Tell me please!

[2wheelz4me]

I got a D40 about a year ago and have absolutly fallen in love with taking pictures!! Problem is only about half turn out to be what I call really good looking pictures. I have taken some classes through Ritz, and looked at New York Institute of Photography as well as some other options. I have a general idea of what I am doing but no where near second nature and not real sure what to do when trying to set the camera manually. What I would like to find is a mentor, someone that can work with me and show me what I am doing wrong...and right. Because of everyone's schedules in this rat race now days, I wanted to ask, what is the best way to really learn how to take good pictures? I know the standard answer of practice, practice, practice, but when I take all these pictures I can tell which are good but not real sure why the bad one's turned out bad.

Any help would be GREATLY appriciated! I am in North FTW if anyone would be interested in taking someone under thier wing a little....

Thanks!

[CaptainTom]

Jay
You are on the right track. The TPF track has continuous trains taking all photographers to the next level.

If you don't find a mentor, don't despair. With the cost of doing business, and the price of gas, etc. most full timers are working really hard just to make ends meet. But, you will find that almost everyone here on TPF will be happy to help you move ahead.

I would suggest that you post a couple of photos here and ask for C&C (critique and criticism). They can be your best shots or your worst shots, or both. Include the data for the photos i.e. ISO, Fstop, shutter speed, etc.

There are often "tag along" opportunities you can take advantage of. You get to go out with a working pro and carry heavy things, assemble lights, get coffee, and also to learn all you can from someone who makes living at photography. We have many get togethers and they are always fun and you can learn a lot. There are always classes and cllinics to go to. Start easy and when you get better, go to another class and move along with your knowledge search.

Learn the technical side of photography first. Books, lectures, questions, all will help.

[photochic]

I am a self taught photographer never stepped foot in a classroom, all my learning was from books and online. I had one mentor (from TPF) who taught me manual shooting, everything else I learned myself.
The way i learned from my mistakes was to post my bad images online and included my ISO/AP/SS for CC...there are many photogs out there that are shooting like 300 images per session just to get 30 good images out the batch thats insane. And usually these photogs will post one of those good images online and get rave reviews instead of posting a bad image to find out why they are only getting 30 good images out of 300. Most of those good images are usually "lucky shot" images.
You are on the right track you are admitting that something isnt right and want to correct it. Continue asking questions, and if you still dont understand ask again until you get it!!!

~Good Luck

[Angelo]

Tonya wrote "...there are many photogs out there that are shooting like 300 images per session just to get 30 good images out the batch thats insane..."

And then there are those who shoot 300 images from different angles, expressions, with different lighting and then, to top it off they bracket their shots to make sure to obtain the perfect image.

They then pick the 30 images that came out the way they wanted.

Take sports photographers - they may rapid-fire 9 frames per second to get the one image they want.

I don't think there's anything wrong with this.

[LDB]

If you don't already have it go to the library and check out "Understanding Exposure". It's one of the most highly recommended books around.

[Wes]

You said that only ½ of your pics turn out good. What tends to be wrong with the pics that are not so good?

PM me with an e-mail address. I have a couple of friends that are also brand new to the world of DSLRs (one bought a D40, the other a D40x). We're thinking of trying to get together to do some shooting around town so that I can help them figure a few things out. Don't know when or where but it will probably be in the Fort Worth area (we all live in the southern part of the mid cities). You're welcome to tag along if you like.

[Wes]

One more thing.... is there a story behind your user name? Makes me wonder if you're into MX or something. If so, I often hang at a dirt track in Forest Hill. Again, you'd be welcome to tag along next time I go shoot out there.

[photochic]

Originally Posted by Angelo

Tonya wrote "...there are many photogs out there that are shooting like 300 images per session just to get 30 good images out the batch thats insane..."

And then there are those who shoot 300 images from different angles, expressions, with different lighting and then, to top it off they bracket their shots to make sure to obtain the perfect image.

They then pick the 30 images that came out the way they wanted.

Take sports photographers - they may rapid-fire 9 frames per second to get the one image they want.

I don't think there's anything wrong with this.

In portrait photography (if that is what he's going into) i think its a waste of time to bracket or fire several frames per second. I think its easier to just buckle down and learn how to shoot correctly and save the time of spend hours going through 300 images looking for the best of the best. Sports photography is different, I know a few photogs in the field who shoot like this but its for a reason, sports move fast so you have to shoot several frames per sec to get that one good shot.

I currently mentor 4 newbie portrait photographers, they are those shooters that shoot over 300 frames and barely have any good shots. They want to learn how to go from 300 to less than 100 frames per session. I also see these people in other forums who admit to overshooting because they are scared they wont have enough good images and if they over shoot they will get lucky. I used to be a part of the 300+ shooter club and hated it, it took me forever to go through all those pictures, then photoshop on top of that. Personal I hate photoshop and thats the reason I aim for great SOOC images, the less time i spend using it the better my eyes feel...lol.

I currently shoot 100 frames per session (3 outfits), out of the 100 I will have 80-85 good images, from there I narrow it down to the best which is 30-40 for online viewing. I deal with children so there's no way im going to have all good images.

I was answering his question from a portrait photographer's view of things, not for the whole photography world. I know each field is different and each fuction serves its purpose.

[photochic]

Originally Posted by LDB

If you don't already have it go to the library and check out "Understanding Exposure". It's one of the most highly recommended books around.

Ditto, excellent book!!!
I wish I had read that book when I was learning it would have saved me a lot of sweat and tears.

[2wheelz4me]

Thanks so much everyone! I must admit I was surprised by the number of responses!! When y'all talk about posting photo's, is it better to do this so the picture actually shows up or direct those willing to critique to Smug Mug where I keep some photos?

Thanks again!!

[2wheelz4me]

Wes,

PM sent.

[12stones]

Originally Posted by 2wheelz4me

Thanks so much everyone! I must admit I was surprised by the number of responses!! When y'all talk about posting photo's, is it better to do this so the picture actually shows up or direct those willing to critique to Smug Mug where I keep some photos?

Thanks again!!

I prefer it if you attach the picture to the thread so that I don't have to go elsewhere to see what you're talking about. Also, pic hosting sites are blocked by my and many other's work.

Welcome to TPF.

[2wheelz4me]

I will post some pictures as soon as I can. In the mean time, here is my SmugMug site:
http://2wheelz.smugmug.com/

[2wheelz4me]

Here are several. Hopefully not too many!! Again, there are many on my site and a much better choice to critique. I was not sure which one's to put on here.

Thanks a million to all!!!!

[CaptainTom]

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