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http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl Daily Chat >> General Posts >> attn photographers http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1295829987 Message started by -johnny- on Jan 23^rd, 2011 at 7:46pm

Title: attn photographers
Post by -johnny- on Jan 23^rd, 2011 at 7:46pm

im seriously thinking about taking up photography. does any have any advice as to what kinda of camera i should start out with. maybe some information websites.

thanks

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Melissa on Jan 23^rd, 2011 at 9:23pm

Honestly Johnny, I started out with a basic point and shoot. I then tried out all different sorts until I found one that was user friendly to me. After a few years of buying and selling to be happy with what I had, I got a great deal on a Sony Alpha which is my love. It's really all in what sort of things you're looking for. But in my opinion, many of the point and shoots take fantastic pictures whether it's in macro or zoomed out. As the saying goes, it's the person behind the camera, not the camera itself, that takes great pictures. ;)

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Mike NZ on Jan 23^rd, 2011 at 9:23pm

First off, don't associate spending serious $ with getting great photographs, instead what really makes a good photo is mainly down to composition and timing plus your own style.

A few years ago I did an evening course where I learnt a few good techniques to apply each week and then we were given an assignment to do. The next week we learnt how to critically assess our work, so we learnt what made a good photo, a boring one and a great one.

Looking at the photos I can take now compared to before a lot is down to a few simple composition guidelines, some technical techniques, thinking about things before you take photos and a bit of luck too.

So I'd strong suggest something similar to get some good skills.

You'll almost certainly be using a digital camera, so in addition to the camera you'll need some good software (like Photoshop) plus a reasonable PC to process the images. Think about how you'll be displaying your images, will it be just on screen or printed out (think about printing, either yourself or commercially).

Lots to think about, so talk to people, perhaps join a camera club. And remember to have fun doing it.

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Linda_Howell on Jan 23^rd, 2011 at 9:47pm

Johnny,

One professional photographer here...Mark, will be the one to give you tips on what to get, where to go, etc. He is the bomb. lol

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Opus on Jan 23^rd, 2011 at 11:25pm

Probably the best way to learn is to start with black and white film. That probably isn't practical anymore.

If you get a cheap point and shoot you will be able to tell if you have the eye for shots, meaning you will take good pictures no matter what. The point and shoot color maybe be terrible but you can convert them to black and white START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

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I am not sure I have an eye for shots but using a digital SRL camera I can use different settings to get shots that are START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

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You don't need expensive software to do photo editing in a non-professional setting, START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

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My photos haven't been received well, but I still take them for myself. I am always in the wrong place at the wrong time with my camera for great shots so I try to make them myself.

Paul

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by -johnny- on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 1:05am

i loved to take pictures out on the road but those small cameras i used just didnt capture enough of the scenery. i took alot of pictures out west but non of them look great. i took most of these with a pocket sized digital camera

took these in new mexico
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colorado
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montana
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utah
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idaho
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this is lewiston idaho from the top of the hill on us 95. it really doesnt do any justice to what i was seeing
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heres one i took at a bar
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thoughts or suggestions?

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Melissa on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 7:54am

Johnny, what brand of camera did you use to take the pictures?

I think this one is just beautiful...

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Looks like you were standing nice and still to capture it. It's perfect to me!

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by deltadarlin on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 8:31am

Depends on what you want to take pictures of, hom much you want to spend and how serious you are.

I'll start at the end and go backwards here, as to a processing program, Paul is right, you dont' need to spend a lot of money. If you want to go beyond basic editing, Photoshop Elements is relatively inexpensive (they release a new one each year and you can buy the previous year a lot cheaper).

As to cameras, you can get a basic point and shoot, an advanced point and shoot or a DSLR (you can change lens). I shoot Canon, so obviously I'm biased ;D. However, SandyC did ask me for a recommendation to buy her husband a camera for Christmas. I recommended the PowerShot SX30 IS Digital Camera. The price isn't too bad (around $369.00), it has plenty of preprogrammed modes (while you're learning) and you can shoot manual with it too. It has 14.1 MP resolution and and effective 24-840 mm lens (that's the best I've seen on a point and shoot camera). If you find you like photography, then you can eventually move up to a DSLR. We have 6 cameras in the house, all Canon, and all different.

I took these with my Canon SX10IS

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Just remember, have fun, if you're not having fun, it's just not worth it.

