New here and complete beginner...where to start?

vivalavieboheme · May 2, 2011

I'm new on this forum...I found it through a search on blown out skies and decided to check it out. I've loved taking photos ever since I was a kid, but my only teacher was my dad. I posted some of my photos to a Flickr group one day and a lot of people said they weren't very good. So I'd like to improve, just because it's a hobby and it's fun. Where do I go about starting? I looked through the beginner's forum and saw a lot of terms I don't know, and a lot of techniques I'm not familiar with. Seems like a helpful place, if I had some idea of what I was doing?

KevinPutman · May 2, 2011

Post up a few of your pictures here (no more than 5, will get the best response,).
Post up the ones you think are best, just go off your opinion for now, then the more seasoned photogs here will give you some critique on them, and get you going.

Learn from what they tell you about your pictures, read lots of sites about all the different aspects of photography, and practice practice practice.

mishele · May 2, 2011

Well a good start is letting people here know what you are shooting w/......=)
Next have fun playing around w/ you compositions!! Small changes to the view of your shot can make a huge difference on how interesting it is.
10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Bagpiper · May 2, 2011

mishele said:
Well a good start is letting people here know what you are shooting w/......=)
Next have fun playing around w/ you compositions!! Small changes to the view of your shot can make a huge difference on how interesting it is.
10 Top Photography Composition Rules

What a wonderful link. Thanks a lot for sharing this. Lots of very nice tips indeed. Much appreciated.

Cheers
Jim

TheBiles · May 2, 2011

If you've got $15 lying around, I really recommend Understanding Exposure.

vivalavieboheme · May 2, 2011

Unfortunately, just a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1...ah the glorious college student budget...but hoping for an SLR soon.

jdh313 · May 2, 2011

TheBiles said:
If you've got $15 lying around, I really recommend Understanding Exposure.

I second that, Understanding Exposure is probably the best book about photography.

bentcountershaft · May 2, 2011

jdh313 said:
TheBiles said:

If you've got $15 lying around, I really recommend Understanding Exposure.

Click to expand...

I second that, Understanding Exposure is probably the best book about photography.

Thirded. Also, don't worry about your camera just yet. You can learn composition with anything.

vivalavieboheme · May 3, 2011

Lighthouse, Baltimore, MD by viva_lavieboheme, on Flickr

Still trying to decide which are my best photos...but here's one from Baltimore, MD from around Thanksgiving.

mjbine · May 3, 2011

TheBiles said:
If you've got $15 lying around, I really recommend Understanding Exposure.

+1

AUG19 · May 3, 2011

Can you post a link to a photo you like? Don't 'borrow' it..just give a link.

KmH · May 3, 2011

The 2 most critical aspects of a photograph are the light, and the composition.

Start by studing the 2.

vivalavieboheme · May 3, 2011

AUG19 said:
Can you post a link to a photo you like? Don't 'borrow' it..just give a link.

I take it you mean a photo that I did not take that I like? If so, this one:
Spring in the Desert | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The one I posted above is one that I took myself (the one in post #9)

AUG19 · May 3, 2011

I can see a similarity in your pic and the posted one you like. Close object detailed + far feature giving context. That's a good compositional approach. I think that you incorporated the curve into your shot is a plus. But the one you linked is more a beautiful landscape scene. See how the prominent feature in your foreground claims the whole of the frame to the left whereas the cactus in the other shot is close but allows a view of the landscape both sides. You shot doesn't allow full explanation of what the red/green structure is. The horizons on the linked shot are more levelled-off. Yours aren't level. If it's difficult to achieve with a small compact, you can use software to correct the angle. Last of all, the shot in the desert is taken with beautiful weather and light. You're having to work here with bright but plain light. Early morning or late afternoon would give you more 'atmosphere' to work with - different color of light and more dramatic shadows.