Aperature, Shutter Speed, and ISO tutorial

There is an excellent video tutorial on Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO at the bottom of an article on Basic Composition for Photography at Photography.com.  The young man's physical appearance is not one that would spark the confidence of an old lady like me, but I try to be open minded about such things so I watched it.  In my opinion, despite the way he does his hair and the casual clothes he wears for a presentation, Evan's tutorial is one of the best I've seen or read on these topics and if you're confused about any of these 3 fundamental photography elements, just watch this short video from Evan and http://photoextremist.com/.

Photo Business Bootcamp Week 2

I just got the email for the second week of PhotoShelter's Photo Business Bootcamp. I haven't had time to finish week one's week one's  lessons as I've been working at my "day job" for about 10 hours a day this week.  But here's what's available for week 2. 

Week 2 - Growing Your Photography Business

1. The Typical Business Mistakes Made by Photographers - a 15 minutes Skype interview with John Harrington, author of the popular book Best Business Practices for Photographers
2. Photographer's Cost of Doing Business - a 5 minute audio interview with Greg Smith; this lesson includes a link to the NPPA's  Cost of Doing Business Calculator which Smith helped develop
3. 8 Ways To Get More Work From Existing Clients - a list of suggestions any photographer can use to market and promote their business, based on an interview with corporate/industrial photographer Martin Vargas
4. The 7 Ironic Truths About Successful Wedding Photographers -  a comprehensive and very interesting 10 page article by Missy Lamb, a very successful wedding and portrait photographer in North Carolina.    
5. 10 Ways a Photographer Can Improve Business By Trusting Their Clients -  an article on using the PhotoShelter's Trusted Client feature as a benefit to the client and photographer
6. Steal These Marketing Ideas - an article on using marketing ideas from other industries to promote your photography business
7. Negotiating with Clients Doesn’t Have to Be Scary - a one hour video presentation with Blake Discher about The Right Way to Negotiate with Clients. 

Next week's bootcamp theme is Your Website: Your Most Important Business Tool.

PhotoShelter and Your Photographpy Business

Yesterday I told you about a free magazine from PhotographyBB and that November's issue included a link to PhotoShelter's free photo business bootcamp.

I signed up for the bootcamp.  I got more than I bargained for.  The bootcamp lasts 5 weeks and consists of an email each week.  I thought each weekly email would probably consist of one or two articles, possible a pdf file, and some pictures.  Boy, was I wrong! 

I got my first week's email today - it looks like it is going to be a knuckle-down, buckle-up, set-aside-some-real-time-to-do-some-work bootcamp.  Here's what I got:

Week 1 - Inspiration: the Secret to Success

1. Brian Smith's Tips on Breaking Through  - an hour long Webinar
2. Ami Vitale on Finding & Pitching New Ideas - a 20 minute Webinar
3. Staying Focused on Your Passion Projects - a one and a half hour webinar with portrait photographer Tim Mantoani
4. Why Passion Matters - a 12 minute interview with sports photographer Ed Mulholland
5. Innovator's Bag: Up Close - a 20 minute interview with David Burnett, a photojournalist
6. 11 Things Photographers Wish They Learned in School - an article featuring answers from 11 well known photographers and some Twitterers answering the question "What do you wish you'd learned earlier in your career?"
7. Why Attitude Matters - an article on the 5 positive traits of successful photographers
8. Reinventing Yourself - a 7 minute interview (and article) with Robert Seale about changing your career direction.  Robert left his safe newspaper staff job to (successfully) pursue a freelance career in editorial and corporate photographer.  (This included a link to PhotoShelter's free 2011 Inspiration Handbook,)

Not to mention access to other free guides and webinars on the PhotoShelter Blog.

Even though I haven't seen all the webinars yet, in my opinion, this one week is worth as much as the "business kit" I recently purchased for $30. 

Free On-line Photography Magazine

PhotographyBB has just published the 46th edition of the PhotographpyBB On-line magazine.  This is, without a doubt, one of the best photography bargains of the season.

