new photographer in need of assistance
Oct 26, 2011 15:26:40 #
Well I am new to photography in some ways more than others. I have been taking amazingly artistic pictures since age 12 with nothing more than cheap digital cameras and cell phones. I have won several competitions at local exhibits as well as online and I love making people smile. I recently decided to further my knowledge of photography and purchased a Canon Eos 20D 8.2 MP camera. I love the results I am getting with it, but there are so many features that I do not understand, not only on it, but on many cameras. I attempted reading some articles on photography and camera usage but it is all giberish to me. I am very serious about furthering my education but not so much about paying hundreds of dollars on classes that are just going to confuse me more. I know I may sound stupid, but does anyone have any suggestions?
Oct 26, 2011 15:33:10 #
I would say read the manual..if you don't have one you can get it on line or order a hard copy from canon. Being a good photographers requires you to know your tools inside and out otherwise your just another tool with a camera...LOL
Oct 26, 2011 15:37:18 #
thanks for ur advice, I have read the manual cover to cover, but when you do not understand some ot the terms it uses, it is hard to understand the over all point. But the point i am trying to make is that i not only want to further my knowledge of my camera, but photography in general so that I am not "just another tool with a camera"!
Oct 26, 2011 15:42:19 #
Don't feel bad! I have an associate degree in Pro Photography and 25+ years experience with medium-format film cameras, and I felt overwhelmed with the complexities of digital SLRs. I found the Magic Lantern Guide's mulitmedia workshop book/dvd for my T3I very helpful. If you have any specific questions, please just ask.
Oct 26, 2011 15:45:36 #
roxportraitman wrote:
Don't feel bad! I have an associate degree in Pro Photography and 25+ years experience with medium-format film cameras, and I felt overwhelmed with the complexities of digital SLRs. I found the Magic Lantern Guide's mulitmedia workshop book/dvd for my T3I very helpful. If you have any specific questions, please just ask.
thank you so much for the understanding :-D
Oct 26, 2011 15:48:52 #
samantha2010 wrote:
Well I am new to photography in some ways more tha... (show quote)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk78nH3d8hU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpWtq-haaCQ
and there are a bunch of other videos on youtube that tell about basic photographic principles, as well as videos on features related to specific cameras.
Oct 26, 2011 15:55:46 #
this is what I did when I first started. (don't take this are being rude in anyway)
take the manual in one hand and your camera in an other, start at page one. Read the first page, play with the buttons it's talking about on that page, re-read page one again, play with the buttons and see what they do, again look at page one... it will make sense now. Move to page two and repeat... it takes a while but you'll start to understand the gibberish in the manual that way.
Once you have a "so-so" grasp on you camera and the manual, pick up a copy of "understanding Exposure" by By Bryan Peterson, that will help you move forward a little further on your journey.
Also post your pictures here, people will help point you in the right direction.
take the manual in one hand and your camera in an other, start at page one. Read the first page, play with the buttons it's talking about on that page, re-read page one again, play with the buttons and see what they do, again look at page one... it will make sense now. Move to page two and repeat... it takes a while but you'll start to understand the gibberish in the manual that way.
Once you have a "so-so" grasp on you camera and the manual, pick up a copy of "understanding Exposure" by By Bryan Peterson, that will help you move forward a little further on your journey.
Also post your pictures here, people will help point you in the right direction.
Oct 26, 2011 16:04:28 #
everything mwac sugested i highly recomend following. also you should look into basic photograpphy for dummies. (i am not calling you a dummy, it is just that the dummy series does a great job of explaining technical tings in a basic english easy to understand way. Looking at your avatar i figure you are an artist in other mediums right? well painting and drawing have their own technical terms and concepts that in order to be a greaty painter or drawer you have to master. Same with photography. nice thing about this site if you are having trouble with a concept, post a question you will be overwhelmed by the staggering number of people who will want to help you. MWAC is one of the good ones. take her suggestions very seriously. you'll be glad you did.
Oct 26, 2011 16:23:15 #
silver
Loc: Santa Monica Ca.
samantha2010 wrote:
Well I am new to photography in some ways more tha... (show quote)
There are only several things that you can do with a camera. You can focus, you can select shutter speed and you can select f stop. The problem is that the cameras made today do so many un necessary functions its enough to make people crazy. The simple solution is to set your camera on manual and you control the f stop and focus and shutter speed. I personally never use any auto function on my camera. I want to make the decisions as to how my pictures are created, I dont want to lean on my camera to make the decisions for me. Auto focus is too easily fooled and so are the auto exposure functions. By working in the manual mode it will slow you down and make you think about what you are doing. Thinking is a good thing. Dont let the equipment rule you. Make your own decisions.
Oct 26, 2011 16:31:56 #
samantha2010 wrote:
Well I am new to photography in some ways more tha... (show quote)
Hi samantha2010 ..... you are no different my friend than many camera users today ..... some of the terminology of camera operation can become overwhelming ..... my sugestion would be to go to your favorite library (its free)and check on what is available on the camera ..... "The Camera" by Ansel Adams might be helpful and i'm sure there are many other authors covering this subject on both film and digital ...... don't give up, keep learning ...happy shooting :-)
Oct 26, 2011 16:49:14 #
"Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it."
~Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)
quoted in Boswell's Life of Johnson
We are perhaps more fortunate than Mr. Johnson; we live in the internet age. Knowledge is at our fingertips; but each of us will use that knowledge best in pursuit of what we enjoy the most.
~Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)
quoted in Boswell's Life of Johnson
We are perhaps more fortunate than Mr. Johnson; we live in the internet age. Knowledge is at our fingertips; but each of us will use that knowledge best in pursuit of what we enjoy the most.
Oct 26, 2011 17:11:18 #
MWAC wrote:
pick up a copy of "understanding Exposure" by By Bryan Peterson
Samantha, if you do nothing else . . . do this!
Oct 26, 2011 17:14:21 #
again, I'm a firm believing on searching topics on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgydDG9L1To
that video is on understanding exposure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgydDG9L1To
that video is on understanding exposure.
Oct 26, 2011 17:49:57 #
have to agree with bruce. I have recomended Mr Petersons books so many times on this forum, I should be getting a commission. Understanding exposure explains in plain english not onlyy how to get the correct exposure but the most creative one as well. I also recomend by the same author learning to see creatively. both books impacted my work like a sonic boom, and turned me from a sapshooter to a decent photographer.
Oct 26, 2011 18:11:29 #
The other idea would be to volunteer to work with a local photographer..to learn the ropes. Maybe help him or her with a wedding..holding lights etc..and then in return he gives you some good mentoring...for free.
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