TPC's Self-Study Course not only contains both TPC's Photographic Techniques, Book I and TPC's Photographic Techniques, Book II (over 600 pages), you also receive TPC's Glossary of Photographic Terms and TPC's Student Assignments as printable Adobe PDF files. If you already have an interest and some amateur experience in photography, this Self-Study Course and its 49 pages of individual Book I Student Assignments will help you study on your own and build your photographic talents to establish a firm foundation on which to perfect a professional photographic portfolio of your photographs. And, TPC's Glossary is an education in itself with its compilation of over 1000 useful photographic terms and their definitions. We LaserJet-print our books in high-resolution photo-quality COLOR to maintain your quality of education.

This one-to-one photography learning course involves the student's application of each chapter as presented in TPC's Photographic Techniques, Book I, along with personally tutored Email support on each chapter and photo assignment. The student's understanding of each chapter is evaluated by Email before the student is given a photo assignment designed for that particular lesson based on the student's area of photographic interest(s). The student will provide, either by his or her own Webpage or via postal mail, six to twelve photo examples per lesson for evaluation (depending on the lesson) and must receive a passing critique before advancing on to the next chapter and its assignments. Assignment submission photographs will be copied from the student's Webpage in order for TPC to critique, digitally edit (where applicable), and then sent attached via Email back to the student; critiques are usually performed within 48 hours upon upload notification from the student. We find the returned attached Email JPEG images to be a faster learning process for the student. Students who have their own personal Webpage are invited to use it for submitting her or his assignments; students without a personal Webpage can easily acquire a free one from such Online services as Yahoo! Geocities, Netscape, Tripod/Lycos, and others. Plus, by using your own Webpage, you can let your friends see your personal gallery of photos captured specifically for TPC. Also, by using your own Webpage, you can upload as many photos into other areas you create for your personal use as your WebPage provider allows, giving TPC a better look at your work in order to get more of a feel for your interests and you as a person. By letting TPC view more of your non-Assignment work helps your instructor get on your wavelength in order to help you attain your photographic goals. TPC will provide you with guidelines to help you in setting up your own Webpage, plus offer help and tips on how to display your photos Online for optimum viewing -- no extra charge, as we want you to succeed through our teachings, and your imagination and determination.

TPC supports the use of Adobe® Photoshop® and Adobe® Photoshop® Elements® in critiquing and digitally-editing your uploaded assignment images -- click here for a sample Digitally-edited Critique. TPC does not endorse products, however these are the software programs we use in-house and are the most familiar. During your Course studies, TPC will teach you step-by-step about what we did to your critiqued Assignment images if you also use either of these software programs so that you will also learn to digitally-edit your own work, as well as how to become the best photographer you can be. So, you get more than just a photographic education when you enroll with TPC's Certificate of Completion Course -- you also get an education in how TPC uses one or both of these Adobe® products with you in mind.

Each chapter Assignment is treated accordingly and in succession. Upon successful completion of all 14 educational chapters in Fundamental Photographic Technique, the student will be awarded a printed, signed, and frameable Certificate of Completion stating they have met the educational and photographic requirements of The Photo College and are thereby trained in the Applied Fields of Fundamental Photographic Technique. A listing of the following fields of expertise will appear on your Certificate:

· Advanced Photographic Composition
· Artistic Photographic Composition
· Use and application of 35mm and Medium Format Cameras, or Film and Digital Cameras, or Digital Cameras
· Use and application of 35mm and Medium Format Lenses, or Digital format lenses
· Use and application of Film Types and ISOs, or Digital Formats and ISOs
· Photographic Filters
· 35mm and/or Digital, or Medium Format Aperture Theory and Application
· Advanced Depth of Field Application
· 35mm and/or Digital, or Medium Format Shutter Speed Theory and Application
· 35mm and/or Digital, or Medium Format Automated Modes Theory and application
· Action Photography Application
· Advanced Flash Photography
· Advanced Exposure Compensation
· Advanced Available Light Photography
Plus, TPC introduces any or all of the Book II Chapters as they apply to your Student Assignment photos and goals in the world in front of your camera's viewfinder.

Course Enrollment Options
If you are unsure about choosing between TPC's Self-Study Course and TPC's Certificate of Completion Course, please Contact TPC with your questions. Or, you can choose TPC's Self-Study Course, then advance, if you so choose, to TPC's Certificate of Completion Course where we apply your investment with TPC's Self-Study Course toward your upgrade to TPC's Certificate of Completion Course. TPC will also accommodate your schedule and life-style because we are dedicated to helping you learn to maximize your photographic abilities.

Course Materials
You receive both TPC's Photographic Techniques, Book I and TPC's Photographic Techniques, Book II, the printable TPC's Glossary of Photographic Terms in Adobe PDF format, the printed TPC's Student Assignments Book, TPC's Existing Light Exposure Calculator (slide rule type), TPC's 'Quik-Tips' Card for easy in-field reference, TPC's Student ID card, and a helpful Color Wheel for those of you using the full version of Adobe® Photoshop®. You will be tutored via Email, your uploaded Assignment Photos will be critiqued and discussed by personal Email correspondence with Tom Jenkins (not by an associate or anyone else), and your chapter photo assignments, critiques, and digitally-edited photo support and suggestions will be returned via Email Attachments to your email address. Each Assignment Upload Photo is individually critiqued, particular to each of the 14 Fundamental Study Chapters. Our Textual and Digitally-edited Critiques of your Chapter Assignments are performed using Adobe® Photoshop® (or Elements, depending on which one you are using) - not with a grease pencil. As you proceed through the 14 Fundamental Chapters, TPC will introduce any information from TPC's Photographic Techniques, Book II Chapters that are pertinent to your advancement through the Course, and to your photographic style and applications; this also includes help and instruction using your digital photographic equipment and software. We even keep your Books' information up-to-date as technology changes through our Email Support. The Existing Light Exposure Calculator is for use in calculating exposure settings with indoor and nighttime photography, your ID Card identifies you as a Professional Photography Student of The Photo College, TPC's Quik Tips Card will help keep you from ever failing to take a great photograph, the Advanced Color Wheel is useful for making those fine color adjustments to your images if you are using Adobe® Photoshop® 5 or newer, and the New Printed Certificate of Completion Student Assignments Book complete with Log Book Pages at the end of each Assignment is for recording your exposure and scene information for each assignment; plus you can use it with the OriJen Exposure System as described in TPC's Photographic Techniques, Book II.

And...
Our Email support is second to none. You have a question? We have an answer. You have a photo-shoot and need support or advice? We are here to help you through it successfully. We know you want to improve your skills; even to the point where someone will say, "Can you shoot this for me? I'll pay you!" We know the hints, tricks, and tips; we have been there, we have used them, and we know how to help you outshine the competition. And all this does not have to feel like work! We know how to make it fun, successful, and profitable. We are Staffed 7-days per week to provide you with the support you need, and the support you deserve.

Higher education is paramount in today's world; with the lessons and personal attention we provide, you can find that edge or niche that makes your work stand out among the competition's. Our 30 years as professional photographers in the field, and as teachers in the classroom, have provided us with the credentials to help you maximize your photographic abilities. We want you to be better than us, so don't let us down!