Online photography classes: Pros and Cons
Online education is a very controversial issue. There are strong supporters of this rapidly developing trend, but there are people who still refuse to acknowledge these new methods of education.
My idea is that online education is a new trend which is very effective and convenient. The appearance of these new methods of education is determined by the state of things in the modern world, especially in the business one – today people are extremely pressed for time and they prefer to do everything from the comfort of their home.
So you see I am FOR online education. But it doesn’t mean that I don’t realize the importance of interpersonal communication. I don’t believe that virtual education would ever replace “in person” communication, BECAUSE:
1. Simply because humans communicate better in person than by text. Besides, with something as inventive and creative as photography, you can hardly go without interaction with the teacher and students.
2. Self-discipline is probably the second important argument for active classes. If you have deadlines to push for, it helps with learning by throwing up ideas that would be outside your routine thinking and it helps with development by providing some level of reasoned critique of your progress.
3. The possibility of getting out together with real people who share your interest. That can be a very interesting experience, because it allows your to see how different people see a potential picture.
These are STRONG arguments for active classes, aren’t they? But I still believe that online education has a very good potential, even when we speak about artistry. Or probably it will be right to say ESPECIALLY if we speak about artistry. Why? Just because a course would hardly teach one photography, it can teach only some technical things.
1. So if it’s technical things one misses, then s/he can buy a book on photography or read a great number of articles available on the Web. By the way, you can start from the BLOG you are reading now! Start with RECOMMENDED POSTS on the right.
2. There is a great amount of photography sites that offers to their members:
- forums, where you can ask questions, share your photos and get constructive critique, which is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE (shotaddict forum develops a good community to help you);
- contests, which encourage you to take new and new pictures rather than just drawing on existing shots, or follow up critique by finding fresh ways to apply the things you have learned.
3. Last but not least, online classes can be the ONLY possibility to get some basic education for people who can’t attend college no matter what the reason is.
These are the basic argument for and against online education, now it is up to you what to choose. If your choice is ONLINE photography classes, check the following sites:
BetterPhoto.com
New York Institute of Photography
School of Photography
MorgueFile - a free resource for photographers
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