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08/12/2009 08:52:29 PM · #1 |
| How in the world can I, with a Canon Power Shot A590 digital camera, ever be able to take a photo worthy of placing in the DP Challenge? The winners always look to me like they have all been taken by $10,000 camera and/or greatly edited and enhanced. Anyone's thoughts please? |
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08/12/2009 09:10:15 PM · #2 |
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08/12/2009 09:30:11 PM · #3 |
Look at  Joey Lawrence, he started with a 2MP Olympus. |
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08/12/2009 09:44:53 PM · #4 |
There are some advantages to a better camera, but you can do well with your A590. That's a decent point and shoot. You have manual and semi auto control modes, a viewfinder and many high end features.
Anyone here will tell you that most of it is the photographer. Two of my top 5 entries were taken with a Powershot S5.  bvy's top rated entries, including a ribbon shot, were all done with a point & shoot.
Don't worry about competing with the ribbon hogs. Compete against yourself to improve your next entry. Learn as you go along. Comment on others stuff as you vote. By commenting, you make yourself figure out what you do or do not like about a photograph, and you will learn things you can apply to your won photography. Commenting will also put you in contact with many of the other people in this online community that you can learn from.
Yes, the winners are all edited and enhanced, but that is part of the digital photography world. If you need a good image editor, here is a list of free applications. Many of them are quite good.
Message edited by author 2009-08-12 21:47:04. |
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08/12/2009 09:46:08 PM · #5 |
| Entering more than once every few years might help... |
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08/12/2009 10:40:31 PM · #6 |
As I've learned (much to the dismay of my pocketbook), a more expensive camera does not necessarily make a better scoring photograph. In fact, I've been quite disappointed with my scores with the new camera (Canon T1i - 15 mpx). Don't get me wrong, I'm really bummed to not have it (on the way to the repair shop for 4-6 weeks), and I think the photos are better. I sure like the shutter working when I push the button, and not after thinking about it for a bit.
An excellent photo begins in two places - the imagination of the photographer and the raw material to work with. From there, it is a matter of lighting, angle, framing, and all the other technical stuff. I have seen fantastic shots from a moving car on a freeway with a disposable film camera.
I'll pass along advice from a good friend of mine - shoot, shoot, shoot. Forget the rules. Forget what you supposedly can't do. Shoot. Learn from every picture you take, get good critical feedback from people who have some idea of what they're doing, and your skill at "seeing" a shot will improve. My friend worked in a darkroom for the fund-raising department of a non-profit organization. He said if he gets one fantastic shot from a roll of 36 pictures (back in the slide film days), he felt he was doing good. Of course, his idea of good, and mine probably differ, but the point is there.
Three suggestions for you on DPC. Even if you don't enter, try to vote and comment on every challenge. You've only given out 1 comment. Make your thoughts technically specific and balanced - something that bothers you about the shot, and something you really like about the shot - always your opinion.
Second, enter side challenges - DPC Olympics if you can get on a good team with a fair percentage of active, helpful members; other side challenges - a bit less pressure, a bit more open, and more comments than in a challenge.
Third, enter the challenges. So what if your scores are low? (See my profile for proof). If you're enjoying taking pictures and editing them, and are learning something as you go, the time is well worth it.
Now, of course, this message may have been typed by thousands of monkeys banging randomly on keyboards...
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08/12/2009 11:00:58 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by asdxrwh:
How in the world can I, with a Canon Power Shot A590 digital camera, ever be able to take a photo worthy of placing in the DP Challenge? |
Shoot for yourself, not for the placement. |
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08/12/2009 11:32:36 PM · #8 |
We had somebody win with a camera phone not that long ago. My highest score was taken with a Fuji P&S camera. Just learn how to get the most you can out of your camera along with improving photo editing skills. Don't try to shoot what you think will get you a blue ribbon- you will end up disappointed. I went through that phase. Just try to get the best shot you can and hope others like it as much as you do. Practice, practice, practice. Look at what you think is a good shot and try to figure out how you can do something like that. Great photos are a combination of skill and luck. Skill you can work on. Keep at it long enough and luck will come by more often too.
