Henry's school of imaging = any good?

[mart242]

I picked up my first DSLR a month ago: a D90. It's got tons of features that I'd like to learn... I've read the manual and a bunch of info on some websites but a friend told me that when he bought his D40 he took a short course and that helped him a lot because it puts everything together.. but I'm skeptical. He's in Montreal so never tried the Henry's courses. Anyone knows if they are any good?

They seem like a waste of money because part 1 of the D80/D90 seems to focus on a bunch of stuff that's way too easy if you just read the manual
http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PageDisplay?dest=schoolimaging/school.jsp&page=WORKSHOP52&courseId=1051&storeId=10001
It's like the target audience for more than half the course is a grandma that's clueless about DSLR or the world of camera.... but the stuff about white balance and exposition control could be interesting.


Part 2 seems a bit better
http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PageDisplay?dest=schoolimaging/school.jsp&page=WORKSHOP53&courseId=1054&storeId=10001
But quite a bit of it is really easy to learn (color spaces, ISO, ..)


My wallet says waste of time but if it's more helpful than reading a book (for whatever reason) I'll definitely give it a try since they are 20% off this month when you register.

[Kasakato]

The stuff in the lesson plan is easily learned online. Check out:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=414088

Just that alone covers quite a bit. Once you get the theory down, its all application, which cannot be learned in class, it can only be learned in the field. Some composition lessons maybe worthwhile.

[legendofxix]

Buy the instructional DVD's they offer instead.
Probably gonna be about the same.
If you are clueless and need someone to guide you, the take the course.

[mart242]

Great. THanks for the info guys, it sums up pretty much what I thought!

[Oni-kun]

There is a lot of free information online. This is a pretty good site with lessons and even exercises for you to try.

http://www.morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php

Or you could buy a book, I bought this book and its got some pretty good information and has some good examples too


http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229489485&sr=8-1

[kiz5]

There's a lot better options out there. Reading books if far better, than going to courses, IMO.

[2004]

I tried the DSLR Basic's class from Henry's and it was way too basic. The instructor was nice and all, but everything he covered was in the manual. I guess "basic" should of been a heads up on how easy it'd be. I would give another class a try in future, but for now reading up on the net works for me.

[milhaus]

Read Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson. Then go shoot. Talk to fellow photographers. Post questions on forums. Done.

[eelfliw]

Henry's courses are good if you don't read the manual or don't have time to read the manual or don't understand the manual.

But if you read the manual and then go out to experiment to learn, then save the money and buy good photo books.