Share your tips!!

[Miffy]

Although I've been taking photos for years, I've really only gotten into photography recently and actually want to take "good" photos!!

I thought a nice idea for a thread would be to post the best advice you've got for people beginning in photography - ie, me. And I'm sure there's lots of other people out there in my position, too.

Maybe someone else gave you this piece of advice? Or maybe you've learnt this yourself, and want to pass it on now!?

It doesn't have to be long - in fact, the shorter the better. I find little things stick in my head rather than big long complicated theories.

For example, a friend once told me, "If it looks good, take a photo of it!"

I often think of that little quote, and as basic as it sounds, it works!!

Any other ideas?!

[mjs1973]

I got one. This is one of the best peices of advice I have ever heard.

Read your camera's manual!

That short enuf for you?

[Miffy]

Right.

I was actually looking for something a little more inspirational than that.

If that was directed at me because I'm a beginner and was asking for advice... then I don't know what to say because I thought this was what this forum was all about.

If anyone else has something nicer to say, please do so.

And by the way, I have read my camera's manual. I understand how to use my camera. That's not what I was asking.

[Stina]

I don't think he ment that as an attack but a lot of people just don't read them.

My tip would be find the thing about photography that you enjoy most and presue it. For me it is taking photos of people, I enjoy landscape, macro and other types of photography but the photos I find are my favorite are always of people. I even started a small portrait photography business. There is just something about taking a photo of someone and seeing the look on there face when the really like it that brings me joy.

So find what you like and just do it.

[mjs1973]

That was not meant as an attack on you, or anyone else Miffy, and it wasn't meant to sound rude. If thats the way you interpreted it, I'm sorry I offended you. It was just a general tip that everyone should follow. There are a lot of questions that people could find the answers too, if they just took the time to sit down and go thru their manual.

Perhaps I should restate this to say: Know your equipment and what it's capable of doing.

[Miffy]

Ha, okay, that's cool. Sorry for being cranky. I'm a bit sensitive cause I've been sick as a dog for 3 days and it's no fun!! I guess I thought your post was rather blunt, especially the "Is that short enough for you!?" part, like I was a simpleton and couldn't understand large sentences who didn't read her camera's manual.

But thanks for contributing! And your point is a good one.

*goes and hides under her blanket for a little while longer*

[Axle]

*Know your equipement!* yes, excellent sound advice from mjs.

Here's one, carry your camera with you always! You never know when something might pop up and you're going to kick yourself when it's not there and you would love to take a photo of it.

Shoot often, go for photo walks, it's the best way to get to know your computer.

[Trevor Ash]

Before you press the shutter, ask yourself what it is that attracted you to press the shutter in the first place. And remember that later when looking at your photos.

[paulnj]

I do believe it's canon who says" SHOOT MORE, SHOOT MORE OFTEN"

The more you shoot, the better your images will be IMHO.

[Speed]

Although I've been taking photos for years, I've really only gotten into photography recently and actually want to take "good" photos!!

I thought a nice idea for a thread would be to post the best advice you've got for people beginning in photography - ie, me. And I'm sure there's lots of other people out there in my position, too.

Maybe someone else gave you this piece of advice? Or maybe you've learnt this yourself, and want to pass it on now!?

It doesn't have to be long - in fact, the shorter the better. I find little things stick in my head rather than big long complicated theories.

For example, a friend once told me, "If it looks good, take a photo of it!"

I often think of that little quote, and as basic as it sounds, it works!!

Any other ideas?!

Where to start? ;-)

Knowing your equipment is definitely paramount.

Shoot often also is great advice. Remember, film is cheap. And practice makes perfect.

Find what inspires you. It's more fun, and you'll be inspired to capture great images of it.

Post your images on Critique. You will learn a LOT from that. But you must be able to take constructive criticism. Eventually, you will start to be more critical of your photo's than we are.

Have fun with it!

