NYIP Links

Here are some links to NYIP sites in case you're looking for more information:

New York Institute of Photography home page
NYIP Photo Forum - a great place to read what NYIP students are really saying.
NYIP PhotoWorld - an online magazine featuring NYIP's collection of photography tips and articles
NYIP Blog - features a different style of photography related articles
NYIP PhotoView - audio-podcasts that are similar to the audio CDs that come with the NYIP photography course
NYIP Student Center - read interviews with NYIP students

Photo Joe's On-line Courses

A semi-retired college professor named Joe taught on-line photography courses in the Saint Louis area and has posted courses from 2009 at Joe's Photo Courses so you can take a college photography course free of charge.   When you go to the site click on one of the first 3 barges to find links to the three courses: Photoshop, Digital Photography, and Color Photography. 

I haven't done any of the courses, but I did read through the Digital Photography course.  It is about half Photoshop (starts in Lesson 6 of 12 lessons) and because this is a college course there's a lot of history and stuff like that, but Joe is funny, crusty, and opinionated so what I did read wasn't dry or boring.

You can't submit pictures to Joe for his critique since the course is free, but there are several forums on the Internet where your can get free reviews of your photos.

My NYIP Review

Well, I took the last comprehensive exam for the NYIP complete course in professional photography and completed reading the text, listening to the last audio CD, and watching the last DVD.    That took about 4 1/2 months, but for almost an entire month I didn't touch the lessons. 

Students are supposed to complete a photographic project at the end of each unit and submit them for review, but I haven't done any of them yet.  I have 3 years to completely complete the course to get a certificate, but I plan to have all the projects done by the end of the summer.   I will reserve my final opinion until I graduate.  

To summarize my experiences with the NYIP course to date:

I calculated that this course cost $28.50 an hour if you only count the time spent listening to the CDs and watching the DVDs. But there's more, much more!, as they say in television infomercials. 

• I got 31 text booklets (with copyright dates from the 1970's through 2010), 3 update booklets, and 6 pdf lessons that I downloaded from the NYIP Internet site.   (I see no excuse for having 30 year old text books in a course costing this much money.  And don't give me the excuse that some things in photography haven't changed so it doesn't matter because (1) printing technology has improved and these booklets could have/should have been updated , (2) camera technologoy had changed GREATLY in 30 years, (3) the business of photography had changed, and (4) post-production technology is vastly different.)
• The texts were accompanied by 19 audio CDs which, as I've noted  before, were more conversation than lecture.  This made them more interesting and they were educational in their own way, but I would have preferred more lecture type information, if you know what I mean, or (even better) more DVDs. 
• Matching slipcase binders were included for the text booklets and CDs and DVDs.  (I could have used another one for the business booklets.)
• I got 6 booklets (about 50 - 70 pages each) from the NYIP Essential Business Skills Series.
• There were 5 business related CDs.  I found the conversational style in these CDs more valuable than in the other audio lessons.
• I found the information in the 6 DVDs to be pertinent despite being dated and I might watch them again as I complete the projects. 
• I got about $50 - $100 worth of 'free' gifts and a discount by paying the tuition in full:
• A 16 x 18 zippered travel bag with the NYIP logo emblazoned across the exterior pocket
• 4 GB hi-speed USB thumb drive
• Professional mono-pod with travel case
• 5-in-1 reflector with travel case
• Large lens cleaning cloth
• Photographic umbrella
• Professional gray card
• Professional photographer's log and reference guide
• Two slipcover type cases (one for the lesson booklets and one for the CDs/DVDs but none for the business booklets)
• NYIP Photoworld press card with a plastic holder to put on a string around my neck (I provide the string)
• Students can get a substantial student discount on Adobe products like Photoshop and Lightroom when purchased directly from Adobe and a 7% discount at RitzCamera.com.  [Update 3/20/2012: I did buy Lightroom last year directly from Adobe at a very nice discount with my NYIP student card.  I did not need a separate photo ID as some other posters on other sites have advised. ]
• I haven't needed to interact with the student advisers, but they are supposed to be there if I need them. I was supposed to receive the name of a personal student advisor with a personal phone number, but apparently I don't have one.  I get four!  All advisers share a common email address, but I do get a phone number for each one.  However, the calls aren't toll free.  The listed advisers for me were Chris Corradino, Tom Cavalieri, Associate Dean Jerry Rice, and Ella Manor.  (Update 09/20/2012 - I did send one or two emails questions and a different advisor replied within one or two days.)

