Tammy L. Newcomb |
I Need ((((((((Help)))))))) I have a confession to make:
I am taking decent pictures without understanding.... Kinda like my daughter who has Aspergers... I want to know what
and I always have settings on my camera that look like this: 1/3, 1/4, 1/6, all the way to 1/1000. I have actually seen it 1/1200 or 1500 but I have not seen it again since I took a picture in this setting.. Another thing is: I cannot seem to get the blured background in some of the settings...
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Debbie Del Tejo |
google and do a search for beginning photography...there are tons of basic easy stuff for beginners out there. there are even sites with visual aid for you to follow along......also try a community college in your area that is giving a beginning class in photography........also try a camera club if a class is out of the question.....
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
Thank you very mcuh for stopping while taking the time to point me in the right direction. I am a visual learner and tend to learn things by studying others (kinda like people who can play music by ear). Again, Thanks Tammy
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
That's true, some of those questions can be answered. ISO is a measure or indication of how sensitive film is to light. Or the sensor of a digital cam. Like nocturnal animals can see better than humans at night. F/stop is the ratio of the apeture, or the size of the opening that light comes thru in the lens. Think size of a window. Composition is the relation of subjects/objects in a picture, how they play off each other, how the affect the overall appearence and appeal of the picture. Think how you decorate your room. You place furniture in places so the room just looks right, balanced. The fractions are the different shutter speeds you ended up using for some particular pictures. A camera on auto will pick the shutter speed, depending on how much light, what you're taking a picture of. Yours seems to be picking those. Blurred background; that depends on which apeture is used. If your camera is a point&shoot type, because of the way they are with small lenses and small sensors, they make pictures with what is called a wide depth of field. And depth of field is the amount of the foreground and background that appears to stay infocus. Not much blur to the background. If you have a SLR type camera, you need to shoot with a wide apeture. Which will have a f/stop number that is small, f/2.8, f/4 Depth of field is also affected by focal length. Long focal lengths have shallow depth of field, blurred background.
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Debbie Del Tejo |
Yes...If it were me...I would need to see what you are talking about and there are web sites with visual aids that while explaining it just like above (wonderfully)would also point out and give examples i.e. different F STOPS..and appertures. I think they would help trememdously as well as maybe getting some beginner books at the library or bookstore....Good luck!
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Debbie Del Tejo |
http://www.photonhead.com/beginners/
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
Thank you very much and I really appreciate all of your help... I will check out the link.. BTW: how do you all get that little icon to appear beside of your name?
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Debbie Del Tejo |
When you log on, go to MY MEMBER INFO AND click on mini-pic...then upload the pic you want to appear next to your name.
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Jon Close |
Re: "I know what you all might say...READ THE BOOK THAT THE CAMERA CAME WITH. Well, I would but I can't find it..." Link to Kodak CX7525 user manual, including an interactive tutorial.
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Jon Close |
P.S. Link to Kodak's Taking Great Pictures.
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Tammy, it will sound like a plug, but before I even knew about BP.com, I bought the "BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography" by Jim Miotke at Border's. (Found the website while reading that book cover to cover.) I bought it 2 days after buying my first-ever camera (ie, the one I currently use.) I was a 99.99% beginner last September, having only used my dad's old film camera as a teen, and a friend's point-and-shoot (on Full Auto Mode) a few times. I found the book to be clearly written, with lots of pictures to illustrate the topics. And for me, it provided a much needed, invaluable, quickly-grasped education on all the basics of using my camera's settings. (I've not used Auto Mode since reading that book!) Everything you've asked about here, is covered in the book in "plain English" terms, along with suggested exercises. I'm sure you can buy it here, but also Amazon, etc.
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Debbie Del Tejo |
Tammy, take a look at Christopher's gallery and I'd RUN AND GET THAT BOOK.....He is incredible and in less then one year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! run girl, RUN!
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Debbie, wow... thanks so much for such a compliment! I've got much yet to learn, but I really believe the book gave me a huge headstart, and a comfort level with all the settings, that I otherwise would've struggled to achieve on my own.
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Debbie Del Tejo |
Well, I only spoke the truth. Your work shows it. But you have to have the passion in your heart and you GOT IT!!! (not to mention the EYE for it, and you got that too)
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Oliver Anderson |
I just looked on Monday and discovered my camera had different settings as well but Christopher let me borrow "BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography" by Jim Miotke and now I know what P Mode is.JK I second Christopher's excellent recommendation. The book is a must have and it shows plenty of illustrations to back up the examples of what Jim is referring to. I've given the book to 2 well established photographers making the move to Digital from Film and they loved it. It is actually useable as a big quick reference guide.
