Satisfaction guaranteed????

[verikos]

Hi, my name's Denise. I'm English and I live in Greece. I've had a passion for photography for years but have never really felt confident enough to move away from the auto setting on my Sony H1 (old - I know, but hoping to invest in a SLR soon!). I'm really interested in taking the course but wanted to get some feedback first from current members. I'd love to know what you really think! Thanks. By the way, has anyone requsted their 'one-year money back guarantee'???

[jerryph]

No one to my knowledge. It is an excellent course, perfect for beginners, and the interaction of the mentor with the student is a big part of the success. You also have a year to complete it in and are allowed to redo all but the last assignment.

If you do a search (which I suggest you do), you will see nothing but praise for this course.

[CallMeNovice]

Hi Denise,

Just wanted to pipe in with a couple of comments! I signed up for the course a week after learning about forum (back in Mar). After an initial startup problem (I wasn't receiving emails from my assigned tutor and I couldn't see his comments on my initial submission of three pictures) everything is going along very well. I am an impatient person and have had comments on my assignments within three days (not really realistic of anyone to expect assignments to be marked quicker than that - although the wait is hard :)!).

I am MUCH more comfortable with my camera and (I believe) I have improved already even though I'm only on chapter 5!!! The course encourages you to concentrate on only one aspect of your camera at a time (shutter speed/aperture/composition, etc) and, for me, that is EXACTLY what I need. I've taken hundreds of pictures of one item with all different settings - and then done it all over again until I was happy that I actually KNOW what I'm doing.

There is a tonne to learn yet and I only wish that I had a lot more opportunity to be with my camera on a daily/hourly basis. I've been uncomfortable with posting on the forum, but each time that I have, everyone has been extremely helpful and encouraging and I will be using the forum more in the future for critiques of my photos once I'm a little better !!

TTFN
ML

Hope my opinion helps!:)
ML

[coffee]

Also, the course gets you out shooting as different assignments require different locations and subjects. The more you shoot, the more you learn.

[verikos]

Thanks for your advice ML. I signed up for the course today and waiting (in anticipation!!) for comments/feedback on my first assignment. (It took me a while just to find 3 'old' pictures!) I'm really pleased that the course concentrates on one aspect at a time - I've read (and re-read!) about aperture, dof, f numbers, etc and still it hasn't quite sunk in. I think in the past I've always tried to combine everything together and have obviously got totally confused. Walk before you can run, eh! Thanks again
Denise

[jaydi]

Hi there Denise

I am much the same as yourself but find that because the lessons are printable, it means you can study at any time. Am still finding it difficult to keep the info in my head but we will get there.

[CallMeNovice]

Yes, it's confusing when most of the manuals/books etc jumble it all together as one lesson. I've been very happy with the way the course is taught.

As a first time internet course experience, it takes a bit to get used to ... and I usually like to have an answer as soon as a question pops into my head, but then I've just searched the forum and/or internet.

[coffee]

Cathy. When you say the lessons are printable, do you have to copy and paste into word? When I try to print them I just get a blank page. Also, I've completed lesson 1, but when I go back into the lesson it says "Attempt 2" at the top of the page. Are you printing the lessons as you go along?

Actually the lesson aren't printable from the print command due to copy-write issues. If you read the intro to the course it states this. I know there are ways around this, but for the sake stated above, you should try and do the right thing.

The reason it says second attempt is every section gives you three tries to improve your score in the event you scored low on test questions and such. If you give a section more than one go, it will average the score attempts and change the grade for that section. Since you already completed that section, it's looking at you going back to it as a second attempt.

[verikos]

Thanks Joseph. As I started my next lesson I realised that you can print the lesson using the 'Print Version' at the bottom of each section. I think its important to have some card of hard copy to refer back to. I've completed lessons 1 & 2 but I am certain that I will re-read them several times over, (and probably more for the next few lessons!!).

[jaydi]

Denise as you have probably discovered by now at the bottom of lesson it says something like printable version. I print at the end of every lesson before I do assignment ( the assignment can also be printed) Keep them with you as they are great to refer to at any time.

Good Luck