Technology is Learning

So being a photographer in the now is quite amazing... if you know how to use your resources. I have only been shooting for about two years now and I have already been able to learn enough to push my hobby into a way of earning some dough. This is all due to the readily available resources on the web.

For years photographers would have to go to classes, read books, attend workshops and even apprentice under other photographers to learn the trade. Well to an extent, this is what I have done only via the web. One of the biggest learning devices for me has been youtube. There are tons of videos posted on the topic of photography... from the basics of using a particular camera, to setting up an outdoor photo shoot, to various methods of post production.

Another great tool has been blogs. Reading the blogs of other photographers is another great resource for me. Photographers such as Chase Jarvis and Zack Arias are two of my most visited blogs. Also following them on twitter (micro blog) allows you to get links and postings that they have found useful and are sharing to all that care to follow. Chase does an especially good job of using his blog as a means of sharing his craft with photographers throughout the globe. Recently Chase has used technology in a way that I haven't quite seen done before.

Twice in the past month or so, Chase has hosted live web streams (read more about it here) of a photo shoot and of the post production on this photo shoot. I was literally able to watch chase from set-up to shooting to tearing down and then in the second stream all of the post production and editing to get those photos into their final form. What made this stream even more amazing was that there was a chat and twitter feed set up right on the site. So people watching could instantaneously communicate with Chase and his crew about certain aspects of the shoot, equipment that was being used and even how to deal with clients. Chase could then read a particular post and immediately offer an answer. This was an amazing way for photographers, professional and hobbyist, to learn the entire process from a real pro. Props to Chase for making the best out of the latest technologies and allowing all of us wannabes to observe the photo shoot Chase Jarvis style.

My advice is to make the best of the resources that are available. It's amazing how much you can learn with the click of a mouse.