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
OMG.... Thanks so much for all the feedback and advice and I looked at all the galleries and you all have some wonderful pictures with your own since of style and accomplishment.... I love it.... Not to change the subject, but the reason I had not responded sooner was that it's been a rough two days. I had a severe allergic reaction to a food I ate or the antibiotic I am on. The thing is that I have already been on the Antibiotic for seven days with no problem. They cannot figure out which caused it. I broke out in huge hives that itched like you would not believe. I swelled up and started wheezing. I spent several hours in the emergency room last night with an IV needle in my hand. They gave me all kinds of medication then sent me home at about 4:00 AM. I got up this morning and took my four-year-old across town to get his hair cut off and I started itching and swelling up again and to top it off I had chest pain. I rushed myself with my four-year-old and six month old sons to the doctor and they had to give me three more shots. I am home now but I still have the allergic rash, itching and still not feeling well. Anyway, Thanks Again for all of the help....
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Debbie Del Tejo |
sorry to her all that.....but I just have one question....DID YOU HAVE YOUR CAMERA WITH YOU?
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Oliver Anderson |
WOWWWWW!!! I'm thinking you better just buy the Cliff Notes Version...JK I had that same reaction to one of my ex's but she's moved on and I'm feeling better now. Well the good news is while you're healing you can read that book but you might want to buy it on Amazon and let it be delivered.
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Debbie Del Tejo |
Oliver, I laughed so hard at your answer I nearly split my spleen....and still laughing! Thanks
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Oliver Anderson |
Yeah, I'm told i'm a bit of a smarta**.
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
Debbie & Oliver Thanks and no I was so itchy I could not hold on to the camera....LOL.... YSF!!!! Hey Oliver, you have a great sense of humor and I just about died laughing and completely could relate to the part where you said, "I had that same reaction to one of my ex's but she's moved on and I'm feeling better now." You must be a real character. Well, I took a long nappy and felt a little better but it's now late again and I am starting to swell and itch real bad again. I have to figure out what is causing it or I am going to be a walking drug store... Who would have thought at age 33 that a person would have an allergic reaction to a common food that one has been eating all their life...I prefer sameness and it will not be to hard to figure it out, if it's food. I did eat more blueberries tonight (which is not a typical food for me and it?s been a while since I had any blueberries) I am kind of thinking that may be the culprit. I am so breaking back out into hives tonight and I be d*mnd if I am going back to the ER and sit all night. Man is it going to be a long night since my medications are not working. Again, thanks(EVERYONE) for all the help and I can?t wait to learn all I can and maybe I will get more comments on my photos?
Tammy
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Pat Worster |
Hi Tammy, I had the same problem when I first turned to digital, I took a course here at Betterphoto just to learn how to use my camera. I learned that my camera could do things I knew nothing about. It was the best Money I have ever spent. Pat
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Jane M |
Chris - Wow, only since September? From your images I'd thought you'd been doing it years! Great inspiration for all us beginners. Are there any other books you'd recommend beyond the very basics?
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Thank you, Jane! I think that I may have been "refining my eye" unawares for years before buying my camera--both my dad and my best friend take really great pictures; I've probably been picking up composition and subject ideas for years! The BP book is the only one I've read on the basic concepts of photography, so far. (I hope to read more, on the subject of exposure, soon... the Peterson book, I think?) I've enjoyed two for Photoshop Elements (I use PSE2)---Richard Lynch's "Hidden Power..." and Scott Kelby's book for PSE4 (mostly transfers ok to PSE2.)
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Ann Kittelsen |
I found a book called Complete Digital Photography by Ben Long that is very detailed but easy to read and lots of pictures for examples of what he is explaining. He starts with basics and goes all the way into Photoshop work. I got my first digital camera for Christmas and was in same boat, still learning but got a lot from this book as well as a tutorial on www.photoworkshop.com which is for Canon Rebel but they give all the basics for any digital camera that you could learn a lot. Good luck.
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Bob Chance |
The last time I saw someone have a reaction to blueberries, she swelled up to the size of a helium balloon. Of course, that was only a movie. Something about a chocolate factory and some kid named Charlie.
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Bob Chance |
Tammy; A real simple analogy that helps people to understand the mechanics of photography is this. Consider your kitchen sink faucet. You can use this faucet to fill a glass of water. How far you open the faucet would be like the aperature setting on the lens. How long you leave the faucet open would be like the shutter in a camea.
