Where Does a Teacher Go to Learn?
[by Richard Harrington]
I’ve been writing books and teaching for about a decade. People mistakenly think that just because I get paid to share my technical thoughts that I must somehow know everything.
As if.
I began my professional career as a journalist. What I know how to do is find answers I also happen to be blessed with the ability to share my thoughts in a coherent way that others seem to enjoy.
In this post I’m going to let you in on where I go to keep up on the evolution of technology. Things move pretty fast these days and if you don’t pay attention, you’ll quickly fall behind. Here are a ten of the resources I use to stay abreast of evolving technology and get answers when I get confused.
Creative COW (www.CreativeCOW.net)
This website is a wealth of knowledge for all things involving motion. It offers some of the most active technical forums on the web. They also offer several podcasts, tutorials, and even a magazine filled with inspirational stories about professional projects.
Adobe TV (tv.adobe.com)
Adobe offers an extensive library of free video tutorials. The site covers every piece of Adobe software, but also goes deeper into workflow as well. Be sure to build your own library on the site to store your videos.
Photofocus (www.Photofocus.com)
This website has a new article daily by Scott Bourne and company. There is a wide range of topics covered and the site is both approachable and interesting. They also have a great podcast that answers listener questions.
Photoshop World (www.PhotoshopWorld.com)
While I’ve had the pleasure of speaking at Photoshop World for several years, what I enjoy most is the chance to take classes. This year’s show is just around the corner.
dpBestflow (www.dpBestflow.org)
This website is actually an initiative of ASMP. If you haven’t visited, you’re really missing out. There are some great tutorials as well as detailed guides to professional imaging workflows.
Twitter (www.Twitter.com)
Twitter has quickly grown into a real source for news. The key is finding good folks to follow. Look up some of your favorite photographers or trainers, then see who they follow. Be sure to also look for your favorite gear and software manufacturers. Twitter is the best way to find out breaking news as well as overlooked resources. If you want to follow me, just visit www.twitter.com/rhedpixel.
This Week in Photo (www.ThisWeekInPhoto.com)
This website is filled with news, but what I enjoy most is the podcast. Join Frederick Van Johnson and Alex Lindsay for a good dose of news. They also have great guests each week for fresh ideas and insight.
Triple Exposure (www.3exposure.com)
This site is one that I am involved in, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. The focus is on Time-lapse, HDR, and Panoramic photography. These are my three favorite types of shooting and I enjoy the posts, feedback, and user submissions.
Kelby Training (www.KelbyTraining.com)
This site is filled with hundreds of classes designed for photographers. You can learn from some of the best instructors on the planet here (for only $200 a year). I have watched several of the classes and I enjoy them immensely.
Tip Squirrel (www.TipSquirrel.com)
This website is filled with fresh Photoshop tips 5 times a week. You’ll find both text and video tutorials here. There is a great variety of content to choose from as well as several fresh faces you usually don’t see.
So there you have it… ten resources to put you on the path towards being a technical guru. Enjoy.
Richard Harrington is the founder of RHED Pixel, a visual communications company in Washington, D.C. You can read Rich’s blog at www.RichardHarringtonBlog.com as well as follow him on Twitter @rhedpixel
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[...] often wondered where instructors in the media/photography/video world gather their knowledge. Here’s Rich Harrington (one of the best and most fluent instructors out there in my view) giving you his [...]