Lesson Booklets:

Unit 1

Eye of the Photographer

The Camera

The Lens

How to Use Your Camera

Unit 2

Image Capture

Exposure

Processing Black & White Film

Digital Processing

Filters

Developing Your Eye

Unit 3

Natural Light and Available Light

Artificial Light

Electronic Flash & Strobe

Travel Photography

Nature and Landscape Photography

The Perfect Print

Optional: The Darkroom (pdf download)

Unit 4

Basic Portrait Lighting

Studio Portraiture

Location Portraiture

Child and Pet Photography

Wedding Photography

Optional: Color Film Processing (pdf download)

Unit 5

Photojournalism 1

Photojournalism 2

Fashion Photography

Finishing Touches and the Zone System

Macro Photography , Astrophotography, and Copying

Color Film Printing 1,2, and 3 (pdf download)

Unit 6

Advertising and Still Life

Architectural Photography

Optional: View Camera (pdf download)

Optional: Glamour and Nude Photography

Optional: Video Handbook, Part 1

Optional: Video Handbook, Part 2

Business Booklets:

Freelance Opportunities

Introduction to the Business of Photography

Clarity is Your Only Style

Business of Wedding Photography

Starting Your Own Business

How to Open Your Own Studio

Business Audio CDs (5):

Freelance Opportunities

The Business of Photography

Clarity is Your Only Style

How to Enter and Win Contests

The Business of Wedding Photography

Advanced Business Techniques

DVDs:

Depth of Field, Shutter Speed, and Panning

Exposure, Filters, and Developing Your Eye

Portraits and Lighting

Wedding Portraits and Lighting (3)

Added 11/26/2011 - You may also want to read NYIP Photography Course Review and NYIP Photo Assignments.  

NYIP, Unit 6

I finished the NYIP Unit 6 last weekend, but we've had terrible storms and lots of rain in this area so my Internet has been down.  I've really missed it because I'm on the Internet a lot, playing games, searching for recipes, reading news (including the weather), and researching whatever takes my interest.  Currently that's photography.

Anyway, that's why I haven't had an update in a week and this is what Unit 6 was about:

Advertising and Still Life - the booklet had a copyright of 1982.  Most of the pictures were in black and white.  Black and white photographs can be dramatic and make a statement, but it's not usual to see advertisements in black and white in 2011.  The last page of the text included a list of practice projects which I don't remember seeing in more current lessons.  Of all things to omit when updating the booklets, I don't think this should have been one of them.

Architectural Photography - copyright 1979.  I know updating the text costs money, but, really, 1979?  The pictures were in black and white and the subjects weren't that interesting or inspiring.  And I found the text uninteresting as well even though the use of case studies was a nice angle. 

The other lessons in Unit 6 were optional:

View Camera - this was a 40 page pdf file from 2009 that I had to download from the NYIP website.  I'm not sure why a booklet wasn't available.  I did download it, but decided to read it later if I decide to use a view camera.  I did thumb through the booklets and they cover everything from the crew, the script, the budget, shooting, and editing. 

Glamour and Nude Photography - this booklet was revised in 2010 and was an optional lesson as some people might find the nudes objectionable.  Apparently, my idea of "glamour" photography is different than many other people's.  As I am wont to say on occasion, "Sometimes there's a fine line between sexy and slutty."  There were some good tips for photographing nude models in this text.  Like don't invite your friends over to watch. 

Video Handbook 1 & 2 - copyright 2009.  My camera can record video so I will probably read these sometime, but right now I want to concentrate on learning to shoot better than average photographs.

There was also a booklet on Updates from 2009 which included brief information on the Digital Revolution pertaining to the topics covered in Unit 6.

There was only 1 audio CD for this unit.  The discussion on glamour and nude photography bordered on funny as I got the impression the instructors were trying not to giggle through some of it.  I didn't find these conversations as interesting as those for the other units.  They concluded by saying that you could continue to ask questions and get help from NYIP even after you complete the course.

The business topic covered in Unit 6 was opening your own studio which included a little bit about a lot of pertinent topics.

