Just getting started

[donlfaulkner]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

...They're nice, but all they do is sit on the shelf and collect dust...

So, what do you do with all your digital photos?

You either back them up on some sort of drive or leave them on your main hard drive where they take up space. Either way they are effectively collecting dust. Or you delet them and they are gone forever.

You can combine the two worlds;

I have no way of developing my photos, so I have them developed at Walgreens and put on CD, no prints. If I ever to have a good photo, then I will have that one printed. So far my little HP inkjet prints good enough for the photos I take. Cost me a little over $6 for a 24 exposure roll and around $10-$13 for a 4 roll pack of film.

[zero6249]

shoot everything,everywhere good luck!!!!!!

[kellydishman]

Originally Posted by Hanky

I took Sonny's advice today and bought "Understanding exposure" by Bryan Peterson.
Time for me to get serious and start learning the right way of doing things as oposed to a shotgun approach to taking shots. Best wishes to you on your new journey!

So wondering since that was last year if you learned alot from the book?? Im really a handson type of person so trying to figure out if the book is for me??

[Tom]

When you first started what tips where you given or would have loved to know then?

I reflected back on this quite a bit.

1. I wish I knew how bad I sucked in 2004-2007. I was really bad. But I thought I was great.
2. I wish I had sought out a seasoned professional to be a mentor, even before I decided to go professional.
3. I wish I spent more time reading true, strong, harsh critiques by seasoned professionals (great PJ/sports critiques can be found on Sportsshooter as a regular feature.)
4. I wish I had spent more time developing relationships with other photographers around my level and above me.
5. I wish I had spent more time getting my own work critiqued.
6. I wish I had checked my ego at the door and understood the critiques I got, rather than blowing off a lot of what was said.
7. I wish I spent more time studying.
8. I wish I spent more time shooting.
9. I wish I spent more time learning photoshop.
10. I wish I had learned to start shooting manually (exposure and white balance) earlier.

So wondering since that was last year if you learned alot from the book?? Im really a handson type of person so trying to figure out if the book is for me??

It is for everyone. Highly recommended. Today I came across my 2004 edition.

[Hanky]

Originally Posted by kellydishman

So wondering since that was last year if you learned alot from the book?? Im really a handson type of person so trying to figure out if the book is for me??

What Mr. Campbell said, I would add please buy that book.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

1. I wish I knew how bad I sucked in 2004-2007. I was really bad. But I thought I was great.

Oh yeah! I even "published" a print-on-demand book in 2006. I am embarrassed by it today.

+1 for "Understanding Exposure." The title is horrible - but the book and the way it is written is superb. I make it a point to re-read it annually - and I still get something new out of it every year.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by heathercaptures

Not sure if this is the correct spot for this question, again I apologize I am new and still figuring out the entire forum.
When you first started what tips where you given or would have loved to know then? For example for a newbie like myself, beside getting out there at actually taking photos, searching forums, etc. Where there certain things that you wished you would have knows about lighting, models, cameras etc.? I have been reading whatever I can on the forum for tips, bought a few exposure books, just looking to get some tips from photographers that are going through or have gone through the start up!
Thanks!!!

When I started.......
Kodachrome is for color.
Tri-X in D-76 is for black & white.
Wait. That's too far back for you.
Learn your equipment. Then learn more about your equipment. When you think you know everything, time to earn more. When you run into a situation you think your hardware can't handle, learn to make your hardware handle those situations.
One camera and one lens is enough for a career. More stuff might your life easier. it isn't required.
Don't spend more time on the internet than you do with your camera.

Tri-X & D-76 still do black & white.
Kodachrome is gone. No need for color now.

[L Stegall]

Originally Posted by Hanky

I took Sonny's advice today and bought "Understanding exposure" by Bryan Peterson.
Time for me to get serious and start learning the right way of doing things as oposed to a shotgun approach to taking shots. Best wishes to you on your new journey!

I honestly think that is one of the very best ways to learn the fundamentals of photography. Until you understand how ISO, shutter speed and f/stop combine to get a good exposure, you're really just rolling the dice on getting good images. His other books are very good too, but the Understanding Exposure book is the building block for the others. If you don't understand those concepts and how to change settings as needed depending on the lighting and your subject matter, then your missing the fundamentals.

I don't think you necessarily need to go the film route, but get a camera and get an inexpensive 50 mm lens and use it along with reading the Peterson book. That's what I recommend to everyone starting out. Read the book, re-read it, practice and practice and practice doing what he is showing you in the book. Pick "assignments" you can give yourself - capturing fast moving motion, slow motion, blurring out the background, etc., etc., etc. Post pictures and ask for honest critique. Don't be afraid to get honest critique. It's a great way to learn.

The reason I recommend the 50 mm f/1.8 lens is that is a very inexpensive lens but one that always comes in handy in your bag down the road. In the meantime, it's a great way to teach yourself to really focus on composition and getting the image you want composed in the camera without relying on the crutch of "fixing it" in Photoshop later.

Good luck. Happy shooting!

[ronocnikral]

Originally Posted by kellydishman

So wondering since that was last year if you learned alot from the book?? Im really a handson type of person so trying to figure out if the book is for me??

try the houston public library. I know they have the book. reserve online, get email when it is ready, go pick up at your closest branch. cost: $0. what can that hurt? if you like it, you can buy it, or get it from the library annually.

[venchka]

Buy an 18% gray card. Place it in all of your photos. Use it to set the color balance in your software. You will gradually get a feel for how to set your cameras color balance so you get natural looking photos.