What Have You Learned About Photography Lately?
Last week’s post by Martin - 100 Things I’ve Learned About Photography - got quite a bit of a reaction around the web - so I thought it’d be interesting to keep the discussion going today and to invite you to submit your own ‘lessons’.
100 is probably a bit much for many of us to come up with - but lets narrow it down to 10 - what are 10 things that you’ve learned about Photography that have helped you improve the most?
PS: if 10 is too many - share as many as you can come up with.
I’ll attempt to compile everyone’s answers in a post next week.
50 Responses to “What Have You Learned About Photography Lately?”
October 15th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Some of the things I have learned lately:
Photography involves more math than I had at first realized.
Never leave home without your camera, an extra lens (or more if you’re lucky to have many), and your tripod.
Breathe.
Don’t expect to be amazing and, in fact, don’t ’shoot’ (hah) for it either.
Be open to advice and then ACT! on that advice.
Never, ever, feel guilty about a bad picture. There are no ‘bad’ pictures; just hiccups along the road of knowledge.
October 15th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
What Have I Learned About Photography? One should not give photography a break! Once disconnected for sometime could mean you need to relearn of things.
October 15th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
1. Making myself use the Rule of Thirds for six months taught me a lot when I knew nothing.
2. Figuring out what attracts me to photos I like gave me lots of new ideas.
3. Keep the camera out of its case and on the passenger seat on cross country drives.
4. Because I’m a beginner, most of my photos will be mediocre. If they’re not, take more photos.
5. Increasing my skill with Photoshop Elements at about the same pace as my photography learning amplified the impact of each. One without the other doesn’t gain as much.
6. Just live with the disgruntled comments of family & friends when you really need to take photos, and give it a rest when you don’t.
7. If it’s digital, the picture is free: be willing to try anything.
8. Use your photos - in web pages, as photo-cards, whatever - instead of letting them sit in boxes.
9. Photos can be of other creative items - paintings, statues, etc.
10. Assignments of any kind always teach me something.
October 15th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
The best camera you can have is the one on you when you need to take a picture. Always keep a point and shoot handy.
Don’t be quick to delete the “bad” pictures from your camera. Especially if you shoot in RAW. Some adjustments and a little cropping can do amazing things.
Shoot with those less skilled. In helping others you perfect your own skills.
Share your work. Make a calendar, photo book or Christmas cards with your own work and send them to others. Don’t underestimate how powerful that personal touch can be to your friends and others.
October 15th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I only have one: practice, practice, practice…
I do a lot of media, sometimes political events which require a different approach than birds, flowers & other stuff. Every time I come home with more experience that results in even better pictures next time.
Knowing what your camera/lens can do in certain conditions BEFORE taking the picture will save you time and help improve your quantity/quality ratio.
On my first conference I took over 1200 photos of which only about 200 were acceptable. Now I only need about 600 shots to produce 200 good ones.
October 15th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
1. Patience.
2. Ask for others opinions, advice
3. A good work flow, can save you time.
4. Take pictures in RAW, if possible
5. You can have the best most expensive camera money can buy, and still take mediocre photos. The combination of skill, and good equipment produces better photos. So keep learning, you never know everything…
October 15th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
(in no particular order)
Photography is expensive - learn to deal with it.
You must get a DSLR if you want to go somewhere above ’snapshots’ (yeah, point and shoot can make good shots too, blah blah… just get a DSLR ;])
A tripod is not mean to be compact. It’s meant to make your life easier when it comes to low light or landscape situations. Deal with this one too ;)
When doing macro, almost every subject is a good subject.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
1. After a year I’m finally getting to understand the ISO-aperture-shutter speed triangle (basically changing one is like changing one of the others; they all are linked together).
2. Don’t feel self-conscious about taking pictures; just do it (finding/making photography friends helps a lot with this).
3. Try to not lust over a new lens, body, speedlight, etc. I bet your camera can do lots of cool things you haven’t even checked out yet (I’m guilty of this one, too).
4. Photography can be a great excuse to go out and do and see things you normally wouldn’t leave the house for; political rallies, a trip to a pumpkin patch, a local sporting event, anything; just go!
