Make me an expert photographer in less than five minutes, plz.

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Summo

Guest
Can anyone point me in the direction of some sort of Photoshop tutorial or guide for making professional-looking photographs out of what are essentially high-res snapshots.

A Google search has thrown up a wealth of possibilities.

You see, I want classy black-and-white shots of professional standard using my little digi-cam.

Anyone?

:/
 
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Scooba Da Bass

Guest
....making stuff look 'profesional' means knowing how to take professional esque shots, obeying rules of thirds and stuff like that. I'd suggest finding guides to photography and working back from there, although obviously you are going to be limited by your equipment, and especially your lense (unless you have a flash changeable digi system)
 
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Wazzerphuk

Guest
Bollocks.

As someone with a good interest and experience with photography (although not so much digitally). Black and white shots that have been converted digitally will never look as good as proper b/w film, but that's obvious.

And with regards to the composition of shots, it all depends on the person you are, your tastes, and what you want to shoot. There are no rules with photography - obey your eyes, they are your friends. Take what you like. You'll get photographs you're actually satisfied with then, rather than thinking "ooo it could do with this..."

Answer to problem: Buy an SLR, set up a darkroom, and learn. :D (Not cash friendly)
 
T

Testin da Cable

Guest
au contrair. there are rules of form and composition. and they've been drilled into me time and time again....but tbh some of the best shots of some of the best photographers there are (imo) have bugger all to do with rules. they show the emotion of the moment, and can't be beaten by any 'perfect' shot. comparing pears and apples though. soz, I'm a bit off the plain atm.
 
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Scooba Da Bass

Guest
So in fact you've totally ignored what he asked for, well done.

Taking shots that look professional is different to taking shots you enjoy, simply because you don't have the eye when you start out; you may enjoy a picture of some ducks floating around a pond with your shadow in the frame, but it's not going to look professional.
 
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Wazzerphuk

Guest
Or you could set up the 'professional' shot in a way that appeases you as the photographer. You can still make the shot professional and have it to how you desire as well. A point you managed to skim over quicker than a uni student reading the bible.
 
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Scooba Da Bass

Guest
What's that got to do with anything? There are fundamentals to photography that if you don't know will result in you producing terrible shots. There's not a single great photographer who doesn't/didn't know that basics, and when to apply them, and with the exception of shots that stand on the strength of the image alone (and are quite often terrible shots that do not look professional in the slightest), should be a consideration when shooting, even if only to know when to avoid them.
 
N

Nos-

Guest
Man do you remember those little cameras that took that dodgy film and cost about a quid they were ace.
 
A

adams901

Guest
My rules for taking photos are

1) make sure the camera has film or smart card
2) make sure camera has battery
3) make sure shutter is open and your finger isn't infront of it
4) point camera at object
5) push button

digital cameras are my friend because I can take the same picture as many times as I want until I get it right :)

Hasnt your digital camera got the option to change the picture from colour to black and white?, I know the olympus c220 zoom can, then all you have to do is put the black and white photo onto your computer.
 
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gremlin

Guest
You *will* get different results between using an SLR with proper B&W film (cant recommend ilford delta 100 enough btw - superb film) and just converting a few digi shots. Can be more expensive to get processed as it's not normal C41 process.. but hey you could always setup a darkroom (planning on doing that in our new flat).

As others have said, theres basics to taking a great shot.. the 'bible' in this regard is the Kodak Guide to 35mm Photography. If you *really* want to learn prepare to go through a lot of film and processing while practising.

Saying all that however, it is possible to fake good looking B&W shots with a digital camera and some photo editing software.. take these for example:
Gum & Keys
Pikachu
I took those while just pissing around with a digital camera, yet with a bit of messing around look comparable to a 35mm shot (on these it was reduce colour, mess with contrast a bit and add some grain).

Generally it's up to you -- how far you want to get into it is the deciding factor.
 
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Summo

Guest
Originally posted by gremlin
As others have said, theres basics to taking a great shot.. the 'bible' in this regard is the Kodak Guide to 35mm Photography. If you *really* want to learn prepare to go through a lot of film and processing while practising.

