Just a regular photographer... How to improve?

02/21/2005 05:35:06 AM · #1

Hi guys,

After 2 years and 9 months, I think IÂ´m a just normal photographer. I know there are lots of fantastic photographers in that site. I also think IÂ´m improving my pics from the first day until now, but I think I need a little help of dpchallengeÂ´s users to improve it more and more. By this reason, I start this post to know how can I (and others photographers)improve my pics more and more.

I donÂ´t wanna win a ribbon (well, I think everybody wants that his work will be appreciate by others), I just want to improve my skills as an amateur photographer. But, I got the sensation IÂ´m in a point that I cannot improve it by myself.

Thanks in advance,

Alexis

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/21/2005 08:45:25 AM · #2

Not too much feedback!

Ecce_Signum

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/21/2005 08:58:19 AM · #3

Alexis, just had a look at your profile/stats. Maybe people missed your question? you are not a novice looking for help, imho you are already an 'accomplished' fotog in that you know how to use the camera to get specific results 5.4 as an average is decent (is is not). I understand what you mean about 'stepping up' another level but don't think you get that from somebody writing a tutorial here (but happy to be corrected). Maybe you should go off, find a physical mentor and carve a style for yourself?
Good look to you, I hope to ask a similar question in a year or so!

roonie

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/21/2005 08:58:28 AM · #4

Alexis,

I am in the same boat that you are in. The feedback I am receiving from challenges is very helpful.

My goal this year is to step up my photography skills a notch. I just bought a Digital Rebel; maybe that will help?

The things that seem to be helping is to select great photographers from this site and try to mimick them. Books from the library have also been very helpful.

Regards,
Ann

gloda

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/21/2005 08:59:02 AM · #5

Win a ribbon!

roonie

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/21/2005 09:00:27 AM · #6

Alexis,

BTW... Your photos are awesome! My goal this year is to get my pics at least half as good as yours.

Ann

AndrewTO

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

02/21/2005 09:11:04 AM · #7

Originally posted by Alexys:

Alexis,

welcome to the club. I am going through exactly the same period of doubts and re-evaluations. Am I a good photographer ? Can I be ? I think I have already learnt quite a bit owing to DPC and I am here to stay for a while. Look, I saw your pics in your portfolio and they are pretty good, or so I think. So I guess we just have to keep at it, work at it, find what works for us, what type of photography we are good at and work on developing our own unique style and taste.
That is what counts.

MichaelC

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary

02/21/2005 09:29:43 AM · #8

What makes you think you are not already a good photographer? Ask yourself by what standard are you rating yourself.

You may have to be a good photog to consistantly win ribbons, but you don't have to win ribbons in order to be a good photog:)

Maybe you are a good photog that just wants to be better...something we all want.

02/21/2005 10:49:26 AM · #9

Originally posted by apschorr:

Alexis,

BTW... Your photos are awesome! My goal this year is to get my pics at least half as good as yours.

Ann

Thanks for your kind words about my pics. Sure, youÂ´ll improve your work in this site. I didnÂ´t shot until I was in that site and I was improving my pics thanks to the dpcÂ´s users.

02/21/2005 10:51:38 AM · #10

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

Do you want to be my mentor? I was looking your entries and there are lots of fantastic pics.

TooCool

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/21/2005 10:58:01 AM · #11

Please don't base your opinion on your own work by how it scores on DPC. If you do, you may be setting yourself up for dissapointment. If you like your work and others like your work (and from what I see here, they do!) that's all that matters in the end, isn't it? BTW 5.46 isn't a bad average at all, you're basically tied with me... :-P

02/21/2005 11:00:44 AM · #12

Originally posted by TooCool:

Ron: I donÂ´t base my opinion in my average score. I think itÂ´s not important. As you say the most important is that youÂ´ll be glad about your work. IÂ´m glad on it. But, I got the sensation IÂ´m in a point that I wanna grow up as a photographer. Just do something better.

TooCool

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/21/2005 11:10:07 AM · #13

Originally posted by Alexys:

What are your interests outside of photography? One of mine is Arcitecture. Some of my best IMHO and best scoring here are architectural in nature. Shoot what you love...

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

02/21/2005 11:11:33 AM · #14

Originally posted by TooCool:

Originally posted by Alexys:
Ron: I donÂ´t base my opinion in my average score. I think itÂ´s not important. As you say the most important is that youÂ´ll be glad about your work. IÂ´m glad on it. But, I got the sensation IÂ´m in a point that I wanna grow up as a photographer. Just do something better.

What are your interests outside of photography? One of mine is Arcitecture. Some of my best IMHO and best scoring here are architectural in nature. Shoot what you love...

Probably, this is one of my biggest problem. I usually donÂ´t shot similar things. I donÂ´t have my "subject".

LEONJR

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

02/21/2005 11:27:19 AM · #15

Originally posted by guroos:

I really have to say i agree with this what makes you thinkg you are not already good? what standards are you rating yourself, because i think iam going through something like this to.....

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/21/2005 11:39:28 AM · #16

Alexys,

I have been looking closely at your images, and I have found one area on which I believe you may profitably focus:

Your images show fine sensitivity to color and composition, and are technically always competent and soemtimes very fine, but what I see missing is an "awareness of light"... Not "missing" exactly, but you could heighten that awareness. To take your photography to the next level, try becoming more tuned in to the perfect light for the particular image.

The only way you can do this (outside of studio setups) is by viewing every scene you might shoot and asking yourself, "At what time of day/year should I return to make this image truly special?"

Feel free to email me (address on my profile) if you wish to discuss this at greater length.

Robt.

Prof_Fate

02/21/2005 11:41:30 AM · #17

Try reading books on composition - how to see and arrange things and use color.
try reading books on lighting - how to see it and use it.
learn the technical aspects of taking pictures, the mechancis of DOF, the way differeent lenses do things.

Now take all that input, go take 20,000 a few at a time and use them as feedback to learn and make the eye and brain and camera act as one seemless thing...

I have found that to improve i need knowledge. Once i have that info read/seen/taught i need to practice and implement it.

If I could concentrate on one style of photography at a time I might get better faster. In the past week I have read 2 photomagazines, 1 book and am reading a second book(on macro photography). i have played in a studio with strobes (for the first time) and set up my studio with some strobes, and gotten some extension tubes for macro work and taken a few portrait shots (studio and environmental). IO have also tried shooting in RAW and RAW workflow for the first time. It feels like cramming for finals and then taking the test! My score right now is C, maybe C+.

I have learned that Strobes beat hot lights - no comparison. I now need to learn control of those lights. See me next week on the macro stuff. RAW certainly has benefits. Now to decide when to use RAW and when JPG is suffiicent or better.

At some point all this input and practice will come together and I emerge a proficient (and creative?) photographer.

02/21/2005 12:03:06 PM · #18

Yes, youÂ´re totally right. One of the biggest problem I got with taking pics is lighting. I donÂ´t have lamps and sometimes I donÂ´t use good sunlight. IÂ´m looking some information into Internet to improve lighting in my pics.

Originally posted by bear_music:

Prof_Fate

02/21/2005 12:48:45 PM · #19

//www.lightingmagic.com/
//www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-one-category?topic_id=1550&category=Portrait%2C%20Lighting
//multipart-mixed.com/photo/external_flash.html
and this site is a wealth of information
//www.luminous-landscape.com/contents/index.shtml