The last 3 DVDs (for Units 4, 5, and 6) were all on wedding portraits, but the techniques would apply to any type of portrait work.  They were excerpts from a seminar given by the late Monte Zuckerman, a well known portrait photographer.  I found the information on lighting invaluable, but I didn't like his poses.  I found them stiff and occasionally even silly, or as another reviewer put it "cheesy".   I was disappointed that 3 of the 6 DVDs in this course were on the same subject.

Get 5 Still Life Lighting Tips of Beginners from the Digital Photography School that has an article on just about any photography topic you can think of.  There's more depth and accompanying photo examples in the article on Still Life Photography at ePHOTOzine

An article by Phillip Greenspun at photo.net on How to Photograph Architect (Exterior) was much more informative and helpful to me than the NYIP booklet.  By the way, Mr. Greenspun has a FREE online text book called Making Photographs.

Photography.com says in their article on glamour photography, "Glamour shots are suggestive and erotic but not explicitly pornographic. True glamour shots produce an air of romance and sexiness without crossing the boundaries of good taste."

I got a 90% on the final exam (which only covered the 2 non-optional lessons) which means I have an average of 93% for the course.

Is this a mistake?

A local wedding photographer recently launched a new website advertising his services.  He offers a wedding package at a reasonable price that includes pictures of the  "Bride and groom reparation".

I thought I knew what reparation meant, but I checked to make sure I wasn't thinking of another word and I was right.  It means "making amends for wrongs done". 

I think he meant preparation, but then again ... it might not be a bad thing for the bride and groom to make amends for any slights or wrongs, imagined or real, before they start living together as man and wife. 

And if they keep doing that as the need arises, their marriage will probably be happier.

NYIP, Unit 5, Done!

I just finished Unit 5 of the NYIP course.  I got an A on the comprehensive exam.  Which surprised me a little but the questions I got right and the ones I got wrong surprised me a lot.

I've already the discussed the photojournalism lessons.  The next lesson was called Finishing Touches; the copyright on the text booklet was 1979.  The topics covered were The Zone System, How to Mount Prints, How to Spot Prints, How to Tone Prints, and How to Set Up a Darkroom.  Much of this referred to film and film cameras.  If you're still using film and want to develop your own prints/slides, I'm sure this was very helpful.  In my opinion this was an odd place in the course to have this lesson - between photojournalism and fashion photography. 

The lesson on fashion photography was good and the audio part was interesting.  If you think you'd like to become a fashion photographer (or a fashion model), I recommend you watch Tyra Banks and America's Next Top Model.

This unit finished up with Macro Photography, Astrophotography, and Coping [old pictures, documents, and paintings].  This lesson included how to take pictures through a microscope and telescope which was interesting, but one has to wonder how many photographers are going to have access to a microscope or telescope. 

Actually, the last lesson in this unit was Color Printing which was about processing color film.  Because this lesson is being revised, a text booklet wasn't available and I had to download it in pdf format from the NYIP website.  However, the lesson and final exam were optional and if I send NYIP an email, they'll send me the booklet when it's available.

I understand the general principles of the Zone System, but that doesn't help me use it. 

Wim Reyns has a guide to matting, mounting, and framing a photograph that includes lots of how-to pictures (some are inter-active).  Frame Destination has an article on several different types of Picture Frame Mounting Techniques.

Check out the fascinating micro-photographs on Dark Roasted Blend.

If you want more information on astrophotography, the website Catching the Light  by Jerry Lodriguss looks like a great place to start.  I wasn't interested in astophotography before I saw the photograph of the star trails on the last page of the NYIP text booklet, so I'm going back to Catching the Light as soon as I can get a round toit.

This unit included a booklet and audio lesson on Starting Your Own Business which were very helpful.  The audio conversation between four of the NYIP staff of varying ages and experience was quite interesting.  A few of the best tips they gave included (1) utilize the free services of the U. S. Small Business Administration, (2) write a business plan, (3) get your own business cards as soon as possible, and (4) set up a blog and/or website. 

On to the last unit!!

Petersen's Big Book of Photography, Vol 2

I bought a magazine/book this week called Petersen's Big Book of Photography, Vol 2 with Text and Images by Jim Zuckerman .  It looks like a magazine in that it's the size of a magazine, has glossy pages like a magazine, and has ads.  But the ads are only on the front and back cover.  Between the covers are pictures and text, just like a book.  While I think of it as a magazine, I'll call it a book because that's in the title.

