So share how you learn photography.

[Len J]

I was wondering how all of you learned or continue to learn Photography.

I'm still learning:

- Conmposition
- The Camera
- Post Processing
- Exposure & Light

My learning has comed from trial & error, thoughtful critique, reading & asking questions.

How about you.

Len

[EOSThree]

I read a lot. I look at a lot of others work. I come here and discuss. I take photos. I ask for critique on my photos. Oh and of course 2 years of college photography in preparation for a graphic arts career...I'm a pilot, go figure.

Edit:
I guess I should explain that my college career was a LONG time ago and was with a non autofocus SLR. Then, I spent several years with an autofocus EOS A2 and EOS 3 before switching to digital 4 years ago. My approach has always been the same though.

[Canuck935]

I took some classes at a community college. Never have I learned so much so fast than during those times.

[another view]

Great question. I'm still learning all of it, but I think that's a good thing - it would be boring if I mastered it (obviously I'm a long ways off!). Composition is probably the main thing - what I think works by looking at the viewfinder and even "seeing" before picking up the camera, doesn't always work as well as something else I try just since I'm there. I shoot, review and see if it still holds my interest a day/week/year later. Sometimes I ask for opinions but usually not - it's just a hobby. For stuff like this, I tend to rely on comparing my own work against others who inspire me.

Technical stuff is a different matter. I read about ideas here, at other sites, from other photographers and have been to some workshops. Personally, I do think it is good to get all the technical stuff down so well that you don't really even have to think about that stuff in the heat of the battle. I'm glad that I had a lot of that beat into my head while I was shooting slide film! How to meter, read a histogram, select a shutter speed or aperture and where to put a light are a lot easier to discuss on a board - composition is kind of an abstract concept though.

[Frog]

I learned with a film slr in the 80s and read and took some classes then. When I found out that they had digital slrs I began reading, reading, reading and when I finally had enough saved to buy my camera, I found I had to do a lot more reading but I also experimented and tried stuff I'd read. I've learned a lot of stuff here by reading the questions others ask and submitting for critique, reading critiques, and critiquing.
Looking at what others are doing keeps me challenged.
That said, I think composition is the most important thing to learn. You can have great focus, light, dof, etc. but if the composition isn't there you have a snap shot.

[jetrim]

Like Frog, I spent a lot of time w/ film cameras. My father was semi-pro so I had the advantage aof a full darkroom in the basement as a teenager and into my early 20s. I also had the advantage of having a lot of books around that were way more expensive than I could have afforded. In an ironic twist of fate, I sold off most of my equipment to pay for my wedding 5 years ago. I've just gotten back into it in the past 3 months or so after purchasing a used dslr. I read a lot, and shoot a lot. I try to have the camera with me as often as possible, even at work. The critique section of this forum has been invaluable with regard to helping my compositional skills (even if it doesn't always show in what I post).

PP skills have been a lot of trial and error, but I have a very strong background in 3-D modeling and the skins that wrap the virtual wireframes so I've been pretty fluent in PaintShopPro and 3-D StudioMax for quite some time, but every now and then I pick up a new trick from someone as I recently did from Alison on this forum.

[Abiciriderback]

Wife is the photog between me and her she inspires me thru trial and error. I try to read to get info, I think shooting, shooting and more shooting is one the main learning curves plus all the CC I can get. For me I will never stop learning and that is a good thing,

Ray Still

[readingr]

I started off with a Kodak Brownie when 9 years old at Bristol Zoo - my first photo's. My uncle was into photography and since doing research on the family tree I find out that my Great Grandfather was a photographer.

Then moved to a kodak instamatic and reading books and experimenting with a friend who was always going to be a photographer. Used to experiment a lot in his darkroom with all sorts of things.

Started work and spent my first month's pay on a Canon AE1 with a 50mm F2.8 and continued to experiment, and took what I thought was one person's wedding and now find out that I had done 3 by looking back at my old photos.

When my Canon 50mm broke on Boxing day in 1999 I went and bought my first digital compact and started to learn again. Now got my 5D and love it.

Still reading books and being inspired by others on this forum to try and better through being critiqued and critiquing others.

I read a lot and when needing inspiration I pull out one of photo books on my shelf especially Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Spend a lot of time experimenting with different aspects of photography including PP as well using PSE6.

Roger

[Wild Wassa]

I did a 4 year photography course at the Canberra Institute of Technology, and then did extra studies. I wrote a thesis on applied museum techniques dealing with the conservation of photographs to museum standards. I studied the history of photography and photographers to a most painful level and will always value the time I spent. I worked as a scientific and industrial photographer and a teacher of photography for nearly 2 decades. The best learning process that I experienced was to work on assignments for picture agencies where it wasn't adequate to submit just a technically unassailable image.