[another view]

Many good points brought up so far. One from me:

LOOK at photographs. Go to a museum, look at magazines - anywhere. See what interests you, and what it is about specific photographs that make them work. Then try to figure out how and why it was done - then go shoot! You don't need to copy someone else's work but it can help the learning process. Down the road, you might notice that your work is influenced by someone, etc.

[Gerry Widen]

I'm mainly a street photographer. Most of the time the photo opportunities last for only a brief moment then disappear. So I like to keep it simple. And as mentioned above knowing your equipment is part of that. When I go out I usually take only one camera with one lens. I don't want to think about changing lenses or cameras. I let my feet act as a zoom. I usually only take one roll of film so I am a little more selective in what I shoot and how I frame it. I find I get more keepers that way. My usual setup is the N80 with a 28mm lens, A Leica IIIc with a 25mm lens or most frequently the Leica M2 with a 35mm lens. Again I usually will only take one of these camera/lens combos with me.

[Dzerzhinski46]

Crop with your viewfinder, not your scissors. You will be more satisfied in the end.

Post images on the Critique Forum. You will learn how to compose better, and how to critique your own work, which is very important. I have.

Don't always trust your light meter. Learn to use Sunny 16. In other words, use your meter intelligently. Not blindly.

Slow down. I like to take my time in composing, metering, estimating exposure, estimating DOF, etc. It helps previsualize the end result.

Go on photo walks. One of the best ways to get photos, at least for me. Even just puttering around the neighborhood is an exciting experience. It helps you see what you might not have noticed before.

Hope this helps.

Drew

[jar_e]

Shoot as much as you can. Shoot patterns, teach your eye to look for composition and repition and the like.

[Sebastian]

Sometimes it's more important to know what to exclude from the image than what to include. If it doesn't help the story or if it distracts, try to get it out of the frame.

[Mr Yuck]

Hesitate to delete, you may want to come back to that image later armed with photoshop or other editing software. Disk space is getting cheaper by the day.

[Seb]

As it was already mentionned I'd say hang on here!

Posting on the critique board to receive feedback on your work is an excellent way to learn. Also, seeing others work and taking the time to analyse it and post your own comments on it is just as useful if not more.

Find a subject/area that you enjoy (I mean an object, a place...) and shoot it again and again at different time of the day, of the year, under different weather, lighting. Seeing how your subject appears under different conditions is a great learning experience plus you multiply your chances to actually get a good picture.

Don't fear to test try any "crazy" idea that might come to your mind. Sometime, the most interesting photographs are the less usual.

Read magazines that goes beyond simple tips/techniques. Magazines where the art of photography is discussed (I am currently thinking about CameraView and PhotoLife for instance). This can be highly stimulating.

Seb

[Axle]

Speaking of Magazines, look at National Geographic. The teacher that brought me into photography and taught me the basics said it was the best source for looking at different types/styles of photography.

[Outdoorsman]

While it is important to know the technical apsects of photography, far too often I see people relying solely on this knowledge to produce "good" images. Good technical knowledge is fine, but intimate knowledge of camera mechanics, mathematical optical properties of lenses, PS trickery, or even fine understanding of film emulsion technology, means nothing when the p&s guy beside you at your kid's soccer game gets a better shot.

Here's my tip:
"Never be satisfied. Nothing is ever good enough. There is always someone better out there. Find out who they are and break their shooting fingers. Or at least strive to be better than them."

[walterick]

1.) Have fun

2.) Don't get frustrated, just learn faster

3.) Never regret that shot you didn't get

4.) Carry your camera when you normally wouldn't and leave it at home when you might normally bring it

5.) Study photography, learn what wide angle lenses do differerntly than telephoto lenses. Learn about the rule of thirds and the sunny 16 rule and how to break them

6.) Find a style of photography you love and start emulating it until you can reproduce it. Then let yourself branch off from that and find your own niche.

7.) Challenge yourself

8.) Don't get caught in the "more technology trap." 50 year old cameras will take most pictures as accurately as DSLR's will. They do it differently.

9.) Fall in love with your camera.

10.) Have fun ;)

My rules for photography, to be taken as you will

Rick