mkendzierski Posted August 12, 2007 Share #1 Posted August 12, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, I'm a new M8 owner & absolutely love my camera. I'm shooting with a 35mm Summicron-M 1:2/35 ASPH as my main lens. I am also using a UV filter as well. I'm very new to digital photography & have dived right in....my last camera (please don't laugh too hard) was a Canon Digital Elph. Yeah, I know...not much to start with, but I'm willing to learn, am shooting as much as possible & am knee deep in digital photography books. I'm still learning the basics and am experimenting a lot with aperture, light conditions and shutter speed. I haven't gotten into filters yet as I'm just trying to shoot as much as possible and loving every second of it. I was wondering if anyone has any online classes they could recommend that could go along with all of the books & field work I'm doing with my camera. I searched the forum & didn't find anything but remember looking over an M8 workshop but couldn't find any info on Google or anywhere else. I'm loving the camera but realize I have a way to go....so if anyone has any great books or online courses they'd recommend....please let me know! I have a couple of books by Bryan Peterson, a basic one on digital photography & the Leica M Advanced Photo School. I'm open to anything that can help me advance the "green" stage besides shooting as much as possible (I'm doing that already). Any books, online courses, etc would be great. I also live in NYC...if anyone knows any good teachers or schools there....that may be a good idea too. I'd appreciate any advice possible! -Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 12, 2007 Posted August 12, 2007 Hi mkendzierski, Take a look here Online Photography Classes - New M8. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
hdrmd Posted August 12, 2007 Share #2 Posted August 12, 2007 I don't know of any online courses specific to the M8, but the Photoshop courses offerred by: http://www.photoshoptraining.com/ are pretty good. Since it is digital photography and since you have an M8, you will need to learn to process the raw DNG file. I love your enthusiasm; keep shooting. DR Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_Flesher Posted August 12, 2007 Share #3 Posted August 12, 2007 Hi Mike, and welcome. There are several ways to "learn" digital photography and reading is one of them. However, if you want a faster start, I would suggest a basic intro workshop. Nothing like seeing things done with examples to help you learn it faster -- and better if the instructors know how to process for the camera you're using. (This will mean slimmer pickings with your M8.) Many books are very good, but unfortunately as many are out of date by the time the they hit the shelves -- digital prcessing software is advancing rapidly. As an alternative, I would suggest spending some time on the net and reading "free" articles first. Lots of good basic information out there. You should start by looking into proper digital camera exposure, then progressing to the raw workflow and raw conversion (a bit different for the M8 DNG than others), then to image editing (LOTS to learn there) and editing for your intended output; print, web or client delivery. Finally, you will need to learn something about color management. Don't try to understand it all on the first go -- instead try to learn a few of the basics form each step, practice them, then go back and learn more. Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkendzierski Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted August 12, 2007 Thank you so much for the great info so far....I'm getting even more excited just reading what both of you wrote! I'm currently shooting in JPG + DNG so as my photoshop skills improve....I'll be able to re-edit my pictures once I get the hang of it. I downloaded a copy of CS3 Photoshop from Adobe & considering my tech geekness....I should be able to understand the basics quickly. I know a couple of photographers (one who inspired me to get my M8 after falling in love with his and told me about this forum) & I'll ask him if he knows any workshops in NYC. I do live close to Photovillage in Manhattan & I'll check in there as well. Thanks a lot for the kind words so far....I'm in Buenos Aires, Argentina on vacation & am going to do some night shots tonight (with small tripod) so I'll try & post some pictures once I'm happy with the results (fingers crossed). In the meantime...please feel free to add some suggestions to this post as I'll be checking regularly! -Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbaron Posted August 12, 2007 Share #5 Posted August 12, 2007 Mike, welcome. You should certainly check out the International Center of Photography Home - International Center Of Photography and see if any of their classes would be a good fit for you. I also believe some of the stores....Adorama comes to mind, maybe also B&H or others....sponsor classes. Perhaps some of the smaller dealers (Photo Village for example) could point you in the right direction. If you can't find what you are looking for in NYC it probably does not exist. As to learning digital processing software, such as Photoshop and LightRoom, look into the tutorials offered on Learning @ Your Own Pace® - lynda.com I have found them very helpful and not very expensive. Hope This Helps. --Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEBnewyork Posted August 12, 2007 Share #6 Posted August 12, 2007 In NYC you have some great resources for classes. The fall schedule at ICP (International Center for Photography) should be out in the next few weeks. They have classes at all levels. Photo 1 Digital would be good as it goes through camera etc. and teaches processing on Lightroom. Then there is Digital 2 and Digital 3. There are also classes at the JCC on the upper west side. Their fall schedule is already published. First choice is ICP! You can look at course descriptions on line at ICP.org There are plenty of other choices at NYU and other schools in their continuing educaton programs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhoersch Posted August 12, 2007 Share #7 Posted August 12, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Mike, I suggest you check out this website: Digital Photography Interactive Tutorials For Beginners to Professionals For $ 45.