I look back on what he taught me and still use it today; really! I found his tips about buying cameras wonderful and the extra material that he presented *for instance, how an eye works* enlightening. The studio shoot was great as well.

Great teacher :D He is not lame at all. i highly recommend this teacher for all photo classes. He's very nice too.

ahh... the cosmos, look into a new world-- never see it quite the same. thx mr. erdman!

Michael Erdman is a professional. He says that the first day of class. That's just how he acts, professional. He is concise, intelligent, and demanding, making his courses difficult but rewarding.

Michael Erdman is a Great Teacher, i have had him for 2 classes and i have had a good time

I was very impressed with the knowledge Mr Erdman has. I learn a lot by taking his Astronomy class. I am now able to spot constellations and planets and I didnt before the class. I even know how to find Palaris. I was able to see saturn for the first time through the telescope which was exciting. He did a great job!!!

He respects all learning styles and adapts his teaching to the specific needs of his students. He is very well educated and enthusiastic in what he teaches. His quizzes and tests are meant to teach you, not trick you and his projects are very art based and fun rather than text book based and boring. He also plans some wicked field trips!

Michael Erdman is the most professional teacher I've had since attending the Academy. He's on time, always open to help and willing to stay after, he leads class discussions well, and provides many many opportunities for you to learn something new. I recommend him if you are taking your education seriously. The book is overpriced and useless

Passionate about the subject, very involved. Knowledgable, experienced, and highly practical.

I learned more about digital photo than I had known. I fell I can use my camera bettter know.

Not only a good teacher but a good person, he really cares about people, professional way but still kind almost fatherly.

His professionalism and passion for photography is infectious. He pushes students to produce interesting, inspiring work rather than something to merely get by. Few teachers, if any, focus on the business aspects of being an artist as he does, which is REALLY important. He comes off hard at first, but softens up. Textbook could be better.

He has his quirks, like addressing us by last name, but Mr. Erdman is a consummate professional and a caring, dedicated instructor. He is a master of advertising photography and uses his work well as models to guide and inspire. Offers a good balance of lecture, hands-on "active learning" and critique. The cost of the book is my only complaint.

Great teacher, very professional and organized with his lesson plans. Highly recommend his astronomy class, probably one of the best classes I have taken at this school.

A very passionate and devoted educator with integrity and commitment. Able to distill complex ideas and concepts into fascinating and informative lessons. I couldn't imagine a better teacher for as "universal" a subject as astronomy.

His professionalism and punctuality are inspiring.The way he has the entire semester organized is impressive.Apart from that, the knowledge that I have gained from his Astronomy class is priceless. His supplements and field trips that he works so hard for only added to the wonderful experience. Definitely one of the best teachers I've had at AAU.

Some teachers you will never forget, Mr. Erdman is one of them. His astronomy class was one of the best classes I have ever taken; I recommend it to anyone.

Mr. Erdman's class has been an incredible experience. He is very detailed, very encouraging, and very approachable. He teaches by using active learning assignments, including workshops and hands-on exposure to photography. I've learned SO MUCH in just one semester! As an artist, this has been one of the most valuable classes I haven ever taken.

I'm extremely happy that I was enrolled in this section. He may seem intimidating but Erdman is very professional, very helpful and supportive. His teaching style is very hands on. He also cares that his students walk away from his class learning something of value. He's really awesome and I totally recommend his class.

Awesome instructor and awesome class. The Erdman is intimidating at first but give him a chance and do your homework and everything will be fine. He doesn't grade based on subjectivity, he has an actual rubric and set of basic standards that he goes off of. As long as you can follow instructions you can get an A in the class. Great class =)

Mr. Erdman’s class is probably one of the most helpful and inspiring classes I’ve taken at the AAU. Mr. Erdman can be very intimidating the first couple of classes because of his professionalism. He makes you feel that instead of attending a class you are attending a job, and he doesn’t seem to be very approachable. But as you get to know him bette

Mr. Erdman has his student's best interests in mind and is always striving to make the Astronomy program better. He offers his enthusiasm and his knowledge of Astronomy to the best of his ability. He's the definition of what is professional and by taking this class you'll surely get an idea of what it takes to succeed in the real world.

Mr Erdman is super professional. Amazed by his enthusiasm & knowledge on the materials.Assignments and tests are well-informed at the beginning of the semester and they are meant to teach you, not to trick you.I learned a lot and had so much fun in his class. This is the best LA class I've ever had in AAU. Field trip was the highlight of the class.

MR. Erdman Rocks! Excellent Class, Excellent teacher. Anyone who has Graded Mr. Erdmen poorly on here is probably some freshmen, just came out of high school and expected everything to be soft and easy, didn't do the required work or show up to class. It's time to grow up kiddies. Grading teachers falsely isn't going to magically raise your grades.

