Creative Live

Stormy Ride (click to enlarge)
X-T2, 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 30mm; 1/1250th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 400

I want to give a plug to a company by the name of Creative Live.  Why?  Read on.

Disclaimer:  I just want to remind everyone that I am not endorsed by anyone or any company.  I don't have any advertising on this site or my personal web page (www.dennismook.com).  I don't get anything free or at a reduced cost.  I buy all my gear at the same prices you buy yours.  I have no affiliation with any company, product or service.  Any endorsements or recommendations I make are because I have either used the product or service and like it or find value in a product or service.

Creative Live is a Seattle, USA based company that provides educational content in a wide variety of creative endeavors.  My particular interest is in photography, of course.  As far as I know, they have a pretty unique business model.  Here is how it works:

The educational presentations provided can be anywhere from 4 hours in one day to 8 hours a day for 5 days. Here is the unique part.  You can watch all of their presentations free as long as watch them live. Interesting.  The presentations are conducted by very accomplished, well-known and first class professionals of the highest caliber.

Here is the catch.  You have to be able to sit in front of your computer, tablet, phone, or TV connected to the Internet for the entire time to take advantage of the "free" presentations.  If you can't sit and watch the entire presentation you can later buy the entire program and watch it streamed to you as many times as you want on any type of device.  You can also download it and save the course content on your device of choice.

If you can't watch it live, they give you an opportunity to buy the presentation in the first 24 hours at a nice discount.  Afterwards, it is priced as it will be normally.  They also stream the entire presentation again within the first 24 hours, so if you miss part of it, you can watch it, again for free, later that same day.

The only downside, other than having to sit in front of a computer for many hours, is that you don't get any handouts, PDFs or other information that is provided to those who purchase the presentation.  So far, I haven't found that a real detriment.

I have watched several of these presentations over the past few years and, without exception, every one of them has been excellent.  What made me think about Creative Live is that two days ago I watched an excellent instructor by the name of John Greengo (he is also an award winning professional photographer) give a very in-depth presentation on the Fuji X-T2.  He calls each of the programs he presents about a particular camera model a "Fast Start."  He has done many, many different cameras and has more planned, including the new Olympus E-M1 Mark II, the new Canons, as well as Leica and others later this year.  Quite a comprehensive library of information on each camera. As in-depth as he goes, I really don't understand how he keeps each camera type and all of its features, bells, whistles, controls, etc., straight!

Now I've read the entire X-T2 user's manual completely.  Yes, I'm one of "those people." LOL!  Also, I've gone back into it many, many times to refresh my memory and figure out how to do something specific with the camera.  But, as much as I have been through the manual, and as much as I have used the camera, almost on a daily basis since the middle of last September, I learned quite a few things from Mr. Greengo.  

His presentation was extremely in-depth.  He went over every knob, dial, button, door, connection, control, etc. on the outside of the camera, then went into every single menu, sub-menu, sub-sub-menu item in-depth as well.  He even gave the audience several shortcuts, some of which I was unfamiliar.  In the end, he provides recommended settings for specific types of photography, such as sports, landscpe, etc.  And...I watched this 7 hour presentation (which included 2 15-minute breaks and a 45-minute meal break) for free!  

If I wanted to buy the presentation to watch again in the future, for the first 24 hours, it was $35 US.  After that, it is $49 US.  That seems to be a bargain for the amount of information given as well as the reference material provided.

I have watched the great Art Wolfe give presentations on wildlife and travel photography. I have watched multi-day programs on Lightroom, Photoshop, etc.  They all are well done and have detailed course content.   Each has an outstanding presenter.

If it seems I am gushing on, I am in a way.  As a retired guy, I can sit and watch live presentations.  You may not have that same ability.  But, their prices for streaming all of the content and getting the handout materials is so reasonable, it is almost criminal to pass them up when they can help you increase your skill levels as a photographer or in editing afterwards.

They have many other types of educational presentations as well.  For example, video, self-publishing, art and design, music and audio, crafts, etc., lectures as well.

I would encourage you to check them out.  You may find something that is of interest and increase your skill levels without having to pay for a workshop or a conference and all of the associated expenses of lodging, meals, etc.  At least get on their email list to understand what you may be missing.

Here is their URL:  Creative Live

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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