Photography editing: Do a course or teach yourself ?

**David** · 10-10-2009, 2:03pm

If you were starting out with photoshop or lightroom or one of the other software programs right now because after a year or so of avoiding doing much in the way of image post processing you decided you need to catch up with the 21st Century, get with the program, and learn how to 'edit' your images, how would you do it ?

Would you,

A. Sign up for one of those Photoshop for Dummies courses that can cost some serious money,

B. Find a course online and go for 'self paced learning',

C. Just buy the program and muddle your way through it over time or

D. Other and what would your 'other' be ?

The reason I am asking is because some people on AP new to photography like me want to learn how to do post processing but will struggle with shelling out alot of money for the software (Photoshop, Lightroom etc), then balk at having to shell out a heap more money to pay some professional in a TAFE course or Online course that can cost as much.

People who have been doing post shoot editing on various programs might have an opinion on what they would do if they were starting out right now- we newbies with no clue might learn from your experiences.

**Analog6** · 10-10-2009, 2:10pm

I have signed up for the Landscape masterclass on Better Photography magazine's website. It is terrific and teaches you all about adjustment layers, masks etc, and I have only looked at the first two tutorials. There is a good free one on Adobe Camera Raw so you can see what you get. I've also bought the Focal Press book on CS4 as a reference and extra teaching aid.

**arthurking83** · 10-10-2009, 2:18pm

C.

it's not that hard to:

E. find lots of info free around the net

F. ask other members whatthey did to achieve a particular result(if they use a program that you decided on

G. find an (free)actions for PS, or a set of batch files for any other program to help you along as well.

H. I think if the software needs too much time to learn, then it;s the wrong software(especially to begin with)
Of course there's going to be a learning curve with any software, and I found as I fumbled my way through both PS and Nikon Capture.... way back when.... I fumbled more with PS, and got results with Nikon Capture.

ie. Nikon Capture4.x(not CaptureNX.. the older version before the current one) seemed more intuitive, and the results were more instantaneous.
There are other software that may be able to help as well, just to get a grip of the ideas of what to do with the processing of your images.

Other programs of note to consider...

Bibble5(currently in beta, but due any time soon??)
CaptureOne
Even a simple viewer program like FSViewer can 'process' images a little. very basic, but what'd you expect for free.

Maybe a book on how to use PS is the better way to go.

I remember a few references to a particular chap that has a good guide to Photoshop.

Beauty of using a book, is that it's there in front of you, not taking up PC time and space, as you edit

**ving** · 10-10-2009, 2:42pm

learned all by myself

**Speedway** · 10-10-2009, 3:31pm

I purchased Photoshop Elements5 a few years ago using the book that came with it and the suck it and see approach and lots of help from members of sites like AP and P4P I am putting the s/ware to good use, still a lot to learn though, I have also been getting the English magazine "Digital Photo" for a few months now and it comes with a CD with some very good tutorials (4-6 per issue) on it for both PS and Elements. At the moment I am looking at upgrading to elements 8 which was released recently.
Keith.

**dbax** · 10-10-2009, 3:38pm

I did a short photoshop course at a loal community college, it helped, but I think the main learning I've done is hands on, magazines, web tutorials, I've got a couple of book I refer to every know and then. Ask plenty of questions on forums. Once you become familiar with the tools and there uses your away.
I reckon if you can find an APer nearby, that can spend an hour or two with you, thats the is the way to go

**Kym** · 10-10-2009, 3:41pm

Self taught (and still learning)
I have some books, ebooks, and use the 'net esp. youtube for examples/tutes
So far there is nothing I've not been able to figure out from AP and the resources above
The main things is there are many ways to skin a cat! So there are alternate ways to PP an image
I have got my basic standard workflow sorted

**phild** · 10-10-2009, 4:59pm

I'm in the self taught category as well, although my PS & Lightroom skills are pretty ordinary.

I've just bought Scott Kelby's books on CS4 & Lightroom to improve my skills.

**mithrandir** · 10-10-2009, 5:09pm

I would suggest a course for Photoshop. Lightroom is more intuitive and can be learned well with a few visits to Lightroom users groups.

