I am feeling overwhelmed... - DPChallenge Forums

Promaster 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR IF

01/21/2008 01:42:55 PM · #1

Alright, first here's the basic information of me :P

My camera: Sony DSC-F717
My photo editing software: Paint Shop Pro XI

My name is Tuesday, I'm 29 (for the second time :P LOL) and I am a homeschooling mom to two children, 8 and 6. Married 10 years, yadda yadda yadda. (I'm setting up my situation to get more specific suggestions LOL). I don't have time to go to school full time to learn photography, which I SO TRULY LOVE, since most all my days are spent teaching the kids and the evenings caring for the household (love it, as much as photography and sewing). I could *possibly* do a night class here and there at the community college, if need be...but I really would like to self teach (I am good at that, I don't mean that snide it's just how it is, I learn well on my own).

I don't have a ton of money flying around to buy a bunch of stuff as of yet...so I would like to have suggestions on where to turn to start getting a good grasp of basic camera settings and then also editing. The camera I have was a gift from my husband, and it's got all these settings that I am confused by (VERY different from the old point and shoot LOL) I suppose what I need is a good manual? What would be a good starting guidebook for a new photography enthusiest?

Also, I'm going back and forth about upgrading my PSP XI to the newer X2, is anyone able to tell me how much I would benefit by dropping the extra 60 bucks? LOL

I just keep reading all these challenge 'rules' and categories, etc. and I realize so many of the things that are being referred to, HDR, DoF, Levels, etc.etc. I don't really grasp, and it makes me pull back from entering, I feel 'out of my league' LOL (and I realize I am in most ways, and that's fine, I have taught myself quite a few things through immersion LOLOL :P)

I just feel like I've been around DPC for longer than I should without having entered an actual challenge, and I have pinpointed what is holding me back. It's not a lack of confidence in my 'content' and 'vision', but a lack of knowledge in how to use settings/software/editing/lighting/shutter speed,and so forth.

I know I must sound like a lost cause ROFL!! I swear I'm not...I just need a teacher or a book or something. :P

Anyone care to point me in the suitable direction? For reference, I have a flickr page where I store most things (mainly stuff for the etsy shop in the past, but now just about all things LOL)... it's located at: //www.flickr.com/donebytuesday

Any help would be greatly GREATLY appreciated. I love this community and I'm trying hard to inject myself rather than just sit back and watch ;)

atupdate

Pentax K-R

01/21/2008 01:54:01 PM · #2

First, I highly recommend the free camera simulator at SimCam. It will give you the basics regarding the relationship between ISO, shutter speed, and aperature settings. Then there are two websites I recommend to learn some of the basics about photo composition and post processing, Luminous Landscape and Ron Bigelow's website. Most of the post processing articles you will find are for Photoshop but can be used in PSP with a little translation. I would also be happy to help you learn PSP if you PM me with your questions.

Tim

PS: I think you will find that you won't need to upgrade PSP anytime soon. I'm using PSP X and I've still have more than enough program to get a decent score or two.

Edit to add PS:

Message edited by author 2008-01-21 13:55:40.

bauerfan71

Canon EOS-50D

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

01/21/2008 01:54:42 PM · #3

I am fairly new, as well, and I remember having alot of the same feelings. I'm working my way through teaching myself as well, so here are a few of my tips, and my current struggles.

I'm taking one subject at a time, helps with the overwhelmed feeling. One of my earlies was DoF, or depth of field. I searched the internet, bought some clearance books at Barnes and Noble and Waldenbooks and started applying the concepts they were taking about. When I was ready, I picked another concept. Rinse and Repeat. Alot.

I'm still struggling with feeling overwhelmed. But it's a little different. It's like a door is open, and I don't know which direction to run first. I score in the completely average range, usually, and I want to be better, and I know what I need to figure out to get there. It's just a matter of wanting to do it all at once!

Citadel

Nikon D7500

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

01/21/2008 01:57:44 PM · #4

One of the best books I've read is "Understanding Exposure". The "rules" of composition can be learned but the application of them comes from shooting. Exposure is almost purely technical so having a guide to teach you can really help. I noticed a dramatic improvement in my shots once I learned the fundamentals of exposure. I like the book because I found it tied the numbers and setting (e.g. ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed) to different real world examples.

Here is a link on Amazon

Message edited by author 2008-01-21 13:59:21.

