Is it really that hard? or am I just that dense? First let me say that I believe capturing beautiful photos takes a talent....I am sure, I lack that talent. I love photography, but the...

Tobster Loc: SW OHIO

First let me say that I believe capturing beautiful photos takes a talent....I am sure, I lack that talent. I love photography, but the more I read, the more I study, the more I watch, the more confused I get. I take notes, I set my camera, I focus, I click.... I get pictures! Lacking.. crisp color, crisp focus,...I see your posted ART and they are beautiful. I believe it is all operator...I have good equipment, maybe not what you use, but I use a Canon 5DII. I have heard many of you say...read and understand your camera...I am beginning to think it is beyond my abilities...... Is it really this hard?

Dback4430 Loc: Lockport Il

Its doing that counts , don't get discouraged . Find some thing you want to capture and shoot it till you do . Remember that most pics need a little post processing . I shoot canon also, i usually set the camera to bump up the saturation and the sharpness . Shoot in raw , and most of all have fun . Look for the different shadows , early in the morning , late afternoon . Hope this helps

usetobe

I know what you mean Tobster. I find several areas so confusing. I have just started shooting, and going from there. Keep trying.

gonate Loc: sacramento,calif

Dback4430 wrote:

Its doing that counts , don't get discouraged . Find some thing you want to capture and shoot it till you do . Remember that most pics need a little post processing . I shoot canon also, i usually set the camera to bump up the saturation and the sharpness . Shoot in raw , and most of all have fun . Look for the different shadows , early in the morning , late afternoon . Hope this helps

Well Tobster, its a good thing your in hidding or you would have a bunch of U. H. H . In your front yard In the A.M. to take you on a shoot.
gonate.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Hi Tobster!
Let me assure you, my friend: if we can do it so can you!
Most of us learn in different ways, but "spaced repetition" is a common learning tool we all use. The more you do it, the better you get. The best thing you can do is pay close attention to what you're doing while setting up your camera for each shot, so you don't just drift into confusion and lose awareness of what you're doing.
When you look through your viewfinder, try to really "look" and see what's there, don't just point the camera and hope for the best. Before you "click", give a quick revue of what you've done...how have you tried to make your photo conform to your wishes. What are you just leaving to chance?
The good photographers are simply the ones who didn't give up after 100, or 200, or 300 photos. Soon, you will be one of them!
I'm glad you threw this question out, it gives us all a chance to examine the path we've been on, and our progress, or lack thereof!
Thanks!

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Years ago when I shot film I would take a roll of 36 shots and sometimes get only three decent shots, sometimes only one. I would get discouraged and down on myself -- then one day I read an article that gave me a total paradigm shift. To create an 8 page spread in National Geographic, an article that might contain 20 to 30 photos, the photographers would take about 25,000 photos! That was back in film days. You can only imagine how many digital shots they take. So take hart -- if you get a great shot every 1000 or so, just think, you could shoot for NG!

gonate Loc: sacramento,calif

Danilo wrote:

Hi Tobster! br Let me assure you, my friend: if we... (show quote)

Tobster let me say this , most of us have been taking photo for 20/ 30 years It is not hard. Start with easy stuff and move on from there . I do have about 30 thousand photo's maybe more.I add to that collection every day. you will to. GOOD LUCK.
gonate

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

When I was shooting film, with the finest cameras of the time, I was ecstatic to shoot three 36 exposure rolls and get one really good shot. That's why I love digital (though I still miss my Nikon F3, Canon EOS-1, and Leica M-6). Now, just consider what it would be like (and how much it would cost) with a 4 X 5.

The point is, don't get discouraged. None of us are perfect. You will get better!

One tip though.... If you get a hi-res picture you feel good about, but isn't technically up to your standards, take time to look for two things:
1. See "the picture within the picture;" cropping does wonders, and
2. Is the part you don't like the start of something that blurring, filtering, printing as a watercolor, etc., will turn into a masterpiece?

Iduno Loc: Near Tampa Florida

Also consider how you are viewing your pictures. If it is on a PC the problem may be there. Probably not, but take your chip to a friends computer and look at them there for comparison sake.
Join a photography club in your area. Sign up for a class with an instructor.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

What lens(es) are you using? Some kit zooms deliver fairly soft resolution and muddy saturation. When I put Zeiss primes on my lowly Nikon D70 it was like getting a new camera.

Beware of camera shake, too. If you are using too-long exposures, hand-held, that takes the edge off sharpness.

Where in the imaging chain are you seeing poor colours? On your monitor? Consider calibrating it. Or in prints?

No, it's not hard, and no, you're not dense. In a few months' time, you'll look back and wonder how you could have understood so little, but that happens to all of us. When I started bulk-loading film, I didn't know which side was the emulsion side...

Cheers,

R.

heyjoe Loc: cincinnati ohio

take all the shots you can,shoot in jpeg,when you get better you can try raw,when i started out i shot 300 pics of a football game,i saved about 10 and deleted the rest,but i learned very fast, now i save about 70% of my shots,it will come,don,t be afraid to use your camera,you will not wear it out,shoot,shoot, shoot

designpro

Danilo said it best...

And I Say,
Practice Practice Practice!

Try not to over think and have fun. The Canon 5D Mark II
Is a very good camera and will take some time...

YOU WILL BE FINE...............

Tobster wrote:

First let me say that I believe capturing beautifu... (show quote)

iresq Loc: Annapolis MD

Let me add that you should post some of your pics here (well not here, but in the appropriate thread) and let the pro's here pick them apart. Advice given is usually good. Sometimes it can sting a little but no pain, no gain.

Anna Loc: Lexington Park, So. MD

Danilo wrote:

......The good photographers are simply the ones who didn't give up after 100, or 200, or 300 photos. Soon, you will be one of them! .............

And aren't we fortunate that we can shoot hundreds of pictures of the same subject visible immediately, and not have the high cost of taking a film to be developed and then pouring over those 100s of shots and picking the best and then take it back to have it properly sized, etc. We live in a great time :)

ordinarytom Loc: Randsburg, California

Aperture, shutter speed, ISO (that's all the camera can control...nothing else matters). Light quality, quantity, direction (that's what you look for). You control the camera and God gives you the light. The rest is what we see in photography. Get your exposure right and the rest comes easy. You might try this as an exercise. Hold the camera in your hands for 1 hour. Turn it over, around,upside down while you see the ways to adjust aperture and shutter speed. Know the feel of it in your hands and how to find all the controls you need. As you get comfortable you will start seeing the light and forget all about the camera. Then... you will feel more like a photographer. Good hunting and good luck.

Tobster wrote:

First let me say that I believe capturing beautifu... (show quote)