BetterPhoto.com
EMAIL: PASSWORD:
remember me:     


Online Photography Course
Fine Art Flower Photography

Have a pro at your side - online, all the time

Join 's Course: Fine Art Flower PhotographyAvoid cliches in flower photography and learn to create personal, unique, and well-lit images of wildflowers, roses, tulips, lilies, sunflowers, and more. Join Tony Sweet for an inspiring and creative 8-week course on fine art flower photography. Tools and techniques used by successful professional stock and fine art photographers will be discussed and illustrated. Spring, summer, fall, or winter... the season doesn't matter - whether you shoot cut flowers, a rose, tulip, lily, or sunflower in your garden, or wildflowers out on a trail, this class is guaranteed to get your creative juices going!
Key Features

  1. Flower Portraits
  2. Repetition
  3. Shooting Through Material
  4. Macro
  5. Sandwiching
  6. Multiple Exposures
  7. Special Conditions / Working A Subject
  8. Using Reflectors, Diffusers, and Filters


  • Unique flower photographs.
  • Working with special conditions.
  • Creative use of filters & reflectors.

What You Get

Top

  Benefits:
You get direct feedback on your photos from world-acclaimed, professional photographers. You can learn photography in this way from anywhere in the world.  
 
 
  • Learn at your pace, with structure.
  • Be guided by a real pro instructor.
  • Get your photos critiqued every week.
  • Join students from around the world.
  • Go far beyond any book or DVD.
  • Make great pictures, again and again!

Instructor

Top

Photography Instructor: Tony  Sweet Tony Sweet
After 20 years as a professional jazz artist, Tony changed careers and directed his creative juices towards nature photography. The improvisational, spontaneous, and abstract nature of jazz are also integral elements of nature photography.

Today, Tony's work is published worldwide and is represented by The Getty Picture Agency.

Tony conducts his "Visual Artistry" photography and digital printing workshops from March through October throughout the continental United States and Canada. Tony's articles and photography are featured in Shutterbug and Rangefinder magazines, and as contributor to Nikonnet.com. He’s also a columnist for Nikon World Magazine.

He has authored three books on the art of photography: Fine Art Nature Photography, Fine Art Flower Photography, and Fine Art Photography: Water, Rain, Fog. All are published by Stackpole Books.

He maintains an active speaking schedule on the subjects of nature and flower photography and marketing, addressing professional photography organizations, universities, seminars, and workshops.

Tony is on the instructor staff of BetterPhoto.com, and is a member of the Baltimore chapter of ASMP. And he has been named a Nikon Legend Behind the Lens and is a charter member or nikSoftwares TeamNik!

To learn more about Tony, visit his Web sites:

A Couple of Photos by the Instructor


© Tony Sweet 

© Tony Sweet 

A Couple of Student Photos

Top

View photos by previous students. You can make pictures like this too!

Laurie  Meehan-Elmer
© Laurie Meehan-Elmer
Laurie  Meehan-Elmer
© Laurie Meehan-Elmer

Course Outline

Top

Week 1: Flower Portraits
Assignment: Upload favorite photos illustrating floral portraiture. You can try to duplicate the ideas shown here, which is a great way to learn. That's how I learned (and continue to), or begin with your own unique vision. It's important to not be inhibited during the learning process.

Week 2: Repetition
Assignment: Upload photos illustrating "repetition". You can try to duplicate the ideas shown here, or begin with your own unique vision. It's important to not be inhibited during the learning process. Always, feel free to try ANYTHING, even if you think it's a little weird.

Week 3: Shooting Through Material
A good way to add a soft, impressionist look to your images is to "shoot through" a translucent foreground. That is to say to focus on your subject while focusing past or through a foreground subject, which becomes a soft tonality.
Assignment: Upload images illustrating "Shooting through". You can try to duplicate the ideas shown here, or begin with your own unique vision.

Week 4: Macro
Flowers are perfect for close-up and macro interpretations. The patterns, colors, visual rhythm, layers of texture, and their pristine nature present endless subject material for personal and artistic expression. Also, flowers are one of the largest selling items in the world of stock photography.
Assignment: Upload photos illustrating "close-up and macro". You can try to duplicate the ideas shown here, or begin with your own unique vision.

Week 5: Sandwiching
I find this look very attractive and right up my alley. It fits with my particular style of shooting. Subject selection, lens selection, and quality of light is of utmost importance.
Assignment: Upload up to three images illustrating the sandwiching technique - either with slides or digitally.

Week 6: Multiple Exposures
This technique can create a truly impressionist look and, while appearing to be the luck of the draw, so to speak, is quite predictable with practice. One learns to see a situation and immediately pre-visualize how a certain technique will appear.
Assignment: Start getting a handle on this creative technique - either with film or digitally.

Week 7: Special Conditions / Working A Subject
The working pattern of professional landscape photographers is to start wide, which is to say to photograph the scene with a wide-angle lens. Then isolate smaller sections of the scene using longer focal length lenses. We can also do that in flower photography, as you will see in the following examples.
Assignment: Upload photos illustrating "working your subject". You can try to duplicate the ideas shown here, or begin with your own unique vision. It's important to not be inhibited during the learning process.

Week 8: Using Reflectors, Diffusers, and Filters
Now that most of the heavy stuff is pounding away in your brain, we're going to finish up with a couple of indispensable photo accessories this week, and a rather extensive filter workshop.
Assignment: If you do not own a gold reflector and a diffuser, either make one, or buy one of each. Photograph the same subject in bright sunlight first, then with the diffuser. If there are some shadows that need to be lit up, use your reflector to pop some light back onto the subject.

