Magical bill Loc: Melbourne, Australia

Hi everyone,

I'm still unsure if this is in the right spot to post this.

But here goes.

How do you learn more about photography?

Is it from:
books,
videos,
lynda.com?

As you learn, how do you get the new information to stay in your brain where you can use it?

For myself, I am satisfied with the way that my camera skills are slowly getting better from taking pictures for a specific task, looking at them , and then working out what I could do better.

Where as Photoshop leaves me over whelmed. There is so much information and skills to learn. The problem is really more one of what do I need to know and which junk can I leave out?

How do you deal with this your self?

Cheers,
Bill

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

I use all of the above plus a few more. Some people learn easier by reading, some by doing and others by watching.
My suggestion is break it up into bite size pieces so you can research and then implement your findings by doing. You'll quickly learn the best way for you to learn.

Good luck and have fun!

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

ugly hedgehog is a great place
improvephotography.com a great podcast
youtube great videos on a lot of subjects
google/bing for specific problems

amehta Loc: Boston

I agree, it's not so much about how you learn photography, but how you learn anything. If you understand your own mode well, you're good to go. If you don't, you may be frustrated and not even know why. It's a good thing to think about.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

For me, it is necessary to do. Therefore, to absorb anything I must go to the experts. If you have Photoshop, make use of the Evangelists on Adobe TV but if you're like me then you need to also have your editing software open and ready to use the tools being shown.

As has been noted, there are resources all over the place. If you can afford a book with CD, then you can go at your own pace and redo the excercise as many times as you need. Photoshop WILL frustrate you if you try to bite off a whole bunch at once - start with a particular tool and get a grasp on it before moving on to the next thing. If you know how you learn, it will be easier to find what works.

Ace and Deuce Loc: Right behind you!!

I got my camera 23 months ago, and I've taken over 75,000 pics so far. I taught myself everything I know, so I say... shoot, shoot, and shoot some more, but learn what works, what doesn't, and figure out WHY things worked and didn't work. Also, try shooting everything. Shoot close-ups, people, landscapes, cars, planes, animals, etc... You can always learn something, whether it's what to do, or what NOT to do.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I read a lot and then go try a specific technique. Usually, as I'm reading, I see an application for the technique, so I make "field notes" pursuant to my field tests.

The other thing is this: I look at a lot of images-- not just photographs. I look at perspective, lighting, composition. Technical stuff is now a "given".....

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

MB, the post from Ace and Deuce may be the best advice you ever get. Short, sweet, to the point and about as irrefutable as it comes. Touche', A & D.

marxgo Loc: Central Iowa

I agree it is how you best learn. Myself, I bought the books but then didn't have the patience to do the reading. UHH is a great source. Usually if you have a question, other people do too and you get an answer before you even can ask the question. And if you do ask, so many are helpful. Also, YouTube has helped me more than I though it would. Someone gave me Lynda.com at Christmas and there are a lot of subjects to pick from. There are bound to be subjects you would like to know more about. You can pick and choose.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

I agree completely. One of the things to overcome when learning something is the fear of embarrassing yourself and screwing it up. Don't be afraid to take pictures that suck. You will learn from them. Think about what you can do differently in each situation. Then when something comes up, like the family gathering or the family of deer in your yard, you'll hopefully remember what works best and do it.

tramsey Loc: Texas

I learn by hands on: shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, shot and make corrections along he way.

billjohdoittoday Loc: Arkansas

Several great resources have been mentioned here. Let me mention one other (though it may get me laughed at): Flickr

I spend time almost every day looking at photos on Flickr. 98+ percent of the pictures there are k-rap! But I try to learn from the other 1+ percent. Why did that one attract my eye? How did the photographer achieve that effect? Do I know how to do that, or is that something I need to put on my got-to-learn-this-list?

Flickr is such a source of virtually unlimited photos (and an astonishing variety of talent) that I return to it over and over for instruction and inspiration. Whatever your specific interest in life, there's probably a Flickr group dedicated to it. And whatever photographic hardware you're invested in (or thinking of investing in), there's probably a Flickr group dedicated to it. Before I invest in a lens or camera, I spend quite a bit of time seeing what other folks have been achieving with that piece of equipment.

I wouldn't ask detailed questions there -- that's what The Hog is for. But I do go there to get ideas and inspiration.

Bill

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Simplify things.
You see so much confusing stuff and irrelevant information that it is best to cut it back to basics and ignore all the chatter.
You are sure to get confusing irrelevant information in this thread. Ignore it.
Start with the most important thing in photography and then build from there.
And what is that most important thing?
The Exposure Triangle.

Everything single image you have ever seen is based on this.

http://digital-photography-school.com/learning-exposure-in-digital-photography

Magical bill Loc: Melbourne, Australia

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

I appreciate it.

Cheers, Bill

Trippmeister Loc: Los Gatos, CA

I like this advice, I haven't been shooting enough lately.