Other ways to practice my photography skills?

[vintagesnaps]

Why do people on this board continually have to be so snarky to someone posting in the beginner's section who seems to be just asking for suggestions about how to develop their photography skills?

Tigidig, you might try what Andrew mentioned above about going to the library, and you could look up well known photographers online and look at their photos - maybe try museum websites like the Getty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, the Smithsonian, the National Gallery, etc. I think that can help you learn how photographers framed and composed their images and how they photographed different types of subjects etc.

When you're out taking a walk you could try noticing different things like color, texture, lines and shapes, contrast of dark and light, etc. in what you see around you - maybe think about how you're capturing those type things in your photos. Keep enjoying your walks.

 

[SkyCaptain]

Why do people on this board continually have to be so snarky to someone posting in the beginner's section who seems to be just asking for suggestions about how to develop their photography skills?

RESPECT.

 

[Designer]

Why do people on this board continually have to be so snarky ..

Went back looking for "snarky", and may have seen one (1), but so what? Why can't someone throw a little humor in once in a while? Are newbies allergic to humor?

Are you?

BTW: I offered 7 (seven) suggestions for how the OP can branch out and explore his photography hobby, and you only offered two, one of which was already suggested by someone else.

Thanks for your one suggestion, BTW.

 

[Derrel]

I've been able to photograph people on the street, at the beach, wherever, just by walking up to them, telling them my name, stating that I am a photographer, and then asking them, "Hey, could we do a few photos here for you?"

I think, and this is not a joke, that one of the keys is being able to state your name and then in the same sentence say the phrase, "I'm a photographer." A LOT of people cannot say that phrase.

If you cannot say, My name is ____ ______, and I am a photographer," people think..."Okay...weirdo with camera....hmmmm....whaaaat? NO!"

That phrase (Hey, could we do a few photos here for you?") has a few keys: 1) could WE and 2) for YOU.

Be friendly, be yourself, be cool about it. Look 'em in the eye. If they say no, then say, "thanks! have a great day!" and move on.

Looking at photos, as amolitor suggested. Sounds simple, doesn't it. It is a time-honored way of learning what makes photos work, or not work.

 

[kundalini]

Don't put your friends and family members through the turmoil of your practice sessions. Get yourself a monkey!

 

[tigidig4x]

I shoot almost any scenes i see here in our place. I do street photography, portraits of random people, candids, landscapes (only in the city i live), i even try to shoot events like in our city like fire, or vehicular accidents, i shoot anything that i could shoot, to the trolls above, please don't comment if you don't get my whole point. But i accept that as a newbie, i know i would go across this well then, thanks anyway. Maybe i could try that macro and abtracts stated above. But i really want to shoot portraits whom i have a model/subject to shoot to. Maybe finding them is still a long way to go. But i'll try. Thank you so much.

 

[amolitor]

Derrel's is spot on. In the USA, at any rate, giving your name is powerful. People tend to immediately feel more comfortable with you. Dunno if it's the same elsewhere, though.

 

[tigidig4x]

Derrel's is spot on. In the USA, at any rate, giving your name is powerful. People tend to immediately feel more comfortable with you. Dunno if it's the same elsewhere, though.

Here in our country in the Philippines, telling your name to some people might say you are weird. Not all but majority of them. But the beauty of photography here in our country, is that photography here is absolutely free. I don't know to some countries but some say if police officials see you are using a very long camera lenses they tend to interview you (don't know if it's true) but here in Philippines, photography is free. People whom i even photograph through (in street photography) poses for a shot.

 

[bratkinson]

Since it appears you are already doing some candid photography out in the streets, etc, you should have countless subjects available. You may want to consider taking pictures of some non-professional sporting activities that occur everywhere from quiet streets to 'organized' games in parks where admission is free.

Try going out around sunrise and sunset...get a handle on what 'the golden hour' light can do for your pictures. The long shadows created by the low sun angles can be used for some stunning photographs. I lucked out once and photographed a solid-gold mountain in Canada about 30 years ago. 30 seconds later, the golden color was completely gone. Go out in the fog, the rain, or any other kind of weather (protect your gear!). One of my favorites are early morning, just after sunrise, fog shots...think industrial settings of workers doing whatever they are doing.

