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02/19/2008 02:07:41 PM · #1 |
Well besides the obvious practice practice pracitce..... But Im sure Im not the only one out there in the smae place that I feel I am....
I feel like I have a fair amount of talent with a camera but I could know it better. I can use my manual settings, but Im not skilled enough to truly manipulate my image with that (d.o.f. ...etc)
Then theres my photoshop skills. I used to design basic covers for independnt dvd's I have taken graphic design courses but the finer points of photoshop seem to elude me. I can use levels and curves to balence my shots out but I can never really achieve anything that I would consider stunning.
Are there any websites out there, books etc. a mean of teaching myself without having to go for classes that anyone would recomend for either front of my issues. I feel like I have plataued at the level I am at and need a little push to get over this hump to get to the next level.
Thanks in advance
-Debbie
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02/19/2008 02:16:36 PM · #2 |
| a place to start might be the New York Insistute of Photography. you do all the classes at home... also joining a local photo club... and also looking out of DPC get togethers... you can learn alot from other people. |
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02/19/2008 02:19:01 PM · #3 |
Books that have terrific tips and tricks:
I often refer to these two books, especially the first one.
ΓΆ€ΒΆ How To Wow: Photoshop for Photography by Jack Davis
ΓΆ€ΒΆ The Art of Photoshop for Digital Photographers by Daniel Giordan
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02/19/2008 02:31:56 PM · #4 |
Vote and comment on a lot of photos. After the challenges, ask the photographers how they did it on photos you really like.
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02/19/2008 02:33:25 PM · #5 |
I'm not one to sit and read a book on photography or editing, I'd rather just pick up the camera and get started. But here are a few ideas I thought of...
Look at other people's photos and try to find what you like and don't like about each shot. Not only are you helping yourself learn and grow, but if you leave a comment, you're helping the photographer too!
Open up some photos and just play around with them in Photoshop. Don't aim for a final product for a challenge... try different things with no editing restrictions. It's been a while since a photo was put up here for editing, but PPChallenge is another place to practice your editing skills!
Try reading some of the tutorials here, or even some of the old threads which discuss lighting, editing etc. You might find some new techniques there!
Get involved in a side challenge! There are usually a few per month, and they're a great way to get yourself out shooting, editing, and commenting! Here are a few I see so far for March:
A month of blending modes
A month of macros
March shoot/comment challenge: Unnatural Light
Find a Photoshop podcast you can watch...there are tons of them out there. Sometimes listening to/seeing someone go through editing steps is more helpful than just playing around on your own. |
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02/19/2008 02:53:49 PM · #6 |
The two things that I've learned the most from in the shortest amount of time...
* Take someone else's picture, and try to recreate it. For me, it was the most recent Deja Vu challenge that got me started on this. I picked  , because it looked easy, and was made up of apples, which were easy to come by. It wasn't so easy. I spent 2 weeks trying to get it right, and missed the entry deadline for the challenge. But, once I finally got it, I had learned an immense amount about lighting, DOF, and field of view of different focal lengths, and even how to get the little droplets to stick on the apple.
* Take a subject, and get good at shooting it. I'm currently doing this with the stop-motion hummingbirds. I took a bird photography class, learned the basics of how to do it, and have been practicing and trying different things in my backyard ever since. In the process of doing this, besides learning how to do stop-motion photography, I've learned a lot of more general stuff about lighting. |
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02/19/2008 02:57:42 PM · #7 |
| Excellent example, Ann. I think that is a photo that at first glance looks like it would be easy to recreate, but I'm sure the reality is a different story. |
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02/19/2008 03:29:24 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by citymars:
Excellent example, Ann. I think that is a photo that at first glance looks like it would be easy to recreate, but I'm sure the reality is a different story. |
Indeed. There were several different problems that had to be solved. The first problem was the framing. To get the front apple to fill 1/4 of the frame required the front apple to be very close to the lens. The only way to get this to work was to use a macro lens, or a wide angle lens with a lot of cropping. With a macro lens, the aperture needed to be set to about f/38 to get the front apple completely in focus, and the back apples needed to be about 10 feet behind the front one to have the right perspective. With a wide angle, I had trouble finding a smooth green background that was large enough. In either case, it was hard to get the back fruit to line up with the front, because it was so far away. I learned a lot about focal length, field of view, and DOF from this single photo.
Once I had the DOF and field of view problems solved, then there was the lighting to deal with. The light in Giorgio's shot is both hard enough to have distinct shadows, but soft enough to not have harsh shadows or blown out spots on the apples. Recreating this in my basement was a challenge, especially since my aperture was at f/38, and it was hard just to get enough light.
Then there's the problem with the water, which wouldn't bead up on my shiny American apples.... |
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02/19/2008 03:36:38 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by nlghttrain:
Well besides the obvious practice practice pracitce..... But Im sure Im not the only one out there in the smae place that I feel I am.... |
Find something (that isn't photography) that you care about passionately. Take pictures that explore and explain that passion. Take lots of pictures. Focus on it for a couple of years. See where you are then. Go deep.
Bouncing around between themes, ideas and subjects on a weekly or photo by photo basis will keep you at the same level for a long time.
Message edited by author 2008-02-19 15:38:40.
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