Resources - Online Learning for Photographers

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our last post on Photography Podcasts.

There were more than a dozen further suggestions for podcasts!

Whatever level we consider our photography to be at, we all probably have one thing in common. We want to learn and improve.

The resources available on the internet to help develop our knowledge and skills are almost endless and you can type any question into a search engine and someone, somewhere will have the answer.
It might even be the right answer!

So here are just a few resources we have found to help you improve your photography and the great news is that most of them are free:

Phone Photography
How to shoot on the iPhone. The Apple website provides numerous short films on how to improve your iPhone photography. Although the short tutorials are iPhone specific, they can be applied to all camera phones.
Visit the website here.

Brand Specific Training
Most Camera Brands offer free tips, tutorials and courses to help you master their equipment and get the best out of it.

Check out some of the big name pages here:
Nikon click here
Canon click here
Sony click here and search for “photography tutorials”

Adobe
Many of us spend as much time editing our images as we do creating them. Not everyone uses Lightroom or Photoshop but if you do, look for the “Learn & Support” button on the website at Adobe.com. There are numerous tutorials and courses to help you get started.
Please note that Lightroom and Photoshop are not free programs.

YouTube
We couldn’t possibly leave out YouTube.com as a resource for photographers.
Regardless of how obscure your question might be, it seems that someone has already answered it. Better still they’ve taken the time to make a video about it!

Here are just a few of the notable YouTubers who offer free online learning and advice:

Thomas Heaton - landscape and outdoor photography.
Photoshop Cafe - tips and tutorials for Photoshop users.
First Man Photography - tutorials, reviews and discussion.
Jason Lanier - award-winning photographer and lighting guru.
Tony & Chelsea Northrup  - from beginners to geeks they have something for everyone.

Learning Websites
There are many standalone websites offering courses ranging from basic introductions through to professional accredited training. Some are advertised as free but make sure you read the small print because you may have to buy your certificate at the end!

If you plan to go down this route, take your time, do your homework and make sure the course offers the training you require and the qualification is recognised. The courses will often cover all areas of photography, some of which may not interest you!  If you just want to find out about something specific, you’d be better off checking YouTube first.


We hope you found this interesting and, as always, we welcome your comments and suggestions!

Our next topic will be photography apps.