This edition includes:

1. instructions on downloading a free eBook from Craft & Vision.  11 Ways You Can Improve Your Photography is a 69 page "compilation of articles from world-renowned photographer, David duChemin, and other proven Craft & Vision authors."
2. a contest to win a Drobo
3. an opportunity to submit two Christmas photos for possible publication in the annual "Christmas Around the World" feature
4. a link to PHOTOSHELTER's free photo business bootcamp
5. five photography articles with full color photos

You get all this for the amazing low price of $0.00 and your email address.  But that's not all! (as the salespitch goes) you can download the other 45 issues for the same low, low price of $0.00. 

Persimmon Pudding

I just had persimmon pudding for breakfast and decided to share the recipe with you because it is good.  This makes a very mild flavored pudding. 

6 Tablespoons butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups persimmon pulp
1 - 2 cups milk  (I used 2 cups - hence, the milder flavor and softer density)
3 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Beat butter till very soft (or soften in microwave).  Continue to beat while gradually adding sugar.  Add persimmon pulp, milk, and eggs.  Beat well.  Sift (or stir) the dry ingredients together then add to persimmon mixture and beat well. (Hint: add about 1/2 of the milk and flour alternately at a time to help avoid splattering you and the kitchen.)  Pour into greased 9 x 13 inch glass baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean (don't overbake).  Makes 12 large servings.  Serve with whipped cream if desired.  It's good warm, but is much more flavorful the next day - when it lasts that long.

Updated Composition Project

Last week, I abused my leg muscles by walking down eight flights of stairs during a fire drill.  I'm old, I'm lazy, and I have residual injuries that I like to call "sports injuries" but they are mostly from accidents when I was younger and more active.  Anyway, I don't climb up or down many stairs anymore and eight flights was about 7 1/2 too many.  So I can't do much this weekend, but sit at the computer.  Which is mostly what I usually do anyway. 

So, this morning I took the 4 lesson HP course "Beyond basics: fundamental photography techniques" which covers portraits, architecture and landscape, black & white photography, and macro photography.  While I was taking the course I found a couple of pictures that would illustrate topics for my Photography Composition project so I got sidetracked, but I managed to finish the course anyway with 100% on all the quizzes. It was a good review of the different techniques and I did learn some new things.

While adding the pictures to my project, I decided to re-organize it since I'm just sitting here.  I divided it into three separate PowerPoint presentations and rearranged the subjects to make a better flow of topics.  I also added a few topics, subtopics, and more pictures.  Then I updated my Project page here on this blog - check out # 5 if you want to see the changes.

I'm thinking of starting a Project 52 next year with the subtopics from my project, or maybe a Project 12 as I think I now have 12 main topics.

Free Digital Photography Lessons at HP

Did you know that HP offers 22 free digital photography courses at www.hp.com.go.learningcenter? You can access these short courses anytime 24/7.  The lessons include short quizzes and assignments. Some "quick lessons" are only one page long, but most appear to be 4 lessons long.  You can take each lesson separately or download a pdf file which contains all four lessons.   There is a forum where you can ask questions of "experts", but I've seen much better forum layouts on other sites.  (Actually, the HP forums used to be better.) 

HP also has a  Digital Photography Center where they'll try to sell you HP stuff, but it has some good tips for the amateur photographer.  For a sample, check out the Basic Photo Composition  tips or Focal Points.  And if you like DIY, explore the Creative Studio.

Their other free courses include Microsoft Office and Adobe, Home Office, PC Maintenance & Security, Business Basics, and IT Professionals.

11/18/11 update: Wouldn't you know it?  Shortly after I posted this, HP sent me an email announcing they are re-designing their Learning Center and the courses will be unavailable until December 19th.

01/29/12 update:  The HP Learning Center  is now re-opened.  It probably re-opened in December but I forgot to check.  They have 8 Digital Photography classes and other related classes such as Creative Gifts to Make from Photographs

NYIP Photo Assigments

For those of you who visit Persimmon Tree Photography only in your search for NYIP information, DOFmaster has posted photographs submitted for NYIP assignments from 2000 - 2003 along with comments from the NYIP advisers that you may find interesting.