I'm only about 1/4 of the way through this 146 page book, but I'm already recommending it.  The pictures alone would make it worth the $10.99 price tag, but the pictures are accompanied by text explaining where and how the pictures were taken with invaluable tips on how to create professional looking photographs.   

The main topic headings covered in the book are People Photography, Choosing & Using Lenses, Color & Design, and Travel with 4 to 11 articles in each section. The articles cover topics such as buying a lens, window light, backgrounds, depth of field, macro photography, and others too numerous to list.  Inside the articles, along with the photographs and text mentioned above, are short blocks of more general information including Focusing Points, Hand Held Light Meters, Special Lens Support, and Depth of Field Issues.

I bought my copy at a grocery store, but it is available from a seller on Amazon.com.



Jim Zuckerman is a professional photographer, author, and photog instructor.  You can view free video tutorials on his website, jimzuckerman.com.

I know I'm learning something from the NYIP course because I knew the difference between main light, fill light and hair light and I knew what he meant when he said depth of field.  Not just recognized the terms, but actual knew them and understood what he was talking about.

Update: 04/23/2011:  Still reading this magazine and trying to absorb all the information I can.  I'm about half way through and still think this magazine/book was worth every penny.

Chris Corradino

Today I discovered Chris Corradino's web site  and blog.  Chris is one of the student advisor at NYIP and he talks about the site and the blog on one of the NYIP audio lessons I listened to a week or so ago. 

There are free video and audio tutorials on the web site as well as galleries of Chris's photography.

Chris says he donates 100% of the proceeds from sales of his book, From Manhattan to Montauk A Photographic Journey, to entrepreneurs all over the world through Kiva.

NYIP, Unit 5 begun

I started on Unit 5 in the NYIP course.  So far, I'm not impressed. 

We started with Photojournalism 1 and 2.  They covered a lot of ground: everything from the local newspaper to the national wire services, sports, features, the picture story.  They had lots of pictures and lots of text.  The narrative text was smaller than normal (compared to their other text booklets), but readable.  However, the text under the pictures was very small and I couldn't read it without a magnifying glass.

This section was a great example of how much our world has changed in the last decade.

1. The booklets both had a copyright date of 1993. 
2. When they said 'digital' they meant scanned images, not photos taken with a digital camera. 
3. They noted that one item every newspaper photojournalist needs is a 2-way radio to keep in contact with the Editor back in the office.
4. There was no mention of on-line news sites.

I know it's hard to keep up with changes in technology, but one has to wonder how out-dated and appropriate their other non-technology information was about jobs and careers in photojournalism.

The unit did include an Update booklet that was more up-to-date, but only included 3 1/2 pages of updates on photojournalism (and this included lots of white space and large section headings.  The audio lesson/conversations were up-to-date and even mentioned the importance of learning video.

I don't think I've mentioned that not all of the text booklets are the same size.  Some are taller than the others  The all fit in the box provided by NYIP, but still ....

National Geographic has an informative and interesting Photography Guide for photojournalists.  It's an easy read as it's target audience is 6th to 8th graders.  (Unfortunately, most of the links are broken.)

NYIP has several good articles on sports photography in their ezine, Photoworld.

In their photography articles on Tuesday Tips, the Chicago Tribune discusses 10 Key Traits of Winning Photojournalists.  To see what a working photojournalist actually does, check out Alex Garcia's blog Assignment Chicago  or Scott Strazzante's Shooting from the Hip.  Not only are the pictures great, but the boys are kinda cute, too.

NYIP Review Blog

I found a new blog from a fellow NYIP student.  If you'd like a different perspective on the NYIP course, check out Scott's NYIP Review Blog.  Unfortunately, he only updates it once or twice a year.

(Update 09/20/2012 - the above link is dead as the entire blog has been deleted.  Try the links in this post: Another NYIP Student's Blog)

I've seen a few other blogs and websites from NYIP students who started reviewing the course unit by unit, but they all quit writing before they got to the end.  I don't know if they stopped taking the course or got so busy taking photographs that they didn't have time to write.

NYIP, Unit 4 Portraiture

I'm almost through NYIP Unit 4 which is about lighting, portraiture photography, and wedding photography.  The audio CDs are up to date, but the five text booklets are older  (1983 - 1995) and the references to film cameras is a little distracting, especially when there is no corresponding information for digital cameras.  This unit does include a booklet on updates that addresses how digital cameras have changed portraiture photography, and building a professional photography website.

