Beginners course for wife (DSLR)

I

igeorge

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Hi Folks, can you offer some advice?

I recently bought my wife the DSLR she's always wanted.(A 550D with 18-55 and 55-250 kit lenses). She's a technical noob, and needs a course that will take her from the basics upwards.

She found one offered by fforward in Cape Town that seems to meet her requirements. Anyone have any comments on them?

Any advice you can throw my way will be appreciated!
Ian
Noordhoek
 
igeorge said:
Hi Folks, can you offer some advice?

I recently bought my wife the DSLR she's always wanted.(A 550D with 18-55 and 55-250 kit lenses). She's a technical noob, and needs a course that will take her from the basics upwards.

She found one offered by fforward in Cape Town that seems to meet her requirements. Anyone have any comments on them?

Any advice you can throw my way will be appreciated!
Ian
Noordhoek
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How much is the course at fforward?

Not sure how keen she is on photography? Wanting to do it professionally one day or just a hobby?
Cape Town school of photography have 2 dslr courses, the 1st one being R3900 for the 9 week, 10 session course, the second being R 3400 for the weekly sessions of 3 hours each, over a period of 8 weeks. See more here: http://www.ctsp.co.za/part-time-courses

I am sure there are many other people who offer courses too. I am studying a 2 year course for a Diploma in Photography at Prestige Academy (http://prestigeacademy.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40:btec-profesional-diploma-in-photography&catid=26&Itemid=4). It all depends on how far she wants to take her photography!
 
d7e7r7 said:
I am sure there are many other people who offer courses too. I am studying a 2 year course for a Diploma in Photography at Prestige Academy (http://prestigeacademy.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40:btec-profesional-diploma-in-photography&catid=26&Itemid=4). It all depends on how far she wants to take her photography!
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If you don't mind me asking, why? What are you hoping that this will provide that say an apprenticeship with a seasoned photographer wouldn't?
 
SlinkyMike said:
...or an hour or so each night for a week working through tutorials online for that matter.
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As long as you have a good foundation to work on then why not.
SlinkyMike said:
I guess d7e7r7 wants the credentials on paper though?
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Maybe. The only pieces of paper I've ever been asked to show are in my portfolio. Perhaps there is a part of the industry that does require a certificate of some sort?
 
bwana said:
As long as you have a good foundation to work on then why not.
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For sure. I think what I was getting at is that the body of knowledge to do with photography in terms of how cameras work and concepts like DOF and how lenses work is finite. You really can pack it all in over a fairly short period of time. Taking that out into the field and trying, failing, winning and coming over so-so every so often... that is a lifetime of shooting.

bwana said:
Maybe. The only pieces of paper I've ever been asked to show are in my portfolio. Perhaps there is a part of the industry that does require a certificate of some sort?
Click to expand...

I really could not imagine what else one would look to in choosing a photographer to pay money to for pictures... maybe a good reference to know they won't leave me in the lurch but apart from that...
 
I highly recommend CTSP - awesome facilities and good lecturers - i have completed basic and advanced DSLR courses there - was well worth it.
 
bwana said:
If you don't mind me asking, why? What are you hoping that this will provide that say an apprenticeship with a seasoned photographer wouldn't?
Click to expand...

Pretty much what SlinkyMike says \/

SlinkyMike said:
...or an hour or so each night for a week working through tutorials online for that matter.

I guess d7e7r7 wants the credentials on paper though?
Click to expand...

When I finished matric I was in two minds as to whether study photography, take a gap year, study computers. I decided on photography at the very last minute. Parents felt that if I took a gap year I wouldn't really want to get back to class and study after all the "free" time, I kinda agreed with them. As part of the course I have had to do a certain amount of hours of "work based learning" which I did at the Argus, I am since freelancing for them, an opportunity that may not have presented itself had a not been studying? Hopefully now that they have seen my work they MAY consider me should a position become available or something!

As for the portfolio, think about it, if two photographers apply for a job, and say by chance (I'm making this up to set a scene) both have exact same same portfolio's but one has a diploma/degree, why would they choose the guy without the diploma over the guy who has one??
 
d7e7r7 said:
As for the portfolio, think about it, if two photographers apply for a job, and say by chance (I'm making this up to set a scene) both have exact same same portfolio's but one has a diploma/degree, why would they choose the guy without the diploma over the guy who has one??
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I hope you're not banking on this :D
 
d7e7r7 said:
Na, just a thought :D
You entered the mybb world cup competition yet?
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I'm going to be putting up some photos but not as entries for the competition. :)
 
SlinkyMike said:
Mind giving a brief overview of what was covered in your advanced course?
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The basic course - there was a lot of focus on the technical side of things - ie how your camera works

The Advanced course foccused more on the actual images and genres - composition, macro images, landscapes, portraits etc

EG - Week one - we covered Basic composition - had to shoot three images - next week crit images and explain the technical side of things - ie why did you use a low depth of field or a high ISO etc

It was pretty practical. We also did quite a bit of shooting in the lessons and then shared the work with the class.

Personally the most awsome part of these courses is the live interaction - feedback on images, being asked to explain your images. It makes a big difference to improving your work.
 
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