You may also want to visit DOFMaster's main page where you can find applications, charts, tables, and articles for depth of field (hence the name DOF Master). You can also find the Navy Basic and Advanced Photography Courses from 1993.

I don't understand how NYIP decided on their assignments. The first assignment is to take a photograph "using shutter speed to express a sense of motion or speed."  I'm not a photographer nor an educator, but as a student, I think something else would be more appropriate for one's first photograph.  Something that would re-inforce the lesson, but would let the student be comfortable with the camera.   I also think the assignment should emphasize technique more than subject.  Each of the assignments do help reinforce learning about exposure and lighting, but then they should just be about the technique and let you choose an available subject.

While I'm complaining, I don't know why NYIP insists on having all the assignment photographs mailed instead of sent electronically.  It just looks to me like using modern technology would be less expensive and easier on everybody.  They could still have one or two assignments on printing photographs if they wanted.

I don't think I've listed them before, so here are the assignments in 2011 (they aren't quite the same as in 2000, but close).  Each assignment is for 3 - 5+ photographs.

Unit 1:

1. Using shutter speed to express a sense of motion or speed.
2. Using selective focus to make the subject stand out
3. Creating a feeling of distance by using great depth of field

Unit 2:

1. Emphasizing the subject by the size and off-center placement
2. Using framing to focus attention on your subject
3. Using leading lines to draw attention to your subject

Unit 3:

1. Using sidelighting to emphasize surface tension
2. Using backlighting to enhance the surface
3. Using "open shade" to photograph a person outdoors
4. Using a reflector board as a second light source

Unit 4:

1. Using window light for a portrait
2. Using one or two lights for a portrait
3. Making an indoor location portrait
4. Photographing a baby, young child, or pet
5. Making a group portrait

Unit 5 (you only have to do 3 of the 4):

1. Photographing a newsworthy event
2. Photographing a sports event
3. Making a fashion photograph
4. Creating a photo essay/photograph story (10+ photos)

Unit 6 (you only have to do 5 of the 9):

1. Shooting a product photograph
2. Photographing a building exterior in daylight
3. Photographing a building exterior at night
4. Photographing the interior of a home or office
5. Photographing close up
6. Photographing a still life
7. Creating a glamorous portrait
8. Photographing to minimize facial flaws
9. Creating a special effects photograph

I still haven't got started with the assignments and I meant to have them completed by now, but I have 2 more years so I'll probably wait another year (I'm such a procrastinator!).  I have read in a couple of forums that students got stuck at Unit 4 because they couldn't find anyone willing to pose for the portraits.  I will probably have that problem also.  I read that several (many?) years ago NYIP sent you a plastic or foam, bald head (called Shirley) that you could use for portraits, but, dang, they don't do that any more.

Camera Bags review

I recently acquired 2 new photo bags to go with the one that I bought when I got my camera. Finding the right camera bag is not an easy task for most photographers.  It's probably especially hard when (1) you're an experienced photographer with a lot of gear to carry around and (2) you're new and don't know what you need.

There are some very informative tutorials and articles on selecting the right bag.  Here are just five of the many hundred articles, tutorials, and forum discussions available on the subject.

1. Photo Tuts+: How to Choose the Perfect Photo Bag for Travel/ by Peter Carey
2. tutorial 9: Choosing a Camera Bag by Federick Silverglimth
3. Digital Photography School: Choosing a Day Bag for Your Camera by Peter Carey
4. Berger Bros: video - Selecting The Best Camera Bag For Your Needs by Yvonne Berger
5. byThom: Carrying 101 by Thom Hogan

No matter what you read, or how much advice you get, you have to find your own bag.  I have a difficult time just trying to buy a handbag.  Currently, I have two that I use, one for summer and one for winter.  They are just alike except for the color and they each cost about $15.  I wish they were about 1 inch bigger.  I have another bag that cost about $75.  I carried it for a month before I went back to one of the cheap ones.  What I'm saying is that I care more about function than fashion. 