At midterms I was on the verge of failing, and had not seen a single star. But at the end of class, not only did I have an A, I'd published a book, helped save some cute bunnies, and realized that there might be a fifth dimension. What happened? Magic happened. Professor Erdman's inspirational teaching happened. (Seriously, do the extra credit.)

Very clear on assignments. Extremely helpful information on photography. Helpful tips on your career, how to calculate your creative fees and everything else.

Mr. Erdman is the most professional teacher here at AAU. The way he handles situations, the way he speaks, the way he dresses, and the way he teaches all come in a professional matter. He has a lot of knowledge for what he is teaching, and a great knowledge about life as well. I am very inspired by him and will continue to learn outside of class!!!

Great professor, and quite honestly the best professor I have ever had in college. His clear and no nonsense style makes his class hard only if you can't follow directions. I wish every professor was like this, because I actually feel I learned and retain this information.

Great teacher and a fun class.Completely professional and approachable, passionate about subject and he makes physics fun! Mr.Erdman goes the extra mile to make sure everyone understands the subject before moving on. The textbook he compiled for this class is amazing and easy to understand. Looking forward to signing up for more of his classes.

Do not be intimidated by first couple of class sessions. It is a lot of information but it pays off in the end. The class is extremely fun and teacher is very passionate about the subject. He actually cares about what the students take away from the class. The class is very organized and put together well.

Mr. Erdman is a passionate and inspiring professor. His love of photography easily inspires you to learn more. His detailed teaching style and attention to hands on experience makes him a great professor. He is a bit intimidating at first, but given time he is a great teacher who really loves his students and sharing his experiences.

Mr. Erdman is enthusiastic about what he does and is interested in everyone learning. His teaching style is difficult at first to adjust to, so don't abandon the class immediately if you are interested in the subject. He will teach you a great deal. Also, don't miss any class sessions. The text is made in a way that requires your attendance.

Exploring the Casmos. Very good teacher. Great class. He is passionate and enthusiastic about what he teaches. He makes astronomy fun and easy to understand. HIGHLY recommend taking class. You will never look at the stars or you life the same after a lesson in Erdmanology. You get to go on great field trips.

Erdman is a very good teacher. When he assigns hw or projects he goes over everything and then at the end asks if there is any more questions. His grading style is very good and more teachers should adopt it. He makes learning photography fun and simple.

Astronomy. Mister Michael Erdman is an awesome, educated, approachable, helpful, inspirational, organized teacher. He really enjoys what he does& it shows. Even if your looking for an LA to fill its worth it. You learn so much and he takes the time to do all his own research as well as provide us with a neat field trip! Oh and don't be intimidated.

Mr. Erdman's passion about astronomy shows through his great teaching style and approachability. I highly recommend taking this course - you learn so much about yourself as well as astronomy (and it's great for artists who aren't so strong in math). He is very professional, the workload is manageable, and he will inspire you about life itself.

Originally I was not interested in Astronomy, yet Michael's style and enthusiasm made me want to learn more about the subject. There is also a fantastic fieldtrip that involved being able to experience a lot of the things he taught us in class. I strongly recommend Astronomy with Michael.

Michael Erdman is an outstanding teacher - very knowledgeable, professional, approachable and organized. He makes it a point that you are understanding the material and is able to deliver it in layman's terms. He is extremely well organized and clear. As a result there are no surprises or confusion in his class. Two thumbs up, highly recommended.

I took this class for personal enrichment and gained a lot from it. While the class was focused more on commercial product photography, I learned a lot. Because of the way he teaches the class, I can adapt what I've learned to many situations. I've got the basics down and feel like his class builds the foundation for any good photographer.

Michael's enthusiasm and interest in Astronomy makes the class very interesting and full of great and valuable information. I am not usually interested in science classes but he makes the class interesting for almost everyone that takes Astronomy, I strongly recommend .

AWESOME COURSE!!!!!!!! loved this class--- because of it I'm taking more classes in astronomy!

I came here w/o any real photo skill, but with his great help and much tutoring, I feel like I have step up my photography skill my 10fold! He's a product photographer but if you ask, he's more than meet the eye, he has the knowledge of fashion to portrait photography. He has become one of my fav teacher, can't wait for the astronomy class!

Professor Erdman is: thorough, his business knowledge is valuable and necessary, he is good mix of tough and inspiring, and most importantly- taught me how to use a camera! I have loved photography as a hobby for years, but only know do I know what is really happening when I push the shutter.

Mr. Erdman is inspiring and brings more to class than just the subject of Astronomy. He is motivational for all aspects of life.

