mrpentaxk5ii

Looking through your photographs, do you find that they have the same look even though you may have photographed different subjects?..........There are a few things that you can do with out buying different lenses to change the look of your photos. .........Shoot at different times of the day..........Use different focal lengths............Shoot at different apertures.........use different shutter speeds and if you find your self shooting standing up, change body position, shoot on a knee, sitting or lying down......... The Next step is to learn what your camera can do...You don't have to go from shooting full auto to full manual, use Aperture or Shutter Priority mode....Some people say well that's just another auto mode......Well in a word NO. in full auto all you do is turn the camera on and press the shutter, while if you take that approach with Aperture Priority your missing the boat............Aperture Priority has more in common with manual mode then auto mode......Turn your camera on..set to AV Aperture Priority.......Set Aperture....set ISO.......set your metering mode depending on light and subject and last White Balance, these are important settings that you give up control of in full auto the camera will set shutter speed and you can adjust that with exposure compensation..............People that shoot RAW will say that you can change WB in PP why bother setting white balance, while you can adjust WB in PP... say your shooting an event and you don't pay attention to your your white balance, when you go to process your files and you don't have a base line to work with will you remember what the true color of every thing was that you photographed...Well good luck with that one...................Jim M

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

It looks like you have rolled at least five different topics into one. I'm not sure what you are trying to say.

Rolk Loc: South Central PA

All good suggestions, Jim. I've been "playing" with cameras for over 55 years, and spent quite a few doing wedding photography as well. It's just too easy to get lazy.

I've always been one to get down to the correct level on most of my photos, even with my bad knees, but I've gotten too comfortable letting the camera decide what to do. Not anymore. I'm taking back my creativity!

There are times where "auto" is fine if you have to grab a quick shot before it disappears, but I'm pushing myself to get back into a more creative mode by doing exactly what you said.

Thanks for the reminder.

mrpentaxk5ii

Your welcome, and thanks for the comment.

mrpentaxk5ii

No, The Subject was how to get some variety in your photography , the things that I listed were ways to do so, not more subjects. also how to get away from shooting on auto, when you take more control of your camera you will be able to take better photos over all. take care......Jim M

tdekany Loc: Oregon

“Better” photos come from better subjects. Not from getting out of auto mode.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Jim, what’s it matter WHAT color anything was at the time you shoot it???
Is it a big contest?
If I’m shooting an event, most of my events have people in them. Well I’m pretty sure I know what color people are. I know they are not green or yellow or red or grey or.......
Why are some so obsessed with what colors things were at the time your shutter trips? What if you get it wrong but are convinced it’s right? I could care less what the colors where.
The ONLY thing that matters is what I show someone else. If I want to show you what was there, I’ll do that. If I want to show you something else, then I will!
As the artist I will control what you see, regardless of how the scene looked when I was there!!!
SS

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I agree!!!
Shooting mode has NOTHING to do with the quality of the work, or if it wins a Pulitzer or not.
The ONLY thing that’s important is how the end product looks!!!
SS

tdekany Loc: Oregon

I agree!!!

mrpentaxk5ii

You are both right and wrong, better photos do come from better subjects, but getting better at photography means using the camera to it's fullest and that means getting of of AUTO MODE. But this post was about adding variety in your photography, in other words, steps to take so every photo does not look the same and the best way to do that is taking control of your camera and not letting it control you.

mrpentaxk5ii

well that's all well and good. most people know what color people are. It's every thing else that counts, the color of the outfits people came in, the color of the flowers, the lighting and so on.If getting this right is not important to you, I would not hire you to photograph my event, last this has nothing about being a contest.

mrpentaxk5ii

If shooting mode has nothing to do with any thing why is it that so many people on UHH tell new photographers to use Manual mode and shoot in RAW, then you turn around and say shooting mode has nothing to do with any thing....I wish you would make up your minds....This site is turning into a ship of fools.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

I realize that part of this reply may upset you. So apologize in advance.

1 - I looked at your photos and I had seen some of SS’s work. it would be your loss not to hire him

2 - as I said, I clicked on some of your threads in the photo gallery and I can tell you that you do not practice your own suggestions from this thread.

3 - we are in agreement, that moving around, using different angles is very good.

4 - still disagree with being out of auto mode is going to help one to take “better” pictures. Not better artistically or creatively. Technically? Sure. But that doesn’t make a a boring picture better.

Check these photos out from iPhones

https://www.ippawards.com/winners-of-the-2017-iphone-photography-awards-announced/

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Maybe I can answer that, or at least tell you what I think. Most of the outspoken members are gearheads. Not very good at taking photos.

If someone, who had never touched a camera asked me what is the first step, I’d tell them to remember that the technical stuff should be the last step!!!!

Study light, composition, subject matter first and foremost. But of course if that person is like the rest of us, meaning lack of creativity, lack of real talent, there is not much that can be done.

mrpentaxk5ii

This is my last comment that I will make in regards to my post, I made simple suggestions that any photographer that cares about teaching new people how to get better as photographers and I catch hell for it, while so many people post useless garbage questions that people learn nothing from and no one takes them to task. I see a lot of people that can't even decide what type of lens to take on a trip or people ask what settings do I need to shoot this that and the other thing, these are things so easy to learn, yet it seems so many people are clueless. Photography is not rocket science, but if you can't learn or take advice, you will never learn the answers to the questions you seek. This is going to be my last attempt of posting any thing that should be helpful to people on this site, it's just not worth the time. UHH can have all the Chris T's it wants, the list seems to be growing.