As a complete beginner in photography where do I start to learn? My husband almost bought me a beautiful camera but was told I wouldn't be able to use it to its full potential as I don't have the knowledge! I am a working mother with no time for college but a passion for pictures! Where do I start???? Someone help!!!
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Where do i start?
- Thread starter Coulbeens
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Limburger
Veteran Member
Hello and welcome.
Starting out with looking at pictures of others and different types of photography to get an idea what you like.
A video on style and a video on composition
Once you at least have an idea what you want to photograph it is easier to look for gear that can handle it.
Hope this helps.
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Cheers Mike
Check
Starting out with looking at pictures of others and different types of photography to get an idea what you like.
A video on style and a video on composition
Once you at least have an idea what you want to photograph it is easier to look for gear that can handle it.
Hope this helps.
--
Cheers Mike
Check
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baloo_buc
Forum Pro
Welcome!
Start by knowing how to operate the camera (reading the user manual) and taking photos of interesting subjects.
BTW which camera? It may help you more accurately based on the type of camera you have. Most variables are applicable to all cameras. Some variables (especially ISO Speed and Aperture have different influences depending on the camera type).
There are two aspects of photography. First is the technical part. This was easier for me to learn as I am kind of technical guy. The technical part is about exposure, white balance, focus, depth of field.
Start by turning the dial to P mode.Start taking photos of the things that you find attracting (landscapes, flowers, people, pets, street, architecture, whatever). Each photo has the parameters in it (EXIF). The important infos are in ISO Speed, Aperture, Shutter Speed fields. Some photos will not turn great. See the parameters and compare with the ones you like. Find why you don't like the photo. Maybe because the subject is blurry (read about shutter speed), maybe that the image has too much noise (read about ISO Speed), maybe the focus is not on the subject (read about focusimng modes and focusing points), maybe the image is too bright or too dark (read about metering modes and exposure compensation).
After you get to grips with ISO Speed, exposure compensation, white balance, AF modes and AF points you can get to A (or Av) to control the depth of field with the aperture. Then you can try S (or Tv) mode.
Then comes the artistic part of photography. It is about framing, using colors, using light, balancing the elements of the photo. This is the hard part at least for me. Some people that are artistic find it easier part.
Take your time. You don't have to do it 24/7. It's a hobby not work. There are books, there is Internet, you can join a photo club so a lot of ways to learn the art and the craft.
Sunset at Schoenbrunn
--
Victor
Bucuresti, Romania
s106.photobucket.com
Start by knowing how to operate the camera (reading the user manual) and taking photos of interesting subjects.
BTW which camera? It may help you more accurately based on the type of camera you have. Most variables are applicable to all cameras. Some variables (especially ISO Speed and Aperture have different influences depending on the camera type).
There are two aspects of photography. First is the technical part. This was easier for me to learn as I am kind of technical guy. The technical part is about exposure, white balance, focus, depth of field.
Start by turning the dial to P mode.Start taking photos of the things that you find attracting (landscapes, flowers, people, pets, street, architecture, whatever). Each photo has the parameters in it (EXIF). The important infos are in ISO Speed, Aperture, Shutter Speed fields. Some photos will not turn great. See the parameters and compare with the ones you like. Find why you don't like the photo. Maybe because the subject is blurry (read about shutter speed), maybe that the image has too much noise (read about ISO Speed), maybe the focus is not on the subject (read about focusimng modes and focusing points), maybe the image is too bright or too dark (read about metering modes and exposure compensation).
After you get to grips with ISO Speed, exposure compensation, white balance, AF modes and AF points you can get to A (or Av) to control the depth of field with the aperture. Then you can try S (or Tv) mode.
Then comes the artistic part of photography. It is about framing, using colors, using light, balancing the elements of the photo. This is the hard part at least for me. Some people that are artistic find it easier part.
Take your time. You don't have to do it 24/7. It's a hobby not work. There are books, there is Internet, you can join a photo club so a lot of ways to learn the art and the craft.