Mr Erdman is one of the best teachers I've ever had. His is not an easy class. He makes you work, but he gives perfectly clear guidelines and is always willing to help. Only one warning: his critics are harsh and to the point, but, if anything, that makes them all the more helpful. It's nice to have a teacher who loves his job like he does. :)

very exciting teacher- makes class fun place to be

Mr. Erdman knows his stuff and it shows in his incredible confidence and passion while teaching the subject. You might be the most horrible photographer going into his class but if you pay attention and actually care, you'll have a fairly professional portfolio when you're done.

PH 103 is for non-Photo majors who want a photography class. Luckily I took this with Mr. Erdman and I learned SO MUCH to make me be a better photographer. He may seem hard (and nit-picky) at first, but he is *very* fair, encouraging and thorough. Your photos are going to rock! Take it with him!!

I loved this course. Erdman is a great teacher, and really cares about coming to class and actually teaching us. The outline of the course and the projects, allows us to be creative and also doesn't get in the way of big projects in other classes. a major plus!

Michael is very passionate about photography and cares highly for his students' education quality.

Very helpful and knowledgeable about the subject, very motivated to come to class and teach, this made the class fun to come to and keep up with the very clear assignments that where required.

One of the best classes that Academy offers. Mr.Erdman is very passionate teacher, and he teaches you not only photography, but also a lot of business and professional aspects that he learned from being an working artist.

He is a great teacher. Super passionate about what he is teaching. It's nice to go to class and have a teacher be so excited about what he is teaching. I think he is one of the best teachers I've had.

It is so rare to have someone who teaches his passion ... with passion. Mr Erdman makes you love even what you don't. He blends humour, care, fun and yet stresses professional attitude and work ethic.

I took the class to learn fundamental skills. That's exactly what I got. I now feel confident shooting in full manual mode, setting white balance and creating professional lighting. If you have played around with photography but want to get serious, Erdman's class is a great choice.

This class is amazing! Prior to this semester I had no idea how to manually use a camera, now I can shoot just about anything (products, events, portfolio pieces, etc.) You will learn how to adapt to ANY lighting situation you would encounter in a studio or outside. If you want to learn how to effectively use your DSLR, TAKE THIS CLASS!

He is a really great teacher. He's professional and he knows what he's talking about. Learning photography class with him I actually learn a lot. I also do get a lot of tricks and technique. He gives good critiques, not harsh but would explain the goods and the bads.

Great teacher who was always excited to come to class and teach us. Kept learning fun and great field trip.

I've taken both Erdman's Photography and Creative Astronomy classes and now I am addicted to DSLR photography and astronomy and astrophotography. Erdman's experience and excitement in both subjects is highly contagious! I did not want either of these classes to end.

I took Mr. Erdman's Creative Astronomy class. He's a great teacher who strives to create the best class possible for you! He loves astronomy and it clearly shows. He grades assignments "objectively" which means as long as you meet the requirements you get an A. Great class. Great Teacher. Highly recommended!

Awesome teacher that is passionate about what he teaches. He will search out current astronomical events to relate in class as well. Field trip is the bomb! Really enjoyed his class. Highly recommended if you are even a little curious about the stars.

By taking this class I received much more than what I was expecting. A dynamic teacher who knows how to transmit his passion to all students who are willing to learn. Michael is not teaching by reading a book to the class, but by his own professional experience (which is so rare nowadays). What he does the best ? Setting students for success.

Mr. Erdman is really nice and helpful and really passionate. I learned a lot in his photography class. Very recommended!

I really enjoyed this class. Learned a lot and Michael Erdman is a great instructor.

Mr.Erdman takes great pride in teaching astronomy to all those willing to learn. He is very concise, clear, professional, and fair. You will learn a lot from this class while completing fun assignments and projects. I highly recommend taking this astronomy class, you will not be disappointed.

I had took both Photo and Astronomy class of this professor. I really enjoyed his class and learned a lot things. Mr. Erdman is very passion with the subjects he teaching, and grade very fair and objective. He is one of my favoriate professor.

I took this class in 2013 Fall. Michael is a really good and nice teacher. Although this class was designed for non-photography major students, I felt like I learn more than others that were designed for only photography students. Before taking this class I didn't know anything about DSL, but now I know what is it and how to use it! Love him

He is the best because he cares about making his students BETTER. He inspires you to WANT to be great, and fills you with encouragement and strength to always be better. With a true care for setting his students up for success, it makes you care, and that drive to be great fuels the creation of phenomenal work. Any class with him is worth it.

Prior to this class, I was thinking "what did I get my self into" but this class turned out to be one of the very few, where I wished it was all year round. Professor Erdman is a photographer by day, astronomer by night. This class has changed a lot of my perspective on life, I highly recommend for anyone to take this class.

When I took this class I didn't know anything about photography. Professor Erdman though me how to use my camera in such a short time that was unbelievable to me. I strongly recommend this class to anyone who wants to know the basic elements of photography

Mr. Erdman not only renewed my interest in photography he taught me how to make it look professional. He gave step by step instructions with an inside look into the industry with cheats, tricks and tips. Mr. Erdman teaches with more inspiration than any teacher I have taken so far. A must take class.

