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07/11/2009 03:32:58 AM · #1 |
| Hi, I'm from Singapore and i'm currently trying to find a career in life. I am interested in photography but i dont have any portfolio or a SLR, just normal digital photo taking. Where would you recommend for me to pick up photography? Do overseas schools accept students with no portfolio? |
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07/11/2009 11:06:05 AM · #2 |
Almost everything that I know about photography has it's roots here at DPChallenge.
I took a Photoshop class at a local community college and I attended a seminar by a couple of National Geographic photographers that was not so much learning as it was learning about their experiences.
DPChallenge has taught me a lot through participation in challenges and then the critiques of my work. Discussions have led me to books, websites, and other resources that I might never have come across on my own. The latter has probably been the one attribute of this website that has enabled me to leapfrog way beyond what I would have done on my own...the sharing of ideas, experience with equipment, and useful software.
While going abroad to study photography might eventually pay off, I think that it is a long shot road to success as a professional photographer. It is also going to be expensive, not just in money but also in time and effort. I would spend some time here to learn the basics of photography by reading through the numerous tutorials and threads that have covered everything you could possibly learn at a formal school before committing to one.
Message edited by author 2009-07-11 11:07:13. |
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07/11/2009 11:57:18 AM · #3 |
I am also a proponent of self study. I also know of many people who have learned a lot in classes. Getting beat up here every week and learning from listening to others is the biggest thing that has helped my photography.
Even in a class, most of the learning is up to you. I have to agree with the advice  yakatme offered. Enter a few challenges here, learn of the different genre's and styles. Comment on others work and figure out what you like and what direction you want to take it in.
You can do fine with your point and shoot to start. Nicer gear can help, but you first have to know how to utilize what that gear offers in order to gain any benefit from it. There is some extra satisfaction to producing a great shot with lesser equipment.
If you are just getting started, you might also find the contents of this thread useful: Freebie imaging software: the big list
Message edited by author 2009-07-11 11:58:55. |
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07/11/2009 12:28:41 PM · #4 |
Welcome to DPChallenge. If you are truly interested and dedicated, you can learn a lot from this site. You can get a lot of good feedback about how people perceive your photos as you develop your skills. You don't need a fancy camera to get started here, but if you are serious about a career, you will have to get a good camera someday, and sooner is better than later. You never know when you will shoot your signature photo, so it's best to at least have the equipment, and know how it works.
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07/11/2009 12:53:35 PM · #5 |
I started with self-study and learned quite a bit, especially from reading these forums. I am back at school, studying photography, but my biggest reason for going back to school was that I was having a difficult time finding a job. I'm mostly riding out the economy while learning a bunch too : )
That said, I think the school I'm attending would be perfect for what you are looking for. The school is the Brooks Institute of Photography. So many of the students who start here only bought their first DSLR a few days before classes started. It's incredible to see the difference in their work in just a few short months. The entire undergrad program here is only 3 years long, but the school runs all year long (no summer break). Each class is only 2 months long, so it's a pretty intense class, especially as you enter higher classes (but nothing is so hard that it's not do-able). The other good part about the 2-month classes is that if you decide you hate it, you only wasted 2 months : ) |
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07/12/2009 02:03:01 AM · #6 |
| Thanks for the comments. i'll browse the forum and self learn first then :) |
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07/12/2009 02:15:25 AM · #7 |
| And don't forget to shoot, shoot, and shoot... |
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07/12/2009 04:25:11 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Ken:
And don't forget to shoot, shoot, and shoot... |
That I think is the best piece of advice any photographer can get! It's one of those things where you gotta get out there and do as much as you can.
Here are a few things to note, especially if you're going to self learn:
Don't get disheartened. Sometimes you'll think photography's not for you. Sometimes I come back home, look at my shots and think, "I'll never be good at this" then the next day I come back with something I love.
Remember what people think of your shots is their individual tastes. You'll quickly learn if you enter challenges here that what one person loves, another will hate. Listen to all criticism, some of it is very useful, learn from it, but never take it personally!
Trying to please the masses will ultimately lead your photography down a dead end road. Try everything, find what you love. Take photos that you love taking, if you're bored with the subjects you are shooting, that will show in your photography.
And I'll just reiterate what Ken said, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot and shoot! |
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