[Bald Runner]

Hi Gang

I am Mark Adams from Macclesfield.
I have recently decided to take up photography 'seriously' owing to my impending retirement in 3 years and wanting something to occupy me (I'll only be 50). I have always had cameras but never really knew what to do with them and I suppose you could say I took 'snaps' rather than photographs. Very little thought went into composition and lighting etc.
I have bought myself a Canon 400D and have a few books (John Hedgecoe, Tom Ang) which I have read to get the basics. However, I would like to undertake a photography course to get me started. Because I work shifts, it is difficult to attend a college to do so because I would miss half of the sessions.

I would be keen to hear from anyone who has experience or knowledge of a decent 'distance learning' or online photography course

Thanks

Mark (Bald Runner)

[john crossley]

The Open Colllege of the Arts do photography courses.
I have not done any of the courses myself so I cannot comment on the quality of them.

Photography — Open College of the Arts

[LadyStardust]

I am approaching the end of my City & Guilds Foundation Course in Photography Level 2 and am thinking about what I want to do next. It's been superb (and I've got a lot left to do before submitting all my work in September) and I think the OCA courses look very good.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone on Pixalo who has actually completed one of these courses with the OCA?

[P-E]

Hi Mark.....sorry I can't offer any feedback on any online photography courses but

[Bald Runner]

Thank you all for your replies thus far

Mark

[Bald Runner]

LadyStardust, "

City & Guilds Foundation Course in Photography Level 2" Where / how did you do this course? College or correspondence?

Ta

Mark

[Dabhand16]

Mark - here is the City & Guilds search results for 'photography'.

The home page might give the types pf courses available.

[LadyStardust]

Thanks for putting the link on there Dabhand16. Unfortunately, I don't think the C&G course would suit you Bald Runner because you need to attend classes. For my course it was one night a week from 19:30 to 21:30, and that was for 36 weeks. We have our final class next week. For me, it worked particularly well because you quite a bit of "hands on" discussion and learning. For example, our tutor brought in different types of lenses and cameras earlier on in the course and for our black and white module we were able to use the darkroom in the college (at Haywards Heath). Plus, we had lots of homework to do; essays and other written pieces, and we took photos to illustrate concepts like depth-of-field, hyperfocal distance etc.

I would recommend the course to anyone, as long as you are prepared to put in the time. Quite a few dropped out of the course because they couldn't do this.

Well, good luck with your hunt!

[stepheno]

Hi Mark and welcome to Pixalo

[Sonsey]

Hi Mark, it's good to have you at Pixalo!

[Bald Runner]

Hi everybody.
Thank you all for your responses.
It's nice to be Welcome!

[Stormbringer]

Welcome to Pixalo

I've been looking into this myself and have found a couple of links that might help.

city and guilds photography course: uk distance learning photography training - ICS Learn

City & Guilds Basic Photography Distance Learning Home Study Course

Distance Learning - photography training uk - photography courses, portrait photography schools, digital photography courses - Barrett and Coe

There are quite a few others around but are very similar. The last link is typical of the sort of site that offers a specific type of photgraphy course.

The C&G courses are not cheap and require access to a darkroom. As my daughter is keen to do the C&G course I'm going to build us a dark room in her loft. Then try to get as much overtime in so that I can afford to pay for it!!!!