Learned 75% of what I know from just playing around on a Nikon FM2 and later an Elan 7. Learned a bit from talking to other photographers, and about half of what I know about flashes from a small workshop.
Reason why I'm self taught, is that for a while I really didn't know I would ever be this serious about it... and now I find myself knowing a lot, and not really needing a photography class. I would probably take a class at school, but my high school doesn't offer them (oh well, probably wouldn't learn anything from a beginning course anyways)
I might try to take a class somewhere this summer, but I'm not sure.
I think being self taught has worked out pretty well, I think if you learn something by yourself on the camera you're a lot more likely to remember it than if you learn something from a teacher. I can still remember how to use the focusing system on the FM2
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Canon: 5D MK II, 2x7D, 15 fisheye, 16-35L II, 24-70L, 24-105L, 85L II, 24L II, 70-200 2.8L IS II, 100L macro, 400 DO, 4x580EX II, twin macro light, Sigma 12-24, Lensbaby composer, Tokina 10-17
Its ok to edit and repost my shots on DPS
My work can be found at
www.jamesholleman.com