Past beginner "I think"

debvath · Sep 30, 2008

I love taking photos especially of my kids! I take tons of them and I think some are pretty good. But I really want to get into it MORE. I want to learn lighting and stuff like that. I want out of the AUTO mode and KNOW what I'm doing. I have been surfing the net and came across some HDR photos that are awesome. I really want to learn it all. Where do I start?
Do I get books and read up? I looked into taking classes but not sure if the classes they offer would be what I want. These forums have been a great place to start for sure.

This is what I have been doing so far.....
I get on the computer for a couple hours, take notes. I could really sit here for 8 hrs because there is so much information out there and I want to just take it all in, but is it enough?

Can someone give me some ideas??? Where do I start?

ANDS! · Sep 30, 2008

I would consider a beginner someone who understands and appreciates the Three's of the camera - Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO-sensitivity. I would say that if you haven't gotten that down to where its just second nature, then jumping into lighting and stuff will be overwhelming since it assumes a fundamental appreciation of those basics.

beaminge36 · Sep 30, 2008

Read "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. That will definately get you off AUTO mode. It teaches you how everything interacts with each other. As for lighting, read through Lighting 101 at strobist.com to get a good handle on how to use flashes and the likes for lighting properly. By far the two most helpful sources of information in my opinion.

Nick

Patm1313 · Sep 30, 2008

The best thing to do is get a couple books and read up. If you like the idea of a hands-on class, then try a B&W film class. This will teach you about composition, texture, and all the basics of photography. Almost every photographer I know has started with film, because it requires you to take better shots because you only have a limited amount and because it costs money just to see your results. It's like batters in baseball putting weights on a bat and getting used to swinging it. When they go back to the unweighted bat their swing feels easier. The same goes with film and digital photography. The film photography is the weighted bat.

BTilson · Sep 30, 2008

I agree, not to be derogatory in any manner, but if you're still shooting completely in auto mode, you're still very much a beginner.

debvath · Sep 30, 2008

Well I took photography in high school.('84-'87)
So I do know a little bit about iso and all that. I've developed film and printed it in the dark room but that was some 20 years ago. So it is all coming back to me, just slowly.

reg · Sep 30, 2008

BTilson said:
I agree, not to be derogatory in any manner, but if you're still shooting completely in auto mode, you're still very much a beginner.

debvath · Sep 30, 2008

OKAY! BEGINNER. But I wasn't posting about whether or not I was a beginner. I was simply trying to ask "I want to get back into it Where do I start?"

ANDS! · Sep 30, 2008

Hey hey - lets be Cool Hand Luke here. None of us has any idea about your comfort level, all we have to go off of is the first post above to ascertain your experience level. If you feel comfortable enough with the basics and don't feel you need to master/appreciate AP/SHUT/ISO - then hit up Strobist.com if you are interested in getting your feet wet with lighting.

rub · Sep 30, 2008

Welcome!

I have found that a great way to learn is to post up images you feel are your best, and let others rip them apart. You see what you want to see, others see what you are missing. Honest C&C is one of the best learning tools, imo.

mrodgers · Sep 30, 2008

debvath said:
This is what I have been doing so far.....
I get on the computer for a couple hours, take notes. I could really sit here for 8 hrs because there is so much information out there and I want to just take it all in, but is it enough?

Can someone give me some ideas??? Where do I start?

Well, there you go. This is the attitude you need and how I learn everything I want to learn about any hobbies I might be interested in. I've done it with RC flying, flight simming, sim racing, motorcycles, guitar, and photography to name a few.

I was where you are 9 months ago. I did the same thing, searching the internet and reading what I could. I found this forum. There is a wealth of info right here in the forum. I read current posts, I read past posts, I searched for keywords to learn more of what was mentioned in posts that I've read.

I collected many links during my searching of the net pertaining to photography. I decided to put them in an html file and upload it. Here it is for you to browse at your leisure. My Photography Bookmarks

The 2 links I have at the top of that page are the first two that I found and there was a ton of information. They helped me understand the workings of a camera and photography quite a bit.

Have fun!

cnvang · Sep 30, 2008

Join your local camera club...Some community colleges might have some day or night classes on photography that you can take...Or call local photographers or camera shops and see if they have any seminars.

debvath · Sep 30, 2008

mrodgers Thanks for the bookmarks! I will be plenty busy tomorrow!

maulrat · Sep 30, 2008

rub said:
I have found that a great way to learn is to post up images you feel are your best, and let others rip them apart.

This has got to be the funnest way to learn. I love getting my photos ripped on. I helps me see things I didn't notice before so I can make adjustments in future shots. Just don't take it personal and it'll be enjoyable. :mrgreen:

BTilson · Oct 1, 2008

Just to elaborate on my somewhat succint post earlier, I feel that I have a firm grasp on the relationship between shutter speed/aperture/ISO/etc, and I rarely shoot in anything but manual mode, and I still consider myself VERY much a beginner. Some of the work I am most proud of just withers in comparison to a lot of the stuff that is out there.

That said, the best thing to do is read, read, then read some more, and even above that, take LOTS of pictures, making mental note of the settings used, lighting conditions, etc. Practice makes perfect, especially in photography. You can grasp the theory of it all perfectly, but if you never get out and take pictures, how would you improve?