Very New To Photography! Have lots of questions...PLEASE HELP!

[katecaffrey]

Hello!

I always wanted to learn how to take gorgeous photos...but I don't know where to start...

I know absolutely nothing about photography...so here are my questions:

1) what books should I read to learn about photography

2) How can I take pictures like this: http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c5/89/c2/c589c2cab01cb2cf17f187479c807649.jpg

3) How can I blur the background of my photos? like this: http://www.kayture.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ktr_0135.jpg

4) you can see her hair strands, is this high definition?? http://www.kayture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/KTR_8393.JPG

5) how can i show makeup in photos like this: http://www.kayture.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/JVP_6240.JPG

thanks!!!!

 

[Designer]

Welcome!

1. Look for books on composition, lighting, posing, etc.
2. Get a half-way decent model.
3. The blur shows the effect of a shallow depth of field, which is achieved by a combination of wide aperture and distance to the background.
4. Not what is normally called "high definition", but sharp, for which a very short shutter opening is required. (fast shutter speed)
5. Very soft, even light, usually by means of a large light source emanating from a large modifier (softbox or umbrella or reflector)

 

[TCampbell]

1) You'll need to understand the basics of exposure, composition, and lighting. I'd start by picking up a copy of Bryan Peterson's "Understand Exposure" or Scott Kelby's "Digital Photography" series (it's now up to 5 books in his series). There are also some good books on composition and lighting... but learn exposure first.

2) There's a LOT of photoshop in that image. But the basics of exposure and lighting still apply as a foundation. Tricks may be used to lay, throw, or blow the hair (or other fabrics) while shooting but if you try to learn too much at once it'll be a bit overwhelming.

3) As designer points out... it's all about creating a shallow "depth of field" (that's the range of distance at which a subject will appear to be in acceptable focus and anything outside that range will appear blurred... the farther out the more blur.) It's VERY hard to pull off with a camera that has a tiny sensor. It's easier with a DSLR camera with an APS-C size sensor or larger (just about any Nikon or Canon DSLR camera) but usually the "kit" lens won't be ideal... a lower focal ratio lens is better. Long focal lengths, low focal ratios, close subject, and distance backgrounds make for extreme background blur.

4) "High definition" is a term usually applied to video... e.g. 720 lines of resolution or 1080 lines of resolution ... DSLR cameras are far beyond that. This particular photo is focused on her 'near' shoulder and uses a shallow depth of field. With a fast enough shutter speed, catching the strands of hair without motion blur is no problem.

5) More photoshop. The lighting is tending toward a "high key" photo (you can google that term and look at many sample images and even find videos explaining how to do this.) But again... this is all about exposure and lighting, which are basics.

 

[Ido]

Cambridge in Colour is a great resource for learning the basics, and more, on the web for free: Digital Photography Tutorials

My best piece of advice is, while you can certainly strive for these results, don't expect them to come anytime soon, not even with the best gear and a good understanding of the basics and slightly beyond them. What you need is experience, and you can't gain that by reading articles and books or buying fancy gear. They are a part of it, but it really comes from implementing it, knowing your gear like the palm of your hand, and practicing a lot.

 

[dennybeall]

As you may have guessed from the previous answers, the photos you've chosen are high fashion photos that used every trick in the photographers book in shooting and in post processing with hardware and software. The models don't really have that flawless, even toned skin - it's PHOTOSHOP...
You can get to that level if you spend a lot of time and effort on it. Many people, myself included, are happy to be close without trying to reach the last pinnacle.
The journey is the fun part!

 

[Derrel]

This shot http://www.kayture.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ktr_0135.jpg

looks to me like it was done with the a very fast, meaning a wide-aperture, short telephoto lens, due to the strong color fringing visible in the areas in front of (magenta color fringing, look at the sunglass frame outline areas) and the very strong, deep green color on the out of focus areas behind the plane of focus (see the green fringing on the white-and-black-spotted areas on her clothing?); that "signature" is very much in line with MANY high-speed, non-apochromatic telephoto lenses. I think it was shot with an 85mm lens because 1) I can literally SEE the photographer in the reflection, and tell about how far away he is, and 2) I can also see how much angle of view is reflected in the sunglasses, and it's a fairly wide view of the city building, so it's NOT a long lens shot, but a fast, short tele shot, shot fairly wide-open. If he had used a longer lens, the reflected view would have been MUCH more-narrow.

I JUST got done testing a bunch of my lenses for focus micro-adjustment this morning, and the wide-open longitudinal chromatic aberration is worst with my 85mm f/1.4 AF-D and my 135mm f/2 AF Defocus Control lenses; those lenses are useful for this type of shallow depth of field "people work", and are pretty commonly used lenses for this type of close-range, head and shoulders type shots, or even half-body shots, so if you want to shoot this type of image, it's helpful to have 1) a full-frame camera and 2) an 85 or 105mm or 135mm telephoto lens of high quality. My big 200 has virtually no magenta/green fringing, so I can tell this frame was not shot with a uber high-end "APO" type lens, like say the new Zeiss 135mm f/2, which is an *******amazing******* lens.

Similar, but not exactly the same shots can be done with a smaller-format APS-C camera and the 85 or 105 or 135mm lenses, or a 70-200mm zoom lens; not EXACTLY identical in look,. but pretty close. The shallow depth of field look is very popular for these types of fashion photos. It keeps the emphasis on the closer subject, while making the background less-focused, and a bit sublimated.

 

[rudimaes]

Here you find a free online ebook about photography:
Creative Photography: A Complete Online Book - Book Contents
Rudi

 

[gplawhorn]

Do a search for Bryan Peterson's videos on YouTube. Quick, practical ideas and how-tos.

Learn exposure, as already mentioned. Peterson's book is really good.

Start taking pictures. I know from years playing guitar that music is not in the instrument, but the heart and hands. That is, Eddie Van Halen would sound fantastic on a $50 guitar from Walmart. Likewise, photography is not in the camera, but the heart and the EYE. Use what you have.

Keep the lousy pictures you take. Learn from them. WHY are they lousy? What did you WANT to see in the photograph? Then try again.

 

[dalenvigil]

EXIF for the shot that Derrel used as an example shows that the image was made with a Nikon D800, 85mm focal length, shot in aperture priority with an aperture of f/1.4 and a shutter speed of 1/2000.

 

[productphotographer]

Let me try if I can answer your 3rd question. if you want out-of-focus/blurred background, you're going to have to pair your DSLR with a good lens with a wide aperture. If you do not have that type of lens but just a zoom lens comes with your camera, you may follow the steps below to achieve blurred background,

Step 1: Do full zoom and get as close to the shooting object as possible
Step 2: Use the largest available aperture
Step 3: Put the background as far as possible from your shooting object.

If you simply follow these 3 steps, I hope you'll be able to achieve blurred background like one in your sample.