**Kym** · 10-10-2009, 5:32pm

Originally Posted by mithrandir

I would suggest a course for Photoshop. Lightroom is more intuitive and can be learned well with a few visits to Lightroom users groups.

Courses are iffy. Either they are at the wrong level or are not good quality.
I find to get one for what you need and have a quality teacher is difficult.
The youtube tutes are very good

**mcdesign** · 10-10-2009, 5:41pm

I can recommend this book by Scott Kelby http://www.bookware.com.au/cgi-bin/b.../9780321580092
It will take you through Photoshop in easy steps very concisely, each lesson builds on the previous. Warning!!!!! you will never get to the bottom of Photoshop I have been using it for years and am still learning. Better Photography Magazine's site has tutorials that you can download by Peter Eastway that are excellent http://www.betterphotography.com/ind...chk=1&Itemid=8
I have the CD and was amazed what he gets out of a pretty drab file just by using layers and curves. Good luck!

PS. Also the Better Photoshop Techniques Magazine is excellent too.

**ricktas** · 10-10-2009, 5:42pm

Here is option I, seeing AK added a heap more to the list.

Organise an AP processing meet. Everyone takes their laptops etc and you go to someones house and spend an afternoon teaching each other.

I am self taught (books and videos), but I also learnt a lot from other photographers, by catching up with them and talking about processing methods etc.

**etherial** · 10-10-2009, 6:22pm

Originally Posted by ricktas

Here is option I, seeing AK added a heap more to the list.

Organise an AP processing meet. Everyone takes their laptops etc and you go to someones house and spend an afternoon teaching each other.

Snap! I was wondering about the same thing. mmmm

**Avalon** · 10-10-2009, 6:56pm

I'm in the same boat David.

I find Picasa 3.5 (free download from Google) does most of the basics I want and is very easy to learn.
However, I would like to go a bit further with CS3 but have found it a bit overwhelming by myself.

I recently signed up for a short TAFE Brisbane course which I hoped would help,
but they cancelled it at the last moment and didn't bother to let me know.
I guess I wouldn't recommend TAFE.

**David** · 10-10-2009, 7:15pm

Thanks everyone for sharing your ideas and experiences.

Looks like Im going to have to buy Kelby's book, go and visit You Tube, pay attention to the tutorials that come with the photography magazine Im suscribed to, sign up for an online course for the basic stuff, bother Odille and Kane etc for more impromtu tutorials and takes Ricks advise and organise a photoshop meetup sometime soon - that should do it - now I remember why Ive been avoiding this project for so long

- Oh well, you only walk this way once.

**dbax** · 10-10-2009, 9:08pm

David I have CS3 if your ever down Tweed way give me a yell. happy to run through the basics with you

PS you as well Avalon

**Lani** · 10-10-2009, 9:53pm

Just don't expect too much too soon, as with other aspects of Photography, it is a never ending and fun, if sometimes frustrating, journey. Just do bits and pieces, and enjoy the ride. Depends on your learning style too, i learn better if i can watch someone do it, then refer to text later....so you tube is good as are meets. Kelby's books are a good starting point though.

**J.davis** · 11-10-2009, 12:49am

We had a bloke (that has just moved out here from England) come and gave us a lecture at our Club Night- he was very good and has DVD's for sale that are like YouTube Tutorials. I bought two of his DVD's and have learnt heaps. His address is WWW.beckhamdigital.co.uk and he resides on the north side of Brisbane.
As well as that, I sugest that you bite the bullit and by CS3 (old but more than enough) and a copy of 'CS3 for dummies' from the library. Sit down with a glass of red and a picture and see what happens.
I suggest thet you go through the 'adjustments mode' of the picture and move the controles a fair bit to see what they do - in reality they only need to be used sparingly.
Do this for a few nights and soon you will get the hang of it - there is a thousand things in CS3 that you will never use and others that are used in all PP.
Enjoy your journey

**Prang** · 11-10-2009, 1:57pm

Check out your local TAFE collage they quite often do Photoshop Courses over a couple of week nights.

Just on Pisca and RAW files, with the Penatx the colours are totally off I am not sure if it is the same with other brands RAW.

**Avalon** · 11-10-2009, 2:27pm

Thanks for that link J.davis.
Just had a look at the site, and it looks like it could be very useful indeed.

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