Can you learn cinematography at an online college?

Yes, you can. Filmmaking theory can be learned from books, websites, and any other written materials. Some online courses can provide a very solid curriculum on filmmaking in particular if they are using the power of multi-media technologies for their curriculum. If not, then you're better off grabbing some of the most respected cinematography books out there (e.g., he Five C's of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques) and start reading. Take notes, learn the techniques by heart, do all the case studies, get the principles down until they become second nature. You are now done with STEP ONE: Filmmaking Theory. STEP TWO: Filmmaking Practices. Step Two cannot be learned on-line. You've got to find friends who will want to work with you on producing multi-media projects (short films, music videos, training videos, etc.) so you can apply what you’ve just learned. Ideally, you’ll do both at the same time: it’s the best way for you to learn your trade. Without practice, all you'll have is theory and that's not good enough. You’ll need to find production equipment and put it to use. Make mistakes. Fix them. Re-shoot. Learn. Improvise. The more you do it, the better you'll become until you can be as good as any of those film students. STEP THREE: Financing and Friendships. Make sure you set some money aside for your production. As we all know filmmaking is not cheap, even with the proliferation of affordable technology and equipment. If you don’t have any money at all, you'll have to surround yourself with trusted and reliable friends who will work with you for sweat equity... don’t forget to feed them while on set! Also, don't forget to return the favor when they’re ready for their own productions. Now, do check one of the best community colleges in filmmaking, one that’s affordable and highly quoted: Scottsdale Community College in Arizona. There, you'll work with people who share the same passion as you in a setting that's much more affordable than those "other" film schools. Later on, you can always go to LA or NY and finish up your film studies, if you wish. Or even better, get to work on that next film or other multi-media project.

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Yes, you can. Filmmaking theory can be learned from books, websites, and any other written materials. Some online courses can provide a very solid curriculum on filmmaking in particular if they are using the power of multi-media technologies for their curriculum. If not, then you're better off grabbing some of the most respected cinematography books out there (e.g., he Five C's of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques) and start reading. Take notes, learn the techniques by heart, do all the case studies, get the principles down until they become second nature. You are now done with STEP ONE: Filmmaking Theory. STEP TWO: Filmmaking Practices. Step Two cannot be learned on-line. You've got to find friends who will want to work with you on producing multi-media projects (short films, music videos, training videos, etc.) so you can apply what you’ve just learned. Ideally, you’ll do both at the same time: it’s the best way for you to learn your trade. Without practice, all you'll have is theory and that's not good enough. You’ll need to find production equipment and put it to use. Make mistakes. Fix them. Re-shoot. Learn. Improvise. The more you do it, the better you'll become until you can be as good as any of those film students. STEP THREE: Financing and Friendships. Make sure you set some money aside for your production. As we all know filmmaking is not cheap, even with the proliferation of affordable technology and equipment. If you don’t have any money at all, you'll have to surround yourself with trusted and reliable friends who will work with you for sweat equity... don’t forget to feed them while on set! Also, don't forget to return the favor when they’re ready for their own productions. Now, do check one of the best community colleges in filmmaking, one that’s affordable and highly quoted: Scottsdale Community College in Arizona. There, you'll work with people who share the same passion as you in a setting that's much more affordable than those "other" film schools. Later on, you can always go to LA or NY and finish up your film studies, if you wish. Or even better, get to work on that next film or other multi-media project.