How do I start out? - DPChallenge Forums

Konica Minolta MF 85mm f/1.7

10/18/2005 01:51:15 AM · #1

I'd value anybody's thoughts and suggestions, about how I should start out.

I'm a brand newbie, registered yesterday, after lurking around DPC for about 2 months, and reading all I can from the experienced experts here, and on their respective websites. I've particularly been inspired by Roadrunner, Sher9204, and Jacko, and many others here.

I only have a little Canon Ixus 40 digicam, not much bigger than a credit card, but hope to upgrade that to a Nikon D50 in December (is that a good choice? The price is appealing, and the description seems good)

I'd like to know your thoughts about how I get going? Should I just start taking photographs with my existing digicam, and testing the results, trying to "read the light" and see pictures where they may exist, while awaiting my new camera in a few months' time? Should I go to photography nightclasses, to learn something more formal and theoretical? Should I do a Photoshop course (I have version 7, and have been learing quite nicely by myself)?

How should I go about organising the "digital archive", database? Do I save everything? Do I save them by date, subject, file size, or via a formal database program (eg Thumbsplus)?

I know I have a long way to go, but am so enthusiastic, to discover and learn. Roadrunner, I found your rapid ascent up the learning curve really encouraging to me. I'll take it slower, but cant wait, and just want to get anybody's thoughts on where to from here.

briantammy

Olympus PEN E-P3

10/18/2005 01:54:01 AM · #2

hi, welcome,
just start taking pics and post them here. Let others help you and you'll be in deep in no time.

ubique

Olympus PEN-F

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko

10/18/2005 01:57:49 AM · #3

Hi Jeremy & welcome. I did just like you (I think most of us did) ... lurk around a bit, then have a go and learn on the fly! Don't wait for the new camera; lots of wonderful photos have been taken here with relatively simple cameras. I don't know about the Nikon D50, but I imagine it's good. I started with an Olympus compact camera, then bought a Canon 350D (which I can recommend ... great value for money, too). Roadrunner is my neice, & she's away today, but I will send her an email alerting her to your forum thread & she will reply to you in person tomorrow. Cheers & best wishes. Please don't take it too seriously ... just have a go and have fun. You can't fail to learn!

taterbug

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

10/18/2005 03:10:32 AM · #4

Hi Jeremy! Welcome aboard.
It sounds like you are already off to a good start, (hanging out here and finding some work you like and studying it).
I definitely agree, don't wait to start taking pics. Take 'em. Take lots of 'em! The worst that can happen is you'll hit your delete button a lot :-) You don't have to have top notch equipment to start learning. No matter what kind of camera you have, you still need to choose interesting subjects, and understand composition, perspective, point of view, etc. You can start learning about light and exposure, how it effects your shots.

This is an awesome place to learn about photography. There are a lot of folks here with a LOT of talent, and a lot of people that are very willing AND able to be helpful and share their knowledge. Dive into the forums, don't be afraid to ask questions, browse the photos here, and don't be afraid to comment on them. Simply point out things you like about images. Also, the tutorial section (under Learn on the bar across the home page) has a lot of great info.

Have fun and enjoy the journey :-)

MAK

Leica CL

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

10/18/2005 03:15:47 AM · #5

Good choice with the NIKON D50 its a great little camera.
Welcome to adictive paradise, avoid the button at all costs.

When starting out it is advised to shoot eberything, everyone, everyday, get on peoples nerves until they scream at you "STOP WITH THAT DAMN CAMERA ALREADY!!!"then you would of mastered it and be ready for the Nikon AND the dreaded update button.. have fun.

Nuno

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/18/2005 03:38:40 AM · #6

I must say that DPC is the best photographic school that I ever saw. Great companinship and excellent teatchers. What I know 80% I've learned here.

dr rick

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

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

10/18/2005 03:48:38 AM · #7

To get started with photography, do two things:

1. Take lots of photos and evaluate them. Ask yourself how well they matched your expectations and why or why not.

2. Look at lots of photos that interest you. Let me rephrase; look deeply at lots of photos that intrigue you. Ask yourself what makes them affect you so.

