Simple as it sounds, one of the best ways to learn about photography is to take a lot of pictures. In reviewing your slides or prints, you can see what you like and continue to use techniques that work for you. You can also see and correct your mistakes.
An even more beneficial way to learn about photography is to participate in a photo seminar or workshop and have a professional review your pictures - and offer advice on how you can improve your technique. Interested in getting better results, meeting other photographers - and having a good time as well? Check out the following learning centers and photo tour, designed specifically for aspiring photographers.- Disney Institute. Located at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., the Disney Institute offers aspiring photographers the chance to get firsthand advice from leading professionals. Minicourses are offered year-round in landscape, photojournalism, advertising, nature and digital photography. Next year, Feb. 5-11, the Disney Institute is holding its annual Photography Festival, which includes daytime seminars and evening slide presentations. Do you want to photograph Mickey Mouse without having him look like Goofy? Call the Disney Institute for more information at (800) 282-9282.
- Palm Beach Photographic Centre. This facility, actually located in Delray Beach, Fla., runs year-round programs on virtually every aspect of photography. The yearly highlight of this learning center is an event called FotoFusion, which next year runs from Jan. 27 to Jan. 31. Dozens of pros - experts in fashion, wildlife and digital photography - come to Delray Beach to teach amateur photographers at different levels of expertise.
You can sit at a computer all day and learn how to digitally enhance your pictures or spend a day on a field trip photographing the sites of South Florida with your 35 mm camera. For additional information, call (800) 847-4686.
- Synergistic Visions Adventures. Photo pro Steve Traudt, founder of Synergistic Visions Adventures, likes to share his photo expertise with amateurs - on site. In 1998, he's running photo tours to Arizona, Belize, the Galapagos Islands, Honduras and Turkey. For further information, call 970-245-6700.