Watsonville, Calif.-Photoflex Inc.'s Web Photo School has relaunched its website with new free and paid digital-photography lessons that provide instant online learning for digital photographers with beginning, intermediate, and advanced skills, Chief Executive Officer Gene Kester announced today.

With a library of more than 200 lessons on its website (www.webphotoschool.com), Web Photo School has welcomed well over five million unique visitors since debuting in 1998. It's the world's largest online resource for photography and digital-imaging lessons for all levels of photographers.

"Instruction that used to be possible only face to face, taking months or years of time, can now be learned in just minutes online," Kester states. "That's because our website has just been revitalized and strengthened to better meet the needs of anyone taking photographs who wants answers now. In response to customer feedback, we've created many new, easy-to-use lessons that can be put to practical use right away, regardless of a student's level of expertise."

First-time site visitors can benefit from the new Web Photo School Tour, which helps visitors decide if they wish to focus on beginning, intermediate, or advanced lessons.

The tour also shows nine general categories of lessons as well as numerous sub-categories. General categories are basic camera, basic lighting, portraits, products/still life, business websites, Internet/auction photos, outdoor photography/travel, digital manipulation/Photoshop, and new lessons.

Fifteen free lessons are available, ranging from shooting portraits, to photographing jewelry for print and the Web, to using strobes and soft lights.

Payment options have broadened for the pay-per-view lessons. Lessons on simple techniques and digital-camera use cost 99 cents each, similar to fees charged at music download sites. More extensive lessons that combine several photo techniques cost $1.99 apiece, and advanced lessons taught by well-known photographers that cost $2.99 each. The advanced lessons will be available Dec. 1.

Students can also take advantage of as many of 150 lessons as they wish for $8 a month, or $60 for a full year. WPS memberships also include at least two new lessons each month, and email notification when new lessons are ready to view.

Visitors can always preview any lesson, whether or not they are paid members. Lesson previews include thumbnail images, plus a summary that explains what will be learned.

WPS students range from small businesses who want to stay competitive by incorporating product or facility images into company websites, brochures, and other marketing materials, to families who wish to take better group and individual photos, post them on personal websites, or even turn them into greeting cards that can be emailed to friends and relatives.

Even with the vast array of camera gear and software programs on the market today, Kester notes that WPS instruction can help most digital photographers improve their skills:

"Although camera manufacturers' hardware and electronic software do vary somewhat, our WPS lesson concepts remain valid and valuable. In addition, the knowledge our students gain can also help them determine the capabilities and limitations of their current cameras, and decide whether or not they wish to invest in new cameras with additional features they could now find important to their needs."

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