Photography Questions

[stomachmonkey]

The wife is very artistic, draws, paints, musician, good decorator, etc...

She is interested in doing some mixed media photography/painting/digital retouching.

Has displayed good taste and enjoys her point n shoot.

This weekend bought her a Canon Rebel XSI as an entry level SLR.

She plans on taking a photography course when she can find one.

In the interim,

1) Any good pelican like forums/sites that you can recommend?

2) Any advice on additional lenses to pick up, what are good values in a macro and tele?

3) Any other general advice?

Thanks

[URY914]

EVERYTHING you need is right here....

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

[JV911SYDNEY]

now this is right up my alley

1) plenty but just a matter of google-ing them as i dont frequent them. also plenty of "photography tips for beginners" websites

2) dont rush out and spend $$$ on a lens just yet (although the EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM is a nice multi-purpose lens which wont break the bank). sho's better off getting a UV filter and a polariser filter

3)
- avoid using the flash
- use a multi purpose ISO 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, lighting and unusual angles & subjects (there is an old shipyard near me that i haunt) and extreme closeups of subject "A"with subject "B" in the background
- try to avoid shooting in the middle of the day. early morning and late afternoon offer better lighting
take an introductory course at a community college...cheap and fun
- practice, practice, practice!

[Steve Carlton]

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/

[Hugh R]

Learn how to use the f-stop, "ISO" settings and "shutter" speeds.

[stevepaa]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Learn how to use the f-stop, "ISO" settings and "shutter" speeds.

+1 switch to manual mode

[Pazuzu]

Sell the digital contraption back and get a good used film camera...you HAVE to learn the techniques then

[kstar]

The beauty of a DSLR is that one can take hundreds or even thousands of pictures and then relatively quickly review them. I have learned more by simply taking a lot of pictures and taking note of what settings I used and how those settings "created" the resulting images.

Like others have said, film speed (ISO), shutter speed and aperture settings are the biggies. I would not go full manual right off the bat, but maybe try "aperture priority" (you set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed) or "shutter priority" (see previous parenthetical!).

Low ISOs create cleaner images (less noise) but don't work as well in low light situations.

Take several different pictures of the same thing at various settings, then when you review the images, look at the "exif" data to see which settings you used. I like to learn by doing, but some folks do much better (and probably learn faster!) with expert instruction.

[JV911SYDNEY]

Originally Posted by stevepaa

+1 switch to manual mode

easier to start with AP (aperture priority) for a beginner than full manual

[Hugh R]

AP is the most dramatic visually. Especially if you do "side-by-side" shots of the same subject. Same shot change the aperture a few times, it's digital so who cares, the shots are cheap.

[slodave]

Easiest way to see what happens with aperture changes, is to find a picket fence, focus on the middle and go through the f stops. Don't stand perpendicular to the fence. Although if you want immediate satisfaction, try what Hugh said.

[nostatic]

I'll disagree to some extent. Just put the camera on program mode and start shooting. The art is in the eye, not the tool. While I think that eventually one needs to understand the tool, the cameras are so good today they'll often get what you see...so the trick is to figure out what you're seeing. The manual adjustments then only come after you know what you're after.

forum.getdpi.com

Not so much tech talk, more about getting the shot.

[beepbeep]

When I learnt how to shoot, my father (a photograph by profession) gave me a film camera with busted light-meter, a hand held light-meter (that worked), couple of reversal rolls and really great lens (55mm 1.2:1).

Boy did I learn theory in the hurry!

[kstar]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I'll disagree to some extent. Just put the camera on program mode and start shooting. The art is in the eye, not the tool. While I think that eventually one needs to understand the tool, the cameras are so good today they'll often get what you see...so the trick is to figure out what you're seeing. The manual adjustments then only come after you know what you're after.

forum.getdpi.com

Not so much tech talk, more about getting the shot.

I would certainly not argue against this advice; nothing worse than technically good pictures of uninteresting stuff, poorly composed, IMO.

But, there's nothing wrong with learning the basics of how the tool works alongside your advice. It's not like it takes a really long time to learn the mechanics. The hard part is what you have suggested, IMO.

Best,

[3.2 CAB]

One word......... perspective.

[masraum]

The first forum that was suggested is a great suggestion. photography on the net

As far as lenses, she should have the "nifty fifty" which is the <$100 50mm f1.8. It's a great lens with great optics at a great price. The only problem is that she'll want all of her lenses to be "fast" after she's used that one.

A decent long lens for the money is the Sigma 70-300mm APO DG Macro Zoom.

[berettafan]

+1 get whatever the Canon equivalent to the fiddy one eight!!! in fact i'd START with that lense. guarantee the first 1000 pics will have more keepers because it forces you to consider perspective and composition.

my second bit of advice is to buy a good strong flash. put a 50mm lens and a speedlight equivalent (again, don't know canon stuff) flash on that body and your portrait shots (both indoors and out) will shock you vs. the kit lens and small flash on the camera body.

also agree that aperture priority is key for still life type stuff but don't forget the 'action' mode which gives highest possible shutter speed for moving things.

[gchappel]

From the above discussions we can easily see that photography is different things to different people. Some people- me included at times- get lost in the technical aspect of this great hobby. We sit around and talk about equipment, are so concerned with depth of field and flash ambient ratios that we forget to get a good shot. The other side of the coin are the people with a great "eye", but not a clue of how to control what they see, and how to capture it. For a newbie in photography I personally recommend that people first go shoot. Shoot a lot and I mean thousands of shots.- put the camera in A or maybe even P mode- and no P does not stand for professional! Look at them, and see what you like. What is your present style. At the same time grab a book or two, or ten. Hit the library, bookstore, where ever. You have to understand the interrelationship between iso, aperture and shutterspeed. Throw flash in and you have some more variables to understand. You need to understand the consequences and compromises each of these add to the shot. I would grab the book -Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson as a solid place to start. The Moment it Clicks by Joe McNally is another easy entertaining read with a little about photography thrown in. Study other peoples work. Look at the lighting they use, and how it makes you feel.
If she is interested in producing good work, she will also have to get fluent with one of the post processing programs. The post process work is nearly as important as taking the shot, and sometimes more important. Photoshop is the king, but expensive and with a difficult learning curve. Lightroom or similar programs have a good following right now- I am a photoshop guy myself.
The easiest way to get better pictures is to stand in front of more interesting things. Otherwise it takes work, talent and knowledge. I hope she enjoys her journey.
Gary

[berettafan]

one other thing; when your wife sees a picture that speaks to her you guys need to critically analyze it and figure out exactly WHAT makes it so. it's not as easy as it sounds but IMO this is a good exercise and will improve your keeper %.

now go get that 50mm and have fun!!!!!!!

[masraum]

A great place to get camera gear at a good price.

www.bhphoto.com

I think you can order the nifty fifty for $70-80.