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06/28/2008 12:32:05 PM · #1 |
I feel a bit overwhelmed whenever I see the quality of images on dpchallenge. Can you all give me your tips on how to become a good photographer like many of you here? There's so much (too much) to learn I don't know where to start. I'm reading up more on lighting on strobist. What else? Practice? I think I have a decent eye but execution is what's lacking. There are so many ways to set up,execute a shot but I don't know how.
Any tips appreciated. Thank you. |
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06/28/2008 12:51:18 PM · #2 |
| Practice and look at other photographers pictures that you like and try to emulate them. |
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06/28/2008 12:52:38 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by t3nchi:
I feel a bit overwhelmed whenever I see the quality of images on dpchallenge. Can you all give me your tips on how to become a good photographer like many of you here? There's so much (too much) to learn I don't know where to start. I'm reading up more on lighting on strobist. What else? Practice? I think I have a decent eye but execution is what's lacking. There are so many ways to set up,execute a shot but I don't know how.
Any tips appreciated. Thank you. |
Practice, submit photos, and get feedback. Make it a habit to submit to at least one main challenge per week. In addition, join one of the side challenges every month. Be prepared to take your lumps from comments/scores -- within 3-6 months you will notice a big improvement.
Also, for the challenges you do enter, make sure you look closely at what everyone else did with the same topic, in particular those that made the top 20th percentile or so, that can be tremendously informative.
Good luck! |
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06/28/2008 12:55:03 PM · #4 |
| It's hard to answer in general. You're a full bona fide member -- post more stuff to your portfolio and ask for feedback on individual shots. If you're not sure where to start, find some shots you like, and try to do something similar -- or exactly like them. A lot of my inspiration comes from viewing other people's shots here. |
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06/28/2008 12:59:13 PM · #5 |
Practice is the number 1 thing to do. On top of that, read blogs (mine for instance). tutorials and so on, and ask for feedback on your shots.
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06/28/2008 01:20:59 PM · #6 |
What the others said is so true given their average score is well above 5. I am just below 5 and I think soon I'll be in the average 5 range soon - HOW?
1. enter the challenges
2. ask questions and you'll make friends. Some folks around here delight in helping out - either commenting, encouraging or even explaining some editing technique.
3. the side challenges really keep you in the game and it's always so encouraging from the group.
BTW - you'll flip when you get your first 6! |
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06/28/2008 01:41:26 PM · #7 |
Take a lot of pictures and see what works and what does not. As previously said, pay attention to how others approach similar subjects. My local flickr group does meetups about once a month and it is educational to see how different people approach exactly the same subject and come away with different pictures:
  
Get a capable photo editing program. (It does not have to be Photo$hop, there are other good and capable apps, some of them free) First, learn some basic adjustments that will make a big improvement. I suggest straightening tilt, levels, curves, sharpening, cropping appropriately, and saving with the right combination of compression and file size. (If you enter a shot that shows excessive compression artifacts, that Spiff guy will leave a comment about it)
Have a thick skin when entering challenges. Remember that the closer to a 5 you score, the less likely you are to get any helpful comments. If you cannot figure out why a shot did worse than you thought, ask for input in the forums after the challenge is over.
Comment on others photos when you vote. At first you may feel awkward about being critical of photos that may be better than your own, but this will help you develop an understanding of what works and you can them apply it to your own photography.
Message edited by author 2008-06-28 13:43:47. |
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06/28/2008 01:44:44 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by dsterner:
BTW - you'll flip when you get your first 6! |
I spent about 4 years lurking online here until I submitted my first image. my third submission scored over a 6 and still is my highest scoring image to date. My best tip for you would be to be to either borrow an all manual film camera or turn your camera to all manual and turn off the review screen. Don't shoot in this daily cause its to slow and awkward but do it so that you really grasp what different combos of shutter speed and aperature do.
After you understand those concepts in manual switch to P mode. I'm not sure if nikon's is the same as canons but it allows you to roll the wheel and the shutter speed/aperature shuffle maintaining proper exposure while you control the depth of field and how much motion is stopped.
Above all though find a mentor that can teach you in person. If not that then please feel free to just ask questions on this site almost everyone here will jump at the chance to help out. Or PM a photographer you like and ask how they went about a certain shot.
Good Luck! |
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06/28/2008 02:17:30 PM · #9 |
Just do it! But don't do what I do cuz it don't work. :)
I've been doing photography for 40+ years and the best advice I can offer you is to learn as much as you can about art. All kinds of art, but mainly the visual arts. The things that make a drawing or painting look good are the same things that make a photo look good. You can know all about the technical aspects of photography, but if you don't have an artistic eye then you're just someone pushing a button on a camera.
Mick
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06/28/2008 02:20:51 PM · #10 |
| Shoot, shoot, and shoot. But remember to try new things, even if you're not sure how it will turn out - you may be surprised at what happens. |
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06/28/2008 02:36:28 PM · #11 |
The only way to become a 'Good' photographer is to shoot what you enjoy.
The way to become a 'Great' photographer is to enjoy what you shoot.
Which, to this is very personal and subjective.
Other peoples enjoyment is just bonus.
Sucks when they don't.
But it has not.
Stopped me.
Yet.
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06/28/2008 03:00:41 PM · #12 |
When you look through the viewfinder look at everything, not just your subject.
How many times have you seen (or taken) what was nearly a great shot but was marred by, for example, a light pole "growing" from the subject's head because it wasn't noticed in shooting?