And if you haven't already done so, take the camera off "A", and start using creative modes such as Av and Tv, or even M. Learning the effects of every change in the exposure triangle is critical. Knowing when to use settings other than 'normal' is an important step in learning photography.

Then for a real 'leap'...buy a flash and learn how to use that effectively indoors and outdoors.

 

[Gavjenks]

When I bought a cheap old 35mm film camera at an antique store and played with it for awhile, I found that it significantly improved my photography on the technical side of things. As in, having to so carefully consider every single variable and use an external light sensor (internal was broken) made me much less prone to forgetting to change crucial settings on my DSLR later on. I dont do things as often like forgetting to change ISO etc. when moving from indoors to outdoors.

Also, it slowed me down since photos cost like 30-50 cents each all told, and forced me to be more patient with my composition, which is good practice as well.

And it made me pissed off that my digital camera doesn't have a ground glass focus plate =P Those things kick ass.

 

[frommrstomommy]

I'm with whoever mentioned facebook.. lol I posted a few samples of pics I took for one friend n that I was looking for more guinea pigs and had a bunch of local friends volunteering!

 

[tigidig4x]

Since it appears you are already doing some candid photography out in the streets, etc, you should have countless subjects available. You may want to consider taking pictures of some non-professional sporting activities that occur everywhere from quiet streets to 'organized' games in parks where admission is free.

Try going out around sunrise and sunset...get a handle on what 'the golden hour' light can do for your pictures. The long shadows created by the low sun angles can be used for some stunning photographs. I lucked out once and photographed a solid-gold mountain in Canada about 30 years ago. 30 seconds later, the golden color was completely gone. Go out in the fog, the rain, or any other kind of weather (protect your gear!). One of my favorites are early morning, just after sunrise, fog shots...think industrial settings of workers doing whatever they are doing.

And if you haven't already done so, take the camera off "A", and start using creative modes such as Av and Tv, or even M. Learning the effects of every change in the exposure triangle is critical. Knowing when to use settings other than 'normal' is an important step in learning photography.

Then for a real 'leap'...buy a flash and learn how to use that effectively indoors and outdoors.

Thanks for the reply. I have been shooting free admission football games in our fields here in our city often. I have also shot a basketball play once.

Also, the sunrise and sunset, i also have 4 picture of them ( actually, i had many but only 4 of them i have made really good for me) 2 sunrise and 2 sunset, at different places. I also think, in the rain but i'm not so sure how to do it. I've been using manual mode, but i use program mode when i shoot street photography. I have canon speedlights, but i really don't like it to use that much. As long as think i could use some natural light, ill go for it.

I'm with whoever mentioned facebook.. lol I posted a few samples of pics I took for one friend n that I was looking for more guinea pigs and had a bunch of local friends volunteering!

I also tried that buddy, but i really can't seem to get one. Maybe, the reason is, i'm not so good at communicating and i'm afraid i couldn't do it right. Im afraid i couldn't do it right if i don't know the person who is my subject, but if its a friend, or a neighbor, i could just say sorry. But sadly, still couldnt find a friend to pose for me or a neighbor.

 

[bratkinson]

I wasn't suggesting taking pictures of sunsets/sunrises, although those can yield some outstanding results. I have a number of them myself, especially when I was 1000s of miles from home.

Instead, take pictures during those periods when shadows are long, and the lighting is 'golden'. Buildings, people, scenery, etc. If I had more time, that's when I'd go out almost every morning and evening and take some shots just to develop a better 'eye' for the lights and darks of that part of the day.

 

[tigidig4x]

I wasn't suggesting taking pictures of sunsets/sunrises, although those can yield some outstanding results. I have a number of them myself, especially when I was 1000s of miles from home.

Instead, take pictures during those periods when shadows are long, and the lighting is 'golden'. Buildings, people, scenery, etc. If I had more time, that's when I'd go out almost every morning and evening and take some shots just to develop a better 'eye' for the lights and darks of that part of the day.

Ok, maybe ill try that later this evening. That would be nice, thank you so much!

 

[sebier]

You can join a local meetup.com photography group or local club, they usually keep a wide variety of shooting events and challenges going with peer review. There's a million ways and more to see the world around us