Where to pick up the best advice?? (other than here! ;))
Discussion
Hi all. I'm new to photography, and to be honest know very, very little about it! I've hankered for a decent Camera for a while now, as I go to a lot of motoring events, but on the advice of a friend who is right into photography, he recommended that I not go all out at the moment on a fancy SLR and all the gear. At the beginning of the year I was awarded my 10 year service with my company, so decided to buy a Camera with the allowance. I bought a Fuji Finepix HS10. The package consisted of the Camera, a bag, memory card, batteries and charger, photo printer, paper and ink. I've since bought a couple of accessories, namely a UV Lens Filter, a Sun Hood, a couple of spare memory cards and a fairly decent Tripod.
I have been told that this is a good camera, with good abilities, and would welcome any views?
It has way more on it than I can even use at the moment, but really want to use the Camera to it's potential. Would I be better trying to learn from someone, by myself experimenting, or are there any particularly good magazines or guide books out there that I would benefit from?
Thanks!
I have been told that this is a good camera, with good abilities, and would welcome any views?
It has way more on it than I can even use at the moment, but really want to use the Camera to it's potential. Would I be better trying to learn from someone, by myself experimenting, or are there any particularly good magazines or guide books out there that I would benefit from?
Thanks!
Okay, I'll jump in.
Photography is 90% composition and being in the right place at the right time (with a half decent camera - and I'm sure your camera is half decent).
If you can get composition and location in decent light sussed, you are pretty much laughing. The rest you can pick up as you go along.
This is my opinion, and many here will think you need to read books and do courses. These may well help, but they won't create a photographer - just a bloke with a camera and a diploma.
My advice is to start taking as many photos as you can as soon as you can and keep taking them - and when something doesn't look good to your eye, post in here and ask why. There are some very fine photographers in here who will help.
Photography is 90% composition and being in the right place at the right time (with a half decent camera - and I'm sure your camera is half decent).
If you can get composition and location in decent light sussed, you are pretty much laughing. The rest you can pick up as you go along.
This is my opinion, and many here will think you need to read books and do courses. These may well help, but they won't create a photographer - just a bloke with a camera and a diploma.
My advice is to start taking as many photos as you can as soon as you can and keep taking them - and when something doesn't look good to your eye, post in here and ask why. There are some very fine photographers in here who will help.
Any camera is often good enough, don't know that particular one, if it has manual controls or aperture/shutter modes even better.
As for learning, learn everywhere.
Take pictures, look at pictures - figure out why you looks some, how they work.
If you can't then start reading or asking, there is so much help out there
As for learning, learn everywhere.
Take pictures, look at pictures - figure out why you looks some, how they work.
If you can't then start reading or asking, there is so much help out there
rash_decision said:
Hi all. I'm new to photography, and to be honest know very, very little about it! I've hankered for a decent Camera for a while now, as I go to a lot of motoring events, but on the advice of a friend who is right into photography, he recommended that I not go all out at the moment on a fancy SLR and all the gear. At the beginning of the year I was awarded my 10 year service with my company, so decided to buy a Camera with the allowance. I bought a Fuji Finepix HS10. The package consisted of the Camera, a bag, memory card, batteries and charger, photo printer, paper and ink. I've since bought a couple of accessories, namely a UV Lens Filter, a Sun Hood, a couple of spare memory cards and a fairly decent Tripod.
I have been told that this is a good camera, with good abilities, and would welcome any views?
It has way more on it than I can even use at the moment, but really want to use the Camera to it's potential. Would I be better trying to learn from someone, by myself experimenting, or are there any particularly good magazines or guide books out there that I would benefit from?
Thanks!
There's a magazine called "Digital SLR" which is excellent for the beginner, full of hints and tips and how to achieve certain shots. Highly recommend it. What 's more, it's only £2.99 and I picked up a copy today from Sainsburys which came bundled with the July issue as well.I have been told that this is a good camera, with good abilities, and would welcome any views?
It has way more on it than I can even use at the moment, but really want to use the Camera to it's potential. Would I be better trying to learn from someone, by myself experimenting, or are there any particularly good magazines or guide books out there that I would benefit from?
Thanks!
Learn by yourself, at your own pace with a lot of working things out backwards once you have the basics down. You'll be able to see yourself whats not working, when you get to the point where you know why it's not working is where you'll be happier
Frustrating hobby at times, but it should be fun. Workshops/mags that give technique tips don't teach you to think for yourself, just copy without thinking whether it's right/needed/necessary. See HDR techniques as a good example
Frustrating hobby at times, but it should be fun. Workshops/mags that give technique tips don't teach you to think for yourself, just copy without thinking whether it's right/needed/necessary. See HDR techniques as a good example
A few things I've found useful are:
1) The random photos thread on here, some stunning work with contributors happy to discuss how they got the shot
2) Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
3) Looking on flickr at shots I like, then looking at the exif data to see how it was taken
4) Talkphotography, a really good forum, like this but solely photography
1) The random photos thread on here, some stunning work with contributors happy to discuss how they got the shot
2) Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
3) Looking on flickr at shots I like, then looking at the exif data to see how it was taken
4) Talkphotography, a really good forum, like this but solely photography
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