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08/13/2009 12:20:14 AM · #9 |
Well, my camera isn't good either, but i think that a lot of work and some touch of perfeccionism may take you to good results and even a ribbon.
You may have problems with aperture and shutter speed, so as the quality in high ISO. But you have to think about you limits and decide what you are disposed to do to get a good shot.
If you don't believe that, go look for ribbons with Iphones and other examples!
And remember, some day you might get a nice camera! |
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08/13/2009 12:41:57 AM · #10 |
No, No, No...it isn't about the right camera at all...you just have to hold your mouth the right way..... :P
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08/13/2009 01:33:56 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by Judi:
No, No, No...it isn't about the right camera at all...you just have to hold your mouth the right way..... :P |
Oh...so that's how you do it! |
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08/13/2009 01:41:56 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by bspurgeon:
Originally posted by Judi:
No, No, No...it isn't about the right camera at all...you just have to hold your mouth the right way..... :P |
Oh...so that's how you do it! |
Ahhh yup!!!
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08/13/2009 09:35:05 AM · #13 |
<---- PM's  Brat to get a closeup of that magic way of holding your mouth while you shoot.
Message edited by author 2009-08-13 09:35:35. |
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08/13/2009 09:38:45 AM · #14 |
| With better gear, you can sometimes get a shot in way that you can't with a cheaper camera, but really, most of ti is the 12" behind the sensor. Learning effective composition, and learning to "see the light" were the two biggest breakthroughs for me on the camera skills end of things. |
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08/13/2009 10:12:38 AM · #15 |
Don't despair, I got a couple of 4th place finishes with my Point & Shoot.
A great way to learn is to use your point & shoot a lot and learn what happens at different settings through lots of use. Learn some guidelines of composition and all that bullshit if you want, so you can parrot everyone's comments. Have fun, be creative, tell a story.
You'll bump into lots of limits of the point & shoot, but you can find creative ways around some of them. If you're still clicking away after a year or so and enjoying it, it's probably worth it to upgrade to a dSLR. :-)
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08/13/2009 10:18:17 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Learn some guidelines of composition and all that bullshit if you want, so you can parrot everyone's comments. |
Distracting composition *squawk!*... out of focus *squawk!*... JPEG compression *squawk!*... Don't listen to Slippy *squawk!*... |
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08/13/2009 10:24:35 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Learn some guidelines of composition and all that bullshit if you want, so you can parrot everyone's comments. |
Distracting composition *squawk!*... out of focus *squawk!*... JPEG compression *squawk!*... Don't listen to Slippy *squawk!*... |
I should add Photographer to my Forum Signature disclaimer. :-P
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08/13/2009 01:44:41 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
... but really, most of ti is the 12" behind the sensor. |
Don't take him at his word about the 12", most guys exaggerate. |
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08/13/2009 01:49:27 PM · #19 |
| take a class at your local college.. learn how to get the most out of your p & s... then, post process the heck out of any image you submit.. cross your fingers.. Oh, and one last thing.. You also have to sell your soul to the devil.. :-)... (j/k-about the last part) |
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08/13/2009 03:27:08 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by kandykarml:
take a class at your local college.. learn how to get the most out of your p & s... then, post process the heck out of any image you submit.. cross your fingers.. Oh, and one last thing.. You also have to sell your soul to the devil.. :-)... (j/k-about the last part) |
Damn! I knew i was missing something! |
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08/13/2009 03:40:34 PM · #21 |
I have tried and used a good selection of cameras from various manufacturers and can quite confidently tell you the best camera for you...
The one that fits your needs, your hands and your comfort zone.
This wasn't a ribbon winner, it was a grabbed shot with a Canon A630 P&S, but it captures a moment in time and is one of my favourites.
Would it have been better taken with a top range DSLR? Possibly, but I used what was at hand. If you don't see the image and capture it, then it doesn't matter how big and expensive, or how small and cheap your camera is.
Hope that helps:) |
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