Nowadays I race yachts for their owners ... and spend all my days on the water dreaming about my next photographic image or theme to persue while hoping not to run the yachts aground or break too much gear or coming last.

This year I decided to stop rejecting digital photography, so I joined this site. I'm trying (still) to understand the digital process and explore the techniques of using digital darkrooms. I take many images. I experiment heaps.

I spent most of the day yesterday constructing this shot, in an attempt to understand layering.

I have titled this photograph 'A Treasure Map'. Like a pirate's treasure map, once I solve the puzzles hidden within the layers ... there will be further journeys and quests revealed. Photography is a long journey. I like the journey more than I like the treasures.





Shot taken off the SE Coast of Australia and the parchment image is a resource from Pixeltool-stock.

I was originally going to post this image on the 'Late Road Home' thread, but I thought this thread more appropriate because what I have learnt about photography is, a photographer's images are only as good as the quality of the collaboration a photographer has with others of similar interests. There were no fewer than 6 other photographers involved in giving their sage advice to help me construct this image, my second layered image. Two from the US, one from Portugal, 2 from Australia, and of course Pixeltool-stock is from Venezuela. There are two photographers who's layered works I'd been studying for a while. From Bulgaria http://magdalenawanli.deviantart.com.../#_featured--3 and the other from the United Kingdom http://alejka.deviantart.com/gallery/#_featured--6

How do I learn? I seek out the photographers and I write to them and ask them questions.

Warren.

[Photo Kap]

I learn from taking pictures

[adina]

read read read shoot shoot shoot read read read shoot shoot shoot read read read shoot shoot shoot.

Seriously.

[gracie_r]

Practice and more practice. I've read a lot, but I don't get near as much out of reading how to do something and by trial and error.

I'd like to take a class at a local community college, but I haven't been able to justify the cost considering it is just a hobby for me.

[Len J]

I did a 4 year photography course at the Canberra Institute of Technology, and then did extra studies. I wrote a thesis on applied museum techniques dealing with the conservation of photographs to museum standards. I studied the history of photography and photographers to a most painful level and will always value the time I spent. I worked as a scientific and industrial photographer and a teacher of photography for nearly 2 decades. The best learning process that I experienced was to work on assignments for picture agencies where it wasn't adequate to submit just a technically unassailable image.

Nowadays I race yachts for their owners ... and spend all my days on the water dreaming about my next photographic image or theme to persue while hoping not to run the yachts aground or break too much gear or coming last.

This year I decided to stop rejecting digital photography, so I joined this site. I'm trying (still) to understand the digital process and explore the techniques of using digital darkrooms. I take many images. I experiment heaps.

I spent most of the day yesterday constructing this shot, in an attempt to understand layering.

I have titled this photograph 'A Treasure Map'. Like a pirate's treasure map, once I solve the puzzles hidden within the layers ... there will be further journeys and quests revealed. Photography is a long journey. I like the journey more than I like the treasures.





Shot taken off the SE Coast of Australia and the parchment image is a resource from Pixeltool-stock.

I was originally going to post this image on the 'Late Road Home' thread, but I thought this thread more appropriate because what I have learnt about photography is, a photographer's images are only as good as the quality of the collaboration a photographer has with others of similar interests. There were no fewer than 6 other photographers involved in giving their sage advice to help me construct this image, my second layered image. Two from the US, one from Portugal, 2 from Australia, and of course Pixeltool-stock is from Venezuela. There are two photographers who's layered works I'd been studying for a while. From Bulgaria http://magdalenawanli.deviantart.com.../#_featured--3 and the other from the United Kingdom http://alejka.deviantart.com/gallery/#_featured--6

How do I learn? I seek out the photographers and I write to them and ask them questions.

Warren.

WOW. I keep coming back to look at that. Thanks

len

[Wild Wassa]

Len, that is a very rewarding comment, for a photographer to read. Cheers Mate.

Inspiration is a great trigger for learning. Earlier today, I read a brilliant quote by Mark Twain that struck a chord in me and it made me want to play.

"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination's out of focus". - Mark Twain.

I made this image today which I have called ... By n' By, Broken Sky.





Warren.

[motlive]

I play with knobs and dials and shiny buttons until I get something I like and then "click" i capture it.

I have been learning for about 20 months now.. I cant say I have improved, but I havent got any worse.

Like all hobbies once you start out you are pretty bad at it, but after some time, lots of pictures and a little perserverance you start to understand more and getting the shots you want seems to come a lot easier.