Photographic Basics and Reference
Inspiration
International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House
Do not leave Upstate New York without seeing what this preeminent, world-class institution has to offer. In addition to information about current shows, this site also provides online access to parts of the historic photography collection.
Photography-now.net
Much of what you do will be influenced by knowing what is possible in the craft and culture of the medium. Here are some beautifully reproduced web portfolios of both classic and comtemporary masters.http://www.photography-now.net/
On Being a Photographer
The importance of choosing a subject to photograph. http://www.lenswork.com/obpexc.htm This free sample comes from a book that has become a classic of frank wisdom on the craft of producing important images. A small paperback, it is available at this writing on amazon.com for $489.00 new or $555.00 used. You might want to get the on-demand version from LensWork for $12.95.
Inspiration
International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House
Do not leave Upstate New York without seeing what this preeminent, world-class institution has to offer. In addition to information about current shows, this site also provides online access to parts of the historic photography collection.
Photography-now.net
Much of what you do will be influenced by knowing what is possible in the craft and culture of the medium. Here are some beautifully reproduced web portfolios of both classic and comtemporary masters.http://www.photography-now.net/
On Being a Photographer
The importance of choosing a subject to photograph. http://www.lenswork.com/obpexc.htm This free sample comes from a book that has become a classic of frank wisdom on the craft of producing important images. A small paperback, it is available at this writing on amazon.com for $489.00 new or $555.00 used. You might want to get the on-demand version from LensWork for $12.95.
Learning Software
Throughout your career, you will either continue to learn or be left in the dust. Knowing how to get information, absorb it, and put it into practice once you are not a college student is, well, the goal of being a college student. While there are other areas of your education that may allow you to coast for a few years, imaging software probably is not one of those areas. Despite an effort to introduce you to the basic tools of the trade, you are now just scratching the surface. To become proficient as well as to keep up with changes, you will need to have a way to continue your education, most likely squeezing it in between other obligations, and sometimes doing so in a hurry.
The best way I've found to do this is through online lessons, and the best online lessons I've found are at lynda.com. There you will find tutorials on practically any topic, to any degree of detail from beginner to expert. Lynda.com is a subscription service, $25 a month last time I checked, which allows you unlimited access to all of their online tutorial. Before you sign up, you can try a few samples that are made available for free from the Adobe Learning Site. Also, don't forget to check the Help menu on Adobe applications.
Once you have your own computer and have purchased software, you will run into situations where things don't work as expected. Unless you have someone on staff to answer your questions, you will probably have to learn to troubleshoot them yourself. Start at the Adobe Forums, where you will be likely to find others who have had the same problem you have. If not, experts are waiting to help you out. Be nice though, check to make sure the question has not already been asked!
Throughout your career, you will either continue to learn or be left in the dust. Knowing how to get information, absorb it, and put it into practice once you are not a college student is, well, the goal of being a college student. While there are other areas of your education that may allow you to coast for a few years, imaging software probably is not one of those areas. Despite an effort to introduce you to the basic tools of the trade, you are now just scratching the surface. To become proficient as well as to keep up with changes, you will need to have a way to continue your education, most likely squeezing it in between other obligations, and sometimes doing so in a hurry.
The best way I've found to do this is through online lessons, and the best online lessons I've found are at lynda.com. There you will find tutorials on practically any topic, to any degree of detail from beginner to expert. Lynda.com is a subscription service, $25 a month last time I checked, which allows you unlimited access to all of their online tutorial. Before you sign up, you can try a few samples that are made available for free from the Adobe Learning Site. Also, don't forget to check the Help menu on Adobe applications.
Once you have your own computer and have purchased software, you will run into situations where things don't work as expected. Unless you have someone on staff to answer your questions, you will probably have to learn to troubleshoot them yourself. Start at the Adobe Forums, where you will be likely to find others who have had the same problem you have. If not, experts are waiting to help you out. Be nice though, check to make sure the question has not already been asked!
Digital Supplies and Media
Booksmart Studio in Rochester (ink, paper, printers, custom profiles)
RIT Digital Den in Rochester (Cameras, cards, inkjet paper)
Booksmart Studio in Rochester (ink, paper, printers, custom profiles)
RIT Digital Den in Rochester (Cameras, cards, inkjet paper)
Digital Imaging Standards
UPDIG
Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines is an organization whose mission is to promote a set of standards for best practices for photographers, clients, and service providers. It clearly dilineates responsibilty for quality standards and the expectations for the perfomance of each party. If you read nothing else, check out the Universal Quickguide. The Photographers Guidelines should be required reading if you plan to continue with digital photography professionally.
PLUS
Picture Licensing Universal System is an organization whose stated mission is "To simplify and facilitate the communication and management of image rights." Its work is a look into the future of what is possible with image metadata.
