colemichael

Marla. Shoot for the top as for as colleges go. I checked out your website and you definitely have a knack and some talent. I give this advise simply because I only wished I would have taken my art/design/and photography seriously at your age. I am 28 and back in college still working on my undergrad, and running my small freelance graphic deign business. It gets overwhelming at times.

So your two top choices without a doubt are Parsons in New York, and RISD (Rhode Island School of Design). Another more suitable and not as expensive school that is simply a great all around university is Columbia College in Chicago. I have a dear friend there right now in the theatre department. Also there are some great artists that teach there. Stay away from the more technical schools and the mail-in (correspondence) programs. They have nothing to offer you beyond taking your money from you. Also stay away from any of The Art Institutes...thought they really don't offer photography concentrations that I am aware of.

http://www.parsons.edu/departments/curriculum_101.aspx?pType=&dID=75&sdID=101

http://www.risd.edu/photo.cfm

http://www.colum.edu/Academics/Photography/

If these schools are too expensive or too far off, don't be discouraged. Like everything that was aforementioned, most universities offer photography classes and curriculum. Stick with kid, and don't give up.

Thanks for the all the feedback guys. I will shoot a couple of weeks more on my 18-135mm and figure out what I length I tend to prefer or use the most. Its looks though as if I will probably end up getting the Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8 AF Lens and then later purchasing a super wide.

Does anyone have experience with the Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8 AF versus the Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6gED-IF AF-S DX? I am most concerned about sharpness and of course speed.

Once again, just not a big fan of the Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6gED-IF AF-S DX, though sharp...I get noticeable darkening in the corners.

Now that a brings up a question. I would lose metering and iTTL control for my SB-800 if I used the 35 f1.4 AiS....would I not?

Thanks guys for the quick response btw.

Now that a brings up a question. I would lose metering and iTTL control for my SB-800 if I used the 35 f1.4 AiS....would I not?

Thanks guys for the quick response btw.

Here is the deal. I am new to portrait/fashion set photography. After shooting

a subject on my D80 recently, I noticed that the 85mm (which I love) gave me WAY

too much room so to speak. I could not get the subject plus a majority of the

room in the shot. I had to use my 18mm-135mm instead (which I hate this lens

because I prefer primes). I am setting up photo sets in fairly small rooms,

stair cases, etc.

So the question is, will I benefit much from adding a 50mm f/1.4D to my

collection, or should I go for an even shorter focal length?

Hey man, it's Cole. Long time no see. Love the pics, btw. If you ever need any photoshop help, feel free to contact me via phone, email, or here. You can get my contact info from your brother. I will be posting photos here soon. I just got a new rig and some really good glass.

As for as Photoshop purchase goes, everyone that posted previously gave good advise. Personally I only use CS2, because I use it for the web pages that I design also...though I will get Photoshop Lightroom soon to speed up my photo editing work flow.

regards,

Cole Michael