Leica and Olympus offer free virtual courses and lectures for photographers

Camera makers Leica and Olympus have announced initiatives to offer free courses and lectures to photographers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many companies engaged in creative fields have released resources for those currently left at home, and last week, Nikon released its entire curriculum of online photography courses through the end of April for free.

For its part, Olympus has launched “Home With Olympus Sessions” to bring people into contact with Olympus technical experts. Photographers can sign up for group lessons or one-on-one sessions to ask specific questions, get feedback, and learn more about their Olympus cameras at home. The group sessions are limited to six people and have as their theme certain camera models and types of photography, such as landscape, macro and underwater. There is limited space, so if you are interested go to Olympus’ website to sign up.

Meanwhile, Leica rolls out a series free online discussions under the guidance of renowned photographers, musicians, actors and other creatives. The talks will take place in the coming weeks and begin on April 12. Photographers Jennifer McClure and Juan Cristóbal Cobo will talk about supporting their photography while in self-quarantine, Maggie Steber will talk about her Guggenheim-winning project the ‘Secret Garden of Lily LaPalma’, and Stephen Vanasco will enter his digital workflow.

You have to register on Eventbrite to attend the virtual conversations. DJ D Nice, Jeff Garlin and Danny Clinch will also be making speeches in the near future, but registration for those sessions has not yet opened.