sorta starting out...

[tm12333]

So, I'm 18 years old, and just graduated high school.. Any tips for someone who's kinda new, but knows how to use an Olympus Evolt E-500 DSLR on full manual and only shoots in manual focus?

[gturner]

Originally Posted by tm12333

So, I'm 18 years old, and just graduated high school.. Any tips for someone who's kinda new, but knows how to use an Olympus Evolt E-500 DSLR on full manual and only shoots in manual focus?

Sorry to say that your question is very much "how deep is a hole?" No-one can answer it.

What do you want to shoot, when do you want to shoot it. Provide some examples for us to review and crit.

Practice, practice practice, and then when you have done that, practice some more.

[tm12333]

What I shoot is landscape and nature. That's all I will shoot.

I'll attach a photo or two... I dunno what else to do besides that then..

and the attachment are not working, so I'll just supply a link to photobucket.

http://s1084.photobucket.com/albums/j406/Tm12333/

[faeriegodess612]

One word,....Composition. Technicalities are one thing. Making the photo interesting is another. That would be my advice, looking at your link. Possible monitor calibration? Either it's my monitor or something else, but the ones on the link look overexposed.

[tm12333]

Originally Posted by faeriegodess612

One word,....Composition. Technicalities are one thing. Making the photo interesting is another. That would be my advice, looking at your link. Possible monitor calibration? Either it's my monitor or something else, but the ones on the link look overexposed.

It's either it's your monitor or mine.... Maybe it's time I ordered some prints, to see what exactly I'm looking at...

[ravncat]

Originally Posted by gturner

Practice, practice practice, and then when you have done that, practice some more.

Pretty much that.

Also - spend time looking at art and learning about composition. Criticism often seems harshest in the beginning - but if you stick with it, it's the harsh critics that you generally come to learn from. There's always something else to learn, and always more to practice.

I would suggest reading ansel adams books, and setting goals. What is it you want to achieve with photography, what do you want to learn, what do you want to do or say with photography?

[tm12333]

Originally Posted by ravncat

Pretty much that.

Also - spend time looking at art and learning about composition. Criticism often seems harshest in the beginning - but if you stick with it, it's the harsh critics that you generally come to learn from. There's always something else to learn, and always more to practice.

I would suggest reading ansel adams books, and setting goals. What is it you want to achieve with photography, what do you want to learn, what do you want to do or say with photography?

I take photos more as a hobby as it's relaxing for me, but I think criticism is always good to have, so long as it's valid. So, would the library be a good place to look for said books?

[ravncat]

Absolutely. They can always get them too, most libraries have an "inter library loan" system.

[faeriegodess612]

The library or the hobby section at your local used book store. you can find some gems at the used book store, if your willing to sit in the floor in front of that section, and take up residence like i do,... lol

[tm12333]

I take up residence like that anyways, so sure, why not?

I'll have to see what the WCLS (Whatcom County Library System) has in their system.

Also my college's library too...