UPDIG
Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines is an organization whose mission is to promote a set of standards for best practices for photographers, clients, and service providers. It clearly dilineates responsibilty for quality standards and the expectations for the perfomance of each party. If you read nothing else, check out the Universal Quickguide. The Photographers Guidelines should be required reading if you plan to continue with digital photography professionally.
PLUS
Picture Licensing Universal System is an organization whose stated mission is "To simplify and facilitate the communication and management of image rights." Its work is a look into the future of what is possible with image metadata.
Books About Digital Imaging and Process
The Dam Book
by Peter Krough Digital Asset Management for photographers, from Amazon
Real World Color Management
by Bruce Frazer, Chris Murphy, and Fred Bunting. The Bible, from Amazon
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers
by Martin Evening from Amazon
The Dam Book
by Peter Krough Digital Asset Management for photographers, from Amazon
Real World Color Management
by Bruce Frazer, Chris Murphy, and Fred Bunting. The Bible, from Amazon
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers
by Martin Evening from Amazon
Photography as a Profession ~ Sites
http://www.asmp.org/
The American Society of Media Photographers is the preeminent organization for photographers whose work is for publication.
http://www.asmp.org/community/links.php
ASMP’s links page, which has everything I’ve listed here and a lot more.
http://www.asmpwny.org/
ASMP’s western New York chapter. This site will give you information about local activities and meetings. Most of them are open to the public, and students are welcome.
http://www.editorialphotographers.com/
Information on the business of doing freelance editorial or journalistic work.
http://www.nppa.org/
An organization centered on those doing journalism as an employee of a publisher
http://www.apanational.org/
Information from the advertising photographers perspective.
http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/
The official site of the US Copyright office. Forms, instructions, and more.
http://www.asmp.org/commerce/legal/copyright/
The process of registering your work is simple and inexpensive, but adhering to the detailed requirements is a must. Start by reading this.
http://www.asmp.org/
The American Society of Media Photographers is the preeminent organization for photographers whose work is for publication.
http://www.asmp.org/community/links.php
ASMP’s links page, which has everything I’ve listed here and a lot more.
http://www.asmpwny.org/
ASMP’s western New York chapter. This site will give you information about local activities and meetings. Most of them are open to the public, and students are welcome.
http://www.editorialphotographers.com/
Information on the business of doing freelance editorial or journalistic work.
http://www.nppa.org/
An organization centered on those doing journalism as an employee of a publisher
http://www.apanational.org/
Information from the advertising photographers perspective.
http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/
The official site of the US Copyright office. Forms, instructions, and more.
http://www.asmp.org/commerce/legal/copyright/
The process of registering your work is simple and inexpensive, but adhering to the detailed requirements is a must. Start by reading this.
Software for Photographers
http://www.adobe.com
The source. Aside from access to image editing and design software, there is a wealth of information on the user forums about how to make it work.
http://www.asmp.org/commerce/estimator.php
A link to Ken Richardson's editorial pricing software by way of ASMP's endorsement of it.
http://hsltd.us/downloads/demos.html
Hindsight Ltd. creates InView and StockView, business management software for photographers. This is a link to their demos. Available for mac and windows. Check the rest of their site too, especially their pricing guide
http://www.cradoc.com
fotoQuote price estimating software has been used by both photographers and buyers for nearly a decade. fotoBiz is management software.
http://www.iview-multimedia.com/
Image database software for mac and windows. Will embed metadata into files, organize images, and convert images into jpegs, html pages, and export text information.
http://www.adobe.com
The source. Aside from access to image editing and design software, there is a wealth of information on the user forums about how to make it work.
http://www.asmp.org/commerce/estimator.php
A link to Ken Richardson's editorial pricing software by way of ASMP's endorsement of it.
http://hsltd.us/downloads/demos.html
Hindsight Ltd. creates InView and StockView, business management software for photographers. This is a link to their demos. Available for mac and windows. Check the rest of their site too, especially their pricing guide
http://www.cradoc.com
fotoQuote price estimating software has been used by both photographers and buyers for nearly a decade. fotoBiz is management software.
http://www.iview-multimedia.com/
Image database software for mac and windows. Will embed metadata into files, organize images, and convert images into jpegs, html pages, and export text information.
Business Books
ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography
Allworth Press
The Real Business of Photography by Richard Weisgrau
Allworth Press
Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury
Penguin Group
Getting Past No by William Ury
Random House/Bantam Dell
The Haggler's Handbook by Leonard Koren and Peter Goodman
W. W. Norton
ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography
Allworth Press
The Real Business of Photography by Richard Weisgrau
Allworth Press
Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury
Penguin Group
Getting Past No by William Ury
Random House/Bantam Dell
The Haggler's Handbook by Leonard Koren and Peter Goodman
W. W. Norton