Now I (finally) come to the review part of this post.  I haven't used any of the bags very much so I can't speak to their durability, ease of use, or comfort factor in actual use.  They all come in black when I would have preferred some accent color.

I purchased the Lowepro Adventura 170 Camera Bag for $22.32, but it's now priced at $28.36.  I measured the external measurements as 9.5 W x 8.75 H  x 5.5 D.  There's about 3/4 inch of padding all around so it's nicely padded.  There are 2 removable/adjustable padded dividers so you can have up to 3 sections. I have a Canon Rebel with the kit lens in the bag and only have room for one other section which would hold one lens or one flash.  The bag has a zippered 9.25 x 6.25 pocket on the front with 2 insert pockets (for things like memory cards) - there's little depth to the main pocket and none at all to the insert pockets.  I don't think it would hold the camera manual.  There are 2 "pouches" on the sides with elastic tops that will fit slim water bottles.  It got good reviews, but don't believe those who told you how roomy it is.  I'd probably give it 4 to 4 1/2 stars because it's smaller than advertised, but it may be just the size you need.

Pros: It appears well made and well padded.  It has adjustable section dividers.  It closes with a zipper and a fold over flap that buckles so the camera is secure.  It has both a padded carrying handle on top and an adjustable, sturdy shoulder strap.

Cons: It's too small to hold much except the camera body and one or two lens.  It closes with a zipper and a fold over flap that buckles so it's difficult to get to the camera quickly.  It looks like a camera bag.



Last week I got the AmazonBasics Backpack for SLR Cameras and Accessories.  At under $35, it was reasonably priced.  I measured it as 10.5 W x 16 H x 6.25 D.  The straps and back are well-padded; straps are adjustable.  It has a chest strap which lies too close to my neck for comfort even though it's adjustable and the waist strap is for skinny people.  (I didn't expect it to fit me, but I'm repeating what other reviewers said on that one.) 

It has 2 pockets on the front.  One is a flat, zip-at-the-top-only pocket in the front that would hold maps or a manual and I can easily slide my hand to the bottom to retrieve small articles. The other pocket unzips1/2 way down each side as well as the top and contains a large mesh pocket, approximately 9 x 9, and 4 insert pockets (2 pen size, one 8 x 6 and one 5 x 5.  There's a pocket on both sides that close with Velcro and are about 4 x 5 with expandable sides. It has 2 straps on one side to hold a small - moderate size tripod.

It has 1/2 inch padding front, top, bottom, and sides.  There are 6 small (3 inch wide) adjustable/removable section dividers and 2 large ones that fit lengthwise in the bag so you can get 9 different sections and there are 2 straps to fit over the sections to hold stuff in.  There are 2 zippered vinyl pockets about 10 1/2 x 5 1/2 in the main compartment. It holds more camera stuff than I own right now.  There are video reviews on Amazon.com and YouTube if you want to see what other photographers put in there. 

All the straps seemed to be secured well.  The zipper pulls are padded.  I'd probably give it 4 to 4 1/2 stars.  I'm not built for a backpack so I'm not the best judge on this one.  I'm not sure how easy it will be to get off my shoulders when it's loaded.

Pros: Good price/good value; holds a lot, but not too big; well padded; doesn't look like a camera bag.  Not too hard to get camera out, but not all that fast either.

Cons: Doesn't come with rain cover.



The last bag I'm reviewing today was an impulse buy.  I got the Neewer Large Camera Case/Bag because of the reviews and the price.  At only $3.56, including shipping, I just had to see it.  The reviewers were right. 

This little bag measures 7.75 W x 8.5 H x 4.75 with about 1/8 inch of padding all around.  (It's only 2 inches deep when empty which makes it easy to store.)  Inside there's a flat pocket about 5.5 x 6.5.  I can easily slip my hand to the bottom of that pocket. On the outside there's a zippered pocket about 7.5 x 6.  The zipper goes 3/4 of the way down both sides so it's easily accessible, but there are no little pockets inside that.  It's big enough to comforatbly hold my Canon Rebel with the kit lens attached. It closes with a flap and Velcro and there's an adjustable shoulder strap that's long enough to make this a cross body bag for safety.  The strap attached to webbing that goes around 3 sides of the bag that should increase the stability and durability of the bag as well as the strap.

