them to be much better than the 10 week college course I did when I first got a DSLR.

[andy-xr]

I've done a 2 day course before, it wasn't basics as such, it was related to portraits, expression, some lighting, finding ways to add mood and dynamic to what in essence should be a straightforward shot.

I learned a lot from it - my head was fried for a while afterwards because I was trying to cram everything into my next shoot and getting it wrong. When I sorted it out in my head and took the pressure off myself a bit it fell into place a bit more. I've used the skills since, but there were others on the same course who haven't moved forwards because they either don't want to, didn't get it or aren't comfortable with pushing themselves and their thought processes a bit

I think if I was looking for help anywhere now it'd be 'where am I missing an opportunity' rather than anything technical

[Ari]

Well I did the course and whilst it was still a bit on the basic side, I came away feeling that I'd learned something and it had been worthwhile. Mainly things like what histograms mean and the 18% grey thing.

Plus there were some neat tips like a bit of string making an instant portable monopod.

Would recommend it for someone at an intermediate level, but not if you've got all the basics covered.

Will definitely do more specialist courses like flash photography (which wasn't covered at all) if they do them in my area.

[K12beano]

Good to hear feedback.

I don't know if I am alone, but when I look at various courses I always have the problem of not knowing what I don't know ....IYSWIM

I'm not much of a fan of courses and qualifications because I (think I) know the technical bits - it's having the vision, sometimes. I did complete an O-level in 1979....

I did a short Open University course a few years back. It was based around taking an image - the actual camera basics were covered, but the camera itself was irrelevant - and then the basics of manipulating. It was most enjoyable for the aspect of seeing what others were doing and how this motivated you to try different things. (Although hundreds do the course, the system automatically handles you (remotely) into small workshops/groups.)

Nowadays, I find it more interesting to follow something like PH, which tends to help me know what I didn't know I don't know, but am always looking for something to take me to the next level.

[mrmr96]

Ari said:

Plus there were some neat tips like a bit of string making an instant portable monopod.

I'd never heard of that before, but from your post I looked it up. Here's a video explaining for anyone else:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLlJl7TbXTA

[markmullen]

Ari said:

Will definitely do more specialist courses like flash photography (which wasn't covered at all) if they do them in my area.

This seems exceptionally good value, http://www.theflashcentre.com/david-honl-london-wo...