For beginners, M or AUTO? (Page 9): I not only remember double-clutching but I'm still doing it, but add heel-toe to the technique. --Bob...

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I not only remember double-clutching but I'm still doing it, but add heel-toe to the technique.
--Bob

CaltechNerd wrote:

I totally agree. I started with auto focus, auto ... (show quote)

CaltechNerd Loc: Whittier, CA, USA

rmalarz wrote:

I not only remember double-clutching but I'm still doing it, but add heel-toe to the technique.
--Bob

You're a better man than I. In my old age, I just let the automatic trans do what it wants. I know it's not ideal but it gets me from here to there.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

SuperflyTNT wrote:

I think that’s your bias speaking up. In know way does “make” imply PP.

I often do spend 15-30 minutes on “a 5 minute photo stop”. In the age of film, I learned to make prospective and framing decisions before a pressed the shutter button, then sent my {Kodachrome} film to the professionals.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Photography is a two-step process. Making your initial exposure followed by processing. That processing can be done by the local drugstore or the camera, or the photographer. There is a classification for each. If you rely on the local drugstore/camera, you're a picture taker. If you process your photos, you're a photographer. Photographers make photographs.
--Bob

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I spent my first year in digital photography using Auto Mode; I shot film for 30 or more years. My digital lenses did not have aperture rings on them and I was lost. I didn't have a user's manual and didn't learn how to set aperture until I went on Youtube. I took some nice photos in Auto, but I'm glad I learned how to set my aperture settings and shoot in Manual, but if you told me I had to shoot in Manual from the beginning, I would have thrown in the towel and quit from frustration.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

CaltechNerd wrote:

I totally agree. I started with auto focus, auto ... (show quote)

I remember double clutching along with the starter on the floor next to the gas pedal, high beam switch next to the clutch and a choke on the dash in the 51 Chevy pickup.
Also as I remember the air filter was filled with oil for the air to go through.
I learned first on a tractor then graduated to the truck.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

rehess wrote:

I often do spend 15-30 minutes on “a 5 minute photo stop”. In the age of film, I learned to make prospective and framing decisions before a pressed the shutter button, then sent my {Kodachrome} film to the professionals.

So like I said. It’s your bias showing up.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

CaltechNerd wrote:

You're a better man than I. In my old age, I just let the automatic trans do what it wants. I know it's not ideal but it gets me from here to there.

goldenyears Loc: Lake Osewgo

As a newbie computer programmer 50+ years ago I was told to learn every instruction in the programming language manual in order to create a program. Instead, I discovered I could design a program in my mind, and then use the programming manual to learn how to accomplish it.

Likewise, when I retired, I thought that to become a really good photographer I needed to have a DSLR camera, to master every setting, and then I would be able to take "really good" photographs. This approach was not working for me. So, I joined a photography club to see what I could learn. There was rarely any discussion about what camera and settings were used to produce the photographs we looked at. The discussions focused on what was pleasing about the photographs and the theories of composition, lighting, etc. that made them so. This approach was very motivating for me. Through that process I began to learn how to use the capabilities of the camera and photo editors because I had an idea of what final result I wanted.

We should know what is motivating the newbie to become involved in photography before recommending how to approach the learning process.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

SuperflyTNT wrote:

I think what’s misunderstood by those that say “it’s not a triangle” is that the triangle is made up of things the photographer controls with the camera. The light is there but it’s variable. If it wasn’t the same settings would always work.

There is a lot more to light than intensity. Many of its attributes affect desired exposure (that may differ significantly from what a meter and triangle may indicate).

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

goldenyears wrote:

As a newbie computer programmer 50+ years ago I was told to learn every instruction in the programming language manual in order to create a program. Instead, I discovered I could design a program in my mind, and then use the programming manual to learn how to accomplish it.

When I entered Purdue Univ as freshman computer major in 1965, we sent our schedules to the bookstore, so they could have the books ready for us when we arrived. I emptied the bag on to my bed, saw one with the word computer in it - and within a few minutes was ready to change majors. It was the IBM “FORTRAN” manual. Anyone from that era will understand what I was feeling. Now I have retired from that business, knowing how to handle it.

BebuLamar

burkphoto wrote:

There is a lot more to light than intensity. Many of its attributes affect desired exposure (that may differ significantly from what a meter and triangle may indicate).

The triangle indicates nothing.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

burkphoto wrote:

There is a lot more to light than intensity. Many of its attributes affect desired exposure (that may differ significantly from what a meter and triangle may indicate).

Exactly. There are a lot of variables with light, but it is what it is. And that is not some thing you can adjust with camera settings.

Meganephron Loc: Fort Worth, TX

therwol wrote:

The so called newbies have probably already been using a phone for pictures for a long time. They didn't start with a dedicated camera. You may even have a hard time convincing them that they can do more with a camera than a phone. But if you can convince them to try a dedicated camera, I would suggest leaving them in their familiar territory of automatic exposure etc. and then point out other options to them as time goes on.

Agree. If they get interested then they can learn modes, BBF, depth of field, raw and editing. They may just want to take photos for fun with more range than a phone.

SteveInConverse Loc: South Texas

rmalarz wrote:

I'm a huge proponent of previsualization.
--Bob

Amen to this. Sometimes I can reproduce what I see and other times I can't due to a variable I can't control. I took some previsualized shots yesterday and the came out the way I wanted.