Jump to content

Wanted: Links to online tutorials and learning software for beginning photographers


lex_jenkins

Recommended Posts

<p>Greetings, all,</p>

<p>We're getting a lot of requests that could best be answered through clearly illustrated online tutorials and even tutorials on CD/DVD. While photo.net has lots of good illustrated articles accessible via the "Learning" tab, we don't have all the bases covered. Let's put together a concise collection of links to such sources.</p>

<p>A few ground rules:</p>

<ul>

<li>No spam. Spammers will get lumps of coal and sticks for HanuKwanzaMas.</li>

<li>Please provide one-click hot links, clearly labeled. (The mods can fix 'em but we'd rather not.)</li>

<li>No references to books, libraries, etc. Online or software based tutorials only. </li>

<li>No text-only "old school" websites. We're visual people. Illustrations and concise explanations are preferable.</li>

</ul>

<p><br /> Examples of my personal favorites:</p>

<p><a title="Photoflex Lighting School illustrated tutorials" href="http://www.photoflexlightingschool.com/sites/WebPhotoSchool/" title="Photoflex Lighting School illustrated tutorials">Photoflex Lighting School illustrated tutorials</a><br>

Formerly known as the NY Web Photo School, this site offered some excellent free tutorials and paid tutorials. In 2011 the site was revamped and now all tutorials are free. Well worth a look. It covers everything from indoor product photography to studio portrait and outdoor portrait tutorials.

<p></p>

<p><a title="Studio Lighting website illustrated tutorials" href="http://www.studiolighting.net/" title="Studio Lighting website illustrated tutorials">Studio Lighting website</a><br>

offers an excellent resource for illustrated tutorials demonstrating easy, inexpensive techniques for a variety of lighting challenges including headshots for actors and entertainers.</p>

<p><em>Note: This thread will be edited to keep it strictly on topic.</em></p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>Does this qualify:<br>

<a href="http://forum.montezucker.com/index.php?act=ST&f=11&t=8344">Monte Zucker</a><p>

 

Or this:<br>

 

<a href="http://jzportraits.home.att.net">JZ Portraits</a></p>

<p>I find that many want to achieve the results but are unwilling to commit to the work & dedication necessary to achieve them. Work hard, practice, then more practice, all your life.</p>

<p>This is a process of constant re-evaluation & improvement.<p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<blockquote>I find that many want to achieve the results but are unwilling to commit to the work & dedication necessary to achieve them. Work hard, practice, then more practice, all your life.</blockquote>

<p>Perhaps, Bill, but in the spirit of the Beginner forum we're hoping to encourage folks to explore for themselves by pointing out where the lessons can be learned. We'll provide a map to the oasis. It's up to them to drink.</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>From simple to advanced lighting: <a href="http://www.strobist.com">strobist.com</a></p>

<p>Most simple photo editing techniques: <a href="http://www.popphoto.com">popphoto.com</a></p>

<p>A decent, reliable source for lens comparisons: <a href="http://www.photozone.de">photozone.de</a></p>

<p>Off the top of my head, those are some of my most valuable resources outside of this site (no butt kissing here).</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>Thanks, Paulo, and while I agree those are all good sites (I visit Photozone fairly often), let's stick specifically to links to illustrated <em>tutorials</em> geared toward teaching lessons. Let's not digress too much into our personal favorite reference material websites.</p>

<p>Another example: Did you know that many retailers, distributors and manufacturers offer online tutorials? Yes. Could I say that if it wasn't true? Yes! But in this case, it's mostly true.</p>

<p><p><a title="Photoflex Lighting School illustrated tutorials" href="http://www.photoflexlightingschool.com/sites/WebPhotoSchool/" title="Photoflex Lighting School illustrated tutorials">Photoflex Lighting School illustrated tutorials</a><br>