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Guiseppi on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 9:47am

I've never gotten past the instant, auto focus, auto flash cameras. I am looking forward to having another "amateur professional" photographer on the board. More great pics to look at! :)

Joe

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Melissa on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 11:01am

Here's an easy one. Go to the store and play with all the cameras there. See which one has the features you like best and is easiest to understand for you. Make sure they have a good return policy just in case you get it home and decide it isn't the one you want. I swear camera's are just like cars when it comes to deciding! ;D

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Charlie on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 5:33pm

I agree with Mel that the one she reposted is a nice thing.

It's composition, composition, composition.

Good luck Johnny.

Charlie

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by -johnny- on Jan 30^th, 2011 at 9:53pm

deltadarlin wrote on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 8:31am:

Depends on what you want to take pictures of, hom much you want to spend and how serious you are.
.

i love your pictures. a cannon with a removable lense is kinda what i had in mind. when i take some of these pics i feel like i cant get back far enough to get it all in. im guessing this has something to do with the lense?

mel the picture i took in idaho i took was standing still. my cousin lives in sandpoint and he took me for a drive. alot of shots i took i did take from behind the wheel tho. out west there are alot of places to pull off big enough to park a truck where i could get in a few good shots. all though ive spent years out on the road i treated my time out there as if i would never get to do it again.

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by deltadarlin on Jan 31^st, 2011 at 8:32am

johnny,
Okay, you don't have to go with Canon (there are some Nikon users here ::) ). The pictures that I have up are taken with the small Canon and it does not have a removable lens. The other one that I recommended does not have a removable lens, but both mine and the other one will shoot fairly wide angle.

If you go with a removable lens, you're going to get into money real quick. My super wide (10-22 mm) lens is by Sigma and the lens alone cost $499.99.

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Melissa on Jan 31^st, 2011 at 11:01am

Johnny,

I think when you are able to hold your camera still, where you're not taking it driving, it turns out just beautiful. I recommend finding a camera with a quick shutter speed though, if you're taking them from a moving vehicle (which I hope you don't do often, as it's not the safest, but I understand. ;) ).

I personally use a Sony Alpha A100 DSLR. I got it used from my brother-in-law for $250 and it came with a standard Sony kit lens. I then purchased a used 28-105 zoom Minolta lens for I think $50? A fellow photographer had given me some tips that I didn't know about, like how I can buy used Minolta lenses (which are FAB) to put on my camera. I also love Sony due to the fast shutter speed (my kids move fast, lol) and picture print clarity. I've been through the gamut of cameras and found the Sony brand to be for me.

I've never took a photography class and have no editing software except for the Windows Live Photo gallery that came with my computer and Corel Photo Album 6 that I purchased to make slide shows and movies. The most they do is fix the basic colors, brightness, contrast, saturation, cropping, etc. No fancy effects.

My own style of photography is life like. If I can get a picture as close to the one I see in front of me as possible, I'm thrilled.

If you'd like some examples, I'll put them up if requested.

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by thebbz on Jan 31^st, 2011 at 9:35pm

I saw Potters house in that one from Montany.
Heps when you pull over to shoot Johnny. :D
the bb

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by barry_sword on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 6:58am

Johnny, we also have a Canon point & shoot and love this little camera. It is perfect for us to take along biking and it can take the abuse of the outdoors.
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Here are a couple of pics from it.
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Pic using the widescreen.
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Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by deltadarlin on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 8:27am

Marc wrote on Jan 31^st, 2011 at 10:39pm:

In world where pennies are worthless, here is my two cents:

1) Learning to read the light and understanding how a camera sees that light is more valuable to me than the most expensive camera in the world. Learning how to compose a shot has a huge impact on the final product.

2) The best camera is one that a person understands and actually learns to use to it's fullest extent. A camera that includes manual mode will allow a person to learn about controlling light with a combination of ISO, aperture and shutter speed. High dollar cameras don't make good photographers.

Marc

I was actually coming back to post something similar to what Marc just said. I've taken some of my best pictures with my cheaper camera (the only reason I bought that super wide lens was because I do quite a bit of landscape photography, especially antebellum homes, and I never could get everything in the pic).

I took one 6 week photography course for beginners way back when I first started.

What makes photography fun is that I *see* pictures everywhere. Something catches my eye and off I go.