I can use this bag for odds and ends when I carry the LowePro bag, or vice versa.

Pros: The price!  This is a great bag for the price.  Can remove camera fairly quickly.  Doesn't look like a camera bag.  It's not all black. Empty, it stores more easily than other bags.

Cons: the Velcro closure, not much padding (but for $3.50, you can't really expect 1/2 inch padding now, can you?)

A New Project

During my studies and research, I have read several articles that suggested photographers study pictures taken by professional photographers to help improve their own skills in lighting and composition.  One of the NYIP photographers said that when she started, she had studied the lighting in photographs.  An article I read this summer recommended that the new photographer start a scrapbook using magazine pictures.  It gave me the idea to create a digital scrapbook or album using on-line pictures.

I chose Composition as the theme for my project and not only have I enjoyed creating the album, I found it to be a fun way to learn more about photography.  Composition is a very broad topic and my project is still a work in progress even though I’m up to 180 PowerPoint slides.  I may have to divide it into several different files if it gets much larger. 

Here’s the outline for a "course" on making a Photography scrapbook to enhance your photography skills if you’re interested.  There’s more information about what I did on the page Project: Photography Composition .

1. Choose an electronic medium.
2. Choose a theme
3. Start your album
4. Divide the theme into appropriate sections if it’s a broad topic
5. Create a Table of Contents (with hyperlinks to each section if you have 180 pages!) 
6. Add the pictures
7. Learn more
8. Practice what you learn.
9. Take your own photographs and add them to the project.
10. Keep learning

Another NYIP blog

If you're looking for news from actual NYIP students, check out the Nan Schefcick Photography blog.  Currently Nan is enrolled in the NYP Photography Course and has shared comments from her student advisor for the first three unit assignments.

[Update 2/23/2012 - There have been no posts since Unit 3, I think in April 2011.]

Tut Tut Tut

If you're looking for some free photography lessons visit photo.tuts+.  They have video tutorials and articles on all aspects of photography - from hardware to capturing the image to post production.  There is a special section for beginners called basix.

photo tuts+ is part of the Plus education network.  Another one of their sites you might want to check out is psd tuts+ for Photoshop users.  The special effects tutorials look especially interesting.

After Effects (Adobe's software for "creating sophisticated motion graphics and cinematic visual effects") is covered at ae tuts+.  You could learn how to make people walk through walls.

Free workshop: Anatomy of a Photoshoot with Mark Wallace

What: 3 day workshop on commercial photography
Instructor: Mark Wallace, http://www.snapfactory.com/
When: August 26 - 28, 2011
Where: CreativeLive, http://www.creativelive.com/courses/anatomy-photoshoot-mark-wallace
Venue:  Live, on-line
Cost: Free (if you can't make it to the workshop, you can buy a CD)

NYIP Photography Course Review

Gustavo asked - "Did you like the NYIP course?"

To answer your question, Gustavo, I didn't dislike it.  Well, at least some of it. There were parts of it I liked and parts that really disappointed me.  At this point I don't think it was worth the price, but I haven't turned in any of the assignments or asked for much help from the advisers so I could be wrong.  

On the plus side (in no particular order):

• it covers a lot of different topics (some better than others),
• the newer booklets were easy to read and well illustrated
• the "free gifts" were of better quality than I thought they would be,
• the one question I've asked of the student advisers was answered promptly and the answer was helpful,
• I liked the instructors - never met them but they seemed nice when talking with each other on the audio CDs and DVDs,
• the DVDs were informative, and
• the audio CDs were interesting.  

