R.G. Loc: Scotland

The basics of learning haven't changed and neither have the basics of teaching. Whatever the subject is, it should be distilled down into its most basic ingredients and whoever is teaching should take the time and effort to explain those basics as simply as possible, because they're so important. Preferably the basics should be taught one at a time and in the correct order so as to build up a working understanding of the subject.

Throwing somebody in at the deep end can work, and it's possible to get a handle on the basics of a subject by learning as you go, which will involve large amounts of trial and error. But just because it's a possibility doesn't mean it's the best way to learn. There's an element of leaving things to chance and a person can end up with gaps in their knowledge, often without even knowing it. A learner will make the fastest progress when they have a good grasp of all of the basics, and the best way for that to happen is for someone to teach them the basics, preferably one at a time.

Whatever the subject is, we learn by first getting an understanding of the basics and then building on that. Without the basics we have nothing to build on, and with an incomplete understanding of the basics our learning process will be incomplete.

EJMcD

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

I think I am changing my mind!

I have read almost every word of these 20 pages.

Being 71 years old, I started messing with cameras in the mid 60's. All we had was manual cameras, so yes, I learned that way, concentrating on the aspects of focus, film speed, shutter speed, and aperture. Waiting days to see the results of my efforts. Then discovering I forgot what settings I used. As a result, my composition skills SUCK!

As I see it today, there are two approaches to teaching photography using a modern digital camera (with or without a mirror):
1). Set the camera on Automatic mode and teach composition, framing, and lighting (time of day). I mean really, don't we all want nice pretty photos?
2). Or teach that damn confusing triangle and let the artistic side be ignored. WHAT??? Face it, most of us old timers know and even understand the Triangle, but very few of us can teach it.

Which way is better?
That depends.
It depends on who is teaching AND who is learning.

Put that modern camera on Auto... and send them out to shoot. Teach them to chimp (ooh ooh, yuck). Why is this one ooh ooh, why is that one yuck? What does that one need to change it from yuck to ooh? Do you need to be closer? Farther away? Crooked? Too dark? Washed out? Blurry? Too busy? And now we can start to teach what needs to be done to fix the image, ONE item at a time! Forget the Triangle! (All that means anyway is that a photo is composed of the following three items: light sensitivity, shutter speed, and depth of field. Unless I missed something, the triangle does not balance anything.) And at this point, do NOT delete those yuck photos at this time, because a lot can be learned by going back to look at your mistakes, or showing someone else who is trying to help you.

Let's face it, we pretty much all learn from our mistakes. As the learner gains some experience these problems can be seen and hopefully an understanding begins to develop as to what can be done to correct them.

As I look back on the times when I had troubles, I was NOT thinking in terms balancing three things, but I was thinking about what ONE mode was causing the problem and needed to change. I choose one mode and either add or subtract one stop at a time till I see improvement. Once I've gotten all I can get, then I work on a different mode.

And in all fairness, I am a mechanical, hot rodding gearhead (not a camera gearhead). Give me a T-square and triangles and I can draw anything mechanical. Hand me only a pencil and paper and tell me to draw a person or animal and I'm in trouble. The same with my photography, I take a lot of photos of mechanical equipment and details of the same. Do I appreciate a well composed beautiful photo? You betca'! Can I take or make them???? Not so much. But I'm learning

EJMcD

but wait, there's more cartoon images to come!

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Yeah, I figure.

I should have given them lots of targets to shoot at.

BebuLamar

Imagine a beginner with a Z7ii. Put it on P and turn auto ISO on.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

My wife is in a club. One of the club members. who takes a lot of the club's photos, has a mid-level Canon. I asked to look at it once. I noticed it was set on full Automatic mode. When I asked if she used any other modes, she answered, "Nope..."

?????????

She's happy!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There are three responses to a great image: yes, no, and Canon sure does make nice pictures.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Hahahaha!!!!!!

Yes, that was kind of the impression I got from her.

Meganephron Loc: Fort Worth, TX

Well there are issues of depth of field, bokeh, rule of thirds and how and when to break them.

If the person is serious then learning manual would be ideal then choose the mode best for them sports -shutter priority, landscapes - aperture priority, animals and people - usually aperture but sometimes shutter.

Auto is for those who just want a picture

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Pentax’s ‘Film Project’ will apparently be for someone who wants to learn all aspects of ‘taking a photo’ manually.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

So why are pro cameras predominantly automatic with manual thrown in as an afterthought like the Z9.
Auto advance in several speeds. auto focus in several modes, auto shutter, auto aperture , auto everything, auto ISO.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

because some professionals are after speed - they take shot after shot, then can comb thru the results looking for a “money shot”, and some amateurs like to pretend that is true of them.

brentrh Loc: Deltona, FL

learn both all part of using the camera you need to understand it all. Takes practice if you care about using your camera it will all come together with time. never restrict a beginner from not using settings on a camera.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

If the photo is completely dark or completely light, who cares how well it is composed?