So I have very little knowledge on the topic of photography and that kinda stuff in general, and I really wanted to get into it, you know, learn about all the kinds of lenses, cameras and techniques and technical terms like iso and exposure, etc.
Because I've recently developed a lot of interest in art, design and photography, but never felt like I knew enough to get started.
I currently just have what I think is called a point and shoot camera, nothing fancy.
How did you guys pick it up and learn about it all?
take a class.
do research (i.e. internet).
?????.
PROFIT!
sry for the meme... couldn't resist after i wrote the first 2 sentences... but really, taking a class would be really good for you.. if you really want to know about it, then start researching cameras, lenses, component... read forums that talk about that stuff (hint: theres one REALLY close).
After I researched the hell out of the cameras and got the one I have I read up on every lens I could find on like amazon, I read most of the comments on each one. I've gone to my local camera shop and spoke with the workers there... I took a 35mm camera class at an art school, using real film. and have taken a digital photography class at my local JC....
if you want to learn more about it, do just that.
RedPanda is right. After the hardware issue is settled, take some courses, read up on techniques, and just get out and shoot. Don't be afraid to take a flood of pictures. The more pictures you take the better you will get at shooting with artistic merit. Eventually it will just come second nature to you.
With digital photography you can take hundreds of pictures upon end without consequence. It also allows for instant review. Take a shot and it's underexposed, so do it again, take different angles, etc. Then when you get home, take those pictures and filter out for the ones you actually liked. I take hundreds of shots at a time and only ever find a handful that I think are exceptional.
Just take loads of photos and practice and read some tutorials online if you want. Despite what spoiled snob kids will preach, if your point and shoot has manual functions there is no rush to go out and buy a new $700 camera at the moment. Posting images on forums for crit/tips I find helpful too.
Also, check out the programming at [I]Your Local Library[/I], sometimes they offer free workshops and stuff.
Experiment with everything, don't be thinking that you must know everything about the camera. Just learn as you play around with the camera. Eventually you'll find yourself learning more about the camera naturally, and yeah mix some time going on discussion forums [url]www.dpreview.com[/url] and reading other peoples posts. If you learn everything you'll forget it soon enough and you won't take good pictures because you'll confuse yourself with the many options a camera provides.
Also [url]www.kenrockwell.com[/url] is although biased towards Nikon his learning advice is valuable to any photographer. Don't forget to look for inspiration [url]www.1x.com[/url] and sign up on [url]www.flickr.com[/url] and look at the explore section.
Lastly, you can generally trust a cameras AUTO settings unless you're going for a specific look. Cameras have advanced over many generations going full manual is almost pointless unless like I said you're going for a specific look or want control in different aspects. It might be hard to believe but it is true.
Oh, that's pretty helpful, thanks guys.
If you want specific information, just pm me. I can help you with stuff if you want ofcourse.
Other than that, just read up on it on the internet.
[QUOTE=Tekno;21263247]Experiment with everything, don't be thinking that you must know everything about the camera. Just learn as you play around with the camera. Eventually you'll find yourself learning more about the camera naturally, and yeah mix some time going on discussion forums [url]www.dpreview.com[/url] and reading other peoples posts. If you learn everything you'll forget it soon enough and you won't take good pictures because you'll confuse yourself with the many options a camera provides.
Also [url]www.kenrockwell.com[/url] is although biased towards Nikon his learning advice is valuable to any photographer. Don't forget to look for inspiration [url]www.1x.com[/url] and sign up on [url]www.flickr.com[/url] and look at the explore section.
Lastly, you can generally trust a cameras AUTO settings unless you're going for a specific look. Cameras have advanced over many generations going full manual is almost pointless unless like I said you're going for a specific look or want control in different aspects. It might be hard to believe but it is true.[/QUOTE]
Ken Rockwell is kinda insane/shilly and most of the internet disregards him for it
here's the most important thing you need to learn about photography
[url]http://digital-photography-school.com/photography-1014-exposure-and-stops[/url]
also look into the rule of thirds for composition
~[B][U]FIRST:[/U][/B] Learn to enjoy and appreciate photographs
~[B][U]SECOND:[/U][/B] Read up on photography
-google "Understanding Exposure"
-photo.net
-various photography forums (i like SA's: [url]http://forums.somethingawful.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=247[/url])
-etc
-etc
~[B][U]THIRD:[/U][/B] [B]Practice [/B]with whatever you have. Don't simply get frustrated and get better gear in the hopes that it will eliminate the issue. Consider first if it's you, or the camera/lens that's hampering your ability to take photos that satisfy you.
