First photos... need an advice!

[Derrel]

Digital Photography Tutorials

Like a digital watch: it shows you little snippets of discrete information, but no concept of where one is within a 12- or 24-hour time cycle.

 

[Charlie Gardiner]

Great start I can tell you now that my first photos didn't come out as good as that. You have a good eye. As for the camera you are using it will be more than enough to get good quality shots but like others have already said you just need to work on your composition a little bit thats all. Unless you want to be shooting fast paced sports then your equiptment will be just fine.

Don't get discouraged keep it up! looks like you have found the right place for advice anyway!

Good luck!

 

[astroNikon]

Thanks a lot for the book, I consider buying it in the nearest future!
But I also believe that I need practice and I just hope to improve it by correcting my mistakes.

Several of the HedgeCoe books are just $5 shipped. Don't just "consider buying it". You spent the money on a camera. Spend a little on education. And if you don't want to read .. I'm sure many will (if they haven't) told you that you'll need to read your manual, many times over.

Learning about photography will help minimize the "hope to improve it by correcting my mistakes" aspect of it.
You don't know your mistakes until you know they are mistakes. So you might as well learn how to do it properly then you'll know your mistakes instantaneously.

Right now I'm reading a book about posing (Picture Perfect Posing / Valenzuela $30). It's greatly in-depth and requires your in-depth knowledge of your camera and lighting. I'm reading it because when shooting people, I don't want to make those simple mistakes that make a photo look just "blah". Online websites mostly pale in comparison to in-depth books.

Spend the money and learn before making all those mistakes on something that you cannot reshoot.

 

[ronlane]

I agree with the above, that education, time and practice are vital to getting better. But you have to be motivated/determined to get better. It's not just reading about things, you have to remember them. It's not just practice, you have to practice things correctly, with a purpose.

I have spent money on books, videos, conferences and classes and photo walks to get better.

One thing you may not have ever heard but I remember being quoted on this site before. One of the famous photographers once said that the worst images you will take will be the first 100,000 you take.

Read and/or watch video's on a specific thing and then go out and practice it. Then add something else to that.

Good luck, it's a fun and frustrating journey.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I learned a HUGE amount from John Hedgoe books, years ago. I reccommend them here, still.

Practice and repetition will help you very much. Knowing the basics of classical photography will make your skill set grow very rapidly. The D3400 has a terrific sensor, and "instant image developing".

We have a member here who took my recommendation on a Hedgecoe book or two, and he has made terrific, rapid, substantial improvement in his photography in just a few months. You will too. John Hedgecoe was a full professor of photography at London's Royal College: he was an amazing teacher of photography. He wrote 32 how-to books.

I just ordered mine, thanks Derrel.

This guy's books are **amazing**. Organized. Well-illustrated. GREAT line drawings, and many small photos. HUNDREDS of small drawings showing how to do things! Step-by-step breakdowns on topics. How to SEE light.How to FIND light. Where to put the camera! When to use a wide-angle lens. When to use a normal lens. How to light small objects. Lessons on things to learn and perfect. How to Do Anything!

I'm not going to name names, but the TPF member with the Hedgecoe books is kicking butt here. Really, really, really learning how to be a good shooter. It doesn't matter if you're shooting film, or digital, or both: the fundamentals of p_h_o_t_o_g_r_a_p_h_y have remained mostly unchanged for decades now. Light writing. Writing with light.

Hedgecoe's books were part of my early years of University study of photography, back in the mid-1980's time frame. If you cannot find a real-life mentor, John Hedgecoe is the next best thing.

Is the art of digital photography by hedgecoe a good book?

 

[Derrel]

Is the art of digital photography by hedgecoe a good book?

That is one I have NOT read! If it is anything like his other 31 books, it's likely very good at teaching concepts and strategies and best-practices, and showing How-To do things by use of many,many many illustrations, diagrams, charts, and sample photos.

The man's books followed a very successful blueprint for showing how to do things in photography, based upon a winning combination of plain writing, experience at university-level teaching of his field, and proven book-writing methods.

 

[Irina_Ser]

Anyway, I tried to post several pictures on shutterstock (just for a portfolio, not for trade) and it didn`t even pass moderation. I just wonder how can I improve the quolity of my pictures? Is that so bad? Can it be possible with my camera? Or maybe it`s better to find another platform for newbies?

You should not be discouraged. Yes, they have some issues, but it's a good start. My favorite composition is the twigs with water drops on them. The problem is that the depth of field does not include all of the twigs, so it looks out of focus. Just make your DOF deeper and problem solved.

