Learning Photography

I've been taking photography classes at the local college for several months now.  We've been covering different aspects of photography but in waves.  Like Photography 101 was learning your camera.  Photography 102 and 103 expanded on 101 and went into different kinds of photography.  Photojournalism, Product Photography, Food Photography, Candid Photography, Portrait Photography, etc.  The problem with this is, you really only get a 3 hour lesson on each different style so it basically a rush job and then you go home and try to do it and turn in your "homework".  Photography is a whole lot more complicated than that.  A lot of these subjects need some in-depth training.  Three hours in a class room of 10 to 12 other students really isn't going to teach you a whole lot.  You think you're getting it but in truth, it goes in one ear and out the other.  Some of it sticks but you're still trying to grasp the camera and its features and how it works.  You're still trying to understand ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed and how they relate to each situation you are trying to shoot.  You are working towards a certificate and yet you feel like you're drowning.  Yes, you can shoot some amazing pictures but are you truly learning what you need to learn?  I'm a perfectionist, so for me I get very disappointed in myself when I can't deliver what I feel I need to deliver.  You can go out every day and shoot 100s of pictures but if you're not understanding what you are looking for, what you should be aiming at, what you should be setting your camera at and how that should become instinctual, you're just going to be shooting 100s of pictures and occasionally getting lucky. I have had to supplement my education in photography will many photography books by well known photographers and loads of YouTube videos.  Am I perfect?  Not by a long shot.  I still feel I am missing so much and it frustrates me beyond anything I can express.

Product Shoot - Black Background

Product Shot - White Background

As we did the product shoot a week after the food shoot, I enjoyed it a lot more.  I understood more of what was expected of me.  I think everyone did.  Being told you need to bring your props doesn't become quite clear until you are under the gun.  This shoot, I feel, was a success. 

As you can see, the food shoot is very bland.  Not much here.  It really should have been more and I will need to do a lot more practice on this. 

This was a fun photo shoot.  We learned how to capture the swirl when pouring wine or anything really.  This was one of my favorite classes.  Very messy but a lot of fun to learn.  

This is some of what I worked on in my classroom classes.  I will admit that I've learned more there than I did on the online class I paid a mint for.  I will continue to learn and seek advise from as many as I can find to give it or show me.  I love photography, it's always been a great love of mine but now I'm allowing it to become a passion and I want it to get better and better.  I want to see improvement with each photo that I take.