On the negative side (in order, starting with most negative):

• some of the booklets were too old - a few were WAY too old.  I think over 20 years old is too old for a textbook   This was the biggest disappointment for me,
• some of the topics weren't covered in enough detail so I had to do a lot of additional research,
• there should have been more DVDs on more topics,  They updated the videos from VHS to DVD but they were the same old videos - mostly pertinent, but they could have added at least one new one,
• I didn't find the audio CDs as instructive as I thought they should have been,  They were mostly interesting, but .....,
• I thought each lesson should have its own CD - sometimes there were several lessons on one CD and sometimes a lesson was split over 2 CDs, and
• I didn't find the comprehensive exams very helpful.   

Some other comments:

• The school claims that you can continue to ask questions of them after you graduate which would be a plus, but of course I'm not there yet so don't really know.
• I noticed in the older booklets that they had a page of "homework" - pictures you should take to reinforce the lessons - I don't know why they left those out of the new books.  I think it would have been very helpful. 
• I finished the reading, audio, and DVDs in under 4 months, but one of those months I hardly touched it and the time includes a lot of additional researching.   I mostly did the course on weekends.  (What I'm saying is that it didn't seem to be a lot of content for the money.) 
• I learned a lot from the course which to me is more important than liking the course, but I think I could have learned the same information for less money and possibly learned it better.  I did a lot of research before I took the course and I couldn't find one self-study course that offered the structured learning that NYIP offered and I needed that to get started.  I should have looked harder because there are some out there.  Some for more money and some for less.  Update 09/20/2012: for two examples see my posts Fundamentals of Digital Photography 2012 and Karl Taylor's Free Photography Mini-Course.

Karl Taylor's Free Photography Mini-Course

This morning I watched a very informative video on lighting, Photography Tips, Essential Skills, Quickly Transform Your Photos, by Karl Taylor. 

That led me to the web site Karl Taylor Photography Masterclass where I discovered he offered a free mini-course in photography as an introduction to his DVD courses.  Look at what you get with this free course:  Over 1 1/2 hours of video tutorials and 8 articles.

Lesson 1 - The Six Essentials - PDF
Lesson 2 - Understanding Light (Part 1) - 6 minutes
Lesson 3 - Understanding Light (Part 2) - 5 minutes
Lesson 4 - A Review of Light - PDF
Lesson 5 - Natural Light Portraiture - 5 minutes



Lesson 6 - Advanced Portraiture Techniques - PDF
Lesson 7 - Shutter Speeds - PDF
Lesson 8 - Action Photography - 6 minutes
Lesson 9 - Six Essentials Review - PDF
Lesson 10 - Travel Photography - 6 minutes
Lesson 11 - Ambient & Artificial Light - PDF
Lesson 12 - Fashion Shoot with Flash & Ambient Light - 6 1/2 minutes
Lesson 13 - Perfect Photo Composition - PDF
Lesson 14 - Converting Images to Black & White in Photoshop - PDF

Bonus Video 1 - Tripods & Maintenance – 8 ½ minutes
Bonus Video 2 - Polarising Filters – 7 minutes
Bonus Video 3 - Lens Hoods – 2 minutes
Bonus Video 4 - Camera Bags & Straps – 6 minutes
Bonus Video 5 - Using on Camera Flash – 3 minutes
Bonus Video 6 - Lens Quality – 5 minutes
Bonus Video 7 - ND Graduated Filters – 2 minutes
Bonus Video 8 - Exposure & Histograms – 4 minutes
Bonus Video 9 - Adding Graduated Skys in Photoshop – 4 ½ minutes
Bonus Video 10 - Preparing Your Images for Print – 9 minutes
Bonus Video 11 - Pro-Lab Printing – 10 ½ minutes
Bonus Video 12 - Enhancing Skies in Photoshop – 5 minutes
Bonus Video 13 - Shooting for Black & White – 2 minutes

If you like the free course, you can buy the DVDs.  For $99.90 you get Introduction to Photography, Travel and Landscape Photography, and Advanced Digital SLR Photography.  Each DVD is about  1 1/2 hours in length; a total of 4 1/2 hours of training for under $100.  That seems like a reasonable price, but that's not all (like they say on TV)!  You get 30 bonus videos for probably an additional 3 hours.   The bonus videos include some Photoshop tutorials.

