[Kathi]

All my Sony’s are SLT’s I have  an A-99 and A-77, all with grips. They are great for long exposures. Excellent image and color quality. I started with Minolta in the 80’s and was always happy with them, so I went with Sony when I switched from film to digital. I also have a nice selection of Sony Zeiss glass designed for my Sony’s A mount. Not cheap, but between that and their G Series lens I own I have a huge selection of great glass to choose from in my case. (I own way too many per my Hubby) I have looked at the A7r as a possible replacement for the A-77,  but my A-99 is better than both of them. I will probably hold off until they replace the A-99 full frame with something beyond that before I get a replacement. I use the A-77 even though it’s a crop senor for my son’s outdoor sports sometimes (never indoors the A-99 does best for high ISO’s needed for basketball games in crappy gym lighting) it 12 fps as verses the A-99 that is 6 fps. Though a good point to keep in mind also is I can only get front shutter only with back focus on the A-99 not the A-77.

I also believe that the SLT’s are the next generation of replacements for the DSLR.

Kathi

 

[Kathi]

Rise,

Have you considered doing food stock photography? Stocksy just put out a call for artists and are accepted portfolio’s for review. They pay a fair price which was why I submitted my portfolio to them and was rather shocked I got accepted. It could be worth it for you to try to get with them also.

Kathi

[Kathi]

Okay I let my fingers do the walking today. I talked to the PPA rep that I had a number for on the phone. The school you went to produces very few actual photographers. It is a diploma mill. I was told that the only ones that made it through and are successful after the school are those that knew what they were doing before they signed on. After the HUGE cost you paid, she suggested you start with the free education courses  on PPA that you can watch and do without joining at first to save some money in the beginning. There is a Class Action Suit going on against the school(s), but she did not have the details. A Google search should provide them.

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO EDUCATE YOURSELF SINCE YOUR SCHOOL FAILED!

Go on the net, you will find a world of help there. She also recommend you go as a guest to the local PPA in your area and there is one close to you, go to PPA.com and look for your local PPA. She thinks you have a chance of someone offering to mentor you if you ask. After they hear what you have been through and what it cost you. She thinks some one will volunteer; if not more than one. They have a Student plan to join the PPA available that once they hear your story they may honor locally and/or nationally. If you have not yet graduated which I think you said, jump on it now. Register without having to deal with more headaches if you still have not graduated.

I am not a people photographer and you are not in the Chicagoland area or I would help you out. I do flora, macro, stills and landscapes. People only when forced, like when the photographer that had a flat on I-294 two weeks ago and did not make it to my son’s 8th grade banquet. Me and another parent, did what we could. I posted like 90 pic’s on a flickr account and gave them print copies when asked. Thank god I thought to bring a flash and was able to bounce it off the white walls and ceilings since the banquet hall had horrible lighting. I did my daughters prom pic’s for me and somehow got sucked into 10 couples that I did couple and individual shot of heads, 3/4’s and full shots of; in addition to the group shots. I also gave print copies to parents that asked as I posted 90 or so pic’s on flickr again. I prefer images of things that don’t talk back to me lol… I am not a great people person as my daughter reminded me. She told me I was too bossy when I told them how to stand where to put their hand, etc, etc. But I have the technical skills to man up if it’s needed. You need to get to that point also.

 

After all the time you have invested and money I really think you can do this. It will be work and a lot of your free time, but I feel you can do this if you put your mind and time into it.

Kathi

[Kathi]

Give me a week or so… I will post on the loop at the PPA and see if I get any bites. I know of two in the area off the top of my head, but not sure how busy they are or how willing to help someone. I’m in the Chicagoland area so you are too far for me.

Kathi

 

[Kathi]

Your teacher needs to be reported to the Dean/Admin of the school for that comment. They will not know he/she is a bad teacher unless someone reports that they have a bad apple in the group. I have seen many teachers who just float through for the pay check and many students who suffered because of it. The only question is WHY the teacher become so lazy or was he always this way! Teachers are suppose to encourage and demand from students, not tell them they talk too much unless they are in the first or second grade and really do talk to much about non class issues. In higher education you are required to voice and debate otherwise you learn nothing. I am sorry you had to deal with crap teachers, there are many that actually care and try. I think since you went through with your education, you do want to be the best you can be at what you are doing. Where are you located, I can ask at the PPA if someone near you wants to be a mentor or let you learn a bit by following them around. I know a lot of the PPA members do this from time to time. What is knowledge if you do not share it, a waste would be my reply.

Kathi

[Kathi]

VK,

My rant was not at you, but your teachers and the school… You have the desire to learn and have searched out a place to learn from. Unfortunately the school is not doing it’s job correctly. Trainwreck gave some excellent advice as well as some others.  You are the one that can change the course you’re on. Question teachers since you are still enrolled, demand the education with constant vocal thoughts to them. Force them to teach you what they should have been doing all along. Study on your own constantly and practice, practice, practice. It’s not film like when I started in the 80’s and cost a large fortune… Although that may have been a good thing for me. I thought and composed well before hitting the shutter. I am getting lazy now I think and need to work on that myself. Years from now if you do this you will look back and wonder why you thought those images were good that you are currently taking.

Kathi

 

[Kathi]

I actually joined to post this. They did not teach you broad or short lighting at this ?school? you went to? They also should have taught you about noise and ISO’s. You should sign up at KelbyOne.com I think you’ll learn more there in a few hours than you have at your school. Hell, if the schools I went to were that bad, I would demand a refund of all tuition paid. There are a lot more basic rules than just Rule of Thirds for composition… They should have taught you them all also about zones, high/low key, shallow depth of field, deep depth of field, selective focus, exposure compensation, lighting (even just the basics would work), business classes,  and the list goes on and on… Photography is a constant learning experience, but you should have learned the basic technical side and general business side from your school that you paid good money for. I would lodge a complaint with the school board on what you have NOT received in education you paid for.

Neil van Niekerk has 3 good books out on lighting,  His website has many lighting tips and actual setup diagrams http://neilvn.com/tangents/

Join the PPA they have great educational information. Go for your CPP. Do the workshops available. Join your local PPA or photography club in your area. There are so many ways to get an education and it’s not from your school obviously.

Okay, I will stop my rant… It just pisses me off when teachers don’t teach…

Kathi

 

 

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