Help Photography geeks

[tris-]

Didnt think it was on topic with camera geeks, so here I go.

Any tips on taking a decent photo? I asked in the photo comp thread but I think it was not the right place to ask.

At the mo I dont think I can compete at all with most of you, as you seem like semi pro or something. But Id like a good shot at it. I thought the one of the moors I took was good as it had depth of field and different areas of light and dark and all that shit.

I have a 12mp camera and it has a macro function, ISO is changeable and so is f-stop and shutter speeds.

These are my best pics

 

[old.user4556]

First off, what kind of camera is it? Is it a point-n-shoot, or a DSLR? Looks like a PnS....

I can't tell you about point-n-shoots, I used to have one but it was hopeless for any decent photography. Right off the bat in the pics above, it looks like you've tried to take long exposure / night shots without a tripod - you're going to need a tri-pod for that sort of work.

 

[tris-]

The one of the road was just to try it out.

Dont think its any thing fancy, its just a camera but you can fully program most of the bits and bobs in manual mode.

the 2nd one was with the macro mode, last one i just fiddle with some of the settings.

 

[Sparx]

number 3 would have came out brilliantly if you had a tripod

 

[tris-]

I bought my dad one of those gorilla-pod things, I should probably try that then if you reckon its a way to go forward.

 

[Sparx]

you should always use a tripod when you can, fact

 

[old.user4556]

It's such a huge expanse to study tris-, there is no easy answer on taking a better photo. What I can tell you about is how I got into it and the steps I took to a better picture.

Firsty, I made a lot of mistakes; and I still make a lot of mistakes. I tried a lot of things out without really reading up on what to do. For some of these themes, unless I have a picture that will do, I can go out and shoot 50+ pictures and all of them are shite. Not technically shite (blurred etc), but just nothing that interesting in them to make them worth keeping. Just get out there and keep trying new things and keep taking photos.

It would help to know what sort of photography you want to get into; is it landscape, is it sport, is it seascape, is it portraiture, is it abstract, is it wildlife? If you want to get into landscape/seascape, drop milou a PM for a chat, his work is excellent and a true inspiration. I've asked a couple of technical questions too and he was more than willing to share some thoughts with me.

Another thing is to really read up on photography - understand how to use manual mode on your camera, read up on depth of field, read up on ISO (what it is, why you increase it), read up on aperture sweet spots for lenses, join photography forums where people post their photos and a lot of other newbies ask a lot of questions that will no doubt be of use to you. Seeing other people's work will get you thinking about how they achieved certain shots.

Buy some camera magazines that showcase some people's material; they usually have paragraphs on how they took the shot and the effort involved. The same magazines also have tutorials on various photography aspects; sometimes it's themed portraits (how to shoot a band photograph, how to shoot a wedding, how to shoot children and babies etc.), sometimes it's landscape tutorials and the necessary equipment (wide angle lens, tripod, filters etc.). Digital SLR photgraphy is one of my favourites, it has great pictures but with interesting reading along with it.

Websites that I've read up on in the past for technique:

The Luminous Landscape
KenRockwell.com
Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing
PentaxForums.com - The Largest Pentax-Dedicated Photography Forum Community- Home

Websites for equipment and technical:

Welcome to Photozone!
Digital Camera Reviews and News: Digital Photography Review: Forums, Glossary, FAQ

 

[milou]

The flower shot needs to be in focus. Flower shots often work well with selective depth of field i.e. just the centre is sharp with the rest out of focus but cropped so that the colour fills the entire frame and all distraction is removed. Sometimes you can bounce a wee bit of light back with a small reflector to hopefully help the very small depth of field. Hope it's ok to show this (there's a before/after shot): clicky.

Look at Tony Howell or Sue Bishop for inspiration. For abstraction, try Andy's work.

Edit: 10 lessons. Best of all, get out there and see what (and why) it works. Set up projects e.g. 10 shots exploring light/shade/shadow, 10 shots with 100 yards of your home.