5. I took my first intro to photography class this fall; more than a handful of people in the class were brand-new DSLR owners who were upset that our teacher lectured in the classroom “too much.” They wanted to go outside and shoot pictures–now why would they have to come to class to go outside and shoot pictures? Just do it (see #2 above)!
October 15th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
The biggest thing i’ve learned lately with photography is that people consider more money = better photograph.
I guess i’m hanging out with the wrong crowd.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
1. It’s the lens and the person behind it that take the picture, not the camera [for most situations]
2. Relax and don’t stab the shutter.
3. Pressure is good, you will take better pictures and learn more, quicker, if you are under a bit of pressure. [ask your boss if you can do images for the company, or photograph a friends family]
4. Not everyone is naturaly good at taking pictures [me included] but given time things begin to come together and you will get better.
5. The 2 most important pieces of equipment are a smile and a sense of humour.
6. Let other people critique your work, you are not the right person to do it.
7. Shoot in manual mode, it makes you slow the whole process down and you’ll not make so many mistakes.
8. Check your ISO.
9.When shooting anything but still life, shoot with both eyes open, then you won’t miss anything going on around you that might influence your shot.
10. Write about Ten things that you’ve learnt about photography, most people i know, understand things better when they have to try and teach them to others . . .
October 15th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Good question…
1) Spend hours looking on Flickr (or photo sites), see what the ‘fundamentals’ are in shots that you love, look for the elements - focus, shape, light, position, perspective.
2) Don’t worry what the people on the street think of you. Lay down, lean against things, put your body into all kinds of random shapes to get your shot. I know I get a little self-conscious and it frustrates me that I do.
3) Welcome constructive criticism. Ignore the “bad shot” comments, but learn from the “I think this is overexposed” etc. Don’t be precious about your shots, not everyone will love them no matter how much you do/others do.
4) Realise that some days you’re hot, somedays you’re not. I get days where no matter what I try I get bad shots, other days I could photo a piece of garbage and (to me) it will come out beautifully.
5) Assess everything - adverts, cinema, tv, photos. See how the professionals setup their shots. Adverts often only show a small detail of something bigger. They often also use the ‘rule of thirds’, selective focus etc. to good effect.
6) Talk about it. It gets other people interested - once they see they can take more than holiday snaps with just a few seconds of learning they quickly become hooked. Photography is one of the most accessible arts around, sometimes the world shows something so beautiful anyone can capture it - yet it doesn’t reduce the satisfaction of seeing your own shot look beautiful.
7) Try a prime lens. My favourite lens is prime. It makes me work harder. Subconciously it probably makes me frame better shots. Zooms are great but they can make you stand still. So if you don’t want/have a prime remember - move move move and keep moving.
8) If you’re not planning on going pro/earning money (and maybe even if you are) open your shots up with creative-commons licensing. I’ve had a handful of shots used and it feels really nice, even just finding them on a blog.
9) There are no bad scenes. I never cease to be astounded by the number of everyday scenes/images that are made to look amazing. It takes more skill to make the suburbs looks as beautiful as the forest, but everything has its beauty - it just takes creativity/a unique eye to find it.
10) Have fun. The day photography becomes a chore is the day you put the camera down. Don’t worry about getting good shots, worry about enjoying your time out and about. I now go out on day-trips purely to take shots, but I care not if all my photos are poor. At the very least putting the lens between you and the scene makes you stop and admire it.
Not really things i’ve learnt, just things i think.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
1. Shooting with friends that love photography is a lot more fun than people who don’t.
2. Take some time a away from your pictures before you delete them.
3. Memory cards are cheap…have more memory than you can shoot. You’ll never fear wasting a shot.
4. Be willing to take risks. (See #3)
5. Not everyone appreciates the Rule of Thirds.
6. Have more than one camera bag.
7. Keep your battery charged (have a spare). You’ll never know when you are going to need it.
8. Listen to the comments. They are all important.
9. You can never have too much hard drive space.
10. Do you what you love.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Here’s a few:
1. do lots of courses and learn the “rules”
2. break all the rules at least once in every photoshoot
3. think before you click…digital might be cheap but there’s nothing worse than a card full of crappy photo’s
4. take a couple of extra shots changing something (orientation ie portrait/landscape, depth of field, shutter speed -what ever)…I don’t do this one enough.
