HILARIOUS!

[MTVision]

Nobody is getting upset because you didn't take their advice per se. Everybody is basically telling you the same thing. Like the shallow DOF thing - even if you are shooting at f/5.6 you DOF can still be really shallow - distance is what really matters. At f/5.6 with your subject 5 feet away you are only going to have about half a foot of DOF which is pretty similar to the DOF you would have at f/1.8 and 10 feet away. And noise really isn't that bad - its no worse then a portrait with the flash in the face. Noise can be reduced somewhat in post but you can't get rid of the flash in the face look. Also by not exposing properly ISO 100 pictures will probably have more noise than a picture that was exposed properly at ISO 640. Raising your exposure in post will introduce noise so if you have noisy pictures at ISO 400 that's what it's from.

Everybody else was just saying take it slow - master one thing first then move onto the next.
Kerbouchard gave you some fail safe settings to use with your speedlight to get good results but from my understanding you want to learn and maybe someday do it in a professional capacity. If so, then use those settings but you can also get really creative with lighting. Your photographer friend is great to have but don't take her word for everything either - most people that give you advice (MLeek for example) has been doing this for most of their lives. Everybody has their own opinions and their own way of doing things.

Your last thread - the last 4 pages of bickering from today was not even aimed at you. We were all bickering amongst ourselves ourselves.

And honestly, you get more advice from more people then most do. Ignore the fighting or people who say rude things to you. Take everyones advice and find what works for you. Most people get 1-3 people that post on their thread to give
advice. Be thankful and just ignore the rest. And if you really don't like the fighting then use the search function. You will probably find more information that way.

The conflicting advice: think about the conflicting advice - whoever said to take pictures of moving children with 1/60 for a shutter speed obviously isn't giving the best advice. 1/50 is the minimum for handheld but that's probably not going to give your sharp in focus pictures when dealing with children. Doesn't it make sense that faster shutter speed for moving subjects would be better if you don't want blurring. I also don't know who or why would tell you not to shoot at f/5.6 since that's a decently sharp aperture. You are still going to have focus issues at that aperture if you are 2-5 feet from your subject. In one of your messages you asked about an aperture for shooting between 2 and 10ft - f/8 would be good at 5ft since you would have around a foot of DOF. Anything under 5 feet is going to be pretty shallow. So step back , stop filling the frame and see how your focus is. You can always crop it later to fill the frame if you want. You have an iPhone now so download a DOF app and play with it. Just remember to think about advice given - if it doesn't make sense wIth what you know to be true (fast ss stops action) then discard it.

 

[enzodm]

As a teacher, I personally find that belittling, chastising, and becoming angry at even the most frustrating of students, only slows the learning process even more. (but that's just in my experience) I've found a lot more success with true CC and lots and lots of patience. If for some reason I don't think my student is a right fit for my classroom, well then we work with that. In this scenario, just don't respond.

P.S. I'm still astonished by the anger that is displayed in so many of the threads here. Isn't photography supposed to be about capturing life's beauty? It seems as if we ALL seem to forget the one common "thread" that links us together; our love for a shared art.

I commented on your threads only at the beginning, then I stopped, although inevitably I stumble upon your posts. I found myself looking at your pictures and be able only to think "poor baby, doing nothing while the mother plays". 1000 shots in a week. Uh.

One thing: a forum is not a school. It's more like a pub. Try to imagine coming into a pub with always the same question to the same people... no one is here really to teach, it is only something that happens. However, I do not ask much here, but I'm mostly learning from other's threads. I quickly understood that questions are always the same, and by carefully looking at my pictures I can recognize the same mistakes others do.
There exist photography schools where the relationship is clearer, if you need it for your mental scheme.

Another one (your second post): Most people here knows that online communication is deceiving: apparently only you do not, perhaps helped by the fact you never had personal conflicts (or you never noticed). Here most people perhaps had a normal life, with unavoidable conflicts, and learned how to manage them.

