Anthony Pierpont, The Everyday Photographer: Will You Take Better Photos After Taking Photography Classes?

There are a number of opportunities to study photography online or in the classroom today. But do you need to take photography classes to take a better photo?

Photography is a popular hobby, and many enthusiasts dream of doing it professionally. Some people just want to learn more about how to take better photos. Whatever your reason, weigh your decision to take photography classes carefully.

When you study photography, there are a lot of different classes you can join to take a better photo.

• Study photography composition, placing subjects and creating scenes, to help you take better photos. You can learn a lot from taking a composition class. But some traditional composition photography classes focus so much on structure that they seem to forget that some of the best photos are less formal in their arrangement.
  
• Study photography online by subject, like landscape, glamour or portraits, to help you take better photos. Mostly, these photography classes provide a range of ideas that help open your eyes to new ways of taking photos. You can learn about lighting, stage layout and posing, but on-time inspiration is often your best guide.
  
• You can study photography online, focusing on the tools of the trade. Taking a class in how to get the most out of your digital camera can benefit anyone. With every new digital camera I break in, I find a whole new group of options for taking better photos. Look for classes on your camera manufacturer’s Web site, to get the most out of your digital camera.
  
  

Everyday Photographer Tip of the Day: Research schools in your area, classes at local colleges and community center classes, too. Go back to school on the Web, and you can choose from paid (in depth) classes and free (less comprehensive but still worthwhile) classes.

HP is my favorite site overall for classes on taking better pictures and online classes in digital photography.