5. learn on a point and shoot, perfect on a DSLR
That’s all I can thing of for now. I agree with most of what other’s have said above too.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:26 am
1. In order to take good and unique pictures I have to be willing to be inconvenienced
2. Take fewer pictures, spend more time composing each one. Just because the camera and fire away at 5 fps doesn’t mean I have to.
3. I’m taking the time to study my own pictures and develop my own style.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:09 am
1 your best pics are not necessarily your planned pics
2 the pics you are proud of are not necessarily the pics others will like
3 some of your simplest pics are your best
4. If you have a zoom and a semi-stationary object take a series of pics zooming thru full range of the zoom
5 take weird shots from off angles just for fun
6 landscapes use high f-stop. The eye likes clarity in the foreground
7 Put variety on your website. Different pics attract different eyes
8 your family is not necessarily your best critic
9 if in doubt shoot. you can always fix or erase later
10 clean your equipment each time you put it away. better results and less “fixing” later
October 16th, 2007 at 1:17 am
When you see something you want to shoot, stop, take the picture and before you decide to leave, move, recompose and shoot again. Now get closer to the ground and take another shot. Try to get some place higher up and take the shot.
Point being. Don’t just see something and shoot it just because it looks good. Take the time to look around and see if there are other vantage points that can emphasize what you are trying to achieve.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:03 am
If your exposure adjustment is off your images will be really screwed up intil you figure out what is wrong with your camera. ;)
October 16th, 2007 at 2:40 am
Always shoot alone. I can’t concentrate when I’m with someone else.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:53 am
1) Courses help, even lectures. Listening to someone else’s experiences can open up a whole new world.
2) Look at the pictures in the newspapers. See how the pros approach their subject matter.
3) Don’t envy the pros their fabulous lenses - they get theirs for free :-)
4) (and this one I’m working on) Learn to love a tripod.
5) (also working on this one, someone said it earlier): be willing to be inconvenienced to get a great shot - this may mean waking up before dawn, driving a long distance, getting cold, getting wet…
6) Be prepared to be disappointed in what you shoot; the best photographers in history talk about their mistakes - you are entitled to make plenty.
October 16th, 2007 at 3:23 am
I’ve learned a ton of the past two years.. but to list a few..
1) Photography is an expensive habit/hobby/addiction/profession.
2) Once you become more serious about photography you view everything as a photoshoot… Even on the subway you’ll think to yourself that something would be a perfect shot.. if the lighting was better or if the angle was different.
3) There’s a huge difference between a picture.. and a great photograph… great photographs are art.. a picture is just a reproduction of a moment.. however useless it may have been.
4) Raw Rocks!!….
5) Photoshop Rocks!!
6) Never delete a photograph… in a year or so you may see it different and it can become your favorite work of art.
7) Keep shooting… and when you think you have enough.. shoot some more..
8) It’s always better to get criticism from people on the web.. who you’ve never met… and can’t punch in the eye! :-)
9) Good quality photo paper makes a huge difference..
10) When buying new photo equipment.. test it in a store… buy it on the web… the savings usually end up being significant… and only use vendors that accept pay pal.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:07 am
1 RAW isnt everything, just helps if u know what ur doing
2 Telephoto at night.. bad idea
3 Canon shafted us with +-3ev, Nikon has +-6ev..??
4 A solid tripod is a b*tch to carry around but worth its weight in the longrun
5 Photographing the light not the landscape is pretty difficult
October 16th, 2007 at 4:07 am
10 Things I have Learned about Photography
1. The LCD screen on the back of a camera is not always accurate. (Many times that shot looks decent, only to find out it is blurry on a larger screen.)
2. If you want a sharp photo, you need to use a good tripod. (You never realize just how shaky your body/arms can be until you need that still shot)
3. Study what you like and don’t like about your photos. (If you take time every time you download your photos to look at the likes and dislikes, you can improve on the next shot)
4. Sometimes the unexpected shot is better than the planned. (Shoot often and don’t worry about having everything placed “just right” sometimes the unposed shots are better than the posed. But take the posed shots too, just in case.)
