Topic Wiki

Quick tips on random subjects that come up in between classes (will add as we go along):

Food photography tips
Newborn photography tips

Table of Contents (I'll change each line to a link as we go along.)

Introduction

1) Choosing a camera: Point and Shoot vs. Mirrorless vs. DSLR
2) Camera specs: What do they mean, and which ones matter to me?
3) Exposure Basics Part 1 - the shutter speed/aperture/ISO triangle
4) Exposure Basics Part 2 - getting to know your mode dial, and other exposure controls
5) All about memory cards
6) Using ultra-wide lenses





Lenses 101 - technology, terminology, and specs, zooms vs. primes, basic/advanced/unique lenses

Lighting 101 - focusing specifically on easy to afford and easy to use setups
Small flash - on camera, off camera, modifiers and accessories
Studio strobes
Continuous lighting - fluorescent, LED, and halogen
Basic light modifiers - umbrellas, softboxes, gels, reflectors
Basic supports - lightstands, umbrella brackets, backgrounds, etc.

All about accessories - memory cards, tripods, bags, filters, remotes, adapters, grips, geotaggers, and more)


So I bought all my stuff - now what?

What makes a compelling photograph?
Depth of field
Composition basics - rule of thirds, perspective, framing
Advanced composition - negative space, inclusion and exclusion, compression
Light - natural, golden hour, basic flash usage.

Let's start shooting...

Kids:
In the park
Playing sports
At home

Landscapes and wildlife:
"Grand" landscapes
"Intimate" landscapes
Seascapes
Waterfalls
Cityscapes
Wildlife
Birds in flight
Shooting in bad weather

Portraits:
Babies and newborns
Single person - indoors
Single person - outdoors
Families/siblings/groups
Natural light
Artificial light - simple
Artificial light - complex
Mixed light

Others:
Close up and macro
Product photography

How do I...? (Some specific scenarios/techniques - Basic)
Shoot out of a plane window?
Shoot underwater?
Shoot compelling black-and-white?

How do I...? (Some specific scenarios/techniques - Advanced)
HDR
Long exposures
Light painting
Twilight landscapes
Milky Way
Star trails

Basic editing concepts:
Exposure
Contrast
Clarity/sharpening
Color
Layers and masking

Poll

What type of camera do shoot with?

Point & Shoot - basic (Canon Elph style) or Smartphone
122 (36.9%)
Point & Shoot - advanced (Canon S100 or G Style)
52 (15.7%)
Mirrorless
26 (7.9%)
DSLR - consumer (Up to a Nikon D5200 or Canon Rebel)
74 (22.4%)
DSLR - prosumer or pro (Nikon D7000 or Canon 60D and up)
29 (8.8%)
P&S, but I plan on getting an SLR or Mirrorless in the near future
28 (8.5%)

Total Members Voted: 275

Author Topic: Learn Photography Master Thread  (Read 357931 times)

Online Something Fishy

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Learn Photography Master Thread
« on: April 29, 2013, 01:24:23 AM »
Amazing pics!
I wish I knew how to take better pics.
Umm...can I get a photography class from you?
Wow.

I've been getting the impression around here lately that there are a great many people here (not just Dan ;)) who would love to get more into photography. In every trip report, half the comments on the pictures is someone wishing that they could take pictures like that, that they could maximize their camera's potential.

For a long time I've wanted to start a thread on learning photography, starting from the very basics and progressing to more and more advanced topics. I've made a rough outline (see below) of what I would like to cover.

I'm thinking this could even be more than just a simple how-to. Have a question about a certain technique? Always wanted to get a certain 'look' in a photograph and don't know how? Want to know why all your indoor pictures are blurry :)? I'd be more then happy to give you my $.02. Hopefully other DDF'ers who are knowledgeable about photography could chime in as well..

This is probably gonna be a lot of work from my end, so I don't want to do it if there's not much interest. If you think this is something you'd enjoy please let me know by posting here.

Here's a rough outline of what I'd like to cover. If anyone has any ideas/recommendations/requests please let me know.

______________

Choosing a camera
Point and shoot vs. mirrorless vs. DSLR
Camera specs and what they mean
Which specs to focus on and which to ignore
Balance between needs/price/convenience

Lenses 101 - technology, terminology, and specs, zooms vs. primes, basic/advanced/unique lenses

Lighting 101 - focusing specifically on easy to afford and easy to use setups
Small flash - on camera, off camera, modifiers and accessories
Studio strobes
Continuous lighting - fluorescent, LED, and halogen
Basic light modifiers - umbrellas, softboxes, gels, reflectors
Basic supports - lightstands, umbrella brackets, backgrounds, etc.

All about accessories - memory cards, tripods, bags, filters, remotes, adapters, grips, geotaggers, and more)


So I bought all my stuff - now what?

What makes a compelling photograph?
Exposure basics - the shutter speed/aperture/ISO triangle
Depth of field
Composition basics - rule of thirds, perspective, framing
Advanced composition - negative space, inclusion and exclusion, compression
Light - natural, golden hour, basic flash usage.