Sunset at Schoenbrunn
--
Victor
Bucuresti, Romania
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Mark S Abeln
Forum Pro
You can also look for photography books at your local bookstore or library. Some of the older books have great photography, but the technical advice in them would be severely dated.
Here are some websites you can look at:
http://photo.net/learn/basic-photography-tips/
http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-tips-for-beginners/
This is a lot more advanced:
https://luminous-landscape.com/category/tutorials/
And be sure to look around here on dpreview. It’s the biggest photography forum and there are lots of folks willing to give good advice.
--
http://therefractedlight.blogspot.com
Here are some websites you can look at:
http://photo.net/learn/basic-photography-tips/
http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-tips-for-beginners/
This is a lot more advanced:
https://luminous-landscape.com/category/tutorials/
And be sure to look around here on dpreview. It’s the biggest photography forum and there are lots of folks willing to give good advice.
--
http://therefractedlight.blogspot.com
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KCook
Forum Pro
I like that advice a lot. Links for simple articles that show the different types of photography -
What Type of Photographer Are You?
Types of Photography
Working with different subjects
Tell us what type of photography interests you the most.
Kelly Cook
I've learned a lot with digital-photography-school and understanding the exposure triangle helped me a lot.
Also https://www.flickr.com/explore gives tons of ideas.
A 365 days picture challenge always help.
And the most important thing : Bring your camera with you. That way you wont miss a shot. Go to festivals, national park, places you normally don't go. Are you walking (or partly walking) to go to work ? if so try a different route. Go take a walk at lunch and explore !
And the most important thing (I know I already said it) : Have fun !
Also https://www.flickr.com/explore gives tons of ideas.
A 365 days picture challenge always help.
And the most important thing : Bring your camera with you. That way you wont miss a shot. Go to festivals, national park, places you normally don't go. Are you walking (or partly walking) to go to work ? if so try a different route. Go take a walk at lunch and explore !
And the most important thing (I know I already said it) : Have fun !
I think every newbie should start with a good basic photography book. A good bookstore should have several to choose from. My favorite is, "National Geographic Complete Photography". Another good one is, "Understanding Photography Field Guide", by Bryan Peterson. His other book, "Understanding Exposure" is also good, but the field guide is a more complete course in basic photography. There are also good videos on YouTube, but start with the book. Either book will give you a complete A-Z course which is better than a piecemeal approach.Take it in small bites. Do some reading and a lot of shooting, and when you have specific questions, ask us.
Most of all have fun and enjoy the learning process which never ends.
Most of all have fun and enjoy the learning process which never ends.
mostlyboringphotog
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First, you don't need a "beautiful camera"; you need a camera that can set "f/stop, shutter speed, and ISO" at your will. Also a camera that has an option for "Raw" file can help a lot to understand digital imaging.
Tell your hubby to get you a Nikon 3300 with the kit lens or PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-GF7KK. I'm personally mad at both Nikon and Panasonic but these are the brands that I have some experience.
Not sure what your hubby has for his camera, (and I'm a guy) but a gal would make a photo better looking than a guy a lot sooner than a new cam from Nikon or Panasonic.
Good Luck...
golfhov
Forum Pro
Books for beginners then the internet maybe.......if you have a photography club that could be a good resource but if you have kids you probably do not have time for that
Your husband is right but he sounds like a ****
A course would be nice but not necessary to get started with all the resources available
Read a few basic articles. You have been given a ton of suggestions. Look at photos. If the photos have an explanation of the methodology that would be helpful. Start shooting on whatever you have. Smartphone or cheap point and shoot it really does not matter. A photograph can be shot with all sorts of equipment. As soon as you have a decent idea what you want out of a camera buy one. Personally I would sugget buying an older cheap model. You can get all sorts of digital cameras with decent lenses for less than $300. They will not be the newest, have the best features, or have the best image quality but they will be better than nothing and a good way to help your education. Aster you have some hands on experience you should be able to pick equipment that is right for your style of shooting and lifestyle. You can always sell the cheap starter equipment and get some of your money back.