5. Be flexible. (What you envision in your mind is not always what you can achieve. Work with what you have and make the best of the situation. If you can be creative and flexible you may get a better shot than you originally thought)
6. Accept criticism openly - and with a grain of salt. (Allow your photographs to be critiqued, sometimes others have insights that can help you - but keep in mind everyone’s opinion is different and just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t mean you are wrong, or even that they are right. Accept the criticism, then decide to use it, or not.)
7. Post-processing software can be a great teacher. (In the beginning it may help you create better photos than what came out of the camera. After a while, if you are always fixing the same thing, you will know what to improve on before you take the shot.)
8. Enjoy it. (Don’t shoot when you are frustrated or angry, it will show in your photos - and you won’t have fun, either. If you are relaxed and enjoying what you are doing, that will show in your photos as well.)
9. Take time to shoot, if you have it. (If you can set up your shot, do it. Take the time to look around and try out different angles or shots. If you don’t have the time, take the shot anyway and hope for the best. You never know when you will end up with the “lucky shot”. Just don’t be disappointed if you don’t get it.Know you did all you could to get what you got.)
10. People who have that “one-in-a-million” shot probably have just that. (Don’t be discouraged when you see the great shots others took if you have a bunch of “bad” ones. They most likely took the million shots to get the one great one. The photographer sees the million shots in the trash, the viewers only see the ones the photographer deems good enough to share.) This one was the most valuable lesson for me. I would get disappointed when my photos weren’t turning out “amazing” every time with the effort I put into them. But, as I thought about it, no one brags about their “bad” shots. So, I keep practicing and shooting away, knowing that somewhere in the bunch will be that “keeper”.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:48 am
1. Challenges/assignments expand the mind and skills of the photographer
2. Always check your ISO before shooting
3. If you would normally make an exposure in portrait, try to find a way that it works in landscape (or vice versa).
4. Observe another photographer working to gain a new perspective.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:19 am
Here are the rules I live by:
1) MAKE MISTAKES
2) Forgive yourself. Unless you are Ansel Adams or Vincent Versace or some other guy with oodles of money and gallons of time to practice - you are probably going to make mistakes (if you are consistently shooting). To quote Tom Hopkins, “I don’t see failure as failure, merely as the opportunity to acquire the feedback I need to make better decisions in the future.” Failure is an event, not a person.
3) Find a group with similar interests and hang out with them. You should NOT be the smartest person in the room. When you surround yourself with people who are smarter/better/more experienced than you, you are in fertile ground for growth.
4) If you ARE the smartest person in the room, share. Teach. Teaching reinforces what you already know better than anything.
5) If you Are the smartest person in the room, don’t act like a donkey. The room is small - the world is big. There are plenty of people smarter than you.
6) Never stop making images. It is only through trial and error that you will discover YOUR vision.
7) Learn to see light. Actively look for beautiful light as you go through your day. When you see it, think about how to capture it.
8) Do assignment work. Whether you do assignments from online forums or from books or from clubs - having a clear mission helps you to learn to think creatively and use the tools you have.
9) Photographers create great images because they see creatively and are able to see in a situation what no one else can see. And they know their equipment what it an and can’t do. So take pictures with what you have. Don’t get caught up in the equipment race. If you need it buy it - but the more stuff you have, the more complicated your decision making process.
10) Find inspiration. Some of my best experiences have been at classes. Many colleges have outreach programs that bring in fantastic instructors for a week or a weekend. The Santa Fe workshops and similar experiences are awesome. Photoshop World is well worth attending. (And fun!) There are retreats and weekends and photo shows all over, all the time. The friends you make experience you gain, feedback and encouragement you receive are far more valuable than one more lens
October 16th, 2007 at 6:56 am
1 - If you don’t shoot RAW, pay attention to the WB setting.
2 - Use a flash particularly at day light.
3 - If you have the chance take your time during shots, if not shoot anyway.
4 - Post your pictures somewhere and try to learn with the critics. Even when you feel they’re not fair.
5 - You don’t need a good camera to make great photos, but it helps…
ZM
October 16th, 2007 at 7:44 am
1. Good pictures don’t essentially come from expensive camera’s. Try to get the best of your existing equipement by knowing it well. Study your camera. Its the eye and the head behind the camera that matter.
