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tekmac1 |
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Post subject: Nikon School for Underwater Photography
 Posted: Sep 24, 2006 - 01:04 PM
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Octopus
Joined: Dec 31, 1969
Posts: 81
Status: Offline
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Nikon is a leader in underwater SLR photography, but since I'm fresh to the digital SLR world it's all new to me. A recent message in my inbox from Nikon made me aware of their underwater photography course for owners of Nikon dSLRs and Coolpix cameras.
According to Nikon's site they have revamped the 2007 course in response to participant feedback (which is probably irrelevant if you've never been). Cost of the six-day course for Coolpix and dSLRs are $1299 and $1599 respectively. Leave whatever gear you have at home because equipment rental is included: camera, housing, strobes, lenses, etc.
Historically, Nikon has held the underwater photography course at the Divi Tiara Beach Resort on Cayman Brac but with it closing (today), there's no word on an alternate location.
Has anyone attended this? |
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pir81 |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 24, 2006 - 10:16 PM
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Puffer
Joined: Dec 31, 1969
Posts: 73
Status: Offline
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| Didn't even know they had the course. Thats not cheap, even with camera rental. Who teaches it? |
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Lsdeep |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 25, 2006 - 02:55 AM
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Site Admin
Joined: Feb 18, 2007
Posts: 125
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the following comes from: http://www.nikonschool.com/underwater.html guess thats about as detailed as it gets til we find somebody who actually participated.
NikonosSchool@snet.net
THE NEW NIKON SCHOOL OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY FOR 2007
Overview of benefits of the revised and reformatted Nikon School of Underwater Photography Program
1. New photo course format based on the use of digital cameras.
Provides basis for more creative imaging and opportunities for participation in new photographic activities.
2. More educational information and better teaching techniques!
In addition to the progressive series of underwater photography lessons conducted on location, every student will also receive continuing education in digital photography through a series of online communications that can be practiced at home.
3. More free time for enjoyment on vacation!
The photo course allows students to relax during their dive vacation and learn on their own schedule with individual course materials. No formal classroom lectures are required, and your daily activities are not limited due to group class sessions.
4. More frequent course scheduling to accommodate more students' travel schedules throughout the year!
Nikon School of Underwater Photography is now available every week of the year and you can begin the course at your convenience.
5. Lower educational program costs!
The informal format of the course has also allowed us to reduce the cost of the course; A great savings on a great underwater photography educational program!
Nikon School of Underwater Photography Programs:
1. Discover Underwater Photography Dive Program with COOLPIX™ cameras: $999.
This program offers all divers who have never tried Underwater Photography before, the opportunity to experience this exciting and rewarding activity at no additional charge. A free day use of a Nikon COOLPIX digital camera and underwater housing is included with the standard dive package. See how easy and how much fun it can be to capture your underwater memories and share them with friends.
2. Six-Day COOLPIX™ Point & Shoot Underwater Photography: $1,299
This is the most effective way to begin learning underwater photography with point-and-shoot digital cameras. Expand your standard dive vacation to include the theories and techniques that are guaranteed to give you great photo results, lasting memories, and continued enjoyment. This is the ultimate learning experience for novice underwater photographers, which includes six days of progressive photo lessons on location in one of the world's top diving destinations, where you can actually practice the techniques on a Caribbean coral reef, and see your results immediately. Daily assistance with equipment orientation and photo critique by the resident Photo Pro will guide you through the learning process. All photo equipment included.
3. Six-Day Nikon Digital SLR Underwater Photography Course: $1,599.
For underwater photographers with some experience, or those who want to learn on the best possible equipment, this is the ultimate in underwater photography instruction. You will learn on Nikon D70s, D50, and D200 cameras in dedicated housings, and progress through daily exercises that will make you proficient in their use. Your photo knowledge skills are guaranteed to improve, and you will see the results as you complete the daily assignments in real photographic situations while diving. Daily assistance with equipment orientation and photo critique by the resident Photo Pro will guide you through the learning process. Use of SLR cameras, interchangeable lenses, housings, and strobes included.