I recently took Creative Astronomy for the Artist with Mr. Erdman and it was everything I had hoped it to be and more. His passion and enthusiasm for the subject matter made me look forward to every class. Each class had interesting topics, the class had fun assignments with a lot of creative leeway, and awesome field trip. 10/10

Took PH103 in fall '13( Mon 7-10pm) Only a handful of students, so you really get an intimate setting for higher learning. Prof Erdman is a straight shooter w/ incredible detail & now I am obsessed with photography. His guidance & personal wisdom is something I will keep forever! I am now shooting film successfully, based on what he taught me!

Excellent teacher! Respectful, knowledgeable, helpful, Direct, upfront, and dedicated. learned easily how to use a D-SLR and I'm proud I don't use manual mode anymore. Respect him and his class and he will return the respect back. He has so much more to offer than just teaching u photography, but also the businesses side of it, that's priceless!

Michael Erdman has been one of the few instructors that have impacted my life. I love it when I run into teachers that have high standards, it reminds me of my time in the military. He is professional, passionate and dedicated about his work. I highly recommend his classes and would take his class again if given the opportunity. Thank you!

One of the best instructors in Academy of Art University! This course is very well structured. Most importantly he is very objective, and not subjective when grading. This is especially rare in an Art University. I recommend everyone to take his class, and especially if you are interested in photography.

Mr. Erdman is very nice, helpful and clear with instructions. He had a concise syllabus with a week to week schedule ready on the first day. And he made learning how to use your camera easy using hands on methods.

Inspirational & passionate instructor. He genuinely looks forward to seeing the student work on critique days. On the 1st day of class, he provides a thorough class outline with all the class topics, assignment due dates, & guidelines for ALL projects. If you thoroughly read the project guidelines and follow them, you will do great! Fun class!

I would highly recommend the taking of his photography course at San Francisco's Academy of Art University. If there is a passion to be fed, this is one of the best starts one could have. The greatest asset a teacher could have going for them is that they lead by example.

He is very thorough in all aspects: his teachings, his assignments, and his grading. The syllabus is very detailed so even if you're absent, you know what is expected out of you and your homework. I like how he is aware of all different types of learning abilities and addresses them in his lectures and assignments.

Two of my favorite classes at AAU were Mr. Erdmans digital photography and astronomy classes. He is patient, dedicated and truly inspiring. He strives to help each student achieve full potential. High standards are expected, so attend each class session and complete homework on schedule. I recommend taking all of his classes. Wonderful teacher!

A little cheesy, but a great teacher. This class is very thorough, and he explains thing very clearly. You absolutely NEED the book, there's simply no way around it. He's such a nice guy, and I would recommend this class to anyone who is interested in learning more about photography and/or camera operation

Professor Michael Erdman's experience, knowledge and understanding of photography, technology and lighting, can be seen Light years away. His teaching style is thorough and detailed fit for any auditory, visual or tactile learner. His love for what he does is inspirational and he continuously help build confidence in those taking his class.

Had one of my best experiences at this school in this class. Mr. Erdman was a very supportive teacher and gave very clear instructions. It was a very clear class you do the work and you pass. He would give very good and clear feedback on how to do the assignments better for next time, advise that could also be used towards the next assignment.

Mr. Erdman is one of the best teachers I have ever met. His teachings have inspired me in many ways. I?m continuing my education now with confidence and a newfound freedom to explore. Great teacher, very professional.

He gives great lectures, not boring, giving you the important useful tips, very understanding and gives lots of opportunities to get extra credits

Mr. Erdman takes learning and appreciating photography to the next level. He has knowledge that you can't find in a textbook, and a teaching ethic that makes coming to class worth every minute. He takes pride in his craft, and expects the same from his students. He's one of the most inspirational people that's come across the Academy of Art staff.

Mr. Erdman is a wonderful teacher who is inspirational and very passionate about his work and passionate about motivating us on doing our best!

Michael Erdman guides his students from the most basic info to being fully competent using a DSLR manually; with amazing resources including a lecture with a slideshow presentation, hands on learning, and a textbook he produced himself. He is very caring and has clear expectations which holds students accountable positively. He made a huge impact.

Professor Erdman was my instructor for my very first photography class and I am really glad that I took his class. I learned a lot of fundamental knowledge and practiced those techniques during the semester. He is a patient and kind person. I would recommend him to other students for sure.

Mr. Erdman is a very professional photographer and teacher, which is reflected not only in the fact that his photography works always bring us inspiration but also in his clear sharing and teaching of knowledge and experience. I really appreciate his dedication and passion for this profession, and how much he cares about the students.