Another one: photography is not supposed to be about capturing life's beauty (and you if you looked at Masters work you would know this). However, trying to capture at least the beauty, or -better- the variety, helps in growing, for me. So, please, look around. It's a hobby for you too, so do your exercises if you must, but also try to have fun. It's not fun what your pictures communicate... just "I SO SO SO want this". Look at other's beginners pictures... as soon as there is a little of knowledge, you see some taste starting to appear, some eye growing.

Ah, I'm a teacher too, but with much more experience than you. Sometimes also teach to (graduate) adults; some give extreme satisfaction, some are full of good will, but... let's say, superficially applied.

 

[rexbobcat]

Oh boy, this is probably going to get ugly.

.

 

[rexbobcat]

Also; I think you are taking the 'rules' a little too literally. They aren't rules as much as they are guidelines. If I can get a decent image through unconventional means, then it's honestly nobody's business to say anything to me, because I got the image I wanted regardless of my methods.

Also; I think the reason people are becoming agitated with you is because you seem to want information handed to you like people who are educated in this subject owe it to you. When I began taking photos (and I am still learning A LOT, I just opened up a whole new dimension that I know nothing about), I did all of my studying using impersonal resources, such as books written by Nat. Geographic, and LIFE magazine. Respectable sources that give much unbiased, technical information, as well as information about how all of the greats achieved their...well...greatness (in their photos at least).

As on person said above me; a forum is not a school. It is a place for connecting and 'socializing.' Most of the learning is your responsibility, and although the people here want to help, most don't like walking a budding photographer through the baby-steps without any noticeable effort on your end.

And even if you say that you're trying...if your effort doesn't manifest itself in your images, then total strangers on the internet will probably give up on you.

Jus' sayin'

 

[Pau1]

(head still spinning but slightly enjoying it now because I have had a glass of wine )

TMI

 

[SCraig]

...Who are my supposed to listen to? Who is right? ...

All of them, none of them. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' in photography. There are certain ways, which are generally regarded as 'the best' or 'most appropriate' to achieve certain results, and there are certain definites, such as, "smaller apertures result in increased DoF", but at the end of the day, photography is almost exclusively an artistic pursuit, and no one can really teach art. Take all of the different suggestions, recommendations and bits of advice, and apply them. Decide what you like and what you don't. Use those you like, disregard the rest. Simple really.

I read most of the first post and I read this one and so far this is about the best response I've seen. There are no absolutes, there are only shades of gray. There are no rules, only recommendations. Solutions to photographic problems are based on experience, in knowing when to say "That didn't work, I'll try something else" and knowing what else there is to try.

You said, I think, that you are a teacher of psychology (I could be wrong, moot point). Pick one psychological disorder. It doesn't matter what, any one will do. Now answer this simple question: What is the one and only guaranteed-always-correct cause for that disorder? It can't be answered that way. There is seldom one black-and-white answer. Photography is the same.

All of the advice you have been given is based in fact. They are solutions that each per person has tried and had success with. And the solutions to the problems are what come with experience. They are not included in the box with your camera, they cannot be gained from an internet forum, they can ONLY be obtained through experience. Through taking a photograph, LOOKING at it critically by yourself, and decided what worked and what didn't.

Do you know how to tell whether or not an out-of-focus shot was caused by motion blur, by missing the focus point, or by depth of field issues? I don't either much of the time and I've been shooting for over 45 YEARS. If one goes bad I try changing ONE setting to see if it makes things better or worse. If it doesn't then I know that setting wasn't what caused the problem so I go back and try something else.

Of course, over the years, I and every other photographer have developed their own little bag of tricks to know what works FOR THEM and what doesn't. Of course there are basic rules of exposure that we all have to learn and live within. Of course there are some things that will not work no matter how badly you need them to. Photography is not a game of absolutes it is a game of compromises. We all went through the frustration of learning the basics but once LEARNED we all managed to find ways to work within the limitations of our equipment.

THAT is what everyone has been trying to tell you. You appear to be hung up on this focus thing and with modern equipment that is probably the LAST thing you need to worry about. Your camera WILL give you a solid focus lock 90% of the time. It WILL give you the best focus possible AT THE POINT YOU CHOOSE. That's a given, forget about it. Move on to solving the next issue.