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Slim Brady |
Best bet is to get your ISO as low as the light allows (by your light meter). Then think about the speed of your subject (shoot more in TV mode at first). Then when you fell you've got that move into the AV mode and see what the f/stops do). Then when you've got that in the bag. M = "master" of the idot box. Its all on you so think of all 3 now speed,f/stop and the right ISO then "Learn as you go and become a pro" Learn from your mistakes and you will learn well. If you love the art, the technical sense of shadows and highlights will soon be yours. - Go Beyond
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Debbie Del Tejo |
OMG......lmao
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Slim Brady |
I don't believe you're opinion is arrogant, you see it the way you see it.
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Mike Rubin |
The book, "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson is awesome and very easy to understand.It may be one of the best books for beginners. I highly recommend it. When using a P&S camera it is more difficult to obtain a shallow DOF than with an SLR. I hope you are feeling better now.
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Pete H |
Hello Tammy, All the advice you have received is good, so I won't add to that. The technical aspect of photography is actually one of the easiest aspects to grasp...In my opinion, YOU have embraced one of the most difficult parts already; that being a good "eye." I looked at your gallery..you DO have an "eye" for composition; and THAT, is not easy to teach. When Tiger Woods was a small kid, his coach told him to swing as hard as he could, control and details would come later. Keep developing your "eye." While ISO, f/stops, speed, DOF are all important to a understanding in photography, NOTHING beats composition. One can be taught to be more aware of composition, but it is my belief one either has it, or they don't..YOU have it. All the Best, Pete
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Bob Chance |
Ditto that Pete. The technical aspects may give you technically good photographs, but without the eye, your best photos will only be akin to snapshots.
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Pete H |
Double ditto Bob! I have seen people with very expensive cameras, yet their photos look like everyone elses photos...to quote you, "snapshots" indeed. I call these people "equipment junkies." I love to play golf..and I will admit, I am a pretty good golfer...but if I said it once I've said it a million times; Tiger Woods on his worst day could whup me good with a 100 dollar set of K-mart clubs! I've seen photos that while NOT technically correct, (exposure etc) were of such high value compositionally coupled with story telling, caused me to easily overlook the tech deficit. Pete
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
I am so overwhelmed at all the wonderful response to my question. I can't thank everyone enough for all the tips. I learn fast and when given the right opportunity, I will excel at this. I have to agree with pete with the aspect of what he is calling composition. I do understand that you either have an eye for or your don't. Hee Hee.... I still do not fully understand all the technical stuff but understand enough of what I am doing without understanding if that will make any sense to anyone here. I usually do most things pretty well, just don't ask me how I did it......LOL..LOL..... Tammy
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Bob Chance |
That's what Pete means by 'you have the eye'. There are times when the subject simply stands out better in the center. There are times when holding the camera off kilter makes for a more interesting shot than if holding it perfectly level. Having 'the eye' isn't so much knowing all the guide lines out of a book as it is knowing when to break the rules. I scoped out your gallery and was impressed. One of your images, the yellow flower reminded me of one of my own and I was wondering if it was a typical thing for Kodak easyshare cameras to sometimes turn green foilage blue? Mine also had a problem with colors in the violet range, often times converting them to blue also.
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
Hey Bob!!!! I seen your gallery too and you have a wonderful gallery yourself. I am not sure about the Kodak cameras turning green foliage blue but it sure seems that way. I personally love the blue effect but all my photos do not do that by any means. I have tried doing it again in different situations and it just does not happen. I took this picture close to dusk so that may have a little to do with it...not sure... I am addicted to close up pictures and have a hard time backing up as you could see with my photos. I tend to chop to tight and I tend to obsess with the sharpening button.... I also get bored with the point and shoot straight ahead and love taking pictures in angles that are not typical. I would love to hear some opinions on what settings to use outside when taking pictures in the mountains; you know the scenic type.... Tammy PS... Thanks for saying you thought my gallery was decent.... I really appreciated it.... It made my day ****Smiles*****
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Slim Brady |
Its amazing to watch people shoot themselves in the foot and not even know it. My gun has no name on it, so you can't see the invisible, but still people pay me for the way it shoots.
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Bob Chance |
Huh?
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Bob Chance |
Hi Tammy: Thank you for visiting my not-so-well kept gallery. Been working too many hours and haven't really had the time or money to do any traveling anywhere to do some new uploads. I've pretty much exhausted everything in the local area.
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