[MUSIC] We're ready for the last believe it or not, the last of our lesson so let's get going. Well, here we are in week 8 of course 5, the last Of 24 modules in photography basics and beyond. All the efforts you've made to gain a mastery of information about photography. From technical controls to expressive content from composition to imaging software and so much more, have led you to this point of completion. So give yourself a big pat on the back like this. >> [LAUGH] So you've already gone well beyond the basics. But it's time now, to think about how you might go even further in your photography. While your participation in this series of courses will end soon we're confident that with this foundation established. Your learning in photography will continue throughout your life. >> One of the truly amazing things to us as professors in this Coursera MOOC, something completely unexpected, is the way that thousands of learners from all across national and cultural boundaries came together and unified as a community through their helpful approach to sharing words and pictures. Whether it was in course discussion forums or in peer reviews, this aspect has had a significant and powerful impact on each individual's learning experience. >> The supportive environment that you worked to create, with your honesty and candor by sharing your own hopes, interests and yes even your own sometimes subjective opinions, have made this specialization a unique experience in online learning. Our first suggestion for you, is to accept the invitation you'll find arriving by email after the Capstone ends. Offering you the chance to continue to interact with your fellow learners in a secret Facebook room. We've established a group exclusively for alumni of the Capstone course. Where you can continue to share pictures, ideas, news on photography from your part of the world and perhaps even organize events, exhibits, workshops and who knows what. As new members are added, you will enjoy interacting with other alumni who will bring their own new perspectives on photography from across the globe as well. You might also find ways to interact in real time in your local community. Perhaps through a camera club or other photography organization to be a part of a community of photographers and continue to share in the support. >> We want to encourage you to continue to use the process of critique. To assess your own photographs, and those of others that you connect with. One of the best ways to grow as a photographer is to challenge your own approach to the medium, and that of others as well. So, keep challenging yourself. >> That brings us to another suggestion we have for you as you go beyond this learning experience. It's really quite simple. Discover one new photograph a day, by another photographer and give it a critique. You can easily do this just by scanning the internet for photographer's websites, landing on them and finding a photograph. Then exercise your powers of evaluation and learn something new as you analyze a picture. >> Another way to discover is by having a photograph delivered every day to your email account by subscribing to Your Daily Photograph at yourdailyphotograph.com. This email listserv showcases exceptional new photographs that are for sale each day. Across a wide range of styles, time periods, techniques, and subjects. You'll find a challenging picture to evaluate each day and learn about photographers from the past and present too along with gaining an understanding of the photography marketplace. >> In terms of daily concentration photography, we also encourage you to pick a week, or a month, or maybe even longer, to be a quotidian photographer. The word quotidian means, every day. And many photographers find that committing to the assignment of making a photo every day, for a certain period of time, helps them grow in knowledge and skill. Defining a certain category for your pictures can be helpful. Perhaps starting with techniques such as making a photo a day from a very low vantage point. Maybe from laying on the ground for a period of time. Maybe content is a way for you to get started. Thinking about making a photo a day about love or some other subject matter you feel comfortable with or maybe even uncomfortable with. Make it something you can look forward to rather than a chore. MSU College of Arts and Letters Dean Christopher Long has introduced each of our courses with his message of commitment decide your practice. And you've him in action too, wandering campus with his camera. If a busy dean can do it, you can too. >> Along with evaluating a single photograph each day, and making an organized plan for testing yourself through daily photography. We also want to encourage you, to make visits to photography exhibits in your area. No matter whether they're held in local libraries or in grand museums, any venue that exhibits photography is a place you can consider an extension of this specialization. A place where you can continue your learning. You'll be able to see larger numbers of photographs together in one place. Learn about how sequencing and arrangement of photographic prints can create impact for a viewer. And understand what another photographer considers to be a solid grouping of pictures. Their own Capstone project of sorts. >> Perhaps at some point in the future or even now, you'll want to hold an exhibit of your own. One of the best ways to prepare for that is to study the structure of the exhibitions of other photographers' pictures. Looking at everything from the stylistic signature of the series to the way the pictures are framed, lit, labeled and sequenced on a wall or in a slideshow or in whatever display format they're set. That could include a visit to the University of Texas where the very first photograph ever made is on permanent display, ornately framed in a bulletproof case on the left here. Or in a gallery like Studio Baxton in Brussels, Belgium where contemporary photographers working primary in Polaroid and other analog film formats are exhibited, or anything in between. The main thing is to make regular visits to galleries and museums a part of your life as a photographer, not only to see the pictures, but to learn about the ways they're presented. When you have a set of related pictures, as you do now with your Capstone project. Why not find a place to share them in your local community? Maybe you begin at your local library, or perhaps your favorite coffee or tea shop, or the village community center, or your church as a place to show your pictures. Putting your own exhibit together is an exciting and rewarding experience requiring decisions to be made that all center on what you view as quality in your own photography. You may be surprised at how excited those who manage local venues may be to share your pictures on their wall. >> You might be considering putting your best pictures forward for reviews by a juror in one of the many photography competitions that are on regular offer throughout the world. We have a word of caution here. While we have seen a remarkable growth in the number of such competitions in recent years, we don't feel that there's been a similar growth in the rate of quality opportunities for photographers. In other words, while there are more competitions ready and willing to take your payment for the privilege of reviewing your photographs. There are some important questions you should ask yourself about the real value of the competition. Before you plunk down your money and email off your digital image files we've prepared a file of questions about competitions which you'll find in the reading section. >> Maybe at some point soon you'll be ready to create a book of your photographs. Not so many years ago, this would've been a ridiculous suggestion to make to anyone who was not well-established professional photographer. But times are changing in this digital world. Today, there are many options for excellent books, printing available online, with Blurb being a well-known provider. Or even book printing options available in places such as local drug stores here in the USA. Some even having same day service available. We both love books and encourage you to make one at some point, even if it's just an addition of one. By doing so, you gain new insights about your individual pictures and photography projects as a whole. As you study the proper sequencing, sizing and so many other aspects related to bookmaking. See the link to a fine article on the subject of publication provided by PetaPixel in the Links part of the reading series. And it probably wouldn't hurt to go back and look at the book option in the Lightroom series. >> We also hope you'll look for other opportunities to grow in your understanding of photography by enrolling in further coursework. You've proven through your efforts in this specialization that you have the self-discipline, enthusiasm, talent and foundation of knowledge. With which you can go beyond the stage of expertise that you've achieved so far. You've also prove to be a good citizen student, willing and able to exchange ideas of substance with fellow learners across pier review. And also the wide range of topics we've discussed in the forums in photography. >> So our industry partners have made provision for some amazing discounts and other offers for you to further reward you as a learner who has completed this capstone course and earned your certificate. We will be sending a list of special codes and other information out to you shortly after the official ending of this course to the email address on file for you with Coursera. >> In sending you off into the world beyond basic photography, we want to thank you sincerely for all your efforts in the courses. This has been an amazing experience for us as photographers and educators. We're so grateful for your commitment in partnering with us to create a vibrant community of learners. Well now, you can truly say that you are Michigan State University Spartans. And while the Sun may be setting over our campus and the university symbol of Sparty. It never sets on an alumnus of this Capstone course somewhere in the world. We will both look forward to seeing you somewhere in this great world of ours maybe even in another Coursera course. Meanwhile, keep your camera with you everyday wherever you are, and keep going beyond. Thanks for joining us in this learning adventure. Bon voyage! [MUSIC]
