Best way to learn photography

Marty_J

I just use my camera in program mode most of the time. Cameras are very good at figuring out exposure these days, and if I don't get what I want, I just use the exposure compensation to get it. You'll very quickly learn under what circumstances your camera under/over exposes, and you can begin to compensate even before you take the shot. My Nikon D40 also lets you select different combinations of aperture and shutter speed which is useful too. I also really like its auto-ISO function which selects a higher ISO when the shutter speed drops below a certain amount. It's so useful, I don't think I'd ever consider buying a camera that doesn't do this.

I used to use manual mode all the time, but I spent so long fiddling with the controls that I would miss a lot of shots. I'm much happier letting the camera figure it all out and then adjusting as necessary. I also used to shoot in RAW, but editing the photos afterwards was such a pain that half my shots never saw the light of day. I now just shoot in JPEG, and really appreciate being able to use my photos right away. RAW has its uses, but for most people, they'd be better off using JPEG.

One thing that did vastly improve my photos when I started was learning how to use fill flash. Many beginners think the flash is only for when it's dark, but that's not so. Try taking a picture of someone in bright sunlight, and use the flash. Much better!

It's really just a question of looking at your photo, noting what you'd like different, making the changes, and then taking the shot again. You should be constantly reviewing you shots and adjusting as necessary. Once you start to get a feel for what you're doing and how your camera behaves, you'll know what adjustments to make before you take the photo a lot of the time.

pavlovs_dog

weegie.geek wrote: »

Take a look around flickr and when you see something that takes your eye take a look at the exif data to see what settings were used.

i looooove that function

Oblivion

weegie.geek wrote: »

.... and when you see something that takes your eye take a look at the exif data to see what settings were used.

If you are using a PC (as opposed to a MAC), download Opanda Iexif. It's free and small and causes no issues. When you view any jpg image which has exif data intact (not all do because some workflows strip it out e.g. Photoshop's 'save for the web') just hover the mouse over it and right click. In the drop-down menu you will find you have a new View Exif entry which when right clicked will display a comprehensive exif listing.

http://www.opanda.com/en/iexif/

Dave.

[Deleted User]

Well.. i headed out yesterday to visit some friends in London and took my SLR with me, we ended up wandering from Hampstead heath over to Camden.. took some interesting photos that were a lot nicer than I could have done with my old bridge camera.



I've taken it off 'fully auto mode' and put it on program mode (it also has specific portrait, landscape, macro, manual, shutter speed and E mode). After chatting with my wedding photographer, he advised me to knock it down one stop so I don't over expose (then bring up the brightness using a photo package)



I might pop down to Tottenham court road and see if I can get a less geeky camera bag

raptorman

Small 'apertures' i.e.f16-f22 are ideal for landscape photography
or anything where you want lots of sharp detail throughout
the image.

Wide apertures i.e. f2.8-f8 are ideal for portraits as everything
except the subject you focus on becomes blurred/out of focus.

Shutter speeds can be used in a similar way. Fast shutter speeds
are ideal for fast subjects i.e. 1/1000sec and above would be ideal for capturing
things like motor sports without the image blurring.

Slow shutter speeds i.e. 1/30 sec and below are ideal when you want to blur
a subject such as waterfalls or capture light trails.

The best thing to do as suggested above is to try them out,
you would be surprised how different a photo can look with
different camera settings.

ps. remember if you are using shutter speeds of less than
1/60 of a second then you should mount the camera
on a tripod so you don't suffer any camera shake.

Also, most digital cameras now come with 'aperture priority'
and 'shutter priority' modes which makes experimenting a
lot easier


HTH;)

isofa

Oblivion wrote: »

If you are using a PC (as opposed to a MAC), download Opanda Iexif. It's free and small and causes no issues. When you view any jpg image which has exif data intact (not all do because some workflows strip it out e.g. Photoshop's 'save for the web') just hover the mouse over it and right click. In the drop-down menu you will find you have a new View Exif entry which when right clicked will display a comprehensive exif listing.

http://www.opanda.com/en/iexif/

Dave.

Most of the EXIF data can be viewed direct in Windows without any third party apps. Just right click the photo choose Properties, click the Summary tab and then Advanced...

Oblivion

isofa wrote: »

Most of the EXIF data can be viewed direct in Windows without any third party apps. Just right click the photo choose Properties, click the Summary tab and then Advanced...

Quite so, but then for no extra charge, why not have it all?

Dave.

StevieJ

skylight wrote: »

I'm with you! I bought one last year and although the pictures are much more impressive than an "ordinary" camera, I still want better!

I have bought some books, but am not happy with them. Perhaps I just do not have the "eye" as I cannot see the difference sometimes when I change the f-stop etc. So am now using my Tesco vouchers and will be joining the OU photography course in Oct.

Do you get a discount with the TESCO vouchers?

evilgoose

There are quite a few free or minimal charge courses around where I live both in the college and in the YMCA, unfortunately they seem to be aimed at the over 60's or unemployed as they are during the day when alot people at work.

If your camera has an option for quality that allows you to take a picture in both RAW and as a JPEG. I use that, the JPEG gives you the opportunity to view the pic quickly while the RAW image allows for a much greater degree of correction without loss of quality. (JPEG is Lossy).

As has been said practice, its the best way.
Check your library for books. Join some photography forums and have a look at the pics people post, they'll be more than glad to answer questions on what settings/techniques they use - its quite flattering infact! -if someone is interested enough in the image you created to ask about it.

What kind of subjects are you interested in?

sparvar

www.hotcourses.com

They list many courses at different places, worth a try, best of luck!