Help for someone with zero art knowledge

[amo14]

I am just starting to really get into taking pictures. I love doing it and would like to get a lot better. Right now I feel like I am really getting "lucky" with the shots I take and actually like. Really all I know is the rule of thirds and what each function does, aperture, shutter, ect. I find myself going out and taking pictures of things that I think look nice and playing with the settings a little till I get something I think I like; 99% of the time when I look at it later I realize I hate it. I dont expect at all to be great right away, but I was wondering any tips on how to compose a photo and an artistic way to look at it. As I said i find myself just walking along, on thats nice, click a few times with different settings. I read somewhere that having some knowledge of basic art elements would help a bit. Any guidance would be great.

 

[SabrinaO]

Phototuts is an amazing place to start: Photography and post-processing tutorials from beginner to advanced | Phototuts+
There you can find all sorts of things on composition, exposure triangle, lighting... the works.

 

[Foxx]

From a beginner to another beginner, I focus FIRSTLY on lighting(lighting sources) and the background(when the shot has a subject) and frame(when its a landscape). All of this comes before I even pick up the camera. If I can see blatant overexposure/underexposure or crowding that I don't think I can maneuver around with the camera, I drop it all together. Looking around and finding things you think look nice is a great way to start getting a feel for subjects you want to shoot, but these components make up a huge portion of whether your shot will come out the way you want it to or not.

Of course, there are many other aspects to consider once you actually get the camera out, but as a general tip I think the above helps(me) tremendously.

 

[Neiby]

I read this a couple of days ago and found it to be very helpful, despite the silly title:

FART for Fantastic Photos

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Get the book, "the photographers eye" and google elements of design and composition. It's to vast a subject to just give tips.

 

[emoxley]

Back in the 70s, I took quite a bit of photography and darkroom techniques in school. For almost 40 yrs., I was away from photography, and forgot a lot of what I knew. While the fundamentals of photography is the same, going from film to digital was a whole new experience, and very intimidating. I figured the first thing to do was to learn the new digital SLR camera I bought. I took a night class at the local community college in digital photography. It helped a lot. It made me more comfortable with what I'm doing now. Local camera shops will sometimes have seminars too or photo walks, but their seminars can be kinda pricey. Check into it. I also take some online courses at KelbyTraining.com, which are very good. I've been enjoying them a lot. Also, at photo forums, see if there's other members from your area, that wants to get together and do a photo walk. You can learn from each other. Check for good books at public library. Just a few ideas...............
Good luck! Have fun!

 

[Rafal]

take a look at this site, just found it, many nice articles Photography Composition Articles Library

 

[Forkie]

Get the book, "the photographers eye" and google elements of design and composition. It's to vast a subject to just give tips.

+1

Get this book. Just get it. It's by Michael Freeman and it's superb for learning about composition.

 

[KmH]

Get the book, "the photographers eye" and google elements of design and composition. It's to vast a subject to just give tips.

+1

Get this book. Just get it. It's by Michael Freeman and it's superb for learning about composition.

The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos

The Photographer's Mind: Creative Thinking for Better Digital Photos

Be sure and study some art appreciation so you have an understanding of how and why the visual arts have come to be what they are today:
Living with Art

Artforms: An Introduction to the Visual Arts, Revised (7th Edition)

 

[bennielou]

Getting a photographers eye is about the hardest thing I try to explain to others.
1. Go for the action
2. Go for the abience
3. Power crop
4. Use unusual angles, but don't over do it.
5. Lighting is crucial
6. Look for leading lines. The more intersecting lines, the better.
7. Consider "dead space".

Hope this helps! Have fun shooting!

 

[KmH]

#5 should be #1........