arrgh someone help me?

Question

im in a advanced art/digital photography class and its an independant study thing so we dont get assignments and stuff, we just experiment in Adobe photoshop. My problem is that the advanced class was full so im in with the first year digital photography students but im still doing the advanced class things. so, i have no idea what anybody else in my class is doing and if im doing things right. I know that we're supposed to test out tutorials that we find on websites and im at good-tutorials.com every day and im out of ideas! I cant find any good tutorials anywhere and the ones I find are all the same things over and over just doing it a different way... so i need help with 2 things.
1. Does anyone know of any good websites where there are LOTS of GOOD and ADVANCED tutorials? Or do you have a tutorial that you think is really cool that I could try out?
2. Has anyone ever taken a class like this before? an independant study advanced digital photography class? what did you do?

Answer 1

There are some tutorials on this site: www.deviantart.com, created by digital artists. I have also learned an amazing amount by reading the following books:
(after all, books are the original tutorials!)
The Photoshop CS2 Help Desk Book by Cross
The Photoshop CS Book for Digital Photographers by Kelby
Photoshop CS2 Workflow (more for working photographers like me.) Photoshop is a program that allows you to be able to do the same thing at least six different ways, so you're on the right track.

Answer 2

Hi.
It's over whelming. I had independent classes the last 2 semesters of school. The most crucial thing is to be organized, set and meet your own time lines for weekly work and save every scrap of art you do.
In independent studies, you don't need to be sitting in the classroom. You could be out photographing or trudging through the libraries magazine section. They will have great articles there on digital photography and photoshop that you can Xerox and add to your notes. You can even use a different computer lab.
Basically, what they want you to do is use the knowledge from last semesters photoshop class to create like 10-15 fantastic portfolio pieces. Your craft and creative approach is really important here.
You will want to save the pieces 3 ways. One, as the original psd with all the layers showing so the instructor can see each layer and how you did what you did. Second, a print ready. Third, a web ready . You should do some tutorials on areas of photoshop you are struggling with but most of the time should be spent on creating the final images to turn in.
Maybe do a classic movie poster, an album cover, a book cover, a comic strip, a brochure, a fashion ad etc.