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06/28/2002 01:16:52 PM · #1 |
I thought I'd start a thread asking folks "if you could make just one recommendation to newb shooters (aka: me), what would it be?"
I'll kick it off with "use a tripod/monopod". Handheld shots, especially in low light or zoomed, tend to be less than sharp.
Any other ideas? |
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06/28/2002 01:21:44 PM · #2 |
| My suggestion would be to buy Adobe Photoshop Elements and learn how to use it. |
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06/28/2002 01:29:26 PM · #3 |
| How about an extra memory card if you don't have one already? Ditto a CD burner. |
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06/28/2002 01:32:09 PM · #4 |
Learn to shoot in black and white!!
Black and white photography teaches the basics of contrast, lighting, composition, focus, dof, etc etc without the confusion that color creates in the learning process.
If you can get great black and white photos I predict you will be able to handle color MUCH easier. |
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06/28/2002 01:54:55 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by hokie:
Learn to shoot in black and white!!
Black and white photography teaches the basics of contrast, lighting, composition, focus, dof, etc etc without the confusion that color creates in the learning process.
If you can get great black and white photos I predict you will be able to handle color MUCH easier.
I agree with everything except your prediction, which is not necessarily true.
About 10% of males have some kind of color vision defect; mine is a common "red-green" type. When editing photos, I tend to look at images "as if" they were B&W -- when I was learning scanning, one teacher suggested putting the monitor (not the file) into grayscale mode when adjusting tone/contrast. Of course, I sometimes end up with weird stuff like this: original, grayscale, or "colorized" (the one I submitted). |
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06/28/2002 02:01:11 PM · #6 |
My suggestion would be to study your camera... learn all of the features it has and what they do. After you have done this, take sample photos playing with all the settings so that you can see what difference the settings make.
Having full command of your camera is the basis for being able to use it to its potential.
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06/28/2002 02:21:50 PM · #7 |
| Get Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and go through the tutorials. Then get an extra set of batteries and an extra memory card or two for your camera and start shooting. Use all the settings, then when you see how they look in your imaging program, check the EXIF data and find out why they did or didn't turn out the way you expected. Experiment with white balance settings and exposure compensation. Also use different metering methods (spot, matrix, everything your camera offers). The basic idea is you don't have to pay for film, and your camera is small enough to take everywhere. Shoot, Shoot, Shoot. Then analyze, analyze, analyze. That's the best way to improve. |
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06/28/2002 02:23:09 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by myqyl:
I thought I'd start a thread asking folks "if you could make just one recommendation to newb shooters (aka: me), what would it be?"
I'll kick it off with "use a tripod/monopod". Handheld shots, especially in low light or zoomed, tend to be less than sharp.
Any other ideas?
Bring lots of batteries and lots of media and shoot lots of pictures. Always carry your camera and shoot lots of pictures.
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06/28/2002 03:37:58 PM · #9 |
I have four suggestions.
1. Read
2. Read
3. Read
4. Shoot all you can.
Subscribe to Popular Photography, Shutterbug, Photographic, eDigitalPhoto.com
Buy books, or go to the library. Do not get books that only cover digital. Go ahead and get film books too, those are the results most of us are trying to emulate.
"Basic Techniques of Photography: an Ansel Adams Guide" is one of the best.
Also buy a book on Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
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06/28/2002 04:31:11 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Zeissman:
Also buy a book on Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
I have Photoshop Elements Solutions by Mikkel Aaland, who is the professional photographer Adobe worked with while designing Elements. Aside from general tips on digital photos, he has chapters on improving portraits, landscapes, product shots, and panoramas. He also talks about optimizing images for the web and printing. Some of the stuff won't help here, since it involves spot editing, but I have learned a lot from the book.
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06/28/2002 05:34:27 PM · #11 |
| I would add that light is everything to photography (well, nearly so). Learn to control lighting, even when using natural light. You can fill with a reflector, soften with a diffuser, add light with fill flash, focus with a snoot, disperse with a comb, soften with an umbrella or a softbox, etc. |
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06/28/2002 06:02:58 PM · #12 |
Only one tip? Ok. Execute with patience. Plain and simple. I've learned that you can accomplish much more and do it much better by simply exercising patience. Breath easy, slow down and take one step at a time. Understand fully what you just did so you can learn and remember it and then go on to the next thing. If you rush to try to learn something you are likely to only end up confused.
Tim
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06/28/2002 07:23:51 PM · #13 |
Take the time to learn how to use your camera's features. In my opinion, it is the best way of learing how to take better photographs.
Once you're comfortable with your camera then learn an image editing program (ie. photoshop). These programs can't help you take better photos, they can only enhance (or worsen) them.
Like Zeissman said, READ! |
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06/28/2002 08:46:27 PM · #14 |
My advice would be to NOT be in a hurry to know it all...
I have been growing orchids indoors, underlights for 20 years and remember well as a new-b a saying in a specialist book that went something like: With the hobby of growing orchids, you are considered a "beginner" for the first twelve years...
Just enjoy the adventure no matter what level. (A little kid hitting his first home run gets just as much satisfaction as the pro hitting his first thousand) |
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06/28/2002 09:24:33 PM · #15 |
All of the above plus -
HAVE FUN AND ENJOY!!!!
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06/28/2002 10:45:12 PM · #16 |
| Start going to art galleries. Look up famous photographers, the history of photography, the history of art. Read about artistic principles, especially composition. Seriously, once you've seen what other people have created and you've been exposed to some images that combat all the advertising you're fed every minute of every day, you'll start to see things that you might not have thought of photographing before. There's a creative side to yourself that you can tap really directly with a digital camera that a lot of people aren't finding on this site. I'm not saying I've found it, but I get really swept away by the people who have :) |
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