01/21/2008 02:03:23 PM · #5

Originally posted by atupdate:

Thank you Tim! I am bookmarking the Camera Simulator...those settings are what I haven't wrapped my brain around yet on the camera itself! I will also add those sites to my list and pour over them this afternoon. I don't have a hard time translating the typical articles I find from Photoshop, it just seems like most of the ones I stumble on are for things like, cloning, doing composites (I think that's the term I'm referring to LOL), adding 'stuff' into pictures...and that's not what I want to do, I don't care about 'photoshopping' a picture into something it's not, I just want to know how to improve the colors and such on my own photos...so, thanks so much for those sites!

I think I may overwhelm myself further if I add more 'stuff' to my PSP as it is LOL..so I will take your suggestion and hold off :P.

I really believe I shall make a list of things I want to learn/understand...and as I go through them, I may be shooting a PM to you on occassion. I *truly* appreciate your offer...TRULY. :D

Originally posted by bauerfan71:

Kristin, I really REALLY appreciate hearing your thoughts. Sometimes I feel like every.single.person.on.this.site. is professional and have been here foreverandeverandever and I'm just a little speck LOLOL...hearing your approach and your struggles REALLY makes me feel good again LOL!!! I will definately do what you have done and pick one thing at a time!! I want to know it all right-this-second and it's starting to give me hives ;) LOLOL

Promaster 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR IF

01/21/2008 02:05:53 PM · #6

Originally posted by Citadel:

Thank you Craig, I am adding it to my 'list' of books and I will take a look at it!

atupdate

Pentax K-R

01/21/2008 02:24:26 PM · #7

Originally posted by Tuesday:

I just want to know how to improve the colors and such on my own photos...so, thanks so much for those sites!

Here is one of my favorite PSP tricks.

Unsharp Mask:
USM [radius 50 - strength 15 - clip 3]
USM [radius 0.3 - strength 300 - clip 3]

This will add contrast and a little pop to the colors. If you want more pop, run the USM steps, duplicate the layer, and set the blend mode of the duplicate layer to soft light. Then adjust the opacity to your personal taste. You can also desaturate the duplicate layer after changing to soft light, followed by adjusting the opacity. This will bump the contrast. while keeping the pop in the colors. Please note, the soft light duplicate layer is not allowed in a basic edit challenge.

You also might what to play some with the clarify tool. It is a great tool for bringing some wow to your images.

Tim

Message edited by author 2008-01-21 14:42:15.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/21/2008 02:34:16 PM · #8

Originally posted by atupdate:

Originally posted by Tuesday:
I just want to know how to improve the colors and such on my own photos...so, thanks so much for those sites!

Here is one of my favorite PSP tricks.
...
You also might what to play some with the clarify tool. It is a great tool for bringing some wow to your images.

Tim

Thank you Tim!! I am going to 1. write this down (yes, old fashioned style in a REAL paper notebook LOL), and 2. try it out on some pictures this afternoon! I still haven't taken my 365 picture for today, so I may try it out on something like that :D thank you thank you thank you :D

Ken

Canon EOS-7D

01/21/2008 02:50:46 PM · #9

It sounds like you're getting a lot of good advice on where to look for information. But let's not forget to shoot, shoot, shoot. Try out those settings on the camera, different light, different angles, etc. It's free to shoot and you simply learn and delete those that you don't like.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/21/2008 02:59:28 PM · #10

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

LOL,this is so true. I think I'm overcomplicating myself :P

I'll shoot today, and THEN play tonight (when there's no light for shooting :P Great reminder and it also helped put me back on track!

Ken

Canon EOS-7D

01/21/2008 04:14:57 PM · #11

Originally posted by Tuesday:

Originally posted by mad_brewer:
It sounds like you're getting a lot of good advice on where to look for information. But let's not forget to shoot, shoot, shoot. Try out those settings on the camera, different light, different angles, etc. It's free to shoot and you simply learn and delete those that you don't like.

LOL,this is so true. I think I'm overcomplicating myself :P

I'll shoot today, and THEN play tonight (when there's no light for shooting :P Great reminder and it also helped put me back on track!

We're due for another Slice of Life side challenge for February. The first post in the thread has a link to the description.

Some of my best (and worst) work has come from these side challenges. When you "have" to shoot, on days you don't feel like it, or aren't feeling creative, it forces to you try harder.

