Comments on: What Have You Learned About Photography Lately?

By: Subhankar Mukherjee

Subhankar Mukherjee — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:28:03 +0000

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.

By: Dave Kozlowski

Dave Kozlowski — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:17:39 +0000

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.

By: Antonia

Antonia — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:09:34 +0000

I’ve learned the power you can have to express yourself through photography.

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:42:25 +0000

Attach your camera manual to your right hand!!

By: mslpics

mslpics — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 13:42:50 +0000

-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.

By: aLiTa

aLiTa — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 09:51:34 +0000

- cats make better models than most humans

(I’m sure there’s more but most has already been mentioned by others)

By: jojotherider

jojotherider — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:18:03 +0000

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

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:39:04 +0000

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.

By: KRIS

KRIS — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:20:05 +0000

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

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:59:31 +0000

Yes, the more you shoot, the better your photos can become.
SHOOT FOR THE LIGHT!