Review: Voting on Best Work


© Tony Sweet 

© Tony Sweet 

Requirements

Top

  • Digital or film-based camera.
  • Knowledge of aperture & shutter speed.
  • A love of flowers!

FAQ

Top

Is this course intended only for intermediate/advanced photographers or can beginning photographers take part too?
This course is open to any photographer who wants to learn more about fine art flower photography. You should already have a working knowledge aperture and shutter speed.  

What are the requirements for the course? What equipment will I need to complete the projects?
Students should have a working knowledge of exposure and how their equipment works. An SLR camera (digital or film) is preferred. 

Is is okay with you if we submit previously created work for critique? Or do we have to do the assignments each week?
Out of the three images that you are asked to upload each week, at least 2 should be from the assignment. You can submit one from previously created work.  

Can I use photo imaging software such as Photoshop?
Yes, but this is not primarily what the course is about. Use it as a corrective tool. Don't lean on it too much for creativity.  


© Tony Sweet 

© Tony Sweet 

Do I have to be online at any specific time?
No, you do not need to be online at any specific time. The lessons are sent to your email and you are also provided the Campus Square - where you interact with your classmates and instructor. This is also where you upload your photos to be critiqued by your instructor. The instructors are very punctual and respond quickly.

Will I have access to the instructor to ask questions during the photo course?
Absolutely! Students can ask questions in the special Q&A forum set up in the course's Campus Square, or can ask the instructor via email.

Do you offer a money back guarantee?
Yes. We are confident that you will fully enjoy our courses. All the same, for our 8-week classes, we offer a 100% money-back guarantee before the Wednesday that Lesson #3 is sent out. If for any reason, you are not satisfied and let us know that you would like to withdraw before the Wednesday that Lesson #3 is sent, you will be promptly refunded.

For our 4-week courses, we offer a 100% money back guarantee before the Wednesday that Lesson #2 is sent out from BetterPhoto. If for any reason you are not satisfied and you let the ordering department know that you would like to withdraw before the Wednesday that Lesson #2 is sent, you will be refunded within 7 days. After the second lesson has been sent out, no refunds will be given.

Still have questions about this course?
Ask instructor Tony Sweet.


Only $297.00 USD
In a Nutshell
8-Week Photo Course
Skill Level: 4 - Advanced
Category: Nature / Travel
$297.00 USD

First Assignment Sent:
Sep 8, 2010

Average Customer Rating: 5 out of 5
5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
Read all 51 reviews


Course Reviews:

5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 1 out of 5
BetterPhoto Member George E. Glen
George E. Glen
member since: 9/26/2007
This course was a disappointment. The content was adequate but the instructor lacked both patience and understanding. I would not recommend this course to anyone.

- 7/4/2010 1:24:00 PM


5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 3 out of 5
By
Lisa  Prette
member since: 4/5/2002
I learned things about shooting flowers from this course. But I found Tony abit slow in critiquing our photos. I found that he had few nice things to say about the photos and some things he found fault with in our photos, I noticed were in his photos. But I did learn to see my photos in a better way. Not to crop out too much of the flower. One thing I have really noticed is how to use my lens now. I used to get in too tight with the shot, now I back off and get alot of the flower in better focus while getting that fine detail close up that I love to see. I would recommend this course to anyone.

- 6/17/2010 2:54:11 PM


5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 4 out of 5
BetterPhoto Member Matt Runde
Matt Runde
member since: 1/9/2010
I found Tony's own photos to be outstanding. The lessons were very well organized, and I learned a tremendous amount. I learned as much from my (9) fellow students as from Tony.
The reason I didn't give 5 stars is the ratio of the cost to actual instructor time. Three hundred bucks is not cheap for an online course. Each lesson requires about 3 photos to be submitted, and the review and critique of these amounts (in my humble estimation) to a few minutes instructor time per week. I found Tony's responses to questions very prompt and usually helpful, but quite terse in some cases, as if being sent by text message on a Blackberry.
For the price of the course, I would like to see a bit more give and take, rather than just one critique on each submitted photo. The first critique could be followed by a resubmission (applying the suggestions for improvement) and another critique. Or, the instructor could review more than just a few photos a week. Or, the price could be more reflective of the instructor's time and effort.
I'm glad I took the course, as Tony Sweet is clearly an excellent photographer, with a tremendous store of knowledge.

- 5/12/2010 2:24:40 PM


5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
By
Ali Egemen
member since: 9/10/2006
Tony's critiques was a great learning experience. I learned to think outside the box, a new way of seeing the art part of flower photography. Thanks..

- 5/9/2010 5:12:24 PM


5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
By
Stephen Ellis
member since: 1/1/2010
Very much enjoyed this class. Learned several new techniques and new ways of looking at subjects. Pushed me to think differently and try new things.

- 3/15/2010 3:06:16 PM


Read all 51 course reviews...





Better Than Money Back Guarantee
Better Than Money Back Guarantee
We're confident you'll be delighted.






More Delighted Customers:

"I highly recommend this course if you are looking to improve your floral photographs and creating more artistic images. Thank you, Tony, for all your critiques and knowledge!!! I have a whole new look on flowers." -Beverley Lu Latter 

"Thanks for another terrifc class! I learned a lot and really enjoyed it - especially doing flowers in winter here. I feel better prepared to shoot outdoors after all these indoor shots because I learned about controlling and using backgound and other tools." -Frieda Weise 

"Thank you, Tony! I am a different photographer today because of you. I will never shoot flowers (or bugs and butterflies) in the old way again, and much of what I learned has carried over into how I shoot in general. ... Fellow students, I thoroughly enjoyed and learned so much from your work. Happy shooting to all of you!" -Janis Herd