Choosing a photography DVD course usually comes down to scope: do you want a quick skill builder you can finish in an afternoon, or a full curriculum that walks you through fundamentals, travel, and master perspectives? The four courses here split exactly along that line. One is a six-lesson travel primer, one is a 24-lecture fundamentals set, one is a 24-lesson master survey, and one bundles four courses into a 13-disc collection.
Quick Take
For a compact, travel-specific lesson set, start with The Art of Travel Photography. For variety across many working photographers, Masters of Photography brings in 12 different photographers. If you want a structured beginner path, Fundamentals of Photography includes a companion workbook. For the broadest scope in one purchase, the Photography Library Lot combines multiple courses into a single collection.
Listed Price Comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Great Courses The Art of Travel Photography: 6 Expert Lessons DVD Sartore NEW | USD 9.45 | |
| Masters of Photography DVD 2014 National Geographic 12 Masters Course | USD 12.99 | |
| The Great Courses Fundamentals of Photography 4-Disc DVD Set w/ Book, New Sealed | USD 14.95 | |
| Great Courses Photography Library Lot: 4 Courses / 13 DVDs / 3 NEW Sealed | USD 109.99 |
Decision Matrix
- Need a focused travel primer? The Art of Travel Photography.
- Need a full beginner path with written support? Fundamentals of Photography.
- Want to sample many masters? Masters of Photography.
- Want everything in one bundle? Photography Library Lot.
Product Notes
The Great Courses Fundamentals of Photography 4-Disc DVD Set w/ Book, New Sealed
The Fundamentals of Photography set is the most structured option for someone starting from zero. Joel Sartore, a National Geographic Fellow, leads 24 lectures across four discs, and the package includes a printed course workbook so you can follow each lesson on paper. That makes it a good fit when you want a complete beginner curriculum rather than a themed mini-course. The trade-off is its general scope: it focuses on camera equipment, composition, light, workflow, and storytelling rather than one specialty. If you already own a solid camera and only want travel tips or master-level perspective, you will be paying for early material you do not need.
Great Courses The Art of Travel Photography: 6 Expert Lessons DVD Sartore NEW
The Art of Travel Photography is the leanest course in this group, and it targets a specific use case: making travel photos more deliberate and artistic. Joel Sartore teaches six lessons designed for young adults and adults, and the tall DVD case keeps the set compact. Because it is a six-lesson course, it cannot cover the full range of camera basics or editing workflow that longer courses offer. This is the easiest pick when you want a quick refresher before a trip and already have basic photography skills. It is also the lowest-priced single set here, which makes it a sensible choice if you want to test whether the Great Courses format works for you.
Masters of Photography DVD 2014 National Geographic 12 Masters Course
Masters of Photography takes the opposite approach: instead of one instructor, it gives you 24 lessons across 12 National Geographic photographers. The topics include adventure, wildlife, people in their environments, color and light, and storytelling, so you get a sampler of genres rather than a deep dive into one style. The listing describes the condition as Very Good, so this is not a new sealed copy. It is still a useful way to see how different working photographers approach composition and subject matter. The compromise is depth: with a dozen names sharing 24 lessons, you get introductions to each master's approach rather than a long, detailed workshop from any single one.
Great Courses Photography Library Lot: 4 Courses / 13 DVDs / 3 NEW Sealed
The Photography Library Lot is the only option here that combines multiple full courses in one purchase. It includes four courses and 13 DVDs, covering fundamentals, travel photography, and the masters survey, with three of the four courses described as new and factory sealed and all four including printed guidebooks. That makes it the most comprehensive bundle if you know you will work through several courses. The listed price is much higher than the others, so it is not the right starting point if you only want one topic or are unsure how much video you actually watch. It makes most sense for a dedicated learner who wants a complete DVD curriculum in one lot.
Final Recommendation by Use Case
- For a compact travel-photography course: The Art of Travel Photography, listed at USD 9.45.
- For a structured beginner foundation: Fundamentals of Photography, listed at USD 14.95.
- For a sampler of many master photographers: Masters of Photography, listed at USD 12.99.
- For a complete multi-course library: Photography Library Lot, listed at USD 109.99.