Instruction: Time proven method for learning underwater photography.
Nikon School of Underwater Photography Program has been in session for 20 years, providing underwater photographers with the best combination of valuable learning experiences and all the enjoyment of a great dive vacation. The basis for learning is: 1. Build upon the correct use of photographic equipment. 2. Develop the understanding of proven photographic techniques, and 3. Have the ability to apply newly learned skills immediately in the best classroom available; the spectacular coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea. The program has been developed with the assistance of more than a dozen of the world's top professional underwater photographers, who have contributed their photographic knowledge and tips into a concise and easy to understand curriculum. The program is tiered to improve all levels of photographic development from novice to experienced underwater photographers.
New Innovative Course Format: More educational information and more practical photo tips.
The new Nikon School of Underwater Photography has been reformatted and based on the use of digital cameras, to take advantage of the incredible amount of new creative photo techniques that are available. The program offers all the traditional learning and vacation benefits, but now adds more educational information for improved photographic results. All lessons on location are presented on a CD and in printed materials, for a complete educational course. In addition to the six daily photo lessons that will be provided on location in Cayman Brac, post trip digital photo instructional newsletters will be part of a continuing educational program, which will give students the chance to further enjoy their underwater photography at home, between dive vacations. Newsletter topics will include image capture techniques, file management and storage, image editing, printing, web and e-mail applications, and creative uses. The entire underwater photography course is included on the CD, so students can return at any time to any lesson, for help with photo techniques that were presented on location.
Individual Approach
Each photo student will follow the Nikon School of Underwater Photography curriculum and will learn specific techniques that have proven to be successful and easy for all students to learn. The content of the program, presented on CD and printed materials, is structured to assure that photo students of any level can learn new and effective techniques. The specific techniques and the pace that each student follows is based solely on the individual student's needs. They will provide enjoyable insight into photography techniques that will work best and allow each student to develop their own style of shooting.
Course Curriculum
The curriculum has been developed with the input of many professional photographers. It is a progressive program which makes the learning process easy and fun. Simple solutions for achieving photographic results are presented daily. As students' skills build, photo results are guaranteed. The course covers a variety of topics including the proper use of equipment, theories of underwater photography, and practical application tips. Flexibility in the curriculum covers instruction for a broad range of student abilities, and each daily lesson will move students' abilities to the next level, resulting in the independent ability to achieve a higher degree of photographic excellence.
Topics of Instruction
The new Nikon School of Underwater Photography is primarily a digital course. In the course of instruction, you will become familiar with the following: 1. equipment orientation; 2. care and maintenance; 3. camera controls and making proper settings; 4. framing and focusing techniques; 5. use of different lenses underwater; 6. accessory strobes and slaves; 7. macro and close-up accessories; 8. ambient light exposure using light meters; 9. artificial light exposure using flash; 10. proper subject selection and marine life identification; and 11. Composition. The course will also include helpful information concerning film photography using Nikonos and SLR cameras.
Daily Lessons
Each day, students will receive a printed chapter (from the CD) to read. The information contained in this reading material will provide the basic theories of underwater photography and will give multiple photographic examples of how these theories are applied in practical photo situations. Photo examples include captions, highlights and callouts, related to the specific results that can be expected by following the recommended techniques or by making certain changes in settings.
Prior to diving each day, students will have the opportunity to meet with the local photo pro, for an informal Q&A session. The photo pros have been trained to teach the Nikon School of Underwater Photography and will answer all student questions related to the daily assignment, as well as provide the photo equipment needed each day and a hands-on explanation on how to use it. This session is to assist students in their understanding of the instructional materials and daily assignments. The reading of the daily lessons is essential for getting the most help from the photo pro.
Students then board one of the Divi Resort's dive boats, according to the normal dive schedule, conducted and supervised by Divi management. After completion of the daily assignment, the students will be able to receive a photo critique of their actual images captured, from the photo pro. It is here that the students' true accomplishments are realized as the photo pro will provide recognition of good photo techniques and what further adjustments could be tried to improve the image captured.
