I recently completed the Digital Photo I course at the Chicago Photography Center. I’ve mentioned the class in passing already, but I held off on writing a real review until it was over. For those who like to skip to the end, I’ll say that my experience overall was positive and I would consider taking another class there, although I do have some nits to pick.
One thing to keep in mind when considering this class is that CPC requires students to shoot with a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens—at least for DP-I. Most digital SLRs show up with an 18-55mm zoom nowadays, so most students will have to spring for another lens in addition to the cost of the class. Although it adds a few bucks to the expense, I don’t see the purchase of the lens as a bad thing. A 50mm prime is something of a classic for a reason (in fact, this website owes its name to that particular lens), and anyone who’s serious about photography will probably end up owning one sooner or later anyway.
