Teach me to shoot
Something I kind of stink at is taking good photographs. I don’t have a fancy pants camera (Canon Power Shot SD500 Digital Elph, actually Steven’s), but I know I can be taking better photographs than I am with it.
I could improve my framing.
I could improve the lighting.
I could improve a zillion things!
I really like to read tutorial books – I’ve found out following them is a really effective way for me to learn. And Kevin gave me a nifty $30 amazon giftcard (you rock, Kevin!), so maybe I should use that towards a digital camera tutorial book? Any book suggestions? Or other advice?
I’ve noticed a lot bloggers take amazing photos – Kyra, Dave2, claire, Bobbi (duh), and many others! How did you learn, what do you use? Do I just need to get out there and practice?
Themocracy
How about when I take my little jaunt to Chicago in a few months, I take you on a photo-field-trip downtown? 🙂
I have a decent camera, but the way I got some seriously great pictures was to get a polarizing lens filter. While I was in California last winter, I took some amazing pictures. They had little to do with me, and a lot to do with the polarizing lens, which sharpens the colors of outdoor photographs – the same way that your sunglasses sharpen colors when you wear them in bright sunlight. Maybe look into some filters? There are some others I have that I haven’t really explored with yet, that are supposed to filter indoor light.
The ones I have came with a tube that screws onto the front of my camera (to leave room for the zoom) and then the filters go on the end of the tube. Seriously, they made a huge difference.
Kyra – That sounds like fun! I didn’t know you were coming out here!!! When are you coming? Diane and I have been wanting to meet you… 🙂
Stephanie – Do you have a real 35mm or a digital? Do you have to have a real camera to use those filters? That sounds like a really good idea.
Hmm, I’ve always had what they call a good eye, but I also studied film which let me understand why what I was doing worked. Most of my recent shots were taken with a borrowed junky old digital camera, so the camera isn’t the main issue. Or rather, there’s a lot you can improve before looking for new gear.
First and foremost, look at everything in the frame of the shot you are about to take. I prefer using a viewfinder but the parallax (diff between what you see through viewfinder and what the lens sees) in anything but an SLR will totally screw up your composition. So… use the video screen if you’re shooting digital or shoot a wider shot than you want so you can crop it later. After you press the shutter, stay still and look at what you just did. Was it what you intended? Is there a lamp coming out of someone’s head?
Think of the frame in thirds. Instead of putting your subject in the middle, put them 1/3 in from the left or right. Same thing with up and down.
Lines that meet the corners of the frame draw your eye in. E.g., a road going to the horizon: line up one edge of it so it meets a bottom corner.
Don’t shoot people in direct sun.
These are just guidelines, of course. A lot of things depend on the particular shot. HTH!
i need the same advice! let me know what you learn 🙂
I took a photography class in college — I took everything that sounded easy — but the most important thing is having a decent camera. Not a great camera. A decent camera.
After that, the most important thing is getting the most available light possible (not a flash). If you can’t get more light, get low-light film or set your digital camera for a low-light setting.
For a digital camera, the most important thing is capturing the highest resolution possible. You can’t get as many photos on a disk, stick, or other device, but the more little digital boxes per square inch, the better.
After taking pictures as part of my job a few years ago, I got to where I hated photography. My wife has a little digital camera and she takes all the photos now. It’s kind of sad, but that’s how it goes.
You can use filters with some digital cameras, if they have the threading to hold the adapter tube.
I have the Kodak Easy Share Z712, which is digital. I don’t think yours takes the adapter tube.
This page shows adapter tubes, and tells cameras that take them – http://www.camerafilters.com/pages/adaptertubes.aspx
This page shows the difference polarizing filters make. http://www.camerafilters.com/pages/cpl.aspx
here are my pictures from California. The sharpness of the colors is due to the filter. http://www.flickr.com/photos/princessspeedy/sets/72157603305160418/
i so appreciate good photography, but i am just terrible at taking pictures. (but i love to capture every moment.)
I like cameras to capture memories. I don’t care HOW the photo turns out, as long as it captures a good memory.
Hey, I’m glad you found something cool to use the GC on. Very cool. I might even borrow it when you’re done!
hi hi hi Kim 🙂 I saw some hits coming in from over here… and here you are… talking about photography. 😀
i’m very inspired by lines, symmetry, color, personality, texture, etc. i like to look at everything as though i’ve never seen it before. what fascinates me? what do i find interesting? i’m not a fan of rules… like, rules of thirds, never face someone directly at you, etc etc etc… I shoot what I find appealing. 😀
not sure if this helps any 🙂
Hope your day is fab… and i MAJORLY miss you two!
~bobbi
The best advice I ever got about taking pictures is about framing. When you’re looking through the viewfinder, or the digital image on the screen, split it into thirds and position your subject into either a side or bottom third, depending on what it is your capturing.
I really hope that made sense. It’s a method I use and I would like to think it’s produced some good photos on a relatively crappy camera.
hehe, so yeah Claire already said that…
claire – Those are GREAT guidelines. I really like the “thirds” rule; I better go try these tricks out while they are fresh in my mind!
Alice – Will do! 🙂 So far there is a lot of good advice in the comments! 🙂
ajooja – “I took everything that sounded easy”? You make me laugh! I’ve been thinking a lot about light lately. All of my interior photos (usually of my cat!) blow chunks. I wonder if there is a way to work with natural light indoors as well. I hate flash with a passion. I hate how it washes everything out. Well, at least on my camera. Do you think you might get into it again? 🙁
Stephanie – Thanks for the links! I was wondering how your cali photos were so amazing! 🙂
marissa – I love fun candids. I think sometimes they tell more of a story than a pose!
Angela – Good point. I don’t want to worry too much and miss the moment!
kapgar – Cool. I’ll let you know which one I need up getting.
boobi+ – Maybe your advice should be “be more like bobbi”? 😉 Come here and teach me! I miss you!
Cheryl – Now worries about the repeat! I never would have thought of that on my own, and if it works for at least two people, I better try it! 🙂
Always try to open a window shade, turn on a light, or anything you can to get more light into the room.
I took Fundamentals of Track and Field and Fundamentals of Basketball while majoring in computer science. 🙂
ajooja – I think I need to avoid night shots as well! I took racquetball my last year and had a ton of fun 🙂
As others have mentioned, a photography class can teach you a lot. The things you learn from various assignments and having an actual human who knows something about taking pictures is valuable.
Before you do that or read any help book, read the manual and get to know how to use the different features of the camera. And since it’s digital, experiment with a large memory card. Load the pictures into something like iPhoto (if you are on a Mac) or Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition 3 (Windows) and look at the info on the picture. It will tell you what aperature, f-stop. pixel size and all sorts of details that can help in learning what settings to use with what pictures.
martymankins – Maybe a class would be fun for Steven and me to take together. I didn’t even think to read the manual. Duh. Just the other day, I realized I can take close-up photos (like for this post) and I was amazed. Maybe it’s time to look at what I already have in front of me!