I haven't seen the DVDs so I can't voice an opinion either yea or nay, but the free stuff is more than worth the price.  Despite his English accent, Karl is easy to understand, explanations are clear, he repeats things for clarity, not fill, and it's information beginners can use.   I did google reviews for the DVDs and didn't see any negative ones (some had issues with some aspects of the intro course, but still liked it),  Here's a "professional" review from ePHOTOzine (which may be somewhat biased as Karl's a contributor to ePHOTOzine). 


The one thing I don't like about his PDF files and his website is the white text on black background.  I don't know why, but I always find that combination online stark, irritating, and depressing.  That has nothing to do with the content or quality of the site or DVDs, but I just don't like it. [Updated 01/22/12 - Karl's main site does not have a black background - it's bright and modern; the training videos page still has a black background, but you're watching the vids not reading so it's more tolerable.]

Addendum 6/28/2012:  I get a lot of hits on this page and for those who want to know - The free mini course truly is free. It's a great way to start learning more about photography.  You do have to provide an email address and Karl will send you emails every few days or so selling his DVDs, but they usually contain tips and videos and other interesting stuff as well.  And you can always unsubscribe.

[Update 6/28/2012: I purchased the 3 DVD professional course about a year ago. I found the Introduction to Photography beneficial. The others less so but they were interesting and educational. The one "con" I had for all the DVDs was that they didn't allow enough time for me to look at the photographs. They weren't shown till the end and special effects made it appear more as if I were watching a movie. I wanted to take my time and study the photos. (I know - I could hit pause on the ol' remote.) Since my purchase Karl has expanded his product line. Some packages include certification and portfolio reviews. Learn more at USA DVD series or UK DVD series.]

Learning through Study vs Learning by Doing

You may have noticed I haven't posted any pictures here yet.  "Yet" may be optimistic.  I seem to be stuck in the learning stage as I frequently am when I take on new projects and hobbies. 

I like learning new things and I try to learn as much as I can about the subject but somewhere along the line I usually get caught up in the learning and never get around to the doing.

1. I become intimidated by seeing what the experts can do and fear I can never become half as good so I don't even try. 
2. Or I try a little but then realize I can never be that good so I don't even try to become as good as I could be.
3. I catch 'shiny quarter' syndrome which is where something new catches my attention and I forget what I was doing.
4. I decide to wait till tomorrow to actually do anything.
5. Somebody tells me I can't and for some reason known only to Sigmund Freud or Dr. Ruth, I believe them. 

That's why I was intrigued by these two articles by Alex Garcia that I found on his Chicago Tribune blog Assignment Chicago: Tuesday Photo Tips Are You A Perpetual Student  and Conditions Of Learning Photography.  I thought maybe he was speaking to me.

I think the points he made in both articles was that you can't really learn how to do anything without doing it and the more you do it the more you can learn if you try.

A List of Lists

A reader recently commented that she had to read many books to supplement what she learned in the NYIP course because it only gave her the bare bones and she needed more meat.  She can buy at least 20 - 50 new photography books for what the NYIP course costs, but the trick is in knowing which ones to buy. 

Here is a list of 12 lists of books recommended by experienced photographers.  They are in no particular order so I'm not favoring one list or list author over another.  

• 7 Digital Photography Books for Beginners, on Photoble
• 10 Photography Book Recommendations By DIYP Readers, on DIY Photography
• 12 Great Digital Photography Books for Your Christmas Stocking (or anytime of the year) on Digital Photography School
• Wedding Photography Book Reviews  (scroll down on the page) on christopher maxwell phographer
• 4 Photography Books for Beginners at Steve's Digicams
• Suggested Books and Magazines at Ken Rockwell
• Best Photography Books of 2010  (not how-to's but books of photographs) on Elizabeth Avedon's blog
• The Best Books of 2010 on photo-eye Magazine 
• The Top Ten Digital Photography Books (includes Photoshop books) on Varis PhotoMedia Seeing
• Digital-Photography Books on Squidoo
• Architectural Photography Books Top Ten List on Clayton Studio
• The Best Digital Photography Books on Anne Darling Photography

These lists vary widely in book titles and authors, but the two more mentioned books were Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure and Scott Kelby's Digital Photography (which comes individually or in a 3 volume set.) 

