Online Learning Platforms for Photography & Lighting Are They Worth Paying For?
Copyright of the above image belongs to Michael Clark. I have posted this image on this blog to make people aware of his class “Michael Clark Location Lighting For The Outdoor Photographer” which is availble on CreativeLive. A linkdirect is available at the bottom of this blog. I receive no payment or benefit in kind in promoting this class, I just thought others may find it informative.
Twenty years ago, if you wanted to learn photography and lighting, there were three main options, read a book, sign up at night school / college, or attend a workshop. The internet has enabled numerous online learning platforms the ability to deliver learning to any digital device where ever you might be and at whatever time you choose, which I think is great.
The online photography training market has boomed in recent years and almost everyone is wanting you to subscribe, receive special bonus material, or take advantage of their once in a lifetime limited offer, the problem is separating the great from the average. Over the past eight years, I have accessed CreativeLive, Linda (now Linkedin) KelbyOne and a host of other online videos, some have delivered very good learning opportunities and others not so good, which is why I decided to right this blog.
Visit any online learning platform in relation to photography and type in lighting and virtually everything will be either, portrait, wedding or family related, but if you want something specific in relation to lighting, you will probably find that the choices quickly diminish rapidly. I have been looking to improve my lighting knowledge and skills, especially for location lighting in relation to outdoor pursuits and leisure activities, so when I came across Michael Clark’s “Location Lighting For The Outdoor Photographer” on CreativeLive, my initial thoughts were, that might be worth buying. I decided to look through some of Michael Clark’s work and managed to find a few YouTube clips and as a result decided to pay for the class on CreativeLive.
The full set of classes cost me $10, so that works out at roughly £8, you can also download each of the classes, which is another reason why I thought, I would take a punt.When you pay for the class you will also find some PDF’s that come with the class. Personally, I think the class is worth $10, just to listen to Michael Clark talk about what equipment he uses and why. The course is not designed for people with no lighting knowledge at all and it won’t make you a lighting Jedi Knight either, but it is certainly one of the more unique classes on CreativeLive, or any online learning platform, but you will have to watch it for yourself.
Like everythingg in life, you pays your moneny and you make your choices, so only you can determine if online learning platforms are worth paying for.
Michael Clark Location Lighting For The Outdoor Photographer Link
As my main focus of photography work is equestrian and lifestyle photography, I mainly use C Stands for my lighting, so keeping kit light and ultra-portable is not so important. I think the last wedding we photographed was about three years ago and used to bounce flash and or use a reflector. We had a wedding booked for July, but since the lockdown, this has now been cancelled. However, I had planned on using some very portable lighting kit during the wedding (Magbounce & Magsphere) as wedding are fast paced small and light becomes a priority. I have had some Magmod kit for a few years now and to be honest it rarely gets used, but I have never owned or used the Magbounce, so decided to give it a try prior to the wedding we did have booked before it was cancelled.
I purchased the Magbounce just before the Coronavirus pandemic, as my intention was to spend the spring and early summer playing around with it and see what was possible with it, yes you can bounce light off of walls and ceilings, but I was curious as to what the Magbounce could do where there were no wall or ceilings, it was the portability that really appealed to me.
As far a testing out the Magbounce out fully, it’s still early days, but for a really small portable lighting mod, so far, it’s growing on me. Will the Magbounce replace the lighting mods I use for equine and lifestyle off camera flash? No, it won’t, but I do intend on trying out some new ideas and for locations where there are no walls or ceilings and I want ultra-portability, this little lighting mod does have a lot of potential.
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