How to Learn Photography Without Leaving Home
I've studied photographic technique for forty years, mostly through reading books and magazines.
Magazines are a valuable source of ideas and current information about materials and equipment. One drawback to magazines is that they tend to repeat themselves over time. In other words, a magazine that publishes an article on "How to Use Fill-Flash" usually prints more articles on the same topic every few months. On the other hand, the field of photography is changing so quickly that you need to have sources of reliable information bringing you news of new products and techniques, or you'll fall behind before you know it. I subscribe to Outdoor Photographer magazine.
There are countless websites brimming with excellent advice, many of them posted by the same authors who contribute to magazines, and many by authors who post content to the web. The only problem with the web is that there is as much bad information available as good, so read everything with a little healthy skepticism until you know that you can trust the author. And remember, even the best authors can make mistakes, especially in a field where everything is changing at a very rapid rate.
A good source of affordable classroom instruction is your regional community college. Very often they offer non-credit classes at reduced tuition rates. Often they will have online classes that are very convenient to take.
I subscribe to an online learning service called Lynda.com. Highly qualified instructors - often the leading teachers in their field - host online video tutorials on photo software like Photoshop and Lightroom, as well as tutorials on how to take better photos and how to use specific cameras.
To my regret, I have never attended a seminar or workshop hosted by one of my photographic heroes. Many of the best photographers also teach seminars, sometimes in a classroom setting and sometimes on location. The paper version of Outdoor Photographer magazine has a section of display ads offering their services.
If you live in or near a major metro area, check with the better camera stores for seminars. Many camera stores host free or low cost instruction sponsored by the major camera manufacturers. They are often taught by well-known authorities like George Lepp and Rick Sammon.
Photo Techniques, Tricks, Tips, Tutorials, Tools, and Taboos:
