Understand Nikon Flash Exposure - My Thoughts after completing Online Course

[TheBigE]

Hello,

Again as I did in the past, I wanted to provide some feedback on a online course I just took from BPSOP. The course as titled Understanding Nikon Flash.

The course was 4 weeks long and taught by Bryan Peterson. The material itself was in the form of PDF downloads to read and videos to supplement the current topic. Finally, each week we would submit 3 photos for review and these would be critiqued by Bryan 3-4 days after the course.

For those that do not remember, I took Bryan's Understand Exposure Course, my feedback can be found here, so for me this course followed much of the same format.

As I said in my previous review, mileage will vary from each person and learning styles also all vary so online course may or may not be the best for each individual learning profile.

As with his previous course, this course basically followed the structure of Bryans Understanding Flash Exposure book. Having read the book before hand is not a requirement, but does help during the course and reinforce the material.

The course starts from the basics and lays the foundation of operating your flash in manual mode and builds into more advanced topics - High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain Flash, Of Camera Flash Operation, etc.

I found that the material was easy to follow and really walked me through the topic to better understand my flash, and how it interacts with the Exposure Triangle. I can now really see many possibilities and avenues to continue to explore and experiment.

I will say that unlike my previous course, the interactions was not as strong amongst the students. The Forums really were not utilized. While I tried to facilitate discussion, it just never took off. The instructors were very helpful and on top of the topics in the forums.

Again, this course did not make me a professional photography nor did I expect it to, but it gave me the foundation and comfort to be able to work my flash and understand the basic principles for using off camera lighting. Unlike the Understand Exposure Course, I am walking away in this course with a feeling I have just touched the tip of the iceberg.

I have posted a few samples below of some of the assignments.

Cannon Closeup -


Remembering...

[Shadowman]

Nice narrative and captures. Did you provide any of this feedback to the instructor? Perhaps suggest a group activity such as one student designing the flash setup, another doing the shoot, and another doing the editing.

[TheBigE]

Nice narrative and captures. Did you provide any of this feedback to the instructor? Perhaps suggest a group activity such as one student designing the flash setup, another doing the shoot, and another doing the editing.

John, thanks for the feedback. I have not yet as we have not received the course feedback request yet. i plan on providing this feedback, along with a few other options. However, I have the feeling the course is pretty set in the way it operates, and they are not updating it very often. For Example the course notes make reference to the course belng longer (6 weeks) vice the current 4 week course. Little tidbits like that seem to me that they do not update or review the material on a frequent basis.

Nonetheless, feedback is important and I will provide as well.

[Shadowman]

John, thanks for the feedback. I have not yet as we have not received the course feedback request yet. i plan on providing this feedback, along with a few other options. However, I have the feeling the course is pretty set in the way it operates, and they are not updating it very often. For Example the course notes make reference to the course belng longer (6 weeks) vice the current 4 week course. Little tidbits like that seem to me that they do not update or review the material on a frequent basis.

Nonetheless, feedback is important and I will provide as well.

You are probably right about the course not changing much, I'm sure Bryan Peterson believes his current curriculum is sufficient and he will perhaps believe that it's the students who lack the enthusiasm to participate more. Looking forward to hearing how what the response was to your feedback.

[Manfred M]

Erik - I suspect you may remember that I have some reservations about online courses as being the only way you study photography. Would you want someone that learned all about fixing cars from an online course or would you prefer someone who also spent time in a shop working on real cars? I certainly know which one I would pick.

The same goes for photography; an on line course will teach you so much, but hands on practical experience under the eye of a qualified instructor goes a lot further. I speak from personal experience; I learned flash from books in the days before th internet; but learned a lot more by taking a small flash workshop and a professional lighting course. Try to see if workshops on this subject are offered near where you live.

Now if I may be so bold, I see the same "defect" in both of your pictures. These are both mixed light shots, with the flash going off with a daylight colour temperature, yet your background has a distinct cool blue look to it; a classical study in mixed lighting. Now had you gelled your flashes (perhaps a 1/4 or 1/2 CTB in the first and a full CTB in the second) your lighting would look more balanced. CTB = Colour Temperature Blue.

[TheBigE]

Erik - I suspect you may remember that I have some reservations about online courses as being the only way you study photography. Would you want someone that learned all about fixing cars from an online course or would you prefer someone who also spent time in a shop working on real cars? I certainly know which one I would pick.

Certainly agree, you cannot only study one way and online courses are merely just one of the tools to help one improve. As I said, in no way did I expect it to make me a professional. Rather it gave me a bit of a focused lesson plan and some feedback over 4 weeks. As I stated, for me I do not feel that I have much more than a basic foundation. This is much different than when I finished my last course. To use your example, I know how to change a set of spark plugs, but should one become seized I would need to call in someone with a bit more experience in the workshop. Given your options of the mechanic, again I think it depends on the situation and the person. Do I want the basic mechanic dropping my transmission? Probably not, but he can change my oil and filter. Experience has to start somewhere.

We cannot underestimate the ability for online courses to teach the basic, but it does require diligence and dedication to grow past the basics.

The same goes for photography; an on line course will teach you so much, but hands on practical experience under the eye of a qualified instructor goes a lot further. I speak from personal experience; I learned flash from books in the days before th internet; but learned a lot more by taking a small flash workshop and a professional lighting course. Try to see if workshops on this subject are offered near where you live.

Agreed again, it teaches you to a limit but also hopefully makes you more productive next time you go out with the flash. The same argument can be made for someone who just tries to push through it with experience. I can take 4000 pictures a day, and reach the same results eventually But perhaps a combination of 2000 pictures and an online course would work just as well. If you read my previous review on the courses, what these do for ME, again I stress the last work ME. Is they help me go out with my camera and a purpose. This is followed by some constructive and helpful feedback. Granted most of the feedback is generally positive, as would expect it to be, but it is still feedback.

To be honest, it is on my learning plan at some point to take a more professional course. Currently, language is the barrier here in Germany for me as a non native German Speaker. So for now, I continue with my online courses, kelbyone and here at CiC. It seems to work.

Now if I may be so bold, I see the same "defect" in both of your pictures. These are both mixed light shots, with the flash going off with a daylight colour temperature, yet your background has a distinct cool blue look to it; a classical study in mixed lighting. Now had you gelled your flashes (perhaps a 1/4 or 1/2 CTB in the first and a full CTB in the second) your lighting would look more balanced. CTB = Colour Temperature Blue.

Please be BOLD as that is why I included the pictures. In fact, the feedback I had on both photos was the same as you had provided, although the words Mixed Light were never used. Thanks for the feedback.