2. Like Peach says above, Photgraphy does involve lot of mathematics.
3. Always carry a extra memeroy card and set of batteries with you.
4. Read as much as possible about this art, you can learn something new from every article. Practise what you read.
5. Even a avgerage person can get good photo’s if he is ready to learn the basic rules and the math involved in this art.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:46 am
1. You learn a lot from being around other photographers, either forums. This applies online and offline.
2. Groups of people can go out together and take photos and it’s entirely possible for everyone to have completely different shots.
3. If you’re not feeling photographically inspired, keep lists of projects that you want to do when you’re back in the mood (or look around the internet until you find something that’s inspiring).
4. Prime lenses are fun because they can require more creativity, and you’re likely to get hooked on the large aperture.
5. Not every photo turns out, and digital photography doesn’t have film costs, so take as many pictures as you want.
6. Just because a photo doesn’t turn out right out of the camera doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause.
7. Photoshop isn’t a dirty word in photography, if you know how to use it, it can make a good photo great. Or a boring photo into a totally new creation.
8. It’s not all about the camera. You can have the best camera in the world, but it won’t change the person behind the camera who has to do all the hard work.
9. Photography is fun! If it’s not fun, figure out why, and change what you’re doing until you are having fun.
10. Don’t worry if people laugh, and don’t worry about always being “arty” or “serious” or any of the other words that a “true artist” should be described as. If you enjoy taking photos of rubber ducks rather than people, let those rubber ducks loose! They’re more cooperative anyways.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:00 am
I’m just going to write the main thing that Photography has taught me.
Always appreciate the beauty around you.
This world is filled with so many beautiful and amazing things and you really need to take the time to appreciate it (and maybe take a few pictures) or you may just move through life missing all of what it offers you
October 16th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Oddly, just yesterday, I put together a list like this: http://tinyurl.com/3cawqu
October 16th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
The one thing I learned this past week is that I still have a heck of a lot more to learn. I like to have driven myself crazy trying to figure out how to turn off my flash. I still haven’t figured it out, but I will because it is washing out too many of my pictures.
Just in case you are wondering I have a Canon Powershot A540, 4x optical zoon with 6.0 mega pixels.
I’ve been reading a lot of the information here and you guys have great tips and information. Thanks for sharing.
TG
October 16th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Once I sat down to compose comments for this post thoughts began to flow. Apologies for going past 10 items.
* When photographing a scene I have learned that good imaging making is more about the shadows than the light.
* When Ansel Adams was asked why there were no human subjects in some of his best landscape images he noted, “There was. I was there.†(Paraphrasing) – Think about that.
* Digital post process workflow made me appreciate just how much my photographic laboratory does for me to make me look good when I shoot film.
* A negative made 100 years ago by George Eastman can easily be reproduced today. Digital files may be obsolete with the next version of your operating system.
* Don’t delete anything you photograph digitally. Save it. Learn from it. Today’s trash might be tomorrow’s gems.
* Take copious notes.
* Back-up. Back-up. Back-up.
* Photo manipulation software is a poor solution for bad photography.
* Tunnel vision is your friend. Learn to see the world through your viewfinder.
* Allow viewers to see only what you want them to see.
* Compose well.
* See what others cannot, then show them.
* Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they are gone.
* Be careful of who’s advice you buy and be patient with those who supply it.
* Be defined by your own style.
* Read the instructions that came with your camera even if you don’t follow them.
* Know your equipment. Make it an extension of your hands, mind, heart and eyes.
* Don’t take pictures. Craft images.
* Don’t discount your rate or the images you crafted when selling them. To do so will diminish your worth in the marketplace.
* Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
* Art is provocative. Don’t be afraid to push the limits with your images.
* Never stop learning.
* Learn the rules first then break them.
* Old Saying – A poor craftsperson blames their tools. Equipment does not make a photographer.
October 17th, 2007 at 12:59 am
Most of these have been said before my post, but I’ll post them anyways.
1. Get a tripod. I was kind of shocked how much I used it. I also picked up a travel tripod that could fit into my case for ease of use.
