How The Internet changed Photography Courses

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The digital developments have not only changed photography from analog to digital or a library into a search engine; it also has changed the way we learn things and crafts.
The era of analog photography was the time with no Internet. One signed up for a photography course and learned probably for 90 % of the course about the technical features of photography in general and specifically about the specs of cameras and lenses. This was necessary, because that was the way to get access to the information, except somebody wanted to sign up at a library and read by himself through all the books. Also the analog way of photography demanded a higher knowledge of the technical side of photography in order to get the desired result.
Nowadays the cameras take care of a great deal of the technical side of photography for somebody to make the first step in this great hobby or profession. Often somebody gets started with a point and shoot entry-level camera and then wants to know more, wants to learn what is behind all of that and how to improve the results and to conquer more photographic challenges.
In order to learn more about the technical side of photography including cameras and lenses one doesn’t need to go to a photography course anymore. The Internet provides all information one might want to gather. The photography teacher nowadays has a different task. He/she guides the student in seeing the bigger technical picture, explains how everything works together and uses most of the time to teach the creative side of photography. This makes the process of learning more efficient and individual. Everybody learns at his/her own pace and the subject one wants to learn about. This way of teaching is not only more efficient and more individual, it is also more exciting by providing more time and space for the creative part of photography. And except you are completely fascinated by technique, the creative and artistic part of photography is the most exciting part. That means nowadays photography teachers need to focus on the creative and artistic side of photography to guide their students to the level in photography they want to achieve. The Internet cannot provide that. It can show inspiring images and one does learn from them, but the Internet cannot teach how to capture the feeling in the image and how to see. That’s where the photography course has its purpose with lots of time and space for creativity. Besides that, the desired results are achieved in a much shorter period of time as in the past.
Learning has become more individual, faster and exciting through the available technical media. And its biggest advantage is the space and time it creates to focus on creativity.
Be inspired. Join the experience.

Ute Sonnenberg, www.rohoyachui.com