- you can download an excellent tutorial about digital photography and image processing. I've been using it for a couple of years now and found it always easy to understand and reliable. What makes this e-book unique is that raw conversion and image processing can be studied with the interfaces of different versions of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Mondello Posted August 12, 2007 Share #8 Posted August 12, 2007 Ditto the suggestion on ICP. But also many NYC universities offer adult ed or continuing ed classes in photography. NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies is one. Click this link . . . NYU SCPS | Welcome to SCPS Also, since you are in NYC, why not organize a get together for a shoot out and about in the city one weekend afternoon. I'm likely to come along, and I know 1 other NYC M8 owner who might also. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cme4brain Posted August 12, 2007 Share #9 Posted August 12, 2007 Hello, I'm a new M8 owner & absolutely love my camera. I'm shooting with a 35mm Summicron-M 1:2/35 ASPH as my main lens. I am also using a UV filter as well. I'm open to anything that can help me advance the "green" stage besides shooting as much as possible (I'm doing that already). Any books, online courses, etc would be great. I also live in NYC...if anyone knows any good teachers or schools there....that may be a good idea too. I'd appreciate any advice possible! -Mike Glad to have you onboard. I know you will love your M8 as I do. It is a fantastic camera. Glad to have you on the forum, lots of information to be gleaned here if you sit back and read. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rondeb Posted August 12, 2007 Share #10 Posted August 12, 2007 Ditto the suggestion on ICP. But also many NYC universities offer adult ed or continuing ed classes in photography. NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies is one. Click this link . . . NYU SCPS | Welcome to SCPS Also, since you are in NYC, why not organize a get together for a shoot out and about in the city one weekend afternoon. I'm likely to come along, and I know 1 other NYC M8 owner who might also. This sounds cool to me as well. Let's get together on this! Glad to hear you're loving it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philinflash Posted August 13, 2007 Share #11 Posted August 13, 2007 ... I'm currently shooting in JPG + DNG so as my photoshop skills improve....I'll be able to re-edit my pictures once I get the hang of it. I downloaded a copy of CS3 Photoshop from Adobe & considering my tech geekness....I should be able to understand the basics quickly. ... Mike, good luck with your new rig. If you've got CS3, why shoot JPGs as well as DNG? They're a waste of space on your SD cards and just slow down the capture rate, in my humble opinion. There is nothing in the DNG file that the Bridge RAW processor can't extract that would be in a JPG file. Just the opposite, actually. I would recommend Martin Evening's excellent book on CS3, "Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Photographers" from Focal Press in the UK. But make sure it is for CS3, many book stores still have an earlier edition for CS2 on their shelves that they would like to unload. It has a DVD included with some useful "movies" of how to. Philip Kozloff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkendzierski Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted August 13, 2007 Thanks again for all of the wonderful advice everyone....I've taken a whole bunch of it (ordered some of the book suggestions, am only shooting in RAW mode now, ordered the "Digital Photography Interactive Tutorials For Beginners to Professionals" & am now looking for a course to take. Oh yeah...I'm still shooting as much as possible & experimenting along the way. It helps I'm on vacation but I know as soon as I get back to NY I'm sure that I'll be seeing home in a whole new light. Which will give me more of an opportunity to practice, practice....practice. Wow...it's scary at how much I have learned over the past couple of weeks that has only humbled me more as I now that I found out what I don't know....I realize I have SO much more to learn! Histograms...don't even get me started on those. :-) The good news is that it's still a lot of fun & it's easy to get inspired by looking at all of the amazing photography within the forum & on the .net. I promise to post some pictures (if they pass muster) once I get my legs under me but really....thanks so much for all of the support & great advice! -Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyspedden Posted August 13, 2007 Share #13 Posted August 13, 2007 Mike One of the problems I have observed is the major number of software products available for "developing" raw images prior to running a program such as Photoshop to make the image final. You could spend