Novice - How do I take more 'professional' shots?

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/20/2006 09:39:34 AM · #1

Hi all,

Great site...love the challenges and forums. I've always had a creative side and liked photography, but never really learned enough about it. I recently got the Olympus E-500 as a gift and want to take up photography as a serious hobby. However, the more i look at all of the galleries on this site, the more puzzled I become. My shots always seem to have the snapshot look whereas everything I see on here has such a professional/artistic flair to it.

I really like nature/landscape shots, and want to be able to take those dramatic shots with amazing skies, clouds, etc., but again, all of my stuff always seems so bland.

I guess I'm just looking for some guidance here. Do I just need to learn more about how to manipulate all of the settings on my camera? Do I need more equipment (tripod, filters, etc), or am I just bad?

If anyone could offer some advice it would be appreciated. I can send/post some pics I've taken and explain the effect I was hoping for, and then maybe it'd be easier to comment on what to try next time.

Again, any help would be appreciated. I'm excited about my new camera but afraid that it's going to waste because I just don't know what I'm doing.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

03/20/2006 09:44:10 AM · #2

Wow, volumes of books couldn't do justice to this question but here in a nutshell are a few tips... I'm sure you'll get loads more.

... It's all about exceptionally good light. It's not about equipment, I've got great landscape shots from a little point and shoot. Dawn and sunset are your best times, but you have to spend some effort getting to some great locations for these times.

... Composition is important, *everything* in your shot should contribute something to it. Use rule of thirds. Use foreground as well as background in your landscape shots.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

03/20/2006 09:46:53 AM · #3

Reaching a professional level definitely requires making your way through a tough learning curve, but its totally do-able if you:

1 - practice practice practice
2 - find pictures you like and try to emulate them (for the learning experience
3 - read everything you can get your hands on. Books, magazines, websites (you could startt with the LEARN tutorials on this site, but the web is packed full with helpful information.)

You don't need more equipment to make better shots, just more knowledge and practice.

JayWalk

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/20/2006 09:47:24 AM · #4

That's a VERY open ended questions. My suggestion would be to just start by devoting a lot of time to reading all you can either in these forums or other online sites. You'll be amazed at the amount of stuff that you never even knew... that you didn't know (huh?)

Also another good this to do is to try to practice replicating some of the shots that you like. By doing this you can ask more specific questions about how to get certain aspects to look more like the original.

And finally... learning photoshop will help.

edit: or I could just let idnic speak for me! :)

Message edited by author 2006-03-20 09:47:56.

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

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

03/20/2006 09:52:17 AM · #5

Another suggestion is to pay attention to your backgrounds. Snapshots often have cluttered backgrounds; well-composed photographs are typically cleaner and/or more well thought out.

Do you have any of your photographs posted anywhere? If so, could you post links to them?

Thanks,
Terry

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

03/20/2006 09:53:55 AM · #6

[quote=PSUlion01]
I really like nature/landscape shots, and want to be able to take those dramatic shots with amazing skies, clouds, etc., but again, all of my stuff always seems so bland.
[quote]

Well, for landscape: first thing I would get is a polarizer filter and practice using that, and remember that it will be more dramatic used at 90 degrees to the sun. Use of one can increase the effects of clouds and sky a lot. It REALLY works in scenes with pure air quality, sometimes in more urban areas with some smog, it cuts through the "haze" only to reveal the brown smog more. Take a look through the landscapes section here under photos/galleries and study the photos that you really like there as far as composition, dramatic lighting, etc. I find that andscapes usually take on more dramatic effects in the morning and late afternoon (depending on the situation) when the tones are warmer, and shadows give more detail.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

03/20/2006 09:56:28 AM · #7

You mentioned liking the shots you see on this site. Find shots that look like what you aspire to and STUDY them. What makes them great? What sets them apart from snapshots? Identify those characteristics (don't read what someone else says sets them apart until you've critiqued them thoroughly yourself). Force yourself to stop simply admiring a great shot and work to quantify what makes it great.

Once you know what makes a shot work, begin to work those elements in to your compositions.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

03/20/2006 12:20:01 PM · #8

Thanks all... WOW lots of responses in only a few hours. To address some comments:

No pics posted yet. Again, I can load a few later tonight and post some links for feedback.

Regarding the polarizing filter, what exactly is meant by 90 degrees from the sun? I assume you mean to have the sun to my left/right, as opposed to having it in front i.e. in the actual shot, or behind me. Am I correct with this assumption?

My sister was an art major (graphic design) and is a production artist now, so she helps w/ photoshop stuff from time to time.

Lastly, how often are tripods used? I've never been in the habit of carrying one (again, used to just point and shoot), but it seems that in order to really play with shutter/apeture settings that the tripod is essential. Every time I try making adjustments the pics end up blurry (longer exposure times and an unsteady hand i would think). When working with the longer exposures and different apetures, many pics are washed out. Is it necessary to have a ND filter, or am I again just doing things wrong. I'm not referring to 30 second exposures here, but a few seconds or so. Also, to the ND filters come in handy for night shots, or are they not usually needed because the light is so minimal to begin with? Just curious how the effect differs on say, a 2 minute exposure w/ a ND filter vs. a shorter exposure w/out the filter (i.e. assuming you're letting in the same amount of light).

Thanks again, and I'll try to come back with more targeted questions and samples of my stuff.

-Mike

bluenova

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

03/20/2006 12:37:31 PM · #9

Also take a look, here:
//morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php

I learned loads by reading this.

With regards to tripods, it's always good to use one if you can, but it's not always practical. If your shutter speed is slower than your focal length then you have to use one. i.e. if the focal length is 70mm, you must have a shutter speed of at least 1/70th of a sec or faster to handhold the camera.

