Whats the best way to learn?

[ramblingman]

I have a friend that loves to shoot but hates to read ..... myself I took a couple of courses ... I like to read .... Scot Kelby writes a nice series of books ...Digital Photograhy .... they are in a series and another good book is Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson ..... these are a good place to start ....but I also learned alot from this forum ....best of luck to you !!

 

[Scoody]

I think you are mixing up AV and TV modes
Aperture priority (AV mode in canon talk) lets the user control aperture and ISO, whilst the camera balances the shutter speed to the meter reading (where upon the user can use exposure compensation to biase the reading to either delibratly under or overexpose the photo from the meter reading). All other controls are as normal - exposure mode, focusing etc..

Shutter priority (TV mode in canon talk) is the same, but instead of aperture, the user controls the shutter speed and the camera balances that with the aperture.

Note with some newer cameras you can use auto ISO in those modes to let the camera control two settings.

In general if you are only using manual and balancing to the exposure reading then chances are you can use one of the priority modes since the camera is always far faster to change settings based on lighting changes in the environment.

Yeah, I booted that one. I meant to say the user, not the camera, adjusts the aperture.

 

[ndb0407]

I have a friend that loves to shoot but hates to read ..... myself I took a couple of courses ... I like to read .... Scot Kelby writes a nice series of books ...Digital Photograhy .... they are in a series and another good book is Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson ..... these are a good place to start ....but I also learned alot from this forum ....best of luck to you !![/QUOTE

I have first book in the series reserved at the library.

 

[lyonsroar]

Each and every person learns differently.

Go out and shoot as much as you can! Literally shoot errthang. Your friends should be PO'd at you because you bring your camera everywhere you go.
You will have a whole string of shots where you left your ISO at 1600. Nothing teaches like making a mistake.
Go out and buy/ rent the book "Understanding Exposure." It wasn't the miracle people tout it to be to me, BUT it did help.
Then go out and shoot some more.
Futz with Av mode until you feel you can move on to manual. The progression will come naturally I promise.
Show off your new manual shooting skills to you friends.
Realize that Av mode can still be used even though you can shoot manual. Start using Av mode again!

 

[DiskoJoe]

by doing....

 

[KmH]

Each and every person learns differently....

No they don't.

By that statement you are saying that there are today - 6.95 billion diferent ways to learn, since that's the current estimated total Earth population. We won't consider all the people who are already dead, nor the ones yet to be born.

Back in the 1970's some psychologists espoused the notion that people had different 'learning styles', but that has repeatedly been shown to be BS over the years. Check the psychology literature. When schools have catered their teaching to just one of the learning styles, in rotation, individual test results (and group test results) were the same regardless which learning style the teaching was catered to.

 

[Ginu]

Practice, practice, practice then practice some more. After you feel you practiced enough, post some pictures for CC then go back to the drawing board and practice some more.

Photography is a hobby which keeps on giving; the more you put into it the more it gives in return

Also remember to bring the camera everywhere you go. 100% of the shots missed are the ones not taken!!

 

[bazooka]

In general, I learn by screwing things up royally and then paying the price.

 

[mrpink]

by doing....

doing wrong teaches nothing. I can go out and "do" a million piss poor photographs, does that make me good?

My best advice.... find a local photography club. Join it and participate. Old photographers are much more informative and helpful than any book or video.






p!nK

 

[Ballistics]

Howard Gardner believes that there is no *best* way of learning. He proposed the theory of multiple intelligences, and only you will really know what is the best way that you learn something. I tend to agree with this. Youtube is a great place to learn no matter what your "intelligence" may be.

 

[NadiaC]

I would say educate, understand, and implement. Start with a good foundation with the basic principles of photography and at the same time implement with practice.

 

[chaosrealm93]

go out and shoot

 

[Bob in GV]

As someone else said, you can go out and shoot until you wear out a camera, but if you don't learn to visualize prior to setting up the shot and pressing the shutter release, you're going to have the same results. We all know the old cliche about doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.
Camera clubs are a good idea. If they do field trips and group shoots all the better. I've found in my area a couple of worthwhile groups on Meetup.com that do photo walks and have models who participate. You do have to pay attention, as some groups charge some hefty fees for "workshops" and some are group studio rental deals.

Most importantly, learn the basics of the camera.

I suggest (along with others here) that you find a copy of Amateur Photographers Handbook and the Ansel Adams series The Camera, The Negative and The Print. And yes, I do know you shoot digital. It doesn't matter. You can think of it as camera, sensor, and post-process if it makes it more relevant. The lesson's the same.