Photog Programs Specializing in Image Manipulation???

<p>Hi,<br>

I was wondering if anyone could give me insight on programs geared towards photography towards image manipulation. I'm inspired by the imagination and conveying that through photography is something that I would like to improve in -- making the impossible believable through picture is my ultimate goal. I'm tired of the pages of the same photoshop tutorials. I love some of <strong>Erik Johansson</strong>'s work and here are some webpages that I think display some great works of photography and photo editing. <br /><br />http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/10-incredible-photo<br />http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/leah-johnston-fine-art-narrative-photography<br />http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/levitation-photography/<br />http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/austin-tott-quirky-portraits-repeating</p>

<p>I know that most programs - if not all - will spend a lot of time with fundamentals, lighting, color, history, etc. and will have one or two classes dealing with photo manipulation. Are there any programs in particular that focuses on photo manipulation or offers opportunities for their students to create their own concentration in the topics of photography? I was considering Academy of Art University in SF given the LOW tuition rate for an art school and its relatively high ranking.<br>

Thanks,<br>

Danny</p>

<p>Near the bottom of http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/10-incredible-photo (your first link) there are links to manipulation tutorials, have you tried any of those?</p>

<p>The manipulation techniques required for the shots you are interested in are very advanced, you need to find advanced classes. Most classes <em>are</em> going to spend a lot of time on the fundamentals. </p>

<p>Most advanced Photoshop users that I know are mostly self-taught. They may have learned the basics in classes, but the advanced stuff they learned by thousands of hours of experimentation.</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>"I was considering Academy of Art University in SF given the LOW tuition rate for an art school and its relatively high ranking."</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>That looks like a good school given their curriculum especially in the Animation & Visual Effects program. </p>

<p>I imagine most students enrolling in such courses will have had many hours of self-taught experience. Going in blind will likely cause a new learner to be overwhelmed by basic concepts. </p>

<p>A lot of the stuff you've referred to are far more than photo editing. They involve 3D computer graphics programs for modeling, animation and creation of images. I suggest trying your hand at some of the open source programs such as Blender, and use the many help resources available on the net and YouTube to see if it captures your imagination:<br>

<a href="http://www.blender.org/">http://www.blender.org/</a></p>

<p>Here's a gallery of work created in Blender:<br>

<a href="http://www.blender.org/features-gallery/gallery/art-gallery/">http://www.blender.org/features-gallery/gallery/art-gallery/</a></p>

<p>Wow thanks for the quick response guys.<br /> Matt, I've tried some of them (not all) as well as many other tutorials on the web. Whether I should learn and improve on my own was another question I meant to ask. I just feel like I am spending too much time on experimentation and trial and error. I know its inevitable, but I think it would be better to have peers and faculty direct me in certain directions when I'm really stuck on a visual problem I can't solve... instead of pouring countless hours lookin up how to to do them online or experimenting myself for weeks, sometime months with advanced stuff with mediocre results. I should also should mention I already have a four year degree (in geographic information systems...lol don't ask -___-) and am looking at masters programs. To my understanding, masters programs allow for more individualized curriculum and exploration. (I don't have a strong foundation in basic photography so I don't mind learning the basics at all. I want to get to a point where I am shooting everything myself for my artwork)<br /> Here's a couple things I put together yesterday on my day off :] <br /><br /><br />Before and After<br /><img src="http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k562/dankang_uw/Girldressfinal_zps63778b0f.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="811" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Just paying my childhood a visit :]<br /> <img src="http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k562/dankang_uw/Airplanes_zps6bbfa780.jpg" alt="" width="688" height="1024" /><br /><br />Michael, I've worked a little bit with after effects, cinema 4D (not much tho). That's actually a good idea... thanks for the advice.</p>

<p>(The original photo of the girl was taken by Cherish Ortiz) ... credit where credit is due :]</p>

<p>Daniel, please don't tell us you're giving up a career in GIS to pursue photography? :-) </p>

<p>The creative aspect is indeed much harder than the nuts and bolts of how-to (which can be learned and developed through practice). Some of the most striking images are the type we've never seen before, and in a world of near saturation it's becoming even more difficult to creatively differentiate ourselves from what's been done to death. </p>

<p>hahahaha yea -____- GIS.... I guess I will always have GIS to to catch me JUST in case things don't work out.<br>

Buuuuuut I gotta follow this path right now. I hear you when you say: a "world of near saturation" with things that have been created and recreated to death. I hope I can bring something new to the table. I wanna become someone and I'm gonna be the best at what I do >:] Im literally JUST starting out so I don't mean to jump the gun and sound haughty and like an egomaniac. Also i'm not trying to trivialize the amount of blood and sweat people spill in their pursuit to come out top, but it's a greed and aspiration I've never felt before. I hope it's not the excitement talking and hope i'll be able to handle the blood and sweat this is gonna demand. <br /><br />Anyway... enough of the ranting. I'll think about my schooling options some more... maybe try to look around for workshops and conferences i can attend. 'preciate ur guys' input : ]<br /><br />-Danny</p>

<p>Danny, I completely understand your passion to follow your calling. </p>

<p>Just a thought, wouldn't it also be a possibility to delve into technical photography which can also apply to, or complement your GIS academic schooling? Some of the image acquisitions and manipulations involved in industry can be more involved than commercial photography and just as interesting. </p>

<p>Hello Danny ,<br>

We are almost even , I have my under graduation in mechanical engineering from Tamil nadu, southern part of India, 2011 pass out . I completely left it and switched to photography , I am self learned photographer trying to create wonderful Image manipulations like never before, I also shoot street, travel , Landscapes which I love, But I love to expertise myself into conceptual/creative works. I have won a honorary mention in last year scott kelby photo walk(that's the only recognition). The sad part is I don't have any opportunities here in my place, People around me don't respect my work . Its been a while i earned , My parents are giving a little support so I am managing but I know its soon gonna stop. Whenever I tell people of what I am doing they are being sarcastic , they reply like " How can you make a living with what you do ? ", It hurts every time , even though I am almost burned out , I just couldn't give up. All my friends just exploit my talent and use me for free to take their special occassion , events, facebook profile pictures :/ I am just completely lost , I don't where to go , what to do but I still carry my camera and keep shooting that's the only thing makes me happy. I completely lost faith , I don't have words . I am thinking about higher education not in some traditional photography courses , a mix of 3d modelling (I already know solidworks) , lighting (which I don't have the cash to experiment till now ) . apart from it the key thing why I seek a college is for change of my lifestyle, getting along with wonderful Inspiring people who are in the same boat .<br>

My website is http://srinkphotography.in ,<br>

500px : http://500px.com/srinavinkumar<br>

I am attaching some of my works here . <img src="https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/123202103/fs/18d0f2cde8ad08930225220fd699d809.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1146" /><img src="https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/130126529/fs/b582637f8b97624bb7cb163cdd11e9cf.jpg" alt="" width="1334" height="900" /><img src="https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/130127407/fs/24311c7acf32368990de359b01e1b85f.jpg" alt="" width="1600" height="900" /></p>