2. Invest in atleast one extra battery and memory card.
3. Take more photos. I read somewhere that your first 10,000 photos are your worst. Try joining or contributing to a project. Like the “Photo a Day for a year” project. I’m only on day 52 and I’ve already learnt a ton about ISO/apature/shutter speed.
4. Become psychic. I was at a family wedding and when some candid shot looked good in the view finder I snapped the photo only to see the moment had passed. It helps to anticipate the moment for something like candids. “Rapid fire” also helps.
5. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Digital photos are “free” to take and see the results.
6. The internet is a goldmine of information. Not sure why a picture isn’t coming out the way you want? Research it. Ask on forums or ask google, chances are you’re not the first to run into this problem.
7. As others have said “Equipment does not make a photographer”. I’m guilty of this one too. I’m always looking for what to get next. Fact is I don’t NEED it.
8. Shoot in Raw. At least for Nikon you can play around with the white balance in Photoshop later when in Raw.
9. Challenge yourself. Push yourself to learn. Don’t always take pictures of the same subject. Explore. Or try new a new perspective.
10. Have fun. If it’s not fun, whats the point?
October 17th, 2007 at 5:39 am
Even the most professional photographers take MANY more photos than they need. That’s how they get the good ones!
Don’t buy a new piece of equipment thinking that it will automatically enable you to take great pictures. More often than not it will just be one more thing you have to add to the equation. Only buy it when you know you cannot grow without it.
October 17th, 2007 at 5:45 am
1) Don’t be hard on yourself and expect instant perfection.
2) Take constructive criticism to heart.
3) Learn from other fellow photographers.
4) The rule of thirds rule rules!!
5) Experiment.
6) Think outside of the box.
7) Note that your style may not be the norm and that is OK.
8) Everything you take is art.
9) Don’t be afraid to get frustrated, but DON’T GIVE UP!
10) Have fun!
October 17th, 2007 at 11:21 am
1) your legs are your most important photgraphy tool. Perspective is key. Walk, climb, crawl, walk completely around your subject if possible.
2) your eyes are the second most important tool. Learn to see, compose, use paper with a rectangular hole or use your hands to frame what you see.
3)everyone has their own style. Enjoy others style and learn but don’t be them. Enjoy what you like.
October 17th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
bilka, no JPG and photoshop will still be around for many operating systems.
I had a JPG viewer for dos. before I had windows!!
and it will continue to be around pretty much as long as we have electricity to run computers.
but what I have learned recently is that ISO on a digital camera means more than noise, and light levels.
it is also handles the level of lowlight detail!!
Light is an logarithmic value. Binary(digital) is not.
but the camera sensor handles this. but as you increase the ISO the available data for the darker areas is lessened. dramatically. I had a eureka moment and read the image sensor data sheet for the sensor in my camera. and the data sheet confirmed what I thought.
Low level data gets chopped.guessed at.
take a photo with the Highest ISO and the lowest ISO to confirm what I am saying.
look at the shadows and you will see what I am talking about.
therefor allways shoot at the lowest ISO not because the Noise is the least, but because the detail is the greatest!
October 17th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
1. Take a few days or a week to learn the technical stuff - focal
lengths vs perspective, bayer-arrays, histograms, white balance, bit
depth, all that stuff. A good place to start is
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm
2. Exposure is easy: Time * Aperture * ISO = Exposure. Double one and
you must halve another to get the same exposure.
3. Composition composition composition. Learn all the classic rules of
composition (rule of thirds, focus points, contrasts, framing, etc)
and force yourself to use them for a couple of months.
4. Regularly visit photo sites like flickr and read at least a couple
of photo blogs like DPS. You will learn a lot faster, and it will give
you inspiration when you are low on ideas.
5. Start by taking pictures of other art (statues, murals, graffiti,
paintings, architecture) from all possible angles. This will teach you
to appreciate art (something I needed :) and as a bonus it usually
gives you some really nice pictures.
6. Mind the background. Good subjects are easy to find, good / simple
backgrounds are harder to find.
7. Be the best you can be with the equipment you have before buying
something new. Learning composition and how to use a tripod is
infinitely more important than having that new macro lens.