Indieaperture

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Canon

01/21/2008 04:18:29 PM · #12

Originally posted by Tuesday:

your name is tuesday? thats so cool!!!

Message edited by author 2008-01-21 16:19:07.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

01/21/2008 04:47:03 PM · #13

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

YES! I would love to do this! I am doing the 365 over on flickr, and that has forced me to take a shot on days I just would not ROFL. This sounds good to me because it's not a self portrait and I can force myself into doing pictures that are less specific and more able to experiment!

Originally posted by Indieaperture:

your name is tuesday? thats so cool!!!

Hi Kevin, yes my name is Tuesday :P My parents named me after the song "Tuesday's Gone" by Lynyrd Skynyrd LOLOL....(gotta' love it LOL)

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

01/21/2008 04:56:54 PM · #14

Since, as with many of us, you are also on Flickr, I would suggest joining a user group there for your camera. I belong to the Canon S5 group and it is a great source of learning your equipment, and being able to ask questions of those who have the same thing.

There's also a paint shop pro group there as well. Lots of good tips to be had in that group.

Joining a group for your local area if great too. I went to a flickr meetup for the Dallas area this past Saturday and it was great fun. It's also a great learning experience to see what others do when working with the same subjects and lighting .

Message edited by author 2008-01-21 17:01:12.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/21/2008 05:55:03 PM · #15

Originally posted by yospiff:

Thanks for the suggestions Steve!! I joined the groups you mentioned/linked me to on flickr! I appreciate everyone's willingness to guide me in the right directions!! I'm really feeling motivated again!

Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/21/2008 06:24:54 PM · #16

As soon as the shutterbug bit me hard, I went to the library and just kept borrowing books on photography. There are soooooo many out there, and I think we can even learn from the not-so-good ones.

At first it felt overwhelming, but I loved it when I started getting the feeling of "ok, I can skip this bit, I totally understand that part...... onto the next chapter".

If you have any particular questions, feel free to pm me. I'm no expert, but I enjoy teaching and I'm happy to help when I can.

EducatedSavage

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

01/21/2008 06:25:38 PM · #17

I'm still learning about things on my camera, too! What I rely on a lot are my user manuals that came with my camera and wikipedia. Wikipedia isn't always the most comprehensive source, but I find that it works pretty good when I just can't understand the basic meaning of a concept. Also, whenever you have a question, feel free to search the forums or shout out your questions! Folk here are really nice about questions.

love

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

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

01/21/2008 06:30:49 PM · #18

I've shot the Sony that you're using and it's kind of tricky. Sometimes the white balance goes funky and all the shots are blue! ugh! If you can work with what you've got then that's half the battle... I should know I shoot with a little point and shoot and that's what both my blue ribbons were shot with. : ))

EducatedSavage

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

01/21/2008 06:54:16 PM · #19

Originally posted by love:

Not that means a ton coming from me, but some of my favorite shots were taken when I forgot to take my white balance off 'tungsten'. So I say, if it goes accidentally blue, play with it! Nothing beats learning like experimentation!

Here, here, and here.

zxaar

01/21/2008 07:31:53 PM · #20

Few years ago, I decided to learn photography. I had never used camera before.
One of my friend took me to a photography shop and introduced me to shop owner. He gave me a SLR which was very very basic. Everything in it was manual. It did not even have the meter to measure exposure. I was supposed to guess it.

He explained to about aperture / shutter and DOF in 10 minutes. And that was my crash course in photography.
I was supposed to write down exposure settings for all the shots I took. (It was film SLR).

When he developed the first roll I gave him, he said he was impressed.

Anyway now to the main point. If you want to learn, switch to complete manual. And keep in mind that you do not have many takes for each thing. For digital camera we have tendency to take many shots of each thing and pick the best in the end.
If you want to learn, take this thing out.
Decide that you will get it right in first go.

I call this : 'ONE SHOT KILL'.

Think deeply before you shoot. But try to get it right in one go.

Do this for a month of so.

There is not other way to learn then to try it and try it again.

Once you know how to use camera, it is all post processing then.

TCGuru

Canon EOS-40D

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

01/21/2008 08:08:05 PM · #21

Originally posted by Citadel:

I second this, he gives great information about Point and Shoot cameras. You MUST keep in mind that f4 on a DSLR is NOT f4 on a P&S, it is actually much higher. Anyway, that is an EXCELLENT book and a must read (he goes into all that jazz in depth).

Good luck Tuesday!!!