charlessmall18

The new fad: Russian Tennis. You play it with a fuzzy hand grenade!

docgipe Loc: Northcentral Pennsylvania,

Someone has said, "The ability to purchase the equipment will guarantee to make ownership easy". "No amount of equipment will in itself make a photographer" At age 69 I decided it was time to turn off the TV and worthless chat cites, make the captures, get the critiques, attend and learn in a club, study other's works and in other words finally become a photographer. Today I am 75. It was amazing what happened when I in fact turned off the TV, discontinued worthless chat sites, took three to five hundred images a week plus doing what will help anyone to grow toward professional quality photographs.
It may surprise you to know that I am handicapped shooting from a three wheeled scooter. Honest it was not in error that I repeated myself in this post.

RParker Loc: Orlando

GO DOC! :thumbup:

Sundog Loc: Sedona, Arizona

I don't think about how many I take. I just keep shooting, experimenting and having fun until I need to go home, the event is over, or I am satisfied I have done my best and have what I need in the card.

But in general, as stated above, shoot lots of shots if you are new. Try different settings, different compositions and angles.

This is how you get to know your camera. Read the manual and learn one new thing to you can use each time you go out to shoot. This gets you familiar with all the settings over time.

I use to shoot a lot for a few months in multi-shot mode and even bracketing to makes sure I got the right shot and exposure.

Now, after many shots (10,000+) I take more time and know what I want to do. So I shoot less and get more good shots. But I don't over think it. I keep shooting a subject until I feel I have what I want. That can be one shot sometimes. I can see it in the screen on the back. I know it's what I want. Other times I keep shooting 4 to 10 shots making adjustments to composition and/or settings.

My final word: have fun, shoot lots of shots until you no longer need to and you know you can do it in less. It's simply time spend behind the camera that will make things better.

sontog Loc: S. California

If you want to use the shotgun approach to taking pictures, you will have many pictures to look through. That is one big drawback to digital photography. Instead of being happy with what you get, I suggest that people learn a little about their camera and the basics of photography, and make the picture you want. It is an art to use a camera by balancing light with shutterspeed and using light meters and composition. Try to make what you want, not take what you get. If you get a bad picture, ask yourself "why". I know some people are happy just taking picture and weeding through them to find a good one. God bless Sandisk and the other companies for their research in developing memory cards with ever increasing capacity.

photophly Loc: Old Bridge NJ

There is no set number U just keep shooting and shooting and shooting.......think of all the satisfaction U will have when U do get that perfect photo.......The secret to a great photo is to take alot of them

DB Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

As many have said, lots of determining factors. Experience level is one, as someone new, I tend to take too many "just in case" however I'm getting better at NOT doing that. Taking time to "set up your shot" using composition etc helps. Sometimes shooting kids in action takes lots of shots. There have been a few discussions on the "Shutter Life" of your camera too... things do wear out. I don't know at what point your camera starts to go bad. As your confidence grows you'll find taking mulitiples of each shot isn't always necessary. Sometimes it is, especially with sports and other movement shots. I don't think there is a pat answer... sometimes less is more ;)

DB Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

I like what you said Doc..... spending too many hours in front of the computer doesn't help you improve your skills....you've got to get out and take pictures..PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

docgipe Loc: Northcentral Pennsylvania,

Thank you. I am now in the process of trying to wear out a Rebel XTi. That excites me because mentally I think I have to do that before upgrading to a 7D. LOL

Since it will not seemingly wear out I may have to have an attitude adjustment. I am beginning to think I really should maintain the Rebel as a second reasonably good backup camera.

jimn

When shooting groups of people, my rule is at least one shot per person plus a couple extra for good measure. That isn't original with me. I took a photo workshop a few years ago. Our first assignment was to put the camera on a tripod and take at least 50 shots without moving the tripod. At a nature photography class, an assignment was to put the camera on a tripod before we got out of our car and to shoot 3 rolls of film without removing the camera from the tripod. It's amazing how many fewer shots you take when you take the time to analyze the scene, move the tripod to get the best perspective and angle, etc.

Sundog Loc: Sedona, Arizona

Especially true with groups. Just one person blinking, not smiling or distracted can mess it all up. Extra shots a must in this case.

I like the idea of that landscape exercise.

Susan17 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

Susan17 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

It partly depends on how important that photo is to you, a quick shot is better than nothing.

frederdane Loc: Orlando, FL

Frederdane on I-4? No. Why would you think that? Looking to do a shot at dawn or twilight in the fog though. Tail-lights streaming at 1/15 or so. May have to simulate and use my Tiffen double fog filter.

Sundog Loc: Sedona, Arizona

I too turned off the TV, but that was 30 years ago! Amazing what I have been able to do, enjoy and experience. From learning guitar to web design and now Photography.

TV and Cable/Sat disconnected = Highly Recommended

Live life, don't watch it