Where did you learn your skills?

[zoomermel]

There seems to be many "professional" or should I say "experienced" photographers on this forum. Granted there are tutorials out there and educational sources, but that’s not the best avenue.

What I want to know is, where/how did you learn your photography skills? Did you go to school? Self taught? Books? Mags? Family job? If so which one???

What would you suggest for someone who wants to get serious about photography? Besides practice or "take lots of pictures". I can take lots of pictures, with the lens cap on!

[Tom]

All of the above.

Class in HS and in college
Paid for mentoring
Read tons of books
practiced a ton
read lots of magazines
read lots of blogs

Pretty much any form of tutorial, I have tried it.

And lots of practice. Count my time shooting, editing, writing, reflecting, critiquing - I probably spend between 80-120 hours a week every week in photography.

[Patti Edens]

Good educators know that different people learn differently. It all depends on how you learn best. Some people like to read words and will be baffled by graphs, others need to see graphical representations in order to grasp a concept.

For me, I like to have an instructor so that I can ask questions while I am learning. So, I have taken several classes through community schools (such as Leisure Learning in Houston) and also several on-line courses where the instructor chimes in to answer questions and also critique photos.

My husband much prefers to learn by reading, so he buys books.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that what works for some may not work for everyone. You will likely get lots of resources and then you will have to choose the one that will work best for you.

[HeatherLou]

I learned a lot just on TPF, but I have also mentored (online, phone and in person) with some of the best folks on here.

But I also have tons of books on photography, marketing, lighting, sales. You name it, I have a book on it somewhere.

I also attend After Dark at least once a year, and try to fit in other workshops as I can.

The information is out there, sometimes you have to wade through the mire and muck to get it, but it is there. Find a few people who's work you admire and send them an email, most folks are glad to share.

[jeffclow]

Self taught.....lots of reading....lots of trial and error.

Best "teacher" has been viewing the work of others. After one "looks" at thousands of photos, you start to get a sense of what to do.

Best advice I ever read?

"If you want to take better photos, stand in front of better things"

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Lots and Lots of Practice
Classes/Seminars/Conventions
Lots and Lots of Books and Magazines
More Practice
Study the History of Photography and all the Masters
Work on many of your own Personal Projects
Which means more Practice
Became a member of pro4um.com
Opened up a studio and did everything by the seat of my pants
Learn to be a business person
Marketing, Marketing, Marketing
I'm still Practicing with out the lens cap on.

[brad]

Basic photography skills.. self taught. Learned on a film camera who's meter consisted of a needle on a scale that had a + on one end and a - on the other end -- goal was to put it in the middle. No auto nuttin.

Taught myself lighting with a set of eBay lights and my mother's orchids from her greenhouse. Lots of experiments and trial and error... by the way, orchids make fantastic subjects - they have lots of texture to them, much like a face.

More trial and error trying to duplicate the style of a couple of people I admired online.

More trial and error as I tried to duplicate lighting patterns of the master painters.. mostly Rembrandt, Rafael, and Ruebens. Studied posing of the painter Hogarth.

Joined TPPA and started listening to seminars.

My first real workshop I ever did - with our own Fran Reisner at her home studio.

Attended Texas School.

Started reading and studying methods of some people who were doing some really cool stuff with additive light (small strobe lighting adding to ambient) -- namely Doug Box, Mike Fulton and Cody Clinton, David Hobby (the Strobist), and Joe (Numnuts) McNally.

Attended the first AfterDark in Austin.

Most recently, mentoring under Martin Grahame-Dunn out of England .. an extremely successful commercial photographer from Europe, I met him when I was assigned to his class at Texas School last year.

In between each of those steps is Practice, Practice, Practice.

Digital has one MAJOR advantage over film for people learning... in film, you used to have to keep detailed notes of settings and match them up with the frame that you wouldn't see until sometimes a week later... with digital, not only do you get to see right away if it worked - the camera settings are embedded in the image.

I'm sure I've left stuff out.. its been a long road getting from there to here.

[texxter]

I have been interested in photography for a long while but I didn't start to photograph with the intent to get better until 2006. What I did:

• Courses at the community college were really good to force me to shoot and to work on assignments.
• Reading books and looking at images. I have bought and read more than 60 books on photography and photographers, and I keep looking at images all the time.
• One on one tutoring with a couple of photographers I admire - connected to the community college - excellent feedback helped me a lot
• Subscriptions to publications - PDN, Communication Arts are my favorites, American Photo and others
• Lots of experimentation on my own, shooting all the time, trying new things, making lots of mistakes, but not settling for a formula - I keep experimenting. I think that my first 50,000 images were not worth keeping, with a few exceptions.
• After four years of living a photographic life, I'd say that I am about 10% there - the technical stuff is not the hard part, the hard part is to really find my voice and create images that convey a clear message or feeling and communicate how I see the world. I have the rest of my life to work on that.
• Finally money is not an object of interest in my photographic journey, hence I spent little time on business, albeit I have taken courses and know what needs to be done. I just choose to do photography as life enrichment and not a profitable endeavor.

[Todd Lambert]

I took classes in high school where I learned exposure and dark room stuff.

Although, it was high school, and I didn't really learn anything, I just thought I did.

Beyond that, I've no formal training whatsoever. I do what looks right to me, period. I've taught myself by going out and shooting. I honestly wasn't (and still not for the most part) interested in looking at others photos that much. I'm not like some, who've studied the greats and pore over thousands of other's work. I like to look at others stuff, but it's never been a driving force in my photography or learning patterns for that matter.

I've gone through several phases over the years and I am sure I am in one now... but that's what's great about this passion. You can go anywhere you want with it.

[Jusselin]

I learned alot of everything here....i started here before i owned a camera...then bought a camera..then shot and posted here...

I literally went from this
(my first E-session EVER)




to this
(most recent e-session)




I know i am still not the BEST photog, and even in that second pic there are things i see i need to do better on....but because of the CC i get here and the help i have improved A LOT lol.

[Jusselin]

lots and lots of practice, lots and lots oc CC lol cant wait to see where i am in another 2 years!

[zachary]

My dad taught me alot. Then I took it and ran. Ask alot of questions.

[photopam]

I have a BFA in art-photography which taught me basics.
Then I worked for a few different studios around
Then I went to Texas school
Trial and error
Mentors
Forums for the business stuff
Workshops

[contributor_M]

I'm not experienced (yet) but it's just been books, videos, practice. Met a guy who does good work. Going to pay him for a session to help share knowledge and push myself beyond my current skill set.

[srwatters]

One B&W film class in junior college back in the early '80's. Put it down for 20 years. In 2004 bought a Nikon D70 and shot several thousand self portraits in my empty dining room. Got really hooked after attending a Rolando Gomez workshop then was incredibly lucky to meet and work with Greg Daniels for three years.

Still learning by reading and working with friends, models, and some clients. No other formal education.