what is the easiest way to learn photography?

Question

I am 18 years old and I have just graduated high school last june, and i thought i wanted to design websites, but i had a change of heart, and took this semester off of college to think about what i really wanted to do and have come to the conclusion that i want to be a professional photographer. I love capturing beautiful things and colors, and a lot of beautiful elements in one photo. I've been using a Sanyo 5 mega pixel camera. It gets some pretty good photos, but I think using a digital camera is sort of cheating. I want to learn to do it the old fashion way. I have an old canon ae-1 program camera, and want to learn about all the lenses, settings and amputures. Is there a good book out there for beginning photographers. I am also thinking of going to school like a university because i've always wanted to go to one. Is a university, going to be a good route for me? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Going to a University is an excellent route whether you are pursuing commercial or fine-art photography. Many people would say that you should go to an art school for such an endeavor, but being in and around private art schools as well as public universities I have to say that for your undergraduate work you are better off at a public university with a good art department. The reason for this is because not only will you receive an eclectic education outside of the arts which will enrichen and deepen your photographic work, but many photographers do fall on hard times and having a University education will save you if you need to get a corporate job.
That said once you have some defined idea of what it is that you are doing in photography then consider a private art institution for a higher degree such as a M.F.A.
Anyhow the route you have taken to start photography is good, the Canon AE-1 is an excellent manual camera that will force you to think about your images in a more profound way than most digital automatic cameras that do most of the thinking for you. However once you understand the fundamentals of photography then you may want to go for a modern digital slr. A great book to start is one which many universities and art schools have their first year students read. http://www.amazon.com/Photography-8th-Barbara-London/dp/0131896091/ref=pd_bbs_2/105-7104125-0445212?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173082139&sr=8-2
It is not a cheap book but it is thorough.
As far as which University you choose, don't base it on prestige but base it upon who is teaching there and who you can work with. Before you decide on any particular university, call the dean of the photography or art department, and if time permits talk to some of the other professors, and visit the facilities. Find out what kind of work the professors are doing, and if this is the type of work you are interested in as well. There are so many different approaches to photography and each photo department is unique in their approach, so choose well. Also being that I have no idea where you are and if you are willing to relocate I can't give you the name of any specific school.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 5

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