Distance learning..

[SwissJon]

Are you on a distance learning photography course? I'm looking for one and want some suggestions. Can you please tell me the following:

1. Name of College/Uni
2. Course name
3. Link to the above
4. cost of course
5. Your opinion of your photographic abilities when you started
6. Your opinion of the course, the course materials, how up to date it is, the feedback you get, the level
7. Are you learning anything that is improving your skills?
8. Do you get a big certificate at the end that employyers might be impressed by?
9. Anything else you can think of.

Thank you very much for your input. I really appreciate it.

If you're looking for a course and that's why you're looking here, please add a little comment about the ones you decided not to do and why.. It'll help keep the thread alive.

[SwissJon]

So nobody is taking distance learning courses?

[dvtldav]

I have been thinking about taking a course or two but cannot decide if I want to put the money out for it or not. I have looked online at "betterphoto.com" and "PPSOP.com. They both have 4 & 8 week courses. I don't know if those are the types you are looking for or not. There is also the "New York School of Photography" that is probably more like a college course.
The first 2 I mentioned I doubt if they have a diploma or anything that an employer would be impressed with but I am not sure.

Dave

[SwissJon]

Thanks Dave..

The reviews of the NYIP suggest that the course material is primarily dictated towards the Classic Film photographer and has very little course material that directly relevant to digital photographers only. By that I mean they have dark room techniques but no digital darkroom techniques.

While I shoot in both film and digital, I find digital is my preference at the moment, and would prefer something that doesn't waste a lot of time on something that I'm unlikely to use in the near future.

Both these two you mentioned charge about 1/2 the money for an 8 week course that NYIP charges for their course, which I think is much longer.

Hmm.. What to do, I'm still hoping for some feedback from someone who has actually been on one of these.

[Ambrosia76]

Have you checked your local university or tech school?

The university and tech school here bother offer classes in their continuing education courses. Hubby and I are considering taking the one at university as it is more involved with actual camera usage and the tech one is a mix of camera usage and photoshop.

[sk66]

Only thing I will say is make sure that the course you are signing up for matches your needs.....I'd be pissed if I had to spend several weeks of a course I paid good money to take "exploring the exposure triangle"....

I met the guy who teaches photography at the local community college...I won't be taking one of his classes.... I know as much (probably more) than he does and I take better pictures (at least IIMO).

[Gulf Coast Girl]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

If you're looking for a course and that's why you're looking here, please add a little comment about the ones you decided not to do and why.. It'll help keep the thread alive.

I'm interested as well. I live in a small town and the only photography courses offered at local colleges are during the day when I work.


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[dvtldav]

Be careful of the community college courses as a lot of time the instructors are just someone who think they know what they are teaching and they just do it for the money.
I took a course a few years ago and everything that was presented to us was the basic stuff you find in all of the photography books, I guess that is the reason I haven't taken any more classes.

Dave