good luck and have fun but there is more to life than good photos. They are a nice bonus tho
golfhov
Forum Pro
HA! I didn't want to comment on that line. I would rather have an ugly camera that takes great pictures than the reverse. Here is a fun example of a good photographers equipment
Good cameras to learn on. Hell good cameras overall if they are what you want. MEH.com had the 3200 with kit lens with a warranty for under 300 recently. There is also pentax k50 for 350. Older canon Rebel series. Olympus ep series cameras. Sony nex 6. Fuji x10........we could go on and on
Odd statement but I assume your husband has no camera.....if he does than just read a lot and shoot. Once you start taking better pics than he does he will probably let you buy the next camera
mostlyboringphotog
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OP wanted to learn photography which is not difficult at all. Heck, it's a lot harder to set a clock on a VCR ;-)
FWIW, a guy, a manly guy wants a big cam and a big lens; a gal want a rather nice photo of her baby; regardless how it's made.
golfhov
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mostlyboringphotog
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;-) You know that I know that you know...
A couple comments:
1. Most of us don't use our camera to its "full potential". That doesn't mean we don't exploit some features that make them worthwhile. (Who uses Microsoft Office or Excel to its full potential ?)
2. You can't learn without a camera. Further, if you were going to learn enough to use a good camera to its full potential, you're going to need that good camera sooner or later.
So you need a decent camera and a method to your madness. Decent cameras are really easy to find. But so are cameras that aren't going to be satisfying as well as cameras that are overkill. It's easy to overbuy, thinking that more money means "better" results. More money can deliver any number of different things, including image quality, reliability, performance, capability, features. And generally speaking, you do need to develop skill to exploit many of those things, including image quality. Basically, think of the image quality part of it like this:
Spending money on the right gear can give you better image quality in certain situations than others, like low light or action, where fast AF tracking or a fast lens and large sensor can help just about any photographer. But when it comes to making big, beautiful prints and you're looking for tack sharp images with gorgeous colors, you can't really buy that. First you have to develop the skills, then certain gear can help you push past limits. Finally, don't be under the mistaken impression that, because you see a lot of people here talking about this $2000 full frame camera of that $1500 lens, that that's what you need to be "serious" about photography or to get good results. This site attracts enthusiasts and has a high concentration of people willing to spend money on gear.
That said, choice of gear is personal and there are many ways you can consider going. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to choose a camera that you'll enjoy using.
As for where to start ? My suggestion is to spend as much time shooting as possible, with some "source" to guide you (a good book, website or video series) and possibly with a nurturing community to help you along. DPreview forums are probably moderately helpful when it comes to solving technical issues ("what did I do wrong") but not when it comes to "am I progressing as a photographer" ?) Too many people willing to shoot you down for not believing what they believe.
Classes can help, but most of us learned on our own, despite full time jobs in things unrelated to photography. Think about what source of info you'd be comfortable with, then open another thread to ask for advice on good books/websites/videos/whatever for beginners.
Oh, and the other thing to consider is post processing ... how much do you want to get into it ? A lot of the best photos you're going to see online are made with some degree of help in the post processing stage. It's not necessary; you can enjoy photography and produce great results with minimal (or no) post processing. If you're short on time, you might want to concentrate on shooting first and worry about post processing later. Think about how much you'd enjoy working in a "digital darkroom".
- Dennis
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Gallery at http://kingofthebeasts.smugmug.com
davidedric
Veteran Member
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com
There are some excellent tutorials, which start simple.
You have to take pictures as well, of course!
Dave
There are some excellent tutorials, which start simple.
You have to take pictures as well, of course!
Dave
As a beginner, start at the beginning. Get a camera. If you are intelligent and want to learn, there is no consumer camera that is too complex for you, so don't worry about that. They can all be used in Auto mode, which is basically point and shoot, but very clever these days. Then, in association with a few good tutorials and web info, take that first step and turn the dial into A mode and P mode and so on. It won't bite and no harm or cost will be made by taking as many pictures or pressing as many buttons as often as you like.
