How did you start off in digital photography?

[asc2]

The first time you took digital photography, how did you learn and what things did you do to be a great photographer? I'm a beginner and I've been reading stuff and trying but is that enough? I would want to join groups but I get shy and intimidated by great photographers.

[Photologyst]

Digi was just a natural transition from film over a decade ago. I used to spend a fortune on film and now I don’t have to. Don’t have to carry a bunch of equipment and several cameras either. I only carry one SLR, one pocket camera and maybe an extra lens.

Photography is like getting to Carnegie Hall—practice, practice, practice—and experiment.

I don’t know if I am a “great” photographer, but I am a pretty good one. I take the camera everywhere and try to photo all the time.


Years ago I took a film photo course and hated every minute of it. It was slow and geared to the lowest common denominator. I learn better on my own reading the manuals, watching tutorials, trying out software and practicing using these. Also look at the photos of really great photographers in their field.

One of my favorite sites is that of National Geographic: Photography, Pictures, Galleries, Wallpapers, Photo Tips - National Geographic

They have lots of tips from the experts. I love their focus and the highly saturated, sorts of photos.

There are plenty of online groups to join. Unfortunately, sometimes there are a lot of self-proclaimed pro types who get nasty with newbies. Just ignore them and listen to the helpful people.

Good luck!

[ShantDotMe]

2004 w Minolta Z1, 3MP !!

[navcom]

Certainly DON'T be intimidated by photographers who are better than you. They take great photos but they should...they've been doing it for years. If you had years of experience behind you were focused on getting better every day, you would also be at their level. Instead of being intimidated, look to the "experts" as your mentors. If you want to learn how to build a house, learn from a carpenter who's done it before. Imitate perfection to achieve perfection. And if a professional photographer wants to belittle you because you don't know as much as them...well...that's not very "professional" is it?

Lumico is absolutely right. The best way to get good is practice, practice, practice. But you do need a bit of direction as far as what to practice on. That's what this forum is all about...digital photography school.

I would recommend that your first and most important goal should be to master exposure. Learn how (and why) to get good exposure. Turn off the auto exposure and use manual mode. You can always fall back on auto exposure but if you learn completely on auto first, you will have a tendency to "give up and go auto" whenever you run into trouble. If you have a good understanding of how exposure works and also the practical experience, you will better understand HOW to use your auto modes and why/when you should and shouldn't.

So, with that being said, go out and by the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It's the definitive work on learning exposure and will be the book you reference for years. That is lesson #1 and will help the most mastering your technical side.

From there, you can branch into understanding how to properly compose an image and improve your artistic side.

[nickbedford]

The best thing you can do is look at lots of "great" photos. The next thing you should do is not to copy these (as in, taking those shots), but to learn how to expose, compose and shoot pictures of this standard.

Photography, like most things involves a lot of initiative and motivation to learn and grow. Like writing, writers get better not only by writing (read: experimenting with photography), but also by reading lots (read: looking at photos and wanting to learn how they were taken).

To me, someone with potential to be great at what they do needs these things:

• Initiative and determination.
• A motivation to learn and teach oneself.
• A strong passion to keep going.
• Patience!
• The ability to use Google.

My 1.5c.

[Jim Bryant]

I think it was sometime in December 2002 after I got my first EOS30D. Being a long time film shooter, I sort of saw the writing on the wall, purchased my first Digital camera and never looked back. Still have over 400 rolls of ISO 100, 400 and 800 Kodak color negative film in my freezer and it's been there what seems like forever.

I've only been at this for a little over a year now and I don't consider myself "great" at anything.

~Eric

[Jonbar18]

I was pretty much born into it. I had a film P&S until 2002, but i was 6

[nickbedford]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

I've only been at this for a little over a year now and I don't consider myself "great" at anything.

~Eric

You look pretty great at car photography Don't be hard on yourself haha.

That brings up another one. Too many people don't want to give themselves credit.

[mad editor]

My sons brought me into the 21st century back in 2002 or 3 - they got me my first digital - a Fuji finepx. Until them I was using a film SLR and two P+S film cameras. Started fooling around with an old Brownie box camera when I was about 7 or 8. Got "my" very own first camera when I was about 11 or 12 - a brownie starflash. it's always been fun!