When you are ready for help there are people here, and on every other photography forum I've been on, who will gladly provide that help. The problem is that WE do not know the exact circumstances of a shot, WE can only see the end result. YOU are the one who was there, who pressed the shutter release, and know exactly what limitations you were working within. Some of the responsibility for a poor shot has to go to the photographer and not everyone who is trying to help.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

I think somehting is off. I think too much dialog posting and an obscession about the same things over and over. I think it might be a good idea to take a day or two or three off and focus on somehting else in your life besides TPF. Come back in a few days fresh and centered and work on only one aspect of what you have selected to improve on and build on it.

 

[Dillard]

bottom line...this is the internet, everyone hides behind their own name and can try to be there person they want. When it comes to advice, take it, leave it, experiment. You don't have to listen to anyones advice. Take pictures, ask for critique, practice more. You will NEVER get complete satisfaction from everyone, but hey thats life. It goes on

 

[Robin Usagani]

Just shoot and judge it your self. It is digital after all. Memory is cheap and you can see the preview on your screen! You need to build your taste level high. If you have a high standard, your shots will get better. I swear by it.

Also, you need to ASK more questions. Dont ask general questions. Ask more specific questions. If you ask general CC or general questions, you get gazzilions answers.

 

[thereyougo!]

Two things: don't take things here so personally. I do find it a little more firm here than elsewhere but try not to take it personally. Secondly, try out all the advice. You need to find out what YOU like. Not much in photography is truly objective. You need to find your likes and dislikes that's how you pick up your own style. Don't take so called rules literally all the time. There are times when they need to be challenged

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

This has been the best episode this season!

I can't wait for the season finale!

 

[ababysean]

oh you mean photography is actually hard and you can't just buy the best DSLR and flash you can afford (or can't) and be a pro? well damn....

I did try to help you on the other post. It is important to learn photo mumbo jumbo, if you go out and just shoot what are you learning? Your pictures in the other thread were bad. I didn't say so in that thread because I wanted you to read my post without being defensive.

I would say whoever told you to shoot at 1/60 on a child is nuts or never shoots children... UNLESS you are using flash correctly.

I can't tell if those pictures are in focus because they are so blown out and horrid I can't get past that....

did you even try my settings I suggested?

I want to help because I too and still learning and I know how much work it is. I do think you want a simple answer and when that simple answer doesnt get you positive results you get defensive, understandable. No one is saying take every bit of advice.

Your first mistake is practicing on your toddler, inside, at night, in a house. wrong. get one of her stuffed animals or little people toys and use that non moving target to play around with the settings....

off my soapbox, gonna go feed my youngins. have a good day.

 

[rateeg]

i am very lazy to read =p

 

[cgipson1]

No matter what your ""successful"" Texas friend tells you, there is a good bit of basic science (physics of light) that you have to learn, before you can get decent images. Then you can start on the "ART" part of things....

And stop flashing your "credentials"... as we have yet to see any proof of genius on your part. They mean nothing in this particular instance.

Shoot one shot.. examine it.. figure out what you want to change (whats wrong with it?).. determine how to make that change ( we are happy to help with this!)... change it.. shoot again... verify that the change took place... if not, why?

If the change is good, hard code that change into your learning process, so you don't make the same mistake over and over! shooting 1000 shots in the wrong way, without reflection.. will get you nowhere!

 

[Boxhousev]

It's funny ababysean...you just proved her point. And to agree with her. nothing annoys me more personally, then pretentious jerks that give ur opinions opposed to being helpful. It's funny that my first comment to my husband was this forum is one of the meanest I have ever seen. Especially in the "newbie" section. If we are so horrible, post in the professional gallery! Isn't this the place where I should gain knowledge and be incouraged to continue my craft. I read these posts and feel terrible how cruel others can be. Some of you don't apply you provide helpful information with a compliment. You give actual constructive criticism which is appreciated. Others think they are some sort of "gods gift to photography" and are nothing more then cyber bullies. Just remember you too were new... I thought by joining I would gain a community, not hostility and judgment. Just my two cents.