Higher Education: Want Better Pictures? Take a Class
Barry Tanenbaum
You’ve heard that 90 percent of success in life is showing up, so let’s make the case that often success with your digital camera has to do with showing up at a photo school, seminar, session, or workshop.
Some of us are able to learn from instruction manuals, magazines, books, neighbors, friends, and family. For others, nothing compares to being with a group of like-minded enthusiasts and learning the techniques, tips and the inside story of digital imaging from a professional photographer or skilled photo instructor.
There are several camera companies that have gotten behind that idea to offer, sponsor or support photo schools of varying types; some have online versions, too.
If you think the hands-on approach and the camaraderie of the motivated will work for you, here are a few examples of what’s available.
- Digital Days Photography Workshops. Sony is the premier sponsor of these weekend classes that devote Saturday to the basics and Sunday to a more in-depth look at image-making, complete with live-model shooting sessions. Info: digitaldaysphoto.com.
- Nikon School. For over 30 years, it’s been bringing its weekend of intensive classroom sessions to cities throughout the country. The current version of the school offers two separate one-day classes: an intro to digital SLR photography and a “next steps” course that tackles digital workflow, among other advanced topics. Info: nikonschool.com.
- Panasonic’s Digital Photo Academy. Offering beginner, intermediate, and advanced workshops of three hours, four hours and eight to nine hours, respectively, in 20 cities around the country. The beginner and intermediate sessions are classroom only; the advanced takes place in the class and the field. Info: digitalphotoacademy.com.
- Rocky Mountain School of Photography. If you can’t get to the Missoula, Montana, for an extended stay, the school will come to you with its Weekends program that visits cities across the country from January to April with beginner to intermediate instruction in an a la carte format of class choice. Info: rmsp.com.
- Tamron Photo Workshops. Friday night for the classroom and Saturday for the field, with professional photographers leading the way. Retailers across the country host the events. Info: tamron.com; choose Events, Contests, Workshops from the Choose an Area pull-down menu.
These are by no means the only photo schools, classes, seminars, and workshops offered, just a sampling to give you an idea of what’s out there. If you’re adventurous, Google “photography schools” and “photography workshops” to explore more possibilities. And don’t forget to check with your local photo retailer for educational offerings with your digital camera.