Formerly known as the NY Web Photo School, this site offered some excellent free tutorials and paid tutorials. In 2011 the site was revamped and now all tutorials are free. Well worth a look. It covers everything from indoor product photography to studio portrait and outdoor portrait tutorials.</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>Sorry if I misinterpreted the rules, Lex. Also, now that I think about it, Strobist does seem a wee bit too advanced for a beginner, unless he/she really wants/is desperate to explore that field. But I definitely feel the need to keep the PopPhoto link, since they do a good job of explaining a lot of beginner tips.</p>
Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>PS.</p>

<p>Now that you mention the "<em>retailers, distributors and manufacturers offer online tutorials</em> " bit, Canon has a lot on their site (despite the gratuitous peddling involved). I can't search for the links right now (at work, must.. not.. get.. caught..) but I'll do so when I get home -- if someone hasn't posted already by then. Some of the more useful ones (sorry for the lack of links, if anyone can search for them, I would appreciate that):</p>

<ul>

<li>The DPP tutorial -- A great way to get started with the concept of workflow. </li>

<li>The Speedlight tutorial -- more like a glorified brochure, but I think it can help. </li>

<li>I remember watching some videos with a collaboration with some Sports Illustrated photogs that showed a lot of tips on sports and portraits -- if you're starting out, it's really great stuff.</li>

</ul>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>YouTube is a rich resource for photograph tutorials suitable for both beginners and advanced users:</p>

<p>General Photoshop tutorials:<br>

<a title="General Photoshop tutorials" href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Photoshop+tutorial&search_type=&aq=f" title="General Photoshop tutorials">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Photoshop+tutorial&search_type=&aq=f</a></p>

<p>Photoshop Retouch tutorials:<br>

<a title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photoshop+retouch&search_type=&aq=8&oq=Photoshop" href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photoshop+retouch&search_type=&aq=8&oq=Photoshop" title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photoshop+retouch&search_type=&aq=8&oq=Photoshop">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photoshop+retouch&search_type=&aq=8&oq=Photoshop</a></p>

<p>Photoshop Tricks:<br>

<a title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photoshop+tricks&search_type=&aq=6&oq=photoshop++" href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photoshop+tricks&search_type=&aq=6&oq=photoshop++" title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photoshop+tricks&search_type=&aq=6&oq=photoshop++">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photoshop+tricks&search_type=&aq=6&oq=photoshop++</a></p>

<p>Portrait photography tutorials:<br>

<a title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+portrait&search_type=&aq=2&oq=Photography+tutorial" href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+portrait&search_type=&aq=2&oq=Photography+tutorial" title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+portrait&search_type=&aq=2&oq=Photography+tutorial">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+portrait&search_type=&aq=2&oq=Photography+tutorial</a></p>

<p>Composition:<br>

<a title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+composition&search_type=&aq=6&oq=photography+tutorial++" href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+composition&search_type=&aq=6&oq=photography+tutorial++" title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+composition&search_type=&aq=6&oq=photography+tutorial++">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+composition&search_type=&aq=6&oq=photography+tutorial++</a></p>

<p>Flash photography tutorials:<br>

<a title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+flash&search_type=&aq=4&oq=photography+tutorial+" href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+flash&search_type=&aq=4&oq=photography+tutorial+" title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+flash&search_type=&aq=4&oq=photography+tutorial+">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+flash&search_type=&aq=4&oq=photography+tutorial+</a></p>

<p>Lighting tutorials:<br>

<a title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+lighting&search_type=&aq=0&oq=photography+tutorial+++" href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+lighting&search_type=&aq=0&oq=photography+tutorial+++" title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+lighting&search_type=&aq=0&oq=photography+tutorial+++">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+lighting&search_type=&aq=0&oq=photography+tutorial+++</a></p>

<p>Wedding tutorials:<br>

<a title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+wedding&search_type=&aq=5&oq=photography+tutorial++" href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+wedding&search_type=&aq=5&oq=photography+tutorial++" title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+wedding&search_type=&aq=5&oq=photography+tutorial++">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photography+tutorial+wedding&search_type=&aq=5&oq=photography+tutorial++</a></p>