~[B][U]FOURTH:[/U][/B] At this point, you'll be insightful enough to find your own resources and help.
Good luck!
might I add talking and getting critiques/advice on your photos with the guys in the "[url=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=874501]Creative Photography That Doesn't Deserve a Thread [v1.0][/url]" thread. Honestly, I've seen lots of improvement in the regulars just from sharing ideas and posting regularly.
just don't take anything we say too seriously- we're hypercritical bitches and will nit-pick. :buddy:
I wouldn't say we're overly critical as there are only a few here at even the pro of even advanced-amateur level. If we all had loads of experience and knew what we were doing, there'd be wayyyy less criticism no doubt (and rightfully so). But a bunch of us are still getting the hang of things and criticism is more than necessary. It's nothing to get hung up over.
Well, knowledge isn't really everything.
I know nothing about photography, I still take pictures with a crappy camera;
[img]http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs51/f/2009/271/a/d/Call_of_morning_by_ZemogT.jpg[/img]
[img]http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs50/f/2009/271/2/7/Dew_by_ZemogT.jpg[/img]
Here's the biggest tip you'll ever get;
[B]Be creative.[/B]
You do know in your mind what would make a good photo. Knowledge allows you to explain why a photo is appealing or not.
[QUOTE=Zemog;21283969]Well, knowledge isn't really everything.
I know nothing about photography, I still take pictures with a crappy camera;
Here's the biggest tip you'll ever get;
[B]Be creative.[/B][/QUOTE]
precisely.
it isn't the camera, it's the artist... but at the same time, you can't really show up to a job interview with a portfolio full of blurry camera-phone snapshots, nomatter how amazing they may be.
but still, the knowledge will give you an added edge over those who just keep their camera fixed to the 'automatic' setting.
[QUOTE=daijitsu;21302145]precisely.
it isn't the camera, it's the artist... but at the same time, you can't really show up to a job interview with a portfolio full of blurry camera-phone snapshots, nomatter how amazing they may be.
but still, the knowledge will give you an added edge over those who just keep their camera fixed to the 'automatic' setting.[/QUOTE]
Yes, knowledge, skill, technique first and gear second.
[QUOTE=daijitsu;21302145]precisely.
it isn't the camera, it's the artist... but at the same time, you can't really show up to a job interview with a portfolio full of blurry camera-phone snapshots, nomatter how amazing they may be.
but still, the knowledge will give you an added edge over those who just keep their camera fixed to the 'automatic' setting.[/QUOTE]
This. A thousand times this.
I bought a DSLR and just used it til I figured everything out for myself. I'm glad I did it that way. I think people who are naturally artistic will take the better shots anyway.
[QUOTE=Angooose;21306698]I bought a DSLR and just used it til I figured everything out for myself. I'm glad I did it that way. I think people who are naturally artistic will take the better shots anyway.[/QUOTE]
agreed, and :h: to zemog for 'a thousand times this'.
I read a brief [url=http://massgames.tumblr.com/post/136515602/photographer-is-not-an-occupation]'blog' rant by some idiot[/url] the other day, made me rage:
[quote][highlight]PHOTOGRAPHER IS NOT AN OCCUPATION[/highlight]
it’s more like a function. the function of pressing a button with yr. index finger. anyone can take photos of raw spaces/industrial scenery:
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Photographer_at_2007_AEE.jpg[/img]
a good photo is hard to come by. it’s truly a matter of 100% luck. you have to catch things at the right time.
[img]http://www.photography-colleges.org/wp-content/themes/hello_d_wp/hello_d/images/photography.jpg[/img]
people who have more $$$ are better photographers because they buy better cameras.
[img]http://images01.tzimg.com/cache/h3w4/500_1186172276_9529.jpg[/img]
i want to be a free lancer. to be free… to be free…
[/quote]
by his 'logic', having the better camera makes you a better photographer, though it's a retardedly obvious mis-observation of the fact that the better photographers get better cameras as a result of their ability, in order to provide the proper quality their work requires.
The article may or may not have been a troll, but I know there are many, many people out there who think this, and end up dumping lots of money onto an SLR only to take crappy top-down pictures of their pack of chihuahuas walking around the kitchen floor. and, FYI, that particular person in reference bought a Canon Rebel (2006) and about $1500 worth of extra lenses, flashes and god-knows-what just so she could one-up my (at-the-time) girlfriend, who recieved the same camera and a lens as a graduation present.
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