Aiming to keep creators going during COVID-19 lockdowns, Nikon is doing their part by making $250 worth of online photography and videography classes free for the month of April. With 10 courses via 15 minute to hour long videos on their website, those who’ve always wanted to master the camera can learn from professionals and Nikon ambassadors.

“Nikon’s mission has always been to empower creators. In these uncertain times, we can do that by helping creators stay inspired, engaged and growing,” reads Nikon’s statement on their website. “Let’s come out of this even better.”

Whether you just got your hands on a DSLR or want to get out of your comfort zone and shoot a subject you haven’t before, the classes offered are diverse and cater to all skill levels. Discover macro photography or learn how to capture a subject’s story through their environment. Get the hang of a camera beyond auto mode or create a music video. The options are endless.

To keep the creative juices flowing while being stuck inside, visit Nikon’s Online School. And for more inspiration, peruse Nikon’s Instagram:

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“The world viewed up close has always been fascinating to me because the subjects are endless. Whether it’s a flower or a dandelion from the garden, a whisk or a cheese grater from the kitchen drawer, or the intricate patterns on a butterfly wing, there are interesting photographs to be made. And in this time, staying safely indoors while creating images is not only good for the heart and soul, it’s also way make pictures safely. ⠀ ⠀ This is a small mushroom from my garden that’s perhaps only 40mm in diameter. I saw a group of them pop up after several days of rain, and after pulling a few out of the ground, I decided that the underside of this one was the most interesting. ⠀ ⠀ There are just two different light sources for this image. The first is illuminating about 15mm of the mushroom from a 90-degree angle to reveal as much of the structure as possible. The second light is a 16-inch soft box which is providing some general illumination and filling the shadows. I used two different colors of light to add some additional definition to the gills. ⠀ ⠀ In order to maintain focus throughout the different levels of the mushroom, I used a technique called focus stacking which, in this case, required 37 captures to complete. Focus stacking is a process of capturing a series of images all focused on a different part of the subject and then merging them together to create a single image that is precisely sharp.” -#NikonAmbassador @joeyterril using the Nikon #Z7⠀ ⠀ #NikonNoFilter #focusstacking #macro #macrophotography #phototips

A post shared by NikonUSA (@nikonusa) on Mar 31, 2020 at 10:38am PDT