<p>Camera reviews (refine search by adding camera model):<br>

<a title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=camera+reviews&search_type=&aq=0&oq=camera+review" href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=camera+reviews&search_type=&aq=0&oq=camera+review" title="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=camera+reviews&search_type=&aq=0&oq=camera+review">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=camera+reviews&search_type=&aq=0&oq=camera+review</a></p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>A "virtual SLR camera" is available at Camera Interactive's site here:<br /> <br /> <a title="Cameras Interactive" href="http://www.camerasinteractive.com/home.php" title="Cameras Interactive">http://www.camerasinteractive.com/home.php</a> <br /> <a title="Cameras Interactive" href="http://www.camerasinteractive.com/home.php" title="Cameras Interactive"></a> <br /> This site lets you play with a virtual SLR camera to begin to understand the interrelationships between shutter speed, aperture and other settings. A pretty slick tool. Very graphically oriented.</p>

<p>There is also the classic 'Sim Cam' that I played with quite a bit in the past. You can find that one here:</p>

<p><a title="Sim Cam" href="http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/" title="Sim Cam">http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/</a></p>

<p> </p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>Here are a couple on depth of field: <br /> http://www.photoxels.com/tutorial_dof.html<br /> http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/dof.shtml<br /> A link to all the Luminous Landscape tutorials:<br /> http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/<br>

Sorry, but I don't know how to convert to hotlinks in this editor - I'll see if I can find a tutorial for that. :-)</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>Pop Photo's HDR Tutorial:<br>

 

http://www.popphoto.com/howto/3038/how-to-create-high-dynamic-range-images.html</p>

 

<p>HDR Tutorial: How to create `High Dynamic Range` Images using Photomatix<br>

http://www.vanilladays.com/hdr-guide/</p>

 

<p>Adobe's Photoshop tutorials (I think they are all quicktime):<br>

http://www.photoworkshop.com/adobe/index<br><P>

 

for example, Katrina Eisman on Alpha Channel Advanced Masking:<br>

http://www.photoworkshop.com/adobe/softwarecinema/Katrin_Eismann/index.html</p>

 

<p>From some of the guys that did Radiant Vista tutorials:<br>

MarK Johnson (Photoshop Workbench)<br>

http://www.msjphotography.com/<br><P>

 

i.e. drawing attention to your subject:<br>

http://media.msjphotography.com/psw/PSW_155_Drawing_Attention_to_Your_Subject.mov<br><P>

 

and The Mindful Eye (free membership required) has a section where they critique an image and also<br>

has videos similar to the workbenches above.<br>

http://www.tmelive.com/<br><P>

 

i.e.simplifying a landscape image<br>

 

http://tmelive.com/DigitalDarkroom/DD-120708-SimScenLndsc/DD-1207.html</p>

<p>hope these are of some help -jeffl</p>

<p> </p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>Sorry if it took too long, but:</p>

 

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=1228">The DPP Tutorial</a> -- in flash, chopped up in bits and pieces to suit your learning curve.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=HomePageAct">Canon Digital Learning center</a> -- overall, a good starting point for beginners with Canon equipment (again, gratuitous peddling, and some exaggeration in the products can be found, you have been warned). </li>

<li><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/video_tips/">A series of videos for budding sports photographers </a> -- it used to be better, and I'll still scour around to see if I can find the better ones (these are good, but there used to be more photographers and more videos).</li>

</ul>

<p>Hope these help.</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm<br>

Being a beginner myself constantly looking for tutorials on different topics I've landed on this site a number of times. The information seems good but I may not yet have the personal experience to be able to evaluate it properly.<br /> Oh, and as a beginner looking for information and wanting to DRINK ;-) -- THANKS!<br>

-- jon</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>Imaging Resource has a number of lessons and tutorials. While as mentioned above, they seem to lean heavily to "How to use" particular products, they cover a wide range of topics.</p>

<p>http://ir.webphotoschool.com/</p>

<p>I'd expect that many of the techniques can be applied or modified to use a variety of other makers' products as well.</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...