Tripods

I have been trying to decide on what tripod and head to get for well over a month.  There are so many brands and models and the prices range from $15 to well over a thousand.  I did a lot of research and knew I didn't want a cheap model, but I certainly wasn't going to spend over a thousand so that narrowed it down a little (HA!).  One time I did settle on a brand and a model but by then it had been discontinued and another time I found the model I wanted, but it would take up to 4 weeks to be shipped and I didn't want to wait that long.  Ironically, if I'd just ordered it, I'd have had it by now.

Then I asked the student advisers at the New York Institute of Photography for advise. (Just FYI - I got a reply in 24 hours.)  The advisor said she used a Giottos tripod and was very happy with it so I thought "What the heck? You can't make up your mind anyway.  Get a Giottos." The advisor also recommended that I go to a camera shop where I could try out the tripod and head before buying and the staff could help me decide what I needed.  This was excellent advise. Unfortunately, there isn't a camera shop near to me so I ordered the tripod shown below from Amazon.com.  It was what I considered a moderate price and had good reviews on several photography websites.



I got it this week, but haven't used it so my opinion on its virtues and foibles isn't worth a lot at this point. However, in my opinion:

• This tripod appears quite sturdy.
• It weighs almost 5 pounds which is only about 1/2 pound heavier than a similar carbon fiber tripod which costs more than twice as much.   I'm an old lady and that 1/2 pound may be important when I'm out in the field carrying it around, but right now it was the price that was the considering factor.
• It's easy to operate, but not if you have weak thumbs.  You have to pull out a thingee (they call it a "Quick Release lock") to change the leg angles which isn't hard to do once you know how, but it does takes some strength in your thumbs. 
• Comes with a 'tool kit' that attaches to the  tripod.
• The "spiked" feet are covered with rubber like material so they can be safely used indoors.
• It came with a "deluxe" case as well as a carrying strap that can go on the tripod or the case.  The case really does seem to be of good quality and I had no problem zipping it up with the ball head attached to the base.  I have read that this was a problem with some cases, but not this one.
• When folded, it's longer than I would have liked, 26 inches without the head. 

I purchased the ball head shown below which also got good reviews on Amazon and other websites. 



Again these are just my first-sight opinions:

1. It seems sturdy and well made
2. I have a very difficult time getting the quick release lever to budge and had decided to send it back, but I finally got it to move by using more force than I thought should be necessary.  I do have a problem with weak thumbs due to old injuries so maybe it was just my problem.  
3. In the opinion of a beginning tripod user, the directions for this product stink.  The directions for the quick release lever are presented on 1 side of a 2" x 3" card attached to the head.  However, there are a couple of YouTube videos YouTube  videos that were helpful.  After watching them and playing around with it a little I know what most of the knobs do and how to use them, but better instructions for beginners would be great.
4. It comes in a nice leatherette bag with what I think is called an Allen wrench.
5. I had read a couple of reviews that said the quick release plate had rough edges.  One reviewer even said he had cut himself twice.  However, I found no rough or sharp edges on the plate I received.  It was quite smooth. 

There are a lot of articles, blogs, and videos on tripods and heads for beginners.  Most have good information, but I think the article at lensrentals.com on Choosing a Ballhead was one of the better ones on explaining ballheads.  (They also have an article on how the earthquake in Japan is affecting the availability of cameras and accessories that is rather interesting.)

I usually order from Amazon.com because I have an account there and am quite satisfied with their services, but if you want more complete information on cameras and camera equipment I suggest you check out Adorama , B&H, or one of the other photography shops on the web.

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.