How do you learn new skills in the easiest way? (Page 2): I learned 'Photography' from the ground-floor situation. (late 1940's) I borrowed an older brothers camera, and (without film...

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

I learned 'Photography' from the ground-floor situation. (late 1940's) I borrowed an older brothers camera, and (without film most times) went out looking for things to 'photograph' . Eventually got a basic 127 film camera that took 32 mini negatives. It had two windows on the back, to see the 1 to 16 set of numbers. Winding system eg. number 1 in first window click ..wind on to number 1 in second window..click number 2 in first window..click..etc There were no settings ..no focus no shutter speeds / apertures etc. Next step was a folding 120 size camera with shutter speeds..apertures..focussing scales, so I could really go to town on experimenting. I was in the transition period from schoolboy to working, and could buy film (when it appeared from under the counter) OH yes!!! it was like gold dust for the best quality Kodak or Ilford. The poor-mans alternative was 'Gratispool' which gave paper negatives. One had to send them away for processing, but at least it was something to use. I would set myself daily / weekly tasks to do with my camera.. eg. Only shoot with the focus set at 4 feet. only shoot with people in shot...only shoot with no people in shot...buildings of interest (architectural).. I progressed up the skills ladder (my..and the local pro photographers opinions)Did a bit of photography during my RAF days, in Cyprus.. Came back to UK and set up a free-lance press/ wedding / portrait business. Captured by an International company to be their Press and PR photographer which lasted 26 years, then returned to free-lancing again till I retired. Now I still do photography (Film and Digital)...'for the love of it'.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

everyone learns in a different way some by reading, some by watching , and some only by doing or combinations thereof . Know how you learn and then just do it

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.

10,000 times apparently.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Ace and Deuce wrote:

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.

Great advice, my problem is remembering.

nekon Loc: Carterton, New Zealand

Trippmeister wrote:

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

Get a good book, say: "How to photograph anything." by Tom Ang-Do not read anything by Brian Peterson.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Magical bill wrote:

Hi everyone,

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

But here goes.

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

Cheers,
Bill

For me, repetition is the best way to remember. If I use a certain technique very often, I don't have to think about how to do it.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I do a lot of reading to gain an understanding and a sense of the scope of what I am into. From there, for a particular skill I will read and then put what I read to use.

Photoshop is a good example - it does so much, focus only on what you want/need right now, the rest will come when you are ready for it.

Bamboo Loc: South Carolina

To look at the whole of a task to be done can seem overwhelming. Just approach it the way you would eat an elephant, one bit at a time.

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

Another good way to learn is to join a Photography Club or a Meetup Group. This way you can learn from others and benefit from having other photography friends to help you. Our club has monthly competitions and speakers that elaborate on given photography subjects.
If there isn't one in your area start one.

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

Why not? Just curious. I have learned a lot from Bryans Books

nekon wrote:

Get a good book, say: "How to photograph anything." by Tom Ang-Do not read anything by Brian Peterson.

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

I like Lighthouse's advice:

lighthouse wrote:

Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
Study, Do, Repeat.
&c &c &c

That's my method. For example, learning a camera: I like a printed manual* so I can read it, carry it with me as I begin to work with the camera, reread, do it again Study, Do, Repeat. BUT as has been pointed out, different strokes. Not everyone learns the same way. I figured out when I was in college that I am a "plodder" so that method works for me. :)

*It's infuriating that the mfr's have stopped providing pocket-sized printed manuals! Grrrr! :evil:

anotherview Loc: California

Yes, because a craft, photography requires doing, meaning practice and plenty of it.

But then some direction helps. My suggestion: Learn the following, and apply:

Composition
Framing
Point of View
Aperture
Shutter Speed
ISO
Histogram

Knowing the relation of Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO, and how they affect Exposure will advance your skill because fundamental.

Shoot many pictures. Learn from your mistakes and successes.

Happy New Year!

Ace and Deuce wrote:

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.

Ace and Deuce Loc: Right behind you!!

Embarrassingly, I don't know how to read a histogram. I never cared to learn it. When I go out to shoot, I look at what I'm about to shoot and dial in the settings. If I'm not dead on, I'm usually just a click away. That was one thing I forced myself to learn because I didn't know how to read a histogram.

SueMac Loc: Box Elder, SD

I've learned by all the methods mentioned. And just keep doing it. I found that after I took an on line course in putting the camera on manual, I HAD to learn how everything worked together. Then experimented. Great thing about digital is you don't "waste film" trying to learn. Take all the photos you want, put them on the computer and compare. In my film days I learned to load my own cans and develop the B/W in the bathroom so I could get a faster feedback on what to do and not do. I love digital! I've taught myself Photo Shop in the early days by purchasing some training videos. Now with better internet and connections I subscribe to Lynda.com. There is a great wealth of info there if you learn best by watching something, then trying it out on your material.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Everyone learns differently. The big three learning modalities are visual, auditory and kinesthetic. I tend to be a kinesthetic. I learn best by physically engaging in an activity, even math. I sit and take a pile of problems of a particular type (say matrix algebra or integer programming) and do them.

So, for me, I need to go out and take pictures, look at them and process them. I use the manual and how to books as reference material. I dont just read and implement. I do better with books that have projects or ideas for field work. If you are more visual, you might do better reading theoretical material, digesting it and then trying it. If you are auditory, go take lecture classes.

Everyone has a bit of all learning modalities, but most people tend to favor one over the others. You might want to think about things you have learned well and how you learned them.

A lot of the work in this area has been done by Howard Gardner at Harvard. He has now identified 9 modalities or intelligences that affect how we learn. There are tests that help you identify your learning modality all around the internet. Also, if you care to research it, your learning modality is not written in stone. It can change or be deliberately changed over time.