I'm going crazy over here.

[wingflapp]

Ok guys, I think I need big help.

Ever since I got my DSLR I've been reading like it was going out of style. I've learned a ton of stuff, and on the surface it all makes sense to me. Aside from reading, I also watch videos on the same stuff I've read.

Still, every time I try something with the camera, it never seems to come out right. When I see what I think is a great subject, I take a bunch of pics and end up finding that my best is nothing more than a decent snapshot. When I try to create a photo, I end up with pictures that miss the mark.

Now I'm certainly not asking you to determine my problem. I think I may know what it is - at least at the most basic level. I think I'm too 'all over the place' with my reading and the things that I'm trying.

What I think I really need is to do practical exercises in a step by step fashion. Perhaps a 52 week project that starts with the basics, and moves slowly into the more intricate stuff. Or anything similar to that type of structure.

Read/watch/learn/practice step one. Then read/watch/learn/practice step two. And so on....

Anyone have a resource or a suggestion?

Again, I wanna point out that I am doing the work, just not producing the results. I think I may need to take what I think I've learned, pack it up, and take it back to the beginning.

Hopefully I'm making sense here. I'm listening intently to anyone who has a suggestion along these lines.

Thanks in advance.

wing.

[ravncat]

I know the feeling.

Read less. Shoot more.

That's pretty much the best advice i've gotten when in that kind of state.

[wingflapp]

Originally Posted by ravncat

I know the feeling.

Read less. Shoot more.

That's pretty much the best advice i've gotten when in that kind of state.

That's a fair piece of advice. I appreciate the input.

[RichardTaylor]

What level are you at now?
ie (and these are basics) :

Technical.
Can you take photographs that are not technically flawed?

Aesthetic:
Do your pictures have a subject. Do they show the subject "in a good light".

You may want to have a look at this series (from where the above came from).
Taking Your Photography To The Next Level

You may find this DPS thread of interest.

How to Critique #1 - The basics.

and this one (it's in two parts).
Photograhy with a compact cameras #1 - Introduction.

If you don't know how to "work a subject" then this may help.

Working a subject (1)

-----------------------

What I do is pick a subject that interests me then work on it until I have achieved a reasonable level of competence. Start with some thing simple (like flowers?) where you don't need a lot of expensive gear and work from there. You will find a lot of what you learn shooting one subject can apply to other subjects as well.

As a previous said; the main thing is to shoot, and evaluate your photographs critically.

What do you mostly shoot?

[not-here]

Well my dear ... i've been there

i know how frustrating it is to end up with pics nothing like what u had in mind !

it's just ur reading tooo much and trying to adapt others styles instead of building ur own !

i would suggest ... u start with a decent weekend photography course ...get to know basics and to know ur camera very well ... and the rest will flow to u .....

hope i cud help

[wingflapp]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

What level are you at now?
ie (and these are basics) :

Technical.
Can you take photographs that are not technically flawed?

Aesthetic:
Do your pictures have a subject. Do they show the subject "in a good light".

You may want to have a look at this series (from where the above came from).
Taking Your Photography To The Next Level

You may find this DPS thread of interest.

How to Critique #1 - The basics.

and this one (it's in two parts).
Photograhy with a compact cameras #1 - Introduction.

If you don't know how to "work a subject" then this may help.

Working a subject (1)

-----------------------

What I do is pick a subject that interests me then work on it until I have achieved a reasonable level of competence. Start with some thing simple (like flowers?) where you don't need a lot of expensive gear and work from there. You will find a lot of what you learn shooting one subject can apply to other subjects as well.

As a previous said; the main thing is to shoot, and evaluate your photographs critically.

What do you mostly shoot?

Thank you for the reading. Definitely will be helpful as I think about these things when shooting.

As far as what level I am....I'm a beginner. Still trying to bring things all together.

[SwissJon]

You know when you were learning to drive, and you first got into the car and crunched the gears and mistook the windscreen wipers for the indicators and stuff like that? Eventually you learned to do things without thinking and it all came together. Motor memory took over from conscious thought, allowing you to start to concentrate on the important things, like where you're going.

Well learning photography is exactly the same. Eventually you will learn the basics, your fingers will start to do what your mind suggests, and you'll get the chance to concentrate on creating the photo instead of just punching the button and hoping..

Give yourself the chance to learn, don't be too hard on yourself, just set challenges that help your fingers to learn the movements neccesary to make the adjustments that you will use, and eventually it will start to come together.

You can't learn to drive a car by watching videos, or reading books, you can just learn the technical aspects.. Photography is the same.. get out there and drive your camera.. Be patient with yourself.. There will always be new opportunities to replace the missed ones..

[dvtldav]

I agree with SwissJon but like to add. Go to the critique section and look at pictures in the area you are interested in whether it is landscape, people, macro, etc. and look at the pictures and read the critiques to see what other people say is wrong and learn from what other people are doing not what some book says, because to me, books are just a guideline.

Another good site is "Birdphotographers.net". It is not just birds photos and they have some great shots and critiques there.

Dave

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by dvtldav

Another good site is "Birdphotographers.net". It is not just birds photos and they have some great shots and critiques there.

Ha ha.. Are you still plugging your website Dave?

He said that to me too.. When I got there, I couldn't see any women from Essex at all.. Highly dissappointing.

[dvtldav]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

Ha ha.. Are you still plugging your website Dave?

He said that to me too.. When I got there, I couldn't see any women from Essex at all.. Highly dissappointing.

I am older than you Jon so I guess landscape & wildlife pictures excite me more than pictures of women, but from reading your post seeing that your wife has been gone and you spent the free time in the mountains with your dog maybe you should recheck that website.

And if I remember correctly when I recommended that site you said you didn't have enough time to go to another website.

Dave