Message edited by author 2006-03-20 12:44:27.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

03/20/2006 12:56:44 PM · #10

Originally posted by bluenova:

With regards to tripods, it's always good to use one if you can, but it's not always practical. If your shutter speed is slower than your focal length then you have to use one. i.e. if the focal length is 70mm, you must have a shutter speed of at least 1/70th of a sec or faster to handhold the camera.

In addition to the shutter speed benefits, I find that using a tripod forces me to think much more about composition. Being able to set up and look through the viewfinder, I find that I'm already starting to "critique" my shot before I've even pressed the shutter button. Don't like it? Move to the left and in a little, etc. Good way to practice composition.

whatdewuc

03/20/2006 01:13:04 PM · #11

Bryan Peterson
has some easy to read photo books that are worth looking at. BobsterLobster nailed it though, it's all about the light...

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

03/20/2006 01:16:06 PM · #12

You might want to have a read-through on these two threads, now-defunct "mentorship" threads on natural light and landscape work.

Without question, the single, most important element separating superior landscape work from average work is the use of light. Composition, of course, runs a close second here; but the "average" shooter has a fair grasp of that already. In any case, it's about light, and it's about composition. It's fairly easy to make "rules" about these, but rules (of course) are meant to be broken, as they say.

For example, people will say "never have your horizon in the middle" and that's generally good advice; but in some shots, you WANT that balance of sky and ground, especially with reflection shots.

Good basic post-processing skills are vital in landscape photography as well. You can get a nice head start on the basics in the Photoshop Basics Mentorship Thread.

None of these mentorships are currently active (these are just ones I helped with, there were quite a few others at one time); but I'd be open to starting a new one if there was sufficient interest to warrant it.

Regarding tripods, I'm definitely in the "use a tripod" camp, but it's a personal choice. I've used them all my life, so they're second nature to me; I used to work exclusively with large format film, and the tripod was essential there. The benefits of tripods are twofold; they steady things up so you can use smaller apertures and longer shutter speeds, and they slow you down and make you think. This is all good for landscape work. Obviously, tripods are not a viable option for some sorts of photography,

Above all, practice and keep practicing.

Robt.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/20/2006 01:19:35 PM · #13

Here's a useful tutorial explaining about polarizing filters.

LN13

Canon EOS-60D

03/20/2006 01:31:16 PM · #14

Originally posted by whatdewuc:

Bryan Peterson
has some easy to read photo books that are worth looking at. BobsterLobster nailed it though, it's all about the light...

What ever it takes, buying them, getting them from the library, what ever, read Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure " & "Learning to See Creatively". They are easy to read, easy to understand, and give you what to do and what not to do photo examples.

Oh, and what every one else said.

There is a members challenge going on right now, where you either emulate or parody a previous ribbon winner. I spent my weekend working on it and had a blast. I see you're not a member, but that shouldn't stop you from trying to emulate other's work and learning how they accomplished things. I failed on three of my four attempts, but I did learn a new technique or two along the way.

nova

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

03/20/2006 03:06:21 PM · #15

Originally posted by larryslights:

Originally posted by whatdewuc:
Bryan Peterson
has some easy to read photo books that are worth looking at. BobsterLobster nailed it though, it's all about the light...

What ever it takes, buying them, getting them from the library, what ever, read Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure " & "Learning to See Creatively".

Here's an offer that won't come along every day.... just PM me your address and I'll mail these two books to you. That should get you started off on the right foot!

Hoping this is the beginning of a life-long hobby for you!

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/20/2006 04:46:20 PM · #16

1. Know what you love and avoid what you like
2. Study pictures you love and resist those you like
3. Avoid making pictures you feel many will like. Make pictures for a few, special people, for those you care for, for yourself, for its own sake.
4. Avoid sentiments, seek real feelings.
5. Learn the technical skills required to operate your camera and to process your images to the point of freeing yourself from them, so you can pay due attention to the things that, ultimately, matter.
6. Whatever it is you have to say via photography, you will say it better by doing than by thinking about it.
7. Subjects do not, ultimately, matter. The world is full of subjects, nobody realizes anyway. Charge your subjects with your way of seeing.
8. Move me.
9. Educate me. Inspire me.
10. Show me something I haven't seen before.
11. Instigate riots against evil.
12. Take something that has been done a thousand times and make it new.
13. Create a yearning.

03/22/2006 09:09:44 PM · #17

Thanks again guys. I'm in the process of moving, but once I get settled I'm going to try to post some images and I'll probably join the site as a paying member.

Nova: Thanks for offering those books up. I sent you a PM but didn't get anything back (i'm not even sure where to go to see any PMs I might have received). Can you let me know if you got my message?

Also, could someone clarify my previous question about using the polarizer @ a 90 angle?

Lastly, I'm going to shop around for some things I feel I need. I've been reading about the Cokin filters and am trying to gather feedback. Also looking for a decent tripod that won't cost hundreds. I saw a 'travel' one for like $15 from amazon, but it seems that cheap, light tripods can easily move and even knock over in the wind, so my gut tells me that it's not the best way to go. I've been searching ebay, but again, i'm not quite sure what's good and what's not.

Do forum members usually sell old gear, or is there a good place to go where fellow photographers sell/trade unwanted gear?

Thanks again!!

nova

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

03/22/2006 09:41:45 PM · #18

Originally posted by PSUlion01:

Nova: Thanks for offering those books up. I sent you a PM but didn't get anything back (i'm not even sure where to go to see any PMs I might have received). Can you let me know if you got my message?

PM received and responded to, Michael... pm's come through your regular email. If you didn't get mine, you might check your spam filter. Your books were mailed USPS Priority this morning, you should get them tomorrow or Friday. Welcome aboard!