Photography Hints
 

I found my dad's AE-1 tonight and I would like to play with it a little bit. Probably mostly be taking scenery pics and some of my car. Anybody got any pointers on basic photography stuff and camera specific stuff?
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Here's a hint: You can get a roll of film developed free at Walgreens... the catch is that the coupon is only good on Wednesday August 6th.

http://www.walgreens.com/hotbuys/default.jsp?ec=hn574_getcoupon

Be sure to remove the lens cap.

Put new batteries in it.

put black & white film in it

buy one egg

set the egg up somewhere and photo it in different ways

you will then learn real photography...

I think you should buy a digital, use it to learn, then play with the film camera. It will be cheaper.

best thing you could do would be to take an introductory course at a community college. I did a few then ended up taking photography at a technical college (TAFE)

couple of quick tips:

- avoid using the flash
- use a multi purpose speed film like 200
- use a polarising filter during the day
- use maximum aperture (smallest f number) for depth of field and to isolate your subject by blurring the background
- experiment with black & white film, lighting and unusual angles & subjects (there is an old shipyard near me that i haunt)
- practice, practice, practice!

plenty of websites to keep you busy...just google "photography basics" or "photograph for beginners"

enjoy!

An AE-1. Same as mine. I love those cameras. Mine is lent out to my young niece who needs a film camera for her photog class at school, but I get it back at the end of the year :)

Your local pawn shop will give you $0.00 for it or you can trade it for the more than 20 he has in his glass showcase.

few things i've picked up:

-200 is a good all-around speed
-bounce your flash off the ceiling any time you can
-get CLOSE
-use the lowest # aperture settings you can for portraits and experiment with distance/zoom.
-for film be sure to take notes on each pic so you know what you did
-instead of taking 3/4 shots at car shows get in close and shoot details! lay on the ground, stuff like that

many years ago, i bought this book
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Bryan-Peterson/dp/0817437126

its outstanding
as you can see, you can get a used copy for less than $5 bucks

it all boils down to the "golden rule of thirds". dont ever put (well sometimes) the subject smack dab in the middle of the frame.

I have an AE-1 and an AE-1 Program laying around somewhere. Probably getting eaten by the corroding battery.

I took photog in HS. Didn't learn much, but groping the girls in the darkroom was fun. ;)

Can still remember the rotten egg smelling developer.

When taking photos of people - do not "aim" at their nose. You get too much ceiling and too little body. Frame it lower.

Never take a picture of a woman with a drink or cigarette in their hand. Makes them look trashy.

Most people look stupid or unnatural while "posing" - better to sneak up on them!

If you insist on a film camera. The basic rule of thumb using film is to expose it correctly. In that regard, I would recommend using reversal film (slides). Slide film has a narrower exposure latitude than print film (negatives) and any errors in light exposure will be glaringly obvious. Not so with color negs. with a fairly wide 5 f-stop exposure latitude. The lab can make a passable print from a borderline neg. There are even more variables shooting B&W negs. I shake my head at the number of basic photo classes that begin with B&W photography.

Students should be taught composition and lighting and the effects from basic camera controls (shutter and f-stop), not futzing around with seeing images from underexposed negs.

Lessons learned in exposing film correctly under different lighting conditions transfer over to digital photography.

To practice composition, use a digital camera. Any P&S will suffice. Pixels are cheap. To add shutter and f-stop elements, a DSLR is usually required.

MHO,
Sherwood

Pick up a book called Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson. And check out www.photography-on-the.net/forum/ Althought it is primarily digital users there is still a wealth of info. It's like Pelican Parts for Canon camera users.