Skip to main content

Back to school: Nikon launches online photography courses

nikon school online launches screen shot 2016 08 31 at 2 53 42 pm
Nikon
Nikon is jumping on the back-to-school season — only the school isn’t a physical place. This week it’s expanding its educational programs by introducing online classes.

Nikon School has offered hands-on workshops nationwide for over 30 years, and now, a selection of its workshops won’t face any geographic barriers. The new Nikon School Online is slated to offer a range of classes from basics to advanced techniques.

Similar to what Canon does with its Digital Learning Center, the online learning portal launches with three different classes, with additional courses to be added in the future. In Hands-On with the SB-5000 Speedlight, Nikon Ambassador Joe McNally walks students through using the hot shoe flash from the basic how-to explanation to both studio and on-site shoots.

Another class delves into the challenge of photographing kids and pets, with Tamara Lackey, also a Nikon ambassador, leading the online classes. Photographing Children and Pets covers topics from posing to lighting.

For the newest Nikon DSLR users, a 15-minute class walks through the features and basic techniques, offering a visual learning tool that goes beyond the instruction manual. The Getting Started with Your Nikon DSLR course also covers Nikon accessories and the new SnapBridge app.

The online classes also allow photographers to learn at their own pace — the classes released today will remain accessible until 2021, according to the website.

“Without traditional geographical constraints, Nikon School Online can reach a wider variety of photographers eager to get the most of their images and video,” Kosuke Kawaura, Nikon’s director of marketing and planning, said in the official announcement. “From amateurs using their first DSLR to enthusiasts eager to master their technique, these new online classes will educate passionate photographers and inspire them to capture the things they love.”

Photographers who register their Nikon Speedlight (or have already registered their Speedlight) by the end of September will receive a free redemption code for the Speedlight class. Otherwise, both the flash and kids and pets class sell for $50, with the quick start for $15.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
How to remove location data from your iPhone photos
How to transfer photos from an iPhone to an iPhone

We all love making memories, and a great way to collect those memories is to take a quick snap of a gorgeous landscape, a party in full swing, or a particularly incredible meal. The Apple iPhone now also adds a location to your pictures, meaning it can collate those images together into a location-themed album, or show you all the shots you've taken in a specific location. It's a fun little addition, and it's one that adds a lot of personality to the Photos app.

Read more
‘Photoshopped’ royal photo causes a stir
The Princess of Wales with her children.

[UPDATE: In a message posted on social media on Monday morning, Princess Kate said that she herself edited the image, and apologized for the fuss that the picture had caused. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote, adding, "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."]

Major press agencies have pulled a photo of the U.K.’s Princess of Wales and her children amid concerns that it has been digitally manipulated.

Read more
Nikon sale: Get up to $700 off select Nikon cameras and lenses
nikon d780 review product  1

Crutchfield has a huge sale on many different Nikon cameras with some of the best camera deals that we’ve seen in a while. With nearly 30 different items in the sale, the best thing that avid photographers can do is take a look for themselves. However, if you want a little insight before you dive in, take a look at what we have to suggest below.

What to shop for in the Nikon sale
Nikon makes some of the best DSLR cameras around with our overall favorite -- the -- available for $2,197 reduced from $2,297. The camera is perfect for both photographers and videographers with a 24.5-megapixel full-frame image sensor. Its rugged magnesium-alloy body is weather-sealed against dust, dirt, and moisture so it’s great for all occasions. The Nikon EXPEED 6 image processor is optimized for low-light performance while maintaining long battery life with an autofocus sensor module with support for 51 focus points. You just need to add a lens to reap the benefits with features like the 273-point phase-detection AF system detecting and tracking subjects throughout the entire frame.

Read more