Nikon Is Offering Free Online Photography Classes, So Sign Us Up!

In today's news that we absolutely love: Nikon is offering free online classes right now to help amp up your picture-capturing game! Taught by a range of professional photographers, the diverse selection of courses available for streaming through the end of April are the perfect way to occupy your extra time. Whether starting a new hobby or advancing an old favorite, you can brush up on everything photo and video without even leaving your sofa. You had us at free, Nikon. (And sofa.)

For those looking to step up from smartphone snapping, this is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of these classes. Beginners can dive into Fundamentals of Photography to learn the basics like lighting, aperture, composition, and more. Photographing Children and Pets might be extra tricky, but this course will gift you the tips you'll need to start snagging memorable gems like a pro. Always wanted to make a music video? (Who hasn't, obviously.) The Art of Making Music Videos is a treasure that will gift you the basic knowledge you need to make the top 10 (get those backup dancers ready!). Heck, if Joe Exotic can do it, so can we.

Travel-lovers may want to dive into Exploring Dynamic Landscape Photography to learn all about the art of capturing gorgeous destination-inspired images. This one will have us fired up for planning future explorations with drool-worthy scenery to put our new skills to the test. If you already have a DSLR and working knowledge of your camera, there are some courses that push past the beginner level, like Beyond the Fundamentals of Photography, to really get a handle on the inner workings of your tool. There's even a class on Macro Photography for learning techniques to capture small objects like plants and insects. To take any of the classes, all you have to do is sign into Nikon's site with your name and email and you're good to go!

The photo and video challenges offer a fun social aspect for participants, too, and for a spin on "happy hour," Nikon has launched the clever #CreatorsHour on all media channels (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). Live chats are also available, where you can tap into Nikon Ambassador tips and tricks for creating epic content.

These courses will have us ready to document and share our highly anticipated next adventures. So, get shootin' already!