Story here~I was working in Shreveport. Looked out my hotel room door and saw that the sunset looked like it was going to be gorgeous. Jumped in my car and started traveling west, trying to find a good spot to stop and shoot (away from the lights of the city). Ended up about 15 miles over the TX line before I realized it. Never did find a good spot to stop :(.

Have fun with it. You don't have to spend a lot of money (or buy a lot of lens).

Barry,
That's a good camera you have there!

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by thebbz on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 2:27pm

:DThese ads are a hoot, looks like johnny just bought 6 of them. 3 from the top of the page and another 3 from the bottom of the page....lol [smiley=biggrin.gif] [smiley=biggrin.gif] [smiley=biggrin.gif]
Dont get a Kodak! I hate mine.
the bb

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Grinner62 on Feb 4^th, 2011 at 10:53am

I'm a canon person also. I still have my 35mm Canon A1 (in my closet).

When I hit my 2 year point of not smoking I spent a fraction of the money saved. My toy is a Canon T2I 18 mega pixel DSLR and a Tamron 18-270mm lens. I picked up a hot shoe flash last month (big difference compared to the pop up).

Call me slow, but it'll take me a long time to learn what I can do with this set up. In the mean time, my granddaughter will have to deal with a permanent afterglow in her eyes.

Don't skimp on the memory card. I can only speak to the SD format. I don't suggest anything less than class 10 speeds. Even my T2I says the minimum is class six, but transferring to the computer is sooo much faster with class ten. Newegg has a good selection, with reviews.

I'm still shopping for a tripod I like. Not rushed, my old one just doesn't seem smooth enough for video.

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by his wife on Feb 4^th, 2011 at 3:47pm

Seeking advice please....

I have a Kodak easy share Z915, with 10x optical zoom, and 10 megapixel. It has alot of bells and whistles I haven't mastered yet. I'm going to a concert next week. Out of over 100 pics I took from a concert last year, about 80% of them were blurry. I've heard I should use sport mode. The problem is I press the button and there's like a second of lapse before it snaps the shots (sometimes it flashes to reduce red-eye, then takes the shot). That lapse makes the pic blurry and the shot change. Also, lighting is an issue, you never know if it's a bright or dim shot because of the light show involved.

I like this camera because the few pics I did get came out great. We were almost in the back of the pavilion and by the time I zoomed and cropped, it looked like we were in 3rd row and very clear. It also has a video record that I tried to use. I had new batteries and a 2MG card, but it recorded for like 3 secs then stopped, then the camera wouldn't even work [smiley=sayno.gif]

Any suggestions on mode or advice for concert pics would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

bonjovi1_3.jpg (459 KB | 2 )

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Melissa on Feb 4^th, 2011 at 6:02pm

hiswife- I honestly hate using sports mode as my pics turn out too grainy for my taste.

Is there any way for you to adjust the exposure?

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by his wife on Feb 4^th, 2011 at 6:13pm

Oh, if I were only that smart :D There is an iso mode and it popped up like 18 different options...one was to capture a person on stage, less blur, more brightness...but it says no flash?

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by Melissa on Feb 4^th, 2011 at 6:42pm

his wife wrote on Feb 4^th, 2011 at 6:13pm:

Oh, if I were only that smart :D There is an iso mode and it popped up like 18 different options...one was to capture a person on stage, less blur, more brightness...but it says no flash?

When using high ISO, as in sports mode, yes, it uses no flash.

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by deltadarlin on Feb 4^th, 2011 at 7:55pm

hiswife
Check your book. You have several modes that you can choose from that might help you out (btw, a 2 mg card isnt' enough to record and it does eat batteries up).

Multiple scene modes
•Portrait modes—portrait, night portrait, backlight, self
•Landscape modes—landscape, night landscape, fireworks, sunset
•Bright scene modes—sport, beach, snow
•Action modes—sport, children, stage
•Text mode—ensures sharp text when photographing documents

Title: Re: attn photographers
Post by his wife on Feb 4^th, 2011 at 8:41pm

Thank you both for the tips....yes where is that damn book? I just got 2 16mg cards & a 12 pack of batteries...lol...(plus taking my back-up camera). I'll try the stage mode and see how it turns out. We're in row 6 this time, so hopefully will get some great pics. On the other hand, I'll probably be too busy screamin', dancin', and actin' a fool and will totally forget to take the pics.... ;)