Much of the audio is on wedding photography because apparently this is a good way to begin a career in professional photography (or maybe "a common way" is more appropriate than "a good way".    The conversation covers many different aspects of wedding photography, including how to dress appropriately (hint: wear comfortable shoes) and what equipment you'll need (hint: you might need a step ladder).

Digital Photography School has an article discussing 10 Ways to Take Stunning Portraits and 18 other portrait photography tutorials.

Epic Edits' 16 Inspirational Portrait Photography Techniques is an out-of-the-box look at portraits.

I have not read the book Fine Art Wedding Photography but it got great reviews on Amazon.com (and other sties).


Later in the day: I took the Unit 4 exam and got an A, but I'm not happy that I missed 4 of the 50 questions.  Some of the questions and answers were worded a little tricky (it's multiple choice).  You are able to download the exams and fill in the answers using the texts then complete the exams on-line to submit them.  Sometimes none of the answers seemed right.  If they had worded the choices on the test the same way they were worded on the answer sheet (where they graded the test) they wouldn't have been so confusing. There were a few answers that were worded so differently I'm not sure they were the same answer.

NYIP, Unit 3 - completed

I'm half way through the NYIP course.  YEAH!  I only missed one question on the Unit 3 exam and that's because I miss-keyed the answer on the online text - I had it right on my printed version. 

The NYIP audio CDs are just conversations between 2 or 3 NYIP staff that support and reinforce the reading material, but, frankly, sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.    They are usually interesting because the participants are real photographers discussing how they take photographs, how they got in the business, what equipment they use, and so no, but there are times when I could do with a little more lecture and a little less talk, if you know what I mean.

The DVD accompanying this lesson was very good.  It demonstrated how you could set up a temporary studio in your dining room using sun light from a window and Jerry Rice and Don were back in the botanical gardens photographing flowers from a different angle.  Jerry is a good instructor.

The last three topics covered in Unit 3 were Landscape and Nature Photography, Travel Photography, and the Perfect Print.  We've finished the basic photography techniques and are moving on to using the techniques for different photography genres.

These lessons seemed to be rather short but they covered a lot of ground.  Landscape and Nature covered landscapes, flowers, rainbows, and snow.  NYIP's tips on travel photography from Chris and Chuck were helpful and interesting.  The Perfect Print booklet was published in 1985 and while there are many aspects of a perfect print that hold true in both 1985 and 2011, this section really needs updated to include digital prints and computer editing software. 

There are 5 tips for improving your landscape photography at Your Digital Photography.com.   Digital SLR Guro has 5 different tips on landscape photography.  Photo Tuts+ has an interesting article on black and white landscapes and a video lecture,  Edward Burtynsky on Manufactured Landscapes.

Digital Photography School and the travel experts, Fodor's, have several articles on travel photography.

NYIP, Unit 3 - more on lighting

After a month I finally got back to the NYIP course.  Today was lesson 13, Electronic Flash and Strobe.  I didn't really understand all that I read in this lesson.  Lighting in photography is a broad subject.  There are different kinds of lighting, different kinds of flashes,diffuser and reflectors and light boxes, guide numbers, and ratios.  Learning lighting is going to take some more study and practice.  

They used the term "hot shoe" in the NYIP lesson today, but if they ever defined it I missed it (which could very well have happened - my mind goes on walks without me all the time).  A hot shoe is the thingee on top of your camera where you can attach a flash.   Best Family Photography Tips has a picture of a hot shoe along with an explanation of its use.  [Note added 4/3/2011: NYIP's lesson did indeed define hot shoe and had a picture of it.] 

Photo Tuts+ has several tutorials on lighting including The Complete Guide to Your Hot Shoe Flash which isn't really a complete guide except it does tell you a little about a lot of different flashes and it's a good place to start.  While you're there don't miss The Complete Beginners Guide to Natural Light. 

I'm not sure how to define lighting ratios except to say it refers to using multiple lights and how "strong" each light is. Photography Master Class has a video tutorial on lighting ratio and lighting techniques.  They have other photography videos as well. 

Studio Lighting approaches lighting ratios from another angle (pun intended).   This site has a ton of free articles and tutorials on lighting.

If you believe the saying "one picture is worth a thousand words", study the 30 photographs that illustrate the use of natural light on Web Design Ledger.  No words, just pictures.