peachymama
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Hello all! I just purchased my first dslr, and don't even know where to begin! Are there any books you would recommend to get me started? I am a compete novice. Thank you!
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For the t3i newbie
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Mike Tansey
Leading Member
Hi,
It depends what kind of photography you're interested in persuing, and how in-depth you want to learn.
Light is the most fundamental part of any photography, and understanding lighting is probably the most crucial information for you to know. So this book: Light Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting Will give you a great foundation in your understanding of lighting.
Then for more general photography reading, be it about lighting, composition, camera operation or equipment, Scott Kelby's Digital Photography books are great too.
It depends what kind of photography you're interested in persuing, and how in-depth you want to learn.
Light is the most fundamental part of any photography, and understanding lighting is probably the most crucial information for you to know. So this book: Light Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting Will give you a great foundation in your understanding of lighting.
Then for more general photography reading, be it about lighting, composition, camera operation or equipment, Scott Kelby's Digital Photography books are great too.
gossamer88
Leading Member
David Busch's Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D Guide to Digital SLR Photography (David Busch's Digital Photography Guides): David D. Busch: 9781435460287: Amazon.com: Books
David Busch's Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D Guide to Digital SLR Photography (David Busch's Digital Photography Guides) [David D. Busch] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. David Busch's Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D Guide to Digital SLR Photography (David Busch's Digital Photography Guides)
www.amazon.com
2esetters
Senior Member
Also, there are booklets specifically tailored to using the T3i which might help you get to know your camera's settings and possibilities more thoroughly than the Canon info that came with it. The public library is a good place to check out some of the better known authors about photography and DSLRs.
Enjoy your new camera. It will serve you well.
Enjoy your new camera. It will serve you well.
FrankieJ
Senior Member
Read the manual that came with the camera.
peachymama
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Thanks everyone! (but Frankie)
FrankieJ
Senior Member
I'm so sorry, did you find my suggestion to read the camera manual to be a bad one?
I've been shooting for 36 years and always read the operation manual of any new camera that I purchase. They're very instructional and they are also camera specific.
Since more readers "agreed" with my post as being Good advice than any other single suggestion, I'm not sure from where your negative (at the very least - specifically thankless) attitude stems?
anonymouse99
Well-known member
I second this suggestion. I am a newbie myself, and the manual appears to answer some of the questions that come to mind for shooting. In particular, page 6 "Contents at a Glance" which talks about various Shooting scenarios.
I am just starting to read this stuff myself, and it seems that following T3i specific instructions especially from simple to complex will help me understand the broader ideas and concepts that govern photography in general. Thanks FrankieJ.
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R2D2
Forum Pro
R2D2
Forum Pro
Best to start with the basics and work from there. If you want some automation, set the camera to Aperture Priority mode. Otherwise IMHO Manual mode will put you on the fast track to understanding how a camera really works.
First, enable the Highlight Alert and the Histogram to help you with checking exposure.
Set the Metering to Center Weighted for greatest exposure consistency and predictability.
Set your Aperture to give you the "Look" you want (I'm shooting wide open 90% of the time).
Adjust your ISO upwards when you start to notice too much subject motion blur or camera shake.
And most importantly, set your autofocus to a single point (I use the center point 90% of the time) so that the camera focuses on what You want it to.
Bingo. That's it. Done. At its core it's that simple. These basics should serve you well for a very long time (they have me for several decades now).
At some point of course you'll want to tweak this and explore things more deeply, but the above should always serve you well as your foundation.
Oh, and with camera in hand always keep the Big Three in mind... LIGHT, ANGLE, and TIMING!
So enjoy your new pastime. Holler if you have any questions.
R2
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Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
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Kool Nelson
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Its like buying a computer for the first time.
I remember buy my first PC and looking for a manual to work out how to use it... then realising they don't come with one.
So what I did was just start messing around on it... teaching myself.
The same with a camera. I never read any books... it can all just become head noise after about 5 minutes of reading.
I suggest just play with it. Its not like the old 35mm films.. if you make a mistake on a digital camera, you just take another photo.
Experiment!!! Its good fun at the same time.
And Forums are a massive help too.
www.grandfanalefotography.com
SimpleKindaEye
Well-known member
I second the post on getting this book,
http://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-Digital-Photography-Guides/dp/1435460286
I have it and it has great info on how to with the camera and suggestions as well.
Then take your camera out and start shooting. I love my T3i... I hope you will have fun with yours.
http://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-Digital-Photography-Guides/dp/1435460286
I have it and it has great info on how to with the camera and suggestions as well.
Then take your camera out and start shooting. I love my T3i... I hope you will have fun with yours.
Kevin C Ross
Forum Enthusiast
Might I suggest this easy-to-understand 1-day training video for the T3i:
www.creativelive.com
And there is also this 5-day workshop on the basics of digital photography:
www.creativelive.com
Site Closing
www.creativelive.com
And there is also this 5-day workshop on the basics of digital photography:
Site Closing
www.creativelive.com
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