Topics of Instruction:
COOLPIX™ Underwater Photography Program:
Lesson 1: Introduction to Digital Underwater Photography and Equipment Orientation
Lesson 2: Basic Exposure Control: Using an Accessory Slave Flash
Lesson 3: Macro and Close-Up Underwater Photography
Lesson 4: Wide-Angle Underwater Photography
Lesson 5: Close Focus, Wide-Angle Photography and Manual Exposure Control Techniques
Lesson 6: Composition: The Artistic Aspects of Underwater Photography
Nikon Digital SLR Underwater Photography Program:
Lesson 1: Exposure Control and Strobe Techniques
Lesson 2: Standard Lens and Zoom Lenses
Lesson 3: SLR Macro I; 60mm lens
Lesson 4: SLR Macro II; 60mm lens
Lesson 5: Wide Angle Photography
Lesson 6: Close Focus Wide-Angle Photography
Bonus Lesson: Composition: The Artistic Aspects of Underwater Photography
On Location
The most important aspect of the Nikon School of Underwater Photography is the chance to immediately apply what is learned in class. The spectacular coral reefs and walls of the Cayman Islands provide the perfect laboratory for practicing the techniques taught. Each day's photo results are reviewed while still fresh in your mind. The recalling of focus or exposure settings, flash angles, subject selection, and framing will be invaluable as you learn which settings produce the desired results and what adjustments are required for improvement.
The Divi Tiara Beach Resort in Cayman Brac is the home of the Nikon School of Underwater Photography for a number of reasons, including the informal atmosphere, the fabulous dive sights and professional dive and underwater photographic staff and facility. So when you're not diving or learning underwater photography you can enjoy the relaxed ambiance of the open-air dining room or lie in the sun next to the beautiful Caribbean Sea.
The Nikon School of Underwater Photography is a series of daily photographic lessons, image critiques, equipment handling and other practical tips conducted in a classroom or other topside setting. The management of the Divi Tiara Resorts is in charge of all diving operations including the scheduling of dive times and boats. All photo course students will have the opportunity to participate in all the regularly scheduled diving operations conducted solely by Dive Tiara.
Film Processing
Although the majority of the course is based upon digital imaging, students may also bring film to shoot with individual or rental cameras. E-6 type slide film is recommended, so it can be processed in the film lab and available for review and projection. Processing is scheduled by the photo shop, depending on the demand, and is an additional cost to students.
Equipment Use
The Point & Shoot Program is based on the popular Nikon COOLPIX™ digital cameras. The SLR Program uses Nikon D-50, D-70s, and D-200 cameras. These cameras have an outstanding reputation for reliable performance, precision exposure control, the world's finest lenses, and easy handling. The cameras are protected in housings which have been designed and dedicated to each camera model for the ultimate in easy handling and control. The system is so well designed that it is perfect for instructional use and is the choice of many underwater photographers. Their universal appeal and versatility is unmatched.
Students will be provided with all the underwater photographic equipment needed as part of the course, including camera, housing, wide angle lens converters, slave strobe, SLR camera and interchangeable lenses, strobes and accessories. Test dive the world's most popular underwater digital camera systems, at no cost. See how easy it is to use a high quality camera and how it can make a difference in helping you get great underwater pictures.
You could normally expect the cost of rental for this equipment alone for a five day period to run $300 for compact point & shoot systems, and over $600 for SLR systems. But this is all included free of charge in the one low price of the course and is an incredible value. |
_________________
Idealism is what precedes experience - cynicism is what follows.
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Lsdeep |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 25, 2006 - 02:58 AM
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Site Admin
Joined: Feb 18, 2007
Posts: 125
Status: Offline
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i should become a instructor for this programs. sounds alot better than teaching the normal courses in terms of income  |
_________________
Idealism is what precedes experience - cynicism is what follows.
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Sharki1 |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 25, 2006 - 04:50 PM
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Goby
Joined: Dec 31, 1969
Posts: 38
Status: Offline
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... it depends how much the instructor gets....  |
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