Learning Photography Trhough Books/Workshops

[Jojie]

Hi, Guys.

I would like to seek your opinons. I'm currently thinking of purchasing these ( Amazon.com: Elvin Certeza: Wish List ) - obviously not all at the same time (can't afford it)

But more so. Any place where I can brush off on skillsets and knowledge with what I need to do as far as food photography, portraiture (corporate, family etc) and learning how to light (more indepth info)

Like all of us, we would love to learn things for free, but at this point I feel I need to get more indepth with these subjects - i.e. the business end (Australian market - sydney), and the how to's on lighting, erm profile/corporate/portaiture (not glamour) photography.

But more about me. I'm an amateur photography -- erm. very amateur.. extremely amateur, who would like to expand my knowledge on the portaits side of things

-- and would like to read up a lot on food photography, wedding and also the business end. I'm basically wanting to check down the road when I'm great enough as far as technicality, composing and knowledge etc.. perhaps I should do something about it in return for payment -- but that's perhaps years away.. but is already in my mind since the gears are just damn expensive!

Also, workshops?? photographicinstitute is about AUD$1,000.00 and the catc.edu.au I think is about AUD$12,000.00 I can only do online training though that the photographic institue offers.. and the books i'm thinking of buying are I think will go over hundreds already...

My gears.. canon 400D, 430ex flash, 24-105L and cactus v4's for offlash lightings.. not much gears really and yes.. looking at upgrading but my upgrading mentality are; lights - lens-bodies. (with limited funds so I can't just upgrade stuff that quickly - but then most of us are like that right?)

[jpitz31]

I have a really good food photography book by Lou Manna. Do a search on google. Also check out studiolighting.net. They do podcast interviews of modern photographers. One episode is an interview with Lou Manna and he talks about many tricks that food stylists use when preparing the food for photography.

Also check out the lighting 101 tutorial on strobist.com. Great site for off camera flash.

Thanks

Joe

[Jojie]

Originally Posted by jpitz31

Also check out the lighting 101 tutorial on strobist.com. Great site for off camera flash.

thanks been there already and I feel as though a million zillion things missing as far as getting things done and not and i'm looking at how I could fill up this empty space in my head with those things...