New Photographer-need advice

[cocomango]

Hello all! I'm going through and looking at some of the absolutely gorgeous shots on this site and wondering HOW did they do that. I'm taking classes at a community college and I'm sure this question has been addressed before, but can you give me some idea of where and how you learned to shoot..and how long you've been at it?

[Daniel Bates]

I learned with an old manual film SLR, a manual-mode-capable P&S, a good book, and TPF. I've been shooting for around two years, and with a digital SLR since September of 2006.

[Ahh!]

Originally Posted by cocomango

Hello all! I'm going through and looking at some of the absolutely gorgeous shots on this site and wondering HOW did they do that. I'm taking classes at a community college and I'm sure this question has been addressed before, but can you give me some idea of where and how you learned to shoot..and how long you've been at it?

First of all WELCOME!
Second, feel free to stop in and introduce yourself if you like:
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...splay.php?f=15
Third, I'll start. I have been shooting for decades in the unpaid mode, but have recently been making the move to getting paid for what I do so I have something into which I can "retire". I took classes in high school (yes, we DID have electricity back then). I took more class work after college, and am taking in more workshops and spending more time both behind the camera and in front of the computer per day, averaging 20 hours per week or more. You can check out my profile for more background, and in fact, that may prove helpful in getting to know the folks around here. My favorite second shooter is learning on her own, taking classes on PS and other fun things and is asking me a lot of questions, forcing me to the basics which (really) never change. We also take classes together as we can. She's more creative than I, I am more technical than she. It is a great combination. I have large conversion projects ahead of me in still as well as video.
Lastly, welcome again, and see you around the threads.

PS: My first camera was a Poloroid Swinger (It says, "yes"). My second one was Dad's brown 8mm Kodak which wound up on the side. He carried it in WWII. It required a separate light meter of the same vintage.

[brad]

My "photographic life story" is in my profile..

The first and best advice you can take for improving your photography is the same way you get to Carnegie Hall.. practice, practice, practice.

Welcome to the forum!

[CaptainTom]

I started the photography habit while I was in the Army in Viet Nam.
There wasn't much to do, but we had a photo lab (such as it was).
A couple of other friends and I started developing films and printing bad photos. When I returned to the states, I got a civilian job that allowed me to afford a Minolta SRT 101 (manual focus and exposure film camera). I stayed with the Minolta brand for the next 30 years.
I've had jobs selling cameras, running a photo studio, freelancing for the newpaper, shooting weddings, and doing commercial jobs.
In 2004 I made the jump to digital with the Canon brand. Got back into the commercial photography field here in Texas, and still take jobs and assignments when time (and a good paying day job) permit.
I've won several very nice awards, and have been a member of PPA NPPA and most recently TPPA.

Two photo braggin rights

1- I was the official photographer for the Miss Nude California Contest two years in a row.
2- I have appeared in National Geographic !! No, not a photo I took, but a photo of me taking a photo at Hearst Castle...... :)

[cocomango]

What a friendly group! I'm going to introduce myself properly in the correct forum and definitely heed all of your advice.