Thinking too much
Apr 21, 2015 16:04:46 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
rthompson10 wrote:
So I'm trying to get better at this photography th... (show quote)
From what you've said, it doesn't sound like you're thinking too much, just at the wrong times. Before and during the shoot is the time to think! :)
Apr 21, 2015 23:17:53 #
Photography is both an art and a craft. The craft you can learned from books, videos, DVD's, courses, workshops, etc. A good bookstore is a good place to start. YouTube is good for videos. The art you absorb by looking at and studying photographs and paintings that you like. Ask yourself what you like and don't like about a picture, and observe the light.
Then there's the old joke, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" answer: "Practice, practice, practice!"
Then there's the old joke, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" answer: "Practice, practice, practice!"
Apr 21, 2015 23:33:17 #
MarkD wrote:
Then there's the old joke, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" answer: "Practice, practice, practice!"
Then there's the old joke, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" answer: "Practice, practice, practice!"
Mark, I had a 20+ page post on whether practice, practice practice is really the answer to getting better. You and others may want to check it out!! ;-)
SS
Apr 22, 2015 03:07:09 #
machia
Loc: NJ
rthompson10 wrote:
So I'm trying to get better at this photography th... (show quote)
You're analytical. And with the instant feed back of digital you can analyze your shots immediately. Take A LOT of photographs, you'll learn. Practice really works. But don't reinvent the wheel, look at shots others take, read books, watch videos on YouTube, and practice everyday to develop your eye. And when your camera feels less mechanical to you, when it feels like a well played and familiar musical instrument, suddenly you will make music. Practice, practice, practice. Good luck to you, this is one fantastic art form.
Apr 22, 2015 03:36:36 #
rthompson10 wrote:
So I'm trying to get better at this photography th... (show quote)
If we are honest, we have all been there. We think better equipment should mean better pictures, only to find out it means more opportunities for human error. Don't be too hard on yourself, making mistakes is how we learn. You are on the right path to becoming a better photographer. :thumbup:
Apr 22, 2015 05:34:58 #
Dan Mc
Loc: NM
rthompson10 wrote:
Thanks all- I appreciate the input!!
RT
RT
Check your local paper, camera stores, university campus, etc., for a photo club.
When I got back into photography, I got a Nikon 4300 and did a lot of shooting (that camera was very user friendly and I rarely had a bad photo!) Later I stepped into DSLRs and got a D3100 and a D90 (still use both), and was lost, so I attended a photo club meeting and met folks that evening who took time to show me features on the camera and how to effectively use them (take your camera!) A couple of those folks called me, we met for coffee, played with the cameras more, and in a few weeks, I had some mastery of the processes....find a camera club and you will be well addressed.
Apr 22, 2015 05:55:25 #
rthompson10 wrote:
And where would be a good place to find a mentor? My local camera store offers classes including field trips- maybe I should start there?
Thanks RT
Thanks RT
That is what I do. Send me a PM and I will give you a few pointers. Nothing you did was wrong. You just have to learn how the settings work differently from what you normally do.
Apr 22, 2015 06:25:02 #
RWR wrote:
From what you've said, it doesn't sound like you're thinking too much, just at the wrong times. Before and during the shoot is the time to think! :)
In addition to the excellent suggestions already made I will add that a baptism may be one of the hardest venues to tackle new skills at. I am fairly competent with my camera but I mostly do landscapes so the grandkids' baptisms are not my finest moments. For any formal occasion involving people, I scout the setting then practice ahead of time at home on a made up scene similar to what I expect to encounter. Since my pets and husband won't cooperate as models, I used stuffed animals as stand ins. That way I go in with a plan that will require some adjustments but I don't botch up the whole thing.
Apr 22, 2015 06:36:27 #
Moonsey
Loc: SW Michigan
rthompson10 wrote:
And where would be a good place to find a mentor? My local camera store offers classes including field trips- maybe I should start there?
Thanks RT
Thanks RT
That would be a great place to start. I have taken several classes offered at my local camera store, and they have all be worthwhile. Also, use the setting you are familiar with when you are in a pressure situation. Then take your camera out often and just practice in different lights with different settings until you are comfortable with what you are doing.
Apr 22, 2015 06:43:19 #
I agree with many of the suggestions here but especially about developing your own lesson plan, notes and practice, practice, practice. I started in photography eight years ago, have taken classes, read lots of books but taking it one objective at a time, shooting and then reviewing what I got allowed it to gel in my mind. When my settings just didn't seem to work, I put it on auto, took the shot, then looked at the settings. Went back to manual and played from those settings until I made it better. Now it is becoming automatic in my brain as to settings and I can concentrate on composition. Good luck and relax. This is supposed to be fun. :shock:
Apr 22, 2015 08:32:16 #
In other posts, I know it's been talked about. Why not just find a local camera club?
Apr 22, 2015 08:46:23 #
steve_stoneblossom wrote:
... - S...L...O...W... D...O...W...N... and think. Take a deep breath ...
Of all the great advice and tips in this thread this is the one that I am guilty of not paying attention to ... !
After completing the 'NatGeo' course "The Art of Travel Photography ... " I set out on a ten day Caribbean cruise ... did not set the camera on 'auto' but did set it for multiple shots ... ended up firing away at anything and everything, completely forgetting everything that I picked up in the course and, unfortunately, everything I learned over the years ... !
I think I'm going to try my AE-1P for awhile and try to 'slow down and take a breath' ...
I've attached one of the more interesting photos that I grabbed ... interesting not because it's a great photograph, interesting only in that it seems that it takes ten people to support a photographer and his model!
Bob S
Photographer & Staff ...
Apr 22, 2015 09:16:03 #
ole sarg
Loc: south florida
90% of most shots can be done on full auto or with priority settings. Try an experiment. Use full auto or a priority setting to take a shot and then go to full manual take the same shot same light and see if you can measure the quantitative difference.
Apr 22, 2015 09:26:52 #
Depth of field may be part of the issue here if you are shooting at F2.8. The depth of field and what is in focus is going to be relatively small, especially if you are close to the image subjects. I have shot thousands of photos and still have days where I get my share of tossers. Keep studying and learning, seek the knowledge of others with more experience and most of all keep shooting.
Practice and trying to master one button or function on your camera each week or even month is good too. I try to learn something about my system weekly. You will be amazed how far you can come in a few months doing this learning of one thing at a time.
The master musicians still spend a large amount of time practicing the scales they learned in the first year of their training.
Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC
Practice and trying to master one button or function on your camera each week or even month is good too. I try to learn something about my system weekly. You will be amazed how far you can come in a few months doing this learning of one thing at a time.
The master musicians still spend a large amount of time practicing the scales they learned in the first year of their training.
Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC
Apr 22, 2015 09:41:38 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
minniev wrote:
In addition to the excellent suggestions already m... (show quote)
Indeed. The value of practice cannot be overstressed!
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