The other shots need a better composition, so study composition and try again. Post on here again.

Thanks a lot for your feedback, I`ll be practicing on composition!

 

[Irina_Ser]

Free with a whole lot of good information.
Digital Photography Tutorials

Thanks, I've already know the resource, it is really great!

 

[Irina_Ser]

First photos... need an advice!

Hello, professionals! I've just got started my first new camera (Nikon D3400) and there is so much to learn about it. Anyway, I tried to post several pictures on shutterstock (just for a portfolio, not for trade) and it didn`t even pass moderation. I just wonder how can I improve the quolity of my pictures? Is that so bad? Can it be possible with my camera? Or maybe it`s better to find another platform for newbies?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Hi Irina,

This is a great place to learn from others and improve your photography. While it's fine to post a general question in the Beginners' Forum, you may get better feedback if you post one or two specific images in a thread for C&C (comments and critique) in one of the photo gallery forums. You can see those forums here: Photography Forum If you find that your picture doesn't quite fit into one of the categories, you can post the thread in the General gallery.

Welcome to TPF!

Oh, thanks a lot, this is what I really need!

 

[Irina_Ser]

I am a contributor on Offset, a Shutterstock company. They do require their images to meet certain standards and criterias. It looks like they have given you some feedback as to why the photos didn't pass. Don't give up though!! Keep practicing!! You have a great eye and very creative with your composition. Work on the white balance, exposure and focusing issues. Were you using manual mode when shooting these images? Manual mode will give you the full control on exposure triangle.

You can do this!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Thank you very much! After a little editing Shutterstock approved one of my photos. It`s a start, I believe I used manual mode and macro on several shots.

 

[Irina_Ser]

If you hang out here and ask questions you will get a lot of great advice.. There's a lot of talent on this board. I got a new camera five years ago and found this site. I took the advice I was given here and practiced, practiced and practiced some more. Don't get discouraged.. Keep shooting and keep asking for feedback.. You'll get there!

Thank you, this is what I`m going to do!

 

[Irina_Ser]

Hi, welcome to TPF. I took @Derrel up on the hedgcoe books and I have done many of the projects contained withing, both film and digital. He helped me gain a better understanding on the basics, exposure, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, composition, types of photography, etc. Very easy to read and when you try some of the projects, it really brings things all together. The thing with you tube for me as a beginner, I had no idea where to start, what was good, etc. Additionally, doing the projects makes photography fun, at least for me, and gets you out shooting.

Your new D3400 is a very capable kit. Start by reading the camera manual. My biggest mistake I made with the D3300 was I shot way too many images in auto. Here's the thing, the camera is stupid. Crap in, crap out. In auto mode, you loose all control of the camera's capabilities, it decides what is best and it's often wrong. Modes (P, A, S, M) are varying degree's of user control. Once you understand the basics of each mode, you will gain momentum. So start there in your manual. If you need clarification, post them here in the beginners forum and you will get answers. Additionally, as an example; you read up up on program mode in your manual, maybe look through a Hedgcoe book on program mode, you watch a couple of you tube videos on using program mode D3400, go shoot some frames in program, and finally, post your sample images along with questions here.

I would also encourage you to read up on the camera's metering system right away as well. spot, center, and matrix. Post questions you have in the beginners forum.

Read up on program mode and metering system. Order a couple of Hedgecoe books.

Thanks! Manual was the first thing I`ve done

 

[Irina_Ser]

I agree with the above, that education, time and practice are vital to getting better. But you have to be motivated/determined to get better. It's not just reading about things, you have to remember them. It's not just practice, you have to practice things correctly, with a purpose.

I have spent money on books, videos, conferences and classes and photo walks to get better.

One thing you may not have ever heard but I remember being quoted on this site before. One of the famous photographers once said that the worst images you will take will be the first 100,000 you take.

Read and/or watch video's on a specific thing and then go out and practice it. Then add something else to that.

Good luck, it's a fun and frustrating journey.

Thank you for encouragement!

 

[EddyP]

Hello there!

I am a relative beginner myself but recently put together a list of some excellent online resources, which may well be of interest to you Getting started with a DSLR: The Best Online Resources | A Listly List

 

[Irina_Ser]

Hello there!

I am a relative beginner myself but recently put together a list of some excellent online resources, which may well be of interest to you Getting started with a DSLR: The Best Online Resources | A Listly List

Thanks a lot, great job!