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01/21/2007 11:26:26 PM · #1 |
What is some of the best advice for beginners? I just finished interning at a photography studio, which was great, but I need to know about outdoor and anywhere besides a photo studio. I have been taking sport photographs for yearbook, many candids of my nephews and nieces. I have been reading up on photography books at the library, but I just get confused when it comes to the leves of apeture, iso, lighting and things like that. I love getting close, and looking at things from a different angel, but I just don't know anything tenchnicle to get shots right. There are so many things I want to do, but what do I do first?
Message edited by author 2007-01-21 23:34:56. |
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01/21/2007 11:27:52 PM · #2 |
Best advice, shoot shoot and shoot. Nothing beats just using the camera.
Of course there is other things too, but shooting is the key. |
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01/21/2007 11:29:18 PM · #3 |
If you really want to learn to be versatile, I'd suggest a little photojournalism work. The sheer variety of things you will end up shooting will be a valuable experience.
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01/21/2007 11:29:38 PM · #4 |
Don't "always" center your subject... most of the time an off-center composition will work better and make a more dynamic image.
Use a tripod for no chance of accidental camera shake - thus clearer images.
Step in close - most "snapshots" are too far away, don't be afraid to get close.
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01/21/2007 11:29:49 PM · #5 |
1. Get a good solid tripod ... and "weld your camera to it", as someone else put it (I just can't remember who).
2. Shoot from a different perspective. Everyone sees the one from normal standing height.
3. Get in close. Use a 50mm for a while, using sneaker zoom.
4. "Take a step back and look for the aha" (again said by someone else I don't remember).
5. Learn the technicals of exposure. You have to know what should be done for spot on exposure before you can possible know if exposing it differently will work better.
not neccessarily in that order
David
Message edited by author 2007-01-21 23:33:05. |
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01/22/2007 01:12:39 AM · #6 |
1. Don't spend all your time on photo forums. Get out and shoot.
2. Don't listen to the advice you get on photo forums until you have learned enough to know when you are getting good advice and when you are getting BS.
3. If you plan on making money in photography, take some business and marketing classes or marry a business major.
4. Don't try to learn from those that are way ahead of you... learn from those that are just a little bit ahead. You have a better chance of understanding and applying it then.
5. Always keep in mind that what you learn is only a starting point. There is always going to be something new to learn and strive for.
And the biggest tip I can give... always be willing to help those that come after you, because you were there once too.
Mike
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01/22/2007 01:25:06 AM · #7 |
brush up on photo-editing skills, and how/when to apply them.
in this digital age, this other half is rather crucial
(while die-hard photographers may not agree with this, but IMHO it is true) |
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01/22/2007 01:37:22 AM · #8 |
So right!
Originally posted by crayon:
brush up on photo-editing skills, and how/when to apply them.in this digital age, this other half is rather crucial
(while die-hard photographers may not agree with this, but IMHO it is true) |
Message edited by author 2007-01-22 01:37:39. |
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01/22/2007 01:59:10 AM · #9 |
| The most important thing is to get out and shoot. While the digital editing skills are important (as someone mentioned above) you cannot make a bad shot good in photoshop... (unless you just spent way to much on an education from the Art Institutes)(ahem) . You can make it better, but you gotta be albe to get the shot first. |
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01/22/2007 03:06:44 AM · #10 |
Always take your camera along.
Read some good photography books.
Take many photos.
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01/22/2007 03:58:35 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by MikeJ:
1. Don't spend all your time on photo forums. Get out and shoot.
2. Don't listen to the advice you get on photo forums until you have learned enough to know when you are getting good advice and when you are getting BS.
3. If you plan on making money in photography, take some business and marketing classes or marry a business major.
4. Don't try to learn from those that are way ahead of you... learn from those that are just a little bit ahead. You have a better chance of understanding and applying it then.
5. Always keep in mind that what you learn is only a starting point. There is always going to be something new to learn and strive for.
And the biggest tip I can give... always be willing to help those that come after you, because you were there once too.
Mike |
Exactly what I would have said :) |
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01/22/2007 04:29:44 AM · #12 |
Point your camera at the subject and shoot.
If you're using a tripod, take the time to walk around your intended victim / area first before planting your tripod, as once you put it down it's restrictive.
Don't forget your memory card.
Keep your battery charged up.
Remove lens cap before shooting. |
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01/22/2007 06:48:37 AM · #13 |
Browse around DPChallenge for images you like. Read the comments to gain insight on why other people do and do not like them. Comment on a few yourself.
Look at the work of professional photographers. A lot. Figure out what makes the images work, what doesn't. Listen to what they say about their own work.
Try every kind of photography - landscape, portrait, candid, studio, etc. You might be surprised at what you learn while trying to learn.
Think before you shoot. And think again. Walk around, sit down, bend over sideways, anything to give you a different point of view.
Don't be afraid to take bad pictures. Everyone does. A famous landscape photographer stated that only 10% of his images were worthy of printing and 1% were publishable. That's 1 in 100. But if it takes 100 snaps to get 1 masterpiece, isn't it worth it? |
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01/22/2007 07:50:13 AM · #14 |
1: use a tripod
2: use a lens hood
3: bend your knees
4: learn your equipment inside & out
5: get out of the box - it's too crowded . |
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01/22/2007 08:01:05 AM · #15 |
Research and then think "Rule of Thirds" most of the time ... especially if you are in a hurry. It makes for shots with impact and drama.