Take time to make things as right as you can before you shoot, when and where possible.
Yeah, you can often fix it later in Photoshop, but why spend the time if you don't have to? And if you end up with that great shot to sell to AP or Reuters you won't be allowed to Photoshop it. |
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06/28/2008 05:01:37 PM · #13 |
| Thanks for all the responses so far. And I always welcome more tips. I just became a member here so I can participate in member challenges (not limited to just the Open ones) |
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06/28/2008 05:54:46 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by dsterner:
BTW - you'll flip when you get your first 6! |
That was a good day for me. It was a shot I made while trying to evade my in-laws on Christmas day. A nice Christmas gift indeed, especially as it hovered around 5.9 and lower most of that week.
I think persistence does pay off around here. |
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06/28/2008 05:56:37 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by bvy:
Originally posted by dsterner:
BTW - you'll flip when you get your first 6! |
I think persistence does pay off around here. |
INDEED! |
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06/28/2008 06:24:35 PM · #16 |
| After a short string of 6's you'll think you have it nailed, and will be brought back to reality by a some low 5's and 4's. Then there are those folks here that make it look easy, and are doing poorly if they haul in a low 6. |
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06/28/2008 10:31:49 PM · #17 |
You can also peruse other sites to see ideas that you might like to try. My last entry I got the idea from another picture, but it somehow got lost in the conveyance. I was hoping for more feedback that said more about technique on it, but I also never posted to ask for opinions. Anyway, don't let the pics here discourage you. I have learned much from the site and have also done a number of side projects in real life. Dp gave me some incentive to try to bring my photos to the world, and I have locally. Don't think I would have if not for dp.
Some sites I have looked at include Better Photo, Eyefetch, Flickr, OneExposure, PBase, just to name a few. These are some of the more active sites with a higher quality style. They will give you many ideas until you begin to develop your own interests and style.
As to style, this is where many folks get discouraged. Keep this in mind. You are seeing hundreds of photos a week. Most are not by the same people. You have it in you to find the subject that speaks of who you are, and it will be agreeable to the majority. So don't give up. See what you have available to you. If you don't have built in landscapes or animal sanctuaries, try something else. I am still searching for the subject that finds its way into the hearts of dp. I hope it is in me, but so many other sites have lifted me and built my morale, that I still am pretty confident in my own style. Have fun and keep on refining and trying. |
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06/28/2008 11:23:25 PM · #18 |
Learn about light.
And shoot EVERYTHING. If everyone close to you isn't sick of seeing your camera, you're not shooting enough ;) |
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06/28/2008 11:37:12 PM · #19 |
Have a look at the DPC tutorials. There's some great stuff in there.
And then (as everyone's already mentioned) go out and practice, practice, practice!
Start entering challenges ASAP - it wasn't until I started entering challenges here that I really started learning. The challenges make you think way outside of your box - and find things that you'd never shoot normally.
Oh yeah - and most important... HAVE FUN ! |
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06/28/2008 11:43:11 PM · #20 |
Don't ever give up. Set your goals and learn what you need to learn to achieve them. "A Good Photographer" is a bit broad. What do you want to shoot? Do you want to be a good portrait photographer? Study portrait photography and photographers. Do you want to be a good landscape photographer? Study those things. You need direction, find it, then follow it like there is not tomorrow! :)
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06/28/2008 11:48:41 PM · #21 |
idnic, i think that's what i need to do. find what it is i want to focus on shooting.
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06/28/2008 11:53:29 PM · #22 |
First off. Watch this.
Realize, it's not really about your photoshop abilities, it's about your planning. Good photographers don't take pictures, they make them. There's a lot of preplanning involved.
No, go make a picture. |
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06/29/2008 12:57:48 AM · #23 |
For what I shoot, work with good people. I'm very dependent on my team and my subjects. In turn, I need to be clear with my direction and vision in order to get everyone on the same page. Things like lighting, equipment, and technique do matter, but ultimately there are bigger things to worry about when it comes to creating images. Enjoy and don't lose sight of what's important.
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06/29/2008 01:22:06 AM · #24 |
I'm not in this for the money, and I just carry my camera and shoot everything that I see that catches my eye. I have learned a lot about what to look for while composing, and by shooting a lot, how to get the effect and light to be as good as I can make it for that shot. I sometimes return to a scene that don't change much, and shoot it at a different time of day to get better light.
I have a little studio experience with my brother back in B D (before digital,) so I can't help you with how to light a subject with artificial light. I do use fill flash once in a while.
One thing that I can tell you for sure is that if you get the new equipment bug, your budget will be toast. I spend an average of $25 to 50 a week on lenses ect.
Look, and try to figure out how the shots here that you like so much were done. Begin with the "Basic" and "Classic" editing challenge photos, so that you will have a realistic idea about what can be done with the basic editing tools that you need to learn first.
And, all the things that the other members have said in this thread. It's a big ball of string to unravel photography, and to get to the true nut of the whole thing. I feel that the art part of it is all about connecting with other people at a conscious or subconscious level thru your images.
A side challenge is a great confidence booster, as well as an excellent way to get a lot of feedback about your images while you develop your style. Comment as much as you can, and you will receive comments in return.
Most of all, find a style and theme that suits your passion, and zero in on honing your skills with that style.
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06/29/2008 01:34:24 AM · #25 |
As Henri Cartier-Bresson said, "your first 10000 frames are your worst."
Shoot lots, make mistakes, and shoot more. It all comes down to practice and experience. |
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