8. Write notes. Write plans for where you want to go, what you wish to
buy, what you want to learn, what you need to practice. Make
todo-lists. The human mind is great at comming up with fantastic ideas
and even greater at forgetting them.
9. Share your photos on the net and with friends, and use them for
something. Just dumping everything into a black hole on your harddisk
will kill your motivation in the end.
10. Talk about your photography to your friends and your
girl/boyfriend/spouse. Besides sparking their interest and having fun,
it will make YOU become more commited to photography.
11. Take pictures of everything you find interesting. Always take at
least three pictures. Never care what others think about it.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
1. Learn to use ISO. At first I thought just use the lowest you can to avoid noise, then I realised that ISO can be used to control how much of the background comes through in the image, particularly when you are using a flash to fill the foreground. This can completely change an image. My camera controls “lead” me to try different shutter speed/aperture combinations, but sometimes it is worth trying the same shot with different ISOs also.
2. You don’t have to have a camera with you to get out there and practice. Unfortunately, of necessity, I am often out and about without a camera - but I can still look at the world as if I had one and imagine the shots I would have tried. That way, when I do have a camera, I am more practiced at shot opportunity spotting.
October 18th, 2007 at 12:07 am
Just a couple to add…..
1 (and most important) - Use others for inspiration but always find you own style.
2 - Join a club. Listen to advice, all feedback is positive if used in the right way.
3 - Never stop learning.
4 (this may get me boo’d) - Try shooting film. The increased cost will force you to slow down and think before shooting.
5 - Set yourself projects to focus your attention on an idea rather than giving into the temptation to shoot whatever is there.
6 - Always remember that practice makes perfect
October 18th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
** rodbotic said on October 17th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
“bilka, no JPG and photoshop will still be around for many operating systems.
I had a JPG viewer for dos. before I had windows!!
and it will continue to be around pretty much as long as we have electricity to run computers.â€
————————–
Thanks for reading my post, rodbotic. Please allow me the liberty of answering your comment.
I always suggest that one maintain a cautious posture when it comes to formats. There are really no guarantees.
Look what happened to Sony’s Betamax® video format. Everyone thought there would always be a machine on which to play his or her tapes. How many home movies were made by early video users only to have them sit on a shelf with no machine to play them? Conversions are possible but the companies that do them are few and far between and the cost is high. VHS is destined for the same end now that DVDs are all the rage. You can almost bet that DVDs will be replaced in the next 10 years. HD DVD and Blu-Ray are already beginning to edge them out.
Considering software applications if you had Native files created in an early version of a photographic manipulation application that ran on the Windows® 3.1 operating system the Native files from that version will not open in today’s Vista® and XP® versions. I am sure Mac files fall to the same problems on that O/S. Some early JPEG files are incompatible too.
Do you remember dBase III Plus®, WordStar® or IBM O/S2®? These are just a few examples of obsolete software within just the last 10 years. How about 8†and 5†floppy discs? If you have files on those formats you are out of luck also. Time marches on my friend, formats and applications change.
The best rule of thumb to follow is to watch the formats, anticipate obsolence and do conversions as required to keep your files up to date. Do not fall victim to changes. To ignore this simple fact one puts their files at grave risk.
Apologies to the Moderator for my off-topic reply. Please feel free to delete this post if it does not fit the spirit of this thread.
Fiat Lux!
Bilka
October 19th, 2007 at 2:59 am
Yes, the more you shoot, the better your photos can become.
SHOOT FOR THE LIGHT!
October 19th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Nice words of wisdom. I have a few more.
Every moment in life is beautiful and photographic.
Please do not shoot to please others, but yourself.
Every spoilt shot is a chance to learn further.
What we think is a worst shot can always be set right digitally. ( To a major extent)
Spend more time looking at all the shots taken as they can provide more ideas.
Perfection is a word which has no limits, so never try to reach it, it can never be reached, so please try improving continuosly.
There is no model of Camera or Lens or any accessory which can give you perfect results, so do not wait to take pictures till you have them.
Like what you do, like your work, and always beleive things can be improved.
SORRY I SOUND TOO PHILOSOPHICAL,
But trust me, keep going back to basics, and you will never fail.