your life just evaluating your range of options and the learning curve for each of these tools is not trivial. I would do some serious reading in order to arrive at a workflow you can be comfortable with and devote the time necessary to become facile with your choice. I have gone through this and have concluded that Adobe Lightroom is one of the best. Of course C1, Camera Raw, Raw Developer etc all have their benefits but also cause one to become somewhat expert in each thus slowing down the overall process of getting good, final images for print or whatever. Kind of like the M8 where one could argue that a good approach is to pick one or two lenses to complement the body and then really learning to use the tool, the same applies to the software. You may not get it perfect the first time but you will have discovered what really contributes in the end to a "keeper" image and thus how to proceed forward. I probably have not significantly contributed to your ultimate goal but I hope I have described a possible path to get there. All the best and welcome to the world of photographic discovery. This is a lifetime journey. Best Woody Spedden Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyspedden Posted August 14, 2007 Share #14 Posted August 14, 2007 Mike One of the problems I have observed is the major number of software products available for "developing" raw images prior to running a program such as Photoshop to make the image final. You could spend your life just evaluating your range of options and the learning curve for each of these tools is not trivial. I would do some serious reading in order to arrive at a workflow you can be comfortable with and devote the time necessary to become facile with your choice. I have gone through this and have concluded that Adobe Lightroom is one of the best. Of course C1, Camera Raw, Raw Developer etc all have their benefits but also cause one to become somewhat expert in each thus slowing down the overall process of getting good, final images for print or whatever. Kind of like the M8 where one could argue that a good approach is to pick one or two lenses to complement the body and then really learning to use the tool, the same applies to the software. You may not get it perfect the first time but you will have discovered what really contributes in the end to a "keeper" image and thus how to proceed forward. My personal opinion is that simpler is better. I probably have not significantly contributed to your ultimate goal but I hope I have described a possible path to get there. All the best and welcome to the world of photographic discovery. This is a lifetime journey. Best Woody Spedden Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
losta Posted August 17, 2007 Share #15 Posted August 17, 2007 Definitely look into ICP classes. I take classes there almost every semester and am anticipating the new fall catalog. http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.732139/k.C67A/School.htm Also Adorama has some photosession coming up including ne with Bryan Peterson: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=WS_List Sign up for PhotoPlus Expo in NYC Oct 18-20th http://www.photoplusexpo.com Also if you like to travel there are Maine Workshops, Santa Fe Workshops, Rocky Mountain School of Photography and there are many others. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkendzierski Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share #16 Posted August 17, 2007 Wow...that's great! I just signed up for the Bryan Peterson workshop. Thanks so much for letting me know. It was a no-brainer! I'll also look into the classes....very good stuff!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted August 17, 2007 Share #17 Posted August 17, 2007 Many books are very good, but unfortunately as many are out of date by the time the they hit the shelves -- digital processing software is advancing rapidly..........Software has not changed that dramatically over the last few years as to say that old books are redundant. I presented a workshop at an art school today and checked out their library, picked up a few old books on LAB/CYMK/RGB colour space and the same principles and structures still apply now as then. What is noticeable is that there are less actions required than before and that the robust files from cameras are catching up to Photoshop's capabilities. I still have Photoshop 3 on a machine, it is interesting to compare it with the CS's of course the biggest change is in the raw format. But playing with tiffs one can pretty much arrive at the same results with PS 3 or CS3 especially in the LAB colour space. I take the same approach from one application to another it is just the workflow and interface that changes, of course there are also minor differences in results Software is a bit like the camera manufacturers' updates the same goods packaged in a different style with the real changes only minor, but accumulative in the end. I teach some students online, but that is only after I have had one to one contact and only particular aspects Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel88 Posted June 30, 2013 Share #18 Posted June 30, 2013 There are several methods to "learn" electronic photography and studying is one of them. However, if you want a quicker begin, I would recommend a primary introduction class. Nothing like seeing factors done with illustrations to help you understand it quicker -- and better if the teachers know how to procedure for the electronic camera you're using. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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