The introspection is important to get beyond taking snapshots and expressing yourself through photography. A photography class can be very helpful both for getting comfortable with the technical aspects and (if it's a decent class) starting to learn the deeper subject of creative expression. Something else that can be very helpful is critiquing other people's photos (note that's different from critizing!).

And keep in mind that it's the photographer, not the camera, that makes good photographs. A high end camera can allow some techniques not possible on low end ones, but it won't make good photographs by itself! The IXUS 40 isn't as popular as others among DPC members, but it has won a ribbon!

Click on the camera name underneath your name to the left of one of your posts to see other photos on the site taken with that camera.

To get started with DPChallenge, there are a couple of important things to do:

1. Be sure the date is set correctly on your camera. I can't emphasize that enough; many excellent photos have been disqualified because the camera's date was wrong. Check it frequently.

2. Be sure to save a pristine, untouched copy of each straight-from-the-camera photo you enter into a challenge. Again, many excellent photos have been disqualified because this was not done.

3. Don't get discouraged by low scores. Voters don't always appreciate the finer points of photos while voting, especially when they only take 2 seconds to make the judgement. There are thousands of great photos on the site with only mediocre ratings.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

10/18/2005 06:57:37 AM · #8

I'm overwhelmed by the kind support from all who replied...thankyou very much. I have read and re-read each comment, and will try hard to heed each bit of advice.
In my enthusiasm, I've come home from work, and gone straight to get my camera, and gone into the garden to take something to get me going.
I dont have a macro lens, but got close enough, even in the fading light of the dusk, to get this shot. I've rotated and cropped and applied adjustments to levels, contrast and saturation, and saved for web.
I may well be breaking all sorts of rules, but at least I'm having fun, looking and learning. Thanks everybody.

PS --Oops, now I dont know how to attach it to this message. Help please!

Falc

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

10/18/2005 07:25:18 AM · #9

Upload your image into your portfolio (under the 'My Home' menu option). When its in your portfolio you will see an image id number - copy it to the clipboard.

When you want to post it in the forum then use the right hand button (insert thumbnail) button on the top of the 'Post Reply' dialog. Paste the image reference number in there.

Hope that helps

Oh and welcome to DPC - enjoy yourself and remember to ignore the trolls ;-)

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

10/18/2005 07:30:13 AM · #10

Originally posted by Falc:

Upload your image into your portfolio (under the 'My Home' menu option). When its in your portfolio you will see an image id number - copy it to the clipboard.

Registered users don't have a portfolio.

I'd suggest uploading it to photobucket.com or similar, and posting the links here.

Falc

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

10/18/2005 08:01:05 AM · #11

Originally posted by jhonan:

Originally posted by Falc:
Upload your image into your portfolio (under the 'My Home' menu option). When its in your portfolio you will see an image id number - copy it to the clipboard.

Registered users don't have a portfolio.

I'd suggest uploading it to photobucket.com or similar, and posting the links here.

Ahh didn't spot that one, its been a while since I was 'registered' ;-)
Thanks

In that case when you have an image on photobucket or pbase or wherever, then use the 4th icon in the 'Post Reply' dialog and enter the URL of your image.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/18/2005 08:10:43 AM · #12

Will do. Thanks again, for all the advice.

suemack

Canon EOS-20D

10/18/2005 08:27:04 AM · #13

Hi Jeremy, Welcome to one of the most interesting places to learn more about photography. If you hang round here, join in and participate in the challenges, the forums, posting images for comments and critiques and commenting you can't help but learn......and have a whole lot of fun at the same time!!!

My first experience with dpc was asking for some help with editing a photo for a friend. I was overwhelmed with the friendly, helpful response.