newbie tips from a hobbyist 2009

[EyeBurn]

I was PM'ing with one of the new members, hopefully giving them some direction.

He shoots Canon.

first things first...Nikon and Canon are the two main brands ppl talk about. You can't go wrong with either brand.

Personally, I started with a Canon Rebel XT...last year I upgraded and switched to the Nikon D300 (mostly I liked the feel and external controls vs. the Canon 40D). I don't recommend changing brands once you start investing, I'm still trying to sell some of my Canon gear~

when you get a bug to spend $ to buy something, research and ask other ppl's opinion before just buying it. Almost everyone will tell you it's better to save up until you can buy the best glass you can budget for...

we all know there's an artistic eye of the photographer, but better equipment will give you sharper images.

1a. try to take your camera with you almost everywhere and take picture until you don't feel like taking pictures (practice practice)...be sure you're testing different modes to get a feel how they affect the outcome.

1b. Do you have any other hobbies or activities you like to do...if yes, try to bring them together. What makes hanging out at RenFest more fun? photos
What's more fun that going to a drag race? photos
what used to be kinda boring drive to Austin, Dallas, SA, etc? well, if you have your camera...it's wayy more fun (but, you'll realize it takes you longer because you stop more often!).

2a. backups: buy an external hard drive to make backups of the pictures you copy to your computer. I strongly urge you buy Western Digital's "mirror" edition. ie: You can get a 2TB mirror edition for a $200-ish, this will give you 1TB of useable space...and if one drive fails you don't lose everything.

2b. online galleries: countless to choose from, for the reason of managing soooo many images my fav site for hosting "my" images is http://fotki.com
other sites I enjoy browsing are http://flickr.com , http://pbase.com , http://fototime.com , and many more...
** see 9b.

2c. making affordable books & albums to print
http://fotki.com , http://blurb.com , http://flickr.com , and http://issuu.com

3. tripod: if you can setup a tripod, use it. If you don't have one you can start by purchasing a cheap $20 tripod from craiglist or you can read Scott Kelby's first book and he'll help you choose one (approx $150).

4. the first book you should buy: Scott Kelby's "the Digital Photography Book"
second book you should buy: Scott Kelby's "the Digital Photography Book vol. 2"

the 2nd book is a continuation and both are fantastic.

a classic book to help you talk to ppl: Dale Carnegie's "How To Make Friends And Influence People"

5a. websites, forums, and blogs (read them when you can). note: Most are free, you don't need to sign up on every free website/forum you find~
http://texasphotoforum.com
http://dpreview.com
http://houstoncameraexchange.com
http://cameracoop.com
http://nikonschool.com (even though it's nikon, there's tons of free photography info & tips for anyone)
http://photographymentor.com
http://cameradojo.com
http://pbase.com/cameras (great database to see what real ppl of all skillsets can do with just about any camera and/or lens)

5b. network and talk to other photographers...and try to get your friends interested. go to meetups and photo outtings. Visit Houston Camera Exchange and Camera Co-Op to ask questions, handle equipment, and hopefully support the two local shops.

6. assuming you have an iPod, I urge you look around iTunes (or www) for photography podcasts...my current favorite is from the Camera Dojo (found via Itunes) or their website http://cameradojo.com

I like to listen when I'm stuck in traffic :)

7. youtube and DVDs can be good...I have a Blue Lantern DVD about the Nikon D300 (the camera I now use), I'm a big fan of video tutorials.

8. seminars, classes, and workshops: I've been to a couple seminars so far. NikonSchool tours with various classes, $30 and upwards...the last class I attended was $150

9a. workflow and editing (post or post-processing) tools: managing your images is hard work and requires decent tools so you don't end up pulling your hair out like I did. My primary tool is Adobe Lightroom 2.x , but also use Capture NX 2 , Photoshop (aka CS2, 3, or 4), Aperture 2, gimp (free), and paint.NET (free)

9b. watermarking: if are at least a little proud of your work, watermark it.
the basics start wtih embedding your name/contact info into the photo via the camera...next would be to watermark the file with a proper tool.

10. get camera insurance if you begin buying expensive accessories and lenses ("glass"). You want "photographers insurance"...I pay about $7 per month through my home renter's insurance provider.
again, you must specify it's photographer's insurance.

that should be a good start

:)

Ben
PS. I have haven't posted one of my own shots...I'll probably bring a couple hobbyist-guy prints to the meetup tomorrow.

[tresorph]

Ben - awesome of you to bring all this together for the newbies, and not so newbies.

[thanh523]

i'm the newbie haha

thanks alot again for the info ben.

[toverman]

What kind of Canon gear do you have left?

[EyeBurn]

I have:
Canon Rebel XT (8MP)
Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM
Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (macro 1.5mm)
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
off camera flash mount + cable to control the flash

had a couple friends that were interested in buying set, but both are now unemployed :\
haven't used the gear since August 2008, everything in locked up in my cabinet.
(already sold Speedlight 580 EX and Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro)

-Benjamin
PS. Let me know if you have any questions or want to see photos I've taken with it.

[toverman]

Thanks, Ben. I'm just fishing for a couple of specific lenses (24-105 f/4 and 35 f/1.4) and a new camera body (40D, 50D or a 1D Mk?). I've got only a part-time job right now, though, so I shouldn't be fishing at all right now!

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by EyeBurn

{snipped}

we all know there's an artistic eye of the photographer, but better equipment will give you sharper images.

{snipped}

Are sharper images the goal of photography? Better equipment should give one a broader range of choices for image creation but not just sharper images.

I'll take more art and less sharp any day.

[venchka]

"Never ever confuse sharp with good, or you will end up shaving with an ice cream cone and licking a razor blade."

“Our autobiography is written in our contact sheets, and our opinion of the world in our selects”

Bill Pierce - Leica M photog and author

Virtually every camera and every lens ever made has been used by somebody somewhere sometime to make some money.

You can not have too much tripod.

The perfect tripod head for every occasion doesn't exist.

Get your photos right in the camera. Photoshop can NOT fix everything.

There are no Magic Bullets.

[toverman]

A lot of newbs will drop coin on a decent SLR and then want one lens that does everything. One of the beauties of any camera with interchangeable lenses is that you can change out the lenses to fit your mood and the situation. Sure, there's a need for a "walkaround" lens ... most go for zooms, but I can't wait to buy the wide prime I've been eyeing.

[EyeBurn]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

Are sharper images the goal of photography? Better equipment should give one a broader range of choices for image creation but not just sharper images.

I'll take more art and less sharp any day.

no offense, but I didn't say it was the goal. I said a better camera will give you sharper images.

you're the gentleman shooting with a Canon 5D :)

-Benjamin

[toverman]

Lenses make more of a difference in sharpness, as does focus!

[EyeBurn]

toverman, very true indeed

[venchka]

Sharp is over rated. Sharp lenses were commonplace in the 19th century. If sharp is really important, why fool around with little bitty sensors in the first place?

Go big or go home!

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by EyeBurn

no offense, but I didn't say it was the goal. I said a better camera will give you sharper images.

you're the gentleman shooting with a Canon 5D :)

-Benjamin

Actually, the Leica is sharper but I don't always go for the sharp.

Leica M8 with Noctilux

Dead Cat in Gutter, Illuminated by passing car and rendered as a selenium-brown split tone print.

[venchka]

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!! Road kill portraits.