 

[tris-]

Thanks for all the stuff there, I will get working on reading it

 

[old.user4556]

Hope it's ok to show this (there's a before/after shot): clicky.

Wow, that's excellent; some cross processing there too? I much prefer that to just a big bright colour picture, your shot has some soul to it, a bit edgy too.

Just realised I selected 'Landscape' as a competition theme without thinking that if you enter some of yours we're all screwed

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I'll leave more specific advice to the other's since I'm technically incompetent at taking good photos, but the only advice I have are as follows:

1. Practice, practice, practice. Even when taking one shot you know you want, take it as many times as you can afford to on the memory card. You'll then get a good idea of what works with what.
2. Learn post-production in photoshop. You can still make great images off bland, shit photos if you know what you're doing and what effect will complement the shiteness of the original image. I have a perfect example of this somewhere, I might try and fish it out to show you what I mean. There's plenty of guides/ebooks on photoshop that'll give you the basics and go a lot further if you need to.

I would go and get a cheap DSLR though if you are even remotely serious about getting good images. I've only got a Canon 300D, you can probably get one of them for next to nothing now they're quite old (but perfectly good for your needs).

 

[milou]

Hah. I like looking at landscape images although I rarely take many - mostly sea/waterscapes. Two of my faves from fellow bloggers, Bob & Jeannie:

zenith9
zenith9

 

[tris-]

I like landscape and flowers.
I cannot afford to buy anything new, really just wanting to do something half decent with my current cam

 

[old.user4556]

I would go and get a cheap DSLR though if you are even remotely serious about getting good images. I've only got a Canon 300D, you can probably get one of them for next to nothing now they're quite old (but perfectly good for your needs).

Good advice this; also by buying an older second hand Canon (for example), you will pave the way to buy into Canon lenses that you can keep and use if/when you get a better Canon body (unless you buy lenses that aren't for full frame, then buy a full frame camera).

 

[milou]

Canon 300D kit for sale £165

 

[Ch3tan]

That site won't load milou, amazingly cheap though!

 

[milou]

Hey up. I think you have to join the forum or something.

The post says:

Canon 300D, BG-E1 battery grip, 18-55 lens, 1 battery, Canon 244t flash, 512 CF card.
All boxed except the flash.
I've had this for about 2yrs, bought used, very little use by me.
All in working order and good condition.
£165.00 + p&p
Payment by BT or cash on collection.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Wow that's bloody good value, especially since it's got the battery grip and a flash.

 

[old.user4556]

Christ I'll take it, wouldn't mind a foothold in the Canon sector since Pentax lenses went up 40% in price. Dicks.

 

[TdC]

K-7's fault aiiiii. backwards compat == loss of sales.

 

[old.user4556]

I understand it's Yen versus £ issues. A similar situation is happening with Gibson Les Pauls brought in from the states due to pound and dollar - the RRP has gone from ~£1200 to ~£1800 for the same model.

All the bodies are backwards compatible.

 

[TdC]

actually, your version is correct, because Shimano has done something similar with bike bits re weak Yen.

 

[Jaberwocky]

Well there seems to be a few people here who know a thing or two about photography as a hobby, ever thought of making a sub forum on the subject.

And no this doesn't include "artistic" pictures of the wife before anyone mentions it.

 

[TdC]

in that case...no sub forum

 

[tris-]

Managed my first step: get a tripod. My mate gave me one last night so I fucked around with the shutter speeds.

Spoiler

Spoiler

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Spoiler

Spoiler

 

[Ch3tan]

Can't see any of those images tris.

 

[tris-]

I know, just changed the links

 

[Ch3tan]

The last one is funky

 

[tierk]

You dont have to 100% sure have to have a tri pod. Just find a nice flat piece of wood, well any flat surface will do. Set the timer on the camera for like 5 secs, set yourself up for the shot and then hit the button. Five seconds later bobs your uncle!!

Sorry i know i was late, you got one now!!

 

[jeromine]

Hello

Wow beautiful pics thanks man its so nice,,,,:worthy::worthy::worthy::worthy: