 Jennifer N. Flaherty |
Any Helpful Tips? hi!!! I just wanted to put this out there and see if anyone would like to toss ANY "to live by" photography tips my way. I want to learn all I can about taking pictures, I love it, and I want to better myself in any way possible. I would love any and all advice, on any angle of photography. thanks you so much for your time. grateful, Jennifer
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John P. Sandstedt |
Most helpful tip - don't ask for help. Get to the library, join a camera club, check out whether there are any courses offered by local colleges or adult education programs in a nearby high school. And, then, practice, practice, practice.
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- Dennis Flanagan Contact Dennis Flanagan Dennis Flanagan's Gallery |
Learn the relationship between shutter speend and apeture, then learn how to take photos in manual. Even if you like using the automatic modes, learning manual will teach you what settings to use for the type of photo you want to take.
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Along the lines of Dennis' advice, read Bryan Peterson's book, "Understanding Exposure". Read it, learn it, live it. Chris A. Vedros
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Jennifer N. Flaherty |
thank all of ya'll for your tips. I do get into the books, library and lots of practice, but I thought it couldnt hurt to seek out some advice from others. thanks again
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Mary Iacofano |
Hi Jennifer, I do ask alot of questions. I also take alot of lessons. The ppl & instructors here at BP are really friendly & fantastic. The courses are a wealth of information, that you can use as reference manuals over & over. Learn from the pros, either online or in text books. I am one of those that needs a written out lesson to learn. I have taken all my courses here at BP. Not advertising for them, but I do highly reccomend them. The skill level courses are very appropriate. I started at level one moved up from there. I read alot of this forum, and that in itself is a great learning experiance. I wish you all the luck in the world. Happy shooting!
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- Ken Smith Contact Ken Smith Ken Smith's Gallery |
BP also has some easy tips: Top 10 Tips Rule of Thirds Also, keep it simple--avoid the clutter in the background. If you look at BP's finalist and winner's pages, you'll see the thumbnails. And maybe compare these thumbnails to the normal suite of images that are uploaded on the contest page. I think youll see there's a difference in the clutter factor.
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Mary Iacofano |
And a bit more to add, Always carry your camera manual with you. Refer to it in different settings. I viewed your gallery, you take very nice photos. I like how you add a bit of color to b/w. Everyone has a special style and my impressions is that you had found yours. Networking has been a key to my photography. Network here or with friends shooting in the field. :)
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Sharon Day |
"Also, keep it simple--" KISS=Keep It Simple Stupid. I laughed out loud the first time someone mentioned this one to me but it is a really good tip!
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Irene Troy |
Okay – my #1 tip that someone – a pro photographer friend – gave me very early on: learn to get up very early, before sunrise. Learn to stay out late – after sunset; never put away your camera until there is truly no more light and you see nothing that you want to photograph using flash. Time of day = angle of light = best lighting = good images. #2: study exposure inside and out; if shooting digital, learn to read your histogram and understand that each camera ‘sees’ light a little differently and you have to learn what your camera is seeing. #3: Don’t expect to go pro after a few months of serious shooting! Don’t get angry because you did not win the contest; someone criticized your work or spoke (wrote) something negative. At the same time, know what you are trying to achieve and don’t just copy someone else’s style. It’s good to learn from others and it can be helpful to try their techniques, just know that you have to adapt these things to your own sense of style. #4: HAVE FUN! Even if you go pro, this is supposed to be FUN!
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Bob Cammarata |
1) Create images that will tell a story. If you have to explain to a viewer what they are seeing or what you were attempting to portray, you've failed at that attempt and it's time to try something else. 2) Turn off all of that "auto-crap" and take control of your machine. Your artistry and creativity cries to be free. 3) Remember what works so you can duplicate it. Remember also what DOESN'T work so that you can try something a little different next time and improve from what you've learned. 4) The medium of photography is light. Understanding its complexities is paramount in the creation of superior imagery. 5) High-quality lenses (and practical experience in using them) are more important than that $2000+ camera body that advertizers claim can do everything but make you a cup of coffee. 6)...and don't forget to take your lens cap off. :) Bob
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Maybe "the don't ask for help" was a joke. There's any number of tips. Write down ideas, even if it's something you can't immediately do but think it would make a good picture. Read the manual. Don't let an ego overshadow the fact that sometimes it is what kind of camera or lens you have. Sometimes it's not how you took a picture but who you took a picture of. Don't every forget about the snapshots. Play is therapeutic, and helps creativity. If you don't start with a good idea, you don't finish with one. Don't fear bad ideas, they direct you places. Photographers can be snobby, jealous, and shiesty. Photographers can be helpful, especially if they have job security. Having a camera in your hand makes other people think you know a lot. Use that power for good. One person with a camera that does something stupid will mess things up for every other person with a camera. Wait two weeks so people will realize you weren't associated with that person. You don't have to define to anybody else when a photo stops being a photo. It's just another way of being snobby, but in reverse. Camera is a tool, there are good tools and bad tools, but the best builders use old tools because they know how to build things. Unless, they actually need a new tool. It really is all about the light. Light gets boring without the shadows. Use the light to create them. Regardless of youtube, streaming video, etc... they don't have the emotion of a photograph. Guess that's why people always say "take my picture" more than they say "video tape me". Empathize with your subject. Sometimes there really isn't anything to take a picture of, regardless of what an editor says. Explore and experiment. If someone says you can't come in, having a camera makes them twice as irritated if you ask to come in anyway. Rules are generalities. Don't live by them If you get in and you have a camera, only leave if somebody ask you to. Then take one more picture and politely leave and say you didn't know you couldn't take pictures in here. You'll feel goofy at first, until you actually start taking pictures, then other people will think you're cool. It can be liberating. We're all just souvenir collectors of everything we see that we thought was neat or unique in life. Even the bad stuff that happens. Don't be wimpy.
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Giordano |
Hey Gregory, may I print it and put it on the wall??? I really like it...no kidding... Gio
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KV Day |
lol Greg, out of all the folks on this site over the years I have seen, you arethe only one I find interesting enough to meet. "One person with a camera that does something stupid will mess things up for every other person with a camera. Wait two weeks so people will realize you weren't associated with that person." I will laugh at this one all morning, classic.
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Jennifer N. Flaherty |
thank you all once again for takin the time to lend me some tips. and Gregory, wow, lol. I have to say thats pretty impressive. it made me smile and honestly made me wanna grab my camera and run out the door. thanks so much, I love this. and it doesnt seem im the only one you drew attention from ;) grateful... Jennifer
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Irene Troy |
WOW Greg - of all the things that you have written for this site, this may be the best yet! Have you thought about writing something similar for publication? I could see this in a good photo mag as tips for a beginner/novice/jaded middle of the roader.
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