Let's start shooting...

Kids:
In the park
Playing sports
At home

Landscapes and wildlife:
"Grand" landscapes
"Intimate" landscapes
Seascapes
Waterfalls
Cityscapes
Wildlife
Birds in flight
Shooting in bad weather

Portraits:
Babies and newborns
Single person - indoors
Single person - outdoors
Families/siblings/groups
Natural light
Artificial light - simple
Artificial light - complex
Mixed light

Others:
Close up and macro
Product photography

How do I...? (Some specific scenarios/techniques - Basic)
Shoot out of a plane window?
Shoot underwater?
Shoot compelling black-and-white?

How do I...? (Some specific scenarios/techniques - Advanced)
HDR
Long exposures
Light painting
Twilight landscapes
Milky Way
Star trails

Basic editing concepts:
Exposure
Contrast
Clarity/sharpening
Color
Layers and masking
______________

So... what do you think?

(A quick note on my photographic "record" and where I'm coming from:: I was a salesperson and later trainer in one of the biggest photo stores in the US, and trained salespeople in all topics I hope to cover. I currently work as a product developer for a large manufacturer, where I design and develop photo and lighting equipment and accessories. You could see a small selection of my photography on my Flickr page - click the little globe under my user name to get there.)
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2013, 02:07:39 AM »
Thank you so much, myself and many others will certainly appreciate it!

Offline chff

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2013, 02:17:26 AM »
And on programs like PhotoShop etc.

Offline Twin

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2013, 02:26:47 AM »
This would be great if you would be so kind and give up some of your valuable time.
 

Offline popcorn1508

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2013, 02:48:03 AM »
This would be great if you would be so kind and give up some of your valuable time.
 
+1

Offline jaywhy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2013, 08:35:17 AM »
Great idea.
I would be happy to contribute as well.

Offline Shreknit

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2013, 08:44:59 AM »

For people in New York B and H photo offer alot of free photography and photo editing classes in there 9th ave location. They bring in alot of big guys to teach.

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2013, 08:51:52 AM »
For people in New York B and H photo offer alot of free photography and photo editing classes in there 9th ave location. They bring in alot of big guys to teach.

 :D :D :D
I agree, they're great classes. Especially since some of them (such as the introduction to lighting ones) were co-developed by me ;).
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Offline jaywhy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2013, 08:56:36 AM »
:D :D :D
I agree, they're great classes. Especially since some of them (such as the introduction to lighting ones) were co-developed by me ;).
;)
You have quite the extensive curriculum.  :) What do you think about starting with the compositional elements and basic rules of photography first?
Most people just want to learn how to take better photos. Teaching them the basic rules of photography will be the quickest way to get them there and is applicable no matter what camera they are using.

Offline Shreknit

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #9 on: April 29, 2013, 08:59:51 AM »
:D :D :D
I agree, they're great classes. Especially since some of them (such as the introduction to lighting ones) were co-developed by me ;).

Nice are you working with gradus now?

Offline DovtheBear

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #10 on: April 29, 2013, 08:59:52 AM »
Wow! I would love to learn all these things. Its awfully kind of you to volunteer like this!
"להסתובב זה לא אומר להיות חופשי"

Offline Moshe123

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2013, 09:08:10 AM »
Wow. You are amazing!

I would also start with the basic basics and go more advanced from there.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #12 on: April 29, 2013, 09:10:02 AM »
Would love to start learning this.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline yossi4k

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #13 on: April 29, 2013, 09:19:56 AM »
Been dying to learn this stuff! Please share!

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #14 on: April 29, 2013, 09:26:01 AM »
What do you think about starting with the compositional elements and basic rules of photography first?
Most people just want to learn how to take better photos. Teaching them the basic rules of photography will be the quickest way to get them there and is applicable no matter what camera they are using.
I would also start with the basic basics and go more advanced from there.

I was actually thinking of doing it that way,  looks like people would find that more useful.
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Online Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #15 on: April 29, 2013, 09:26:30 AM »
Nice are you working with gradus now?

Ta-da!
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Offline Ergel

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #16 on: April 29, 2013, 10:11:22 AM »
Would love to start learning this.
Been dying to learn this stuff! Please share!
Wow! I would love to learn all these things. Its awfully kind of you to volunteer like this!
This would be great if you would be so kind and give up some of your valuable time.
 
+4
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #18 on: April 29, 2013, 11:04:57 AM »
This is great! Thanks for taking the initiative on this! I know I'm definitely interested. I'd love to know what is possible to do with a point and shoot like my Elph300 and what I would need a DSLR or manual setting camera for.
Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline sky121

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #19 on: April 29, 2013, 11:07:43 AM »
This is great! Thanks for taking the initiative on this! I know I'm definitely interested. I'd love to know what is possible to do with a point and shoot like my Elph300 and what I would need a DSLR or manual setting camera for.

I think this should be part of the beginners course. Learning how to use your point and shoot.
"Not all who wander are lost"