As a beginner, don't worry about things like RAW until you are well established. Start off using the camera's features and launch Picassa or something simple to store, organise and edit your pictures. You'll love it.
As for 'which camera?', well, your budget and your own potential and interest has a lot to do with it. I wouldn't like to recommend any single camera because I am not you. However, my guess is that you would appreciate a smallish interchangeable lens camera or even an advanced compact camera. Some have viewfinders, some not [its not essential]. Some have touchscreen, some not [its not essential].
Have a look at something like an Olympus Stylus1, Fuji X30 for fixed lens and Panasonic GF6 or Olympus PL6 and similar. Handle and compare these to a DSLR.
If your budget won't stretch to about £350+, maybe have a look for an used late model camera, or go compact/travel-zoom if suitable. I would buy used from a good retailer or someone you trust who is upgrading before a compact camera if I was you.
Do please also consider video. Be aware that most DSLR's will claim to shoot video, and they will after a fashion, but will be very emasculated compared to advanced compact and mirrorless cameras or even a good smartphone in some ways. Don't dismiss video, because short video clips can be stored and viewed on your computer in the same way as still photographs and can sometimes capture memories that stills cannot. Sound for one thing. You may not use it much but, in this day and age, there is no point limiting yourself or even excluding it from your capability.
Basically I agree with the post Dennis made above. I'll add that if you don't wish to spend too much time post-processing on a computer, you certainly don't have to. But if you feel you'd like to in future, its all fine. The aim is to enjoy what you do, whatever you do.
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Here you find a free online ebook, that explain the basics:
Rudi
Guidenet
Forum Pro
I agree about a book. With Youtube a beginner has to be more careful. Those sponsored by B&H and Adorama as well as F-Stoppers I would trust, but there are so many by self proclaimed gurus which have a huge following but are no better photographer than the average here, most never earning a living at it for sure. I see names like Glentheguru, FroKnowsphoto, Tony Northrup with wife, along with quite a few more who I'd trust about as much as I'd trust Ken Rockwell's Website, and that's not very much. ;-)
Tony Northrup is the surprising one to me. He made a killing as a manual writer for Microsoft for a number of years and photography was a hobby. He retired from that and built a fancy website, then started being a photography guru on Youtube. He has a large following, but I've seen little real meat and a lot less real knowledge. He and his wife are a good looking couple and his experience as a manual writer I think translates well into Youtube looks and language skills, though not much in content.
I like your choice of books a lot. Over the years, I've also suggested almost any book with the Kodak label.
A good start would be to post:
- What size of camera do you want? Sub-compact, compact, bridge or DSLR? Here's a link to a camera size post that may help you state the size you want.
- What's your budget.
- An electronic viewfinder. A viewfinder helps immensely when shooting in sunlight instead of using the screen on the back of the camera. An "electronic" viewfinder allows you to see what you will capture "before" you snap the picture. ..... The other type of viewfinder is an optical viewfinder found on DSLRs. Optical viewfinders show you the scene as it is, not what the camera will capture due to it's settings. With optical viewfinders, you take the picture and then have to look at the result on the rear screen "after" you take the picture. I don't recommend an optical viewfinder for a beginner.
- A camera with single built-in zoom lens, not one with interchangeable lenses. As a total beginner, it too much hassle to have to change lenses to get the zoom range you want. Mirrorless and DSLR cameras use interchangeable lenses. Bridge cameras use the similar form factor as mirrorless and DSLR cameras but use just one one non-interchangeable zoom lens.
- A camera that allows assigning "exposure compensation" to a dial or thumb-wheel. Once you set that up, you can adjust exposure while looking through the viewfinder by spinning the wheel "before" you take the picture. You can get optimum exposures for most of your pictures this way. Come back for instructions on how to adjust exposure if you get a camera with this feature.
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