Regards,
KRIS
October 30th, 2007 at 6:39 am
Here are a couple things I learned this year that I wish I learned much earlier:
Large Apertures (blurry backgrounds)does not excuse bad composition.
Portraits are best served at shorter focal lengths to capture more of the environment.
Try bouncing your flash backwards/sideways!
Using an Omnibounce can be worse than direct flash if used incorrectly.
400gigs is not enough storage (for me at least).
If the sun is not critical to a shot, keep it out of the frame!
Don’t trust the camera’s meter.
Getting your camera noticed is a bad thing and can lead to unnatural interactions between the subject and the photographer (specifically, big white lens + street photography = no no).
Don’t obsess too much about refining your RAW workflow.
Empathizing with your subject and his/her condition will improve your pictures.
November 22nd, 2007 at 8:18 am
The stuff I’ve learned over the past year and a half:
-(just learning this one) If you’re looking to learn from what you read online, stick to the photography discussions and forums and stay away from the gear forums. It’s easy to forget the creative piece when you’re pixel peeping and judging sharpness of a lens. KEEP THAT KIT LENS! Its great for learning and it isn’t all that bad stopped down.
-if you’re just starting out, spend the least amount of money possible. As mentioned several times, its not the camera, its the person behind the camera. I bought a used dRebel (not XT/XTi) a year and a half ago and some friends with the nicer cameras ask to learn from me. The difference? I’ve taken the time to try and learn how my camera works and understand exposure. Admittedly, I still don’t understand exposure.
-Check your ISO
-Bounce flash is fun
-Shoot raw so you can have more control over the photo later on
-Spend time on the other side of the camera. I’ve been trying to do basic portraits for friend’s family’s Christmas cards. When it came time for us to get our pictures done, it was interesting to see how the photographer worked with my daugher as opposed to how I was working with her kids.
-shoot more
-try a different perspective. I’d done some car photography (mixing two hobbies is fun too!) and the suggestion was made to shoot from a ladder. One of my favorit pictures i took of my car came from the first day shooting from a ladder. Now, when I go out for photo sessions, I’ll throw a step ladder in the trunk of the car.
-Its hard to balance three expensive hobbies. Snowboarding, Photography, and Cars (Subarus specifically) for me.
-small depth of field is great, but make it big enough so you get the focus right (i.e. both eys of a person rather than dof so small you only get one eye in focus)
I’m sure I’ve learned more, but I need to get back to work. :D
-joel
December 19th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
- cats make better models than most humans
(I’m sure there’s more but most has already been mentioned by others)
December 30th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
-The rules of three.
-Good glass is more important than the camera body. But a good camera body helps.
-Use a tripod.
-Use a lens hood.
-Use a flash for outdoor fill in.
-Take your shot with the end in mind.
-Don’t rely on editing to make a good shot.
-Have fun.
-Think out of the box.
-Always take your camera and have it ready to go.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Attach your camera manual to your right hand!!
November 19th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I’ve learned the power you can have to express yourself through photography.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 pm
That (this will sound stupid) using an ND4 filter really helps to reduce glare in architectural shots. I had the filter for a long time but never used it. I’m very pleased with the results on glass and water. It has helped tremendously in my hyper-realistic shots too! It’s especially useful here in Texas with the harsh, glaring sun that we have here ten months of the year.
March 8th, 2009 at 3:28 am
After a burglary in my house in 1993 I lost all my cameras and lenses. That was an era of film photography. After my disgusted and de genereted feelings, I decided not to take a single snap in rest my life. At that time I was steadily picking up just more than the fundamentals of photography. I maintained my promose for long sixteen years in all those , but my infatuation towards photography kept me in touch of sights related to photography and by luck lastly I came accross a sight -DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY SCHOOL in internet. In my those days with cameras on my neck I had to depend every thing on my phoyo labs for a good snap depending on their capabilities with enlargement.. Now I find that a camera and a computer is enough to satiate everyone’s apatite with a camera if a goog sight is there to guide you. Now at more thane sixtytwo, I feel rejuvenated and bought a Fujiflm camera to spend my leaser time. Now I find a good pasttime with my camera and computer.
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