Always check what is in the background before you hit the shutter. |
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01/22/2007 08:14:44 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by ralph:
3: bend your knees |
why bend my knees? i'm learning, so this might be helpful |
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01/22/2007 08:22:39 AM · #17 |
for me the best tip is
always envisage the photo, sketch ideas out before shooting.
Others include:
Always plan everything down to a tee. And have several plans in case models or weather lets u down
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01/22/2007 08:49:17 AM · #18 |
Oh ... I forgot the shoot ... shoot ... shoot ... analyse ... shoot shoot shoot etc. It used to cost us old farts a FORTUNE in the past to learn ... now with digital photography it only costs a few pennies to recharge your batteries ...
... and the most IMPORTANT RULE ... get FUN and EXCITEMENT out of it! |
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01/22/2007 09:00:45 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by crayon:
Originally posted by ralph:
3: bend your knees |
why bend my knees? i'm learning, so this might be helpful |
different way of saying "Don't just stand there!!"
get down, move around, zoom with your feet ...
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01/22/2007 09:17:40 AM · #20 |
Watch your backgrounds on portraits/macros. Do you want to incorporate any of the surrounding environment, or single the subject out and provide a pleasing or non-busy background.
Watch your foreground on landscapes. Using something in the foreground can give a sense of scale or complete a whole scene.
Bracket your aperture and review the exif data later. Set camera on Av, take 3 photos with large aperture, mid, and small aperture and see how each effects your fepth of field (and shutter speed).
Bracket your shutter speed and review the exif data later. Set the camera on Tv, take 3 photos with different shutter speeds, preferably of something in motion, and see how each one effects the moving subject.
Watch the light. Look how it falls on your subject. Does the sun rake across the subject giving bright brights and dark shadows losing detail in both? Can you move your subject or yourself so that there is less contrast on the subject? Can you modify the light by reflecting some light or adding some fill-flash on your subject? -High contrast shots can be very appealing, but can be tricky. |
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01/22/2007 09:41:30 AM · #21 |
Some lessons I've learned...
Take the camera everywhere. I have the thing with me almost everywhere I go...even if it's locked in the trunk of my car and never gets used...I figure it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it!
 I'm glad I had it with that day.
Shoot as wide a variety of subjects as possible. Force yourself to shoot things you wouldn't normally have found interesting. Your unique perspective could reveal something to you, and to others.
 Spiders freak me out, but I'm glad I got close for this one.
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01/22/2007 09:41:45 AM · #22 |
Get out and meet other photographers...join a photo club, do a dpc get-together, take a community course on beginning photography...whatever it takes, there's nothing better than face-to-face learning.
Never apologize for your work.
Read. Go to your local library and get your hands on a good book. Read it. Try something new. Return book to library and repeat.
Spend an hour shooting one thing rather than 1,000 things.
Take your camera everywhere, all the time, no matter what. |
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01/22/2007 11:30:15 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by sweetness:
... but I just get confused when it comes to the leves of apeture, iso, lighting and things like that.... |
This isn't as hard as you may think. As for the light: the brighter it is, then the less will be necessary to get the proper exposure. Easy so far. On your camera there are three ways to control the exposure, that is, to control how much light reaches your 'film' or in the case of digital, your camera's sensor.
Aperture - how big is the hole in the lens. The bigger the hole, the more light gets in.
Shutter speed - how long is the shutter (like a curtain) open, letting in the light. The longer it is open, the more light gets in.
ISO - how sensitive to light is the sensor. The more sensitive it is (ie the higher the ISO) the greater the exposure with a given amount of light.
Dem's da basics. However creatively controlling the light for the desired effect, that is much trickier and difficult for most of us.
PS: Like someone above said, don't forget to have fun. When you can't get the fun back, it's time to do something else. Best of luck. |
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01/22/2007 01:03:04 PM · #24 |
Great advice in this thread. Here's my top 5 to add to the mix:
1. Keep your eyes open all the time. Look for photographs even when you don't have your camera with you. Buy a moleskine so you can jot down a note describing places or subjects you want to return to, or ideas as they strike you.
2. Look at everything in your viewfinder, not just the subject. Look for distracting elements in the background or around the edges. Think about how the 3-D image in front of you will look when everything gets flattened into two dimensions. (ex: You don't want that tree way in the distance looking like its growing out of your subject's head).
3. Said before, but it bears repeating: Get close to your subject, and far away. Work the subject over from different angles and exposures.
4. Apertures are especially important when you get close to your subject -- use smaller numbers (f/1.7-F/5.6) when you want to keep your subject in focus and blur your background, larger numbers (f/11-f/22) when you want everything to be crisp.
5. Watch the light. Always watch the light.
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01/22/2007 02:02:40 PM · #25 |
My 5 Tips:
1. What style of photography scares you the most? Try it until you are comfortable.
2. Grow into your equipment. Meaning, if you are into photography for the long haul, purchase equipment that is quality and that you will learn to appreciate.
3. Start with telephoto and macro. Work your way to wide angle. Once you become more knowledgable about what "makes" a shot, you will then be more daring about what else to include. Hence, the wide angle.
4. Unlike other opinions I have seen....Trust advice given from those you respect in their craft. Their word is not absolute, but even average advice can lead to great breakthroughs, especially when filtered through your mind. So, at least I, am not afraid to ask questions.
5. Emulate your top 3 photographers, or aspects of their work, in order to discover the secrets of their art. Eventually when combining everything you learn through others and your efforts, your own style will emerge. And that is the fun part...
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