Saying all that however, it is possible to fake good looking B&W shots with a digital camera and some photo editing software.. take these for example:
Gum & Keys
Pikachu
I took those while just pissing around with a digital camera, yet with a bit of messing around look comparable to a 35mm shot (on these it was reduce colour, mess with contrast a bit and add some grain).
Click to expand...
He-HEY! That's the stuff I was after. Thanks, Gremlin! :)

I pride myself on having an eye for a good shot and the emotion or sentiment I wish to suggest, but it's a wild, untrained and reckless eye. I take all your points and I'll start looking at the fundamental basics of photography.

I'm not going to invest in an expensive camera, nor am I going to convert my housemate's bedroom into a darkroom, so for now I'll learn what I need to know and work on digitally manipulating the results so that they look spinky. I want to be taking my camera everywhere as too often I've seen something that would make a wonderful shot, but been without it, so small and easy is key for now.

Thanks, all.
 
S

Summo

Guest
Incidentally, you can see my first attempt at serious shots here, if you're bothered. Not up to any sort of standard yet, but you can see the direction I want to go.

Many of them are blurred. :(
 
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Scooba Da Bass

Guest
Go and get a cheap SLR, you know you want to!
 
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Summo

Guest
Um... a what? :(

Also, does anyone else have suggestions for good books to teach me the basics? No harm in canvassing opinion.

HANDS UP WHO LIKES ME!
 
P

PR.

Guest
nuclear.jpg


Wow, I like this where in Milan was this taken?!

:)
 
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old.Fweddy

Guest
I know how you can make a machine that will do everything you need. I call it the hi-propicture enhancer system with active sub-proton colour technology.

All you need to make it is a ball of string, two empty milk bottles, a pencil sharpener, 30ml of olive oil, an AAA battery, a single 300mm by 200mm sheet of tinfoil, a first class stamp, an old CD, a condom(unused), a packet of skittles, sixteen paperclips, a small piece of double sided tape, a portion of Dutch edam, a tube of toothpaste and 14m of plastic guttering.

Do you want me to send you the plans to make it?
 
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old.Kez

Guest
Originally posted by Summo
Um... a what? :(
Click to expand...
Single Lens Reflex. You obviously don't know what you're looking for, so go into the shops and fiddle. Make the staff earn their wages by letting you test different models!
 
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Summo

Guest
No no! I'm not going to buy anything! Damit Kez, read the thread. Or get out.
 
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Scooba Da Bass

Guest
GO AND BUY AN SLR IT WILL FORCE YOU TO TAKE BETTER PHOTOS
 
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smurkin

Guest
au contrair. there are rules of form and composition.
Click to expand...

Dude, you so nicked that from a Red Dwarf Episode (the one with Legion) :D
 
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Wazzerphuk

Guest
Originally posted by Scooba Da Bass
GO AND BUY AN SLR IT WILL FORCE YOU TO TAKE BETTER PHOTOS
Click to expand...


What he said.

And besides. go to jessops and you can get a decent slr second hand for a good price - you won't need to fork out much at all for an old slr camera.

And the great thing is, they LAST. My Praktica was made in the 1950's... and still functions perfectly, takes great pictures and is robost as a motherfucker. They don't make cameras like they used to. :)
 
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Testin da Cable

Guest
Originally posted by smurkin


Dude, you so nicked that from a Red Dwarf Episode (the one with Legion) :D
Click to expand...

no, sorry. call it natural grace :)
 
L

~Lazarus~

Guest
Summo,

Ive an SLR kicking about the house - a DECENT one.

Centon + 2 lenses + camera bag + flash.

Bought in a moment of madness when I considered getting "into" photography.

If you fancy, I ll check out the specs and find you a price.
 
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Testin da Cable

Guest
oh, and consider joining a local photo club. they're usually pretty fun and you get the added boon of being able to swap ideas with like-minded peeps :)

I got all enthused and stuff I even went in search of my old camera, the only one I still have (apart from a tiny spycam heh)
I'm rusty...but it felt goooood :)
 
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Summo

Guest
I'm interested, Laz! Feed me information!

Photo-club sounds like a nice idea, too. I'll check what's around.

Ta!
 
Y

~YuckFou~

Guest
Originally posted by Summo


You see, I want classy black-and-white shots of professional standard using my little digi-cam.



:/
Click to expand...

So, Summo is intending to start up a retro porn site then, linkage????

:D
 
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