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 357837 times)

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #100 on: May 12, 2013, 07:16:43 PM »
1/2.3" CMOS.
that the same as saying f/2.3?
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

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...can still do FT method
...READS THE WIKI!!!

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #101 on: May 12, 2013, 07:24:03 PM »
that the same as saying f/2.3?

No, the 1/2.3" refers to the physical size in his camera (that works out to about 0.43" diagonal). F/2.3 would refer to a lens aperture, which is the size of the lens opening. In this case the f/2.3 doesn't refer to any physical size; it's the result of some complex math of the opening relative to the sensor size.
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Offline SamKey

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #102 on: May 13, 2013, 03:51:06 AM »
1/2.3" CMOS.
and if I may ask what is your opinion of the camera in general in regards to PandS

Offline why

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #103 on: May 22, 2013, 10:37:58 PM »
thanks so much im actually starting to know how to use my d5100.... whens the next lesson coming out!?!

Offline rots5

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #104 on: May 27, 2013, 12:34:36 PM »
How do i take good sunset pictures. I have an option on my d5100 for sunset. Its great. But i would like to take the sunset with the sund and the colors but i want to have the blue sky ontop. Te sky sometimes is so blue is amazing yet when i try either the sun gets to white to compensate for the Blue or the blue gets to dark to compensate for the sunset.
Does this make any sense? ☺
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Offline jaywhy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #105 on: May 27, 2013, 02:36:17 PM »
How do i take good sunset pictures. I have an option on my d5100 for sunset. Its great. But i would like to take the sunset with the sund and the colors but i want to have the blue sky ontop. Te sky sometimes is so blue is amazing yet when i try either the sun gets to white to compensate for the Blue or the blue gets to dark to compensate for the sunset.
Does this make any sense? ☺
That's because your camera does not have enough dynamic range to properly expose both the dark sky and bright sun in the same exposure.
You can either take 2 different exposures and blend them together or use a Graduated Neutral Density filter.

Offline SamKey

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #106 on: May 27, 2013, 02:57:19 PM »
I don't want to be rude or impatient ... But I am! When is next lesson?

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #107 on: May 27, 2013, 03:27:39 PM »
I don't want to be rude or impatient ... But I am! When is next lesson?

D

Should be live by the end of the week. I may split it in two, it's turning out quite long...
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Offline rots5

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #108 on: May 27, 2013, 03:30:59 PM »
That's because your camera does not have enough dynamic range to properly expose both the dark sky and bright sun in the same exposure.
You can either take 2 different exposures and blend them together or use a Graduated Neutral Density filter.
So for example ony d5100 what two settings would get the blue and the sunset?
If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.

Offline jaywhy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #109 on: May 27, 2013, 03:57:08 PM »
So for example ony d5100 what two settings would get the blue and the sunset?
I'm not familiar with Nikon. Maybe Something Fishy can chime in.
Blending 2 exposures is better accomplished in PP anyways.

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #110 on: May 27, 2013, 04:15:22 PM »
I'm not familiar with Nikon. Maybe Something Fishy can chime in.
Blending 2 exposures is better accomplished in PP anyways.

Far to busy at work now. I'll chime later.
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Offline rots5

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #111 on: May 27, 2013, 04:16:14 PM »
I'm not familiar with Nikon. Maybe Something Fishy can chime in.
Blending 2 exposures is better accomplished in PP anyways.
i can do it on 'apeture' the program. I meant the settings. I take one pic on sunset. What would the other?


Thanks so much!!!
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Offline jaywhy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #112 on: May 27, 2013, 04:19:59 PM »
i can do it on 'apeture' the program. I meant the settings. I take one pic on sunset. What would the other?


Thanks so much!!!
You take one pic that exposes the sun properly and another that exposes the sky properly.

Offline rots5

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #113 on: May 27, 2013, 04:21:49 PM »
You take one pic that exposes the sun properly and another that exposes the sky properly.
lol. Got that. I mean i have no idea what exposure is good for the sky when the sun is so bright. I will post my two pics u was able to get.
If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.

Offline jaywhy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #114 on: May 27, 2013, 04:44:25 PM »
lol. Got that. I mean i have no idea what exposure is good for the sky when the sun is so bright. I will post my two pics u was able to get.
Expose so that the sky looks nice even if the sun is all blown out and expose again so that the sun looks nice even though the sky is too dark. Eyeball it. That's how you'll know.

Offline rots5

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #115 on: May 27, 2013, 04:53:49 PM »
http://imageshack.us/g/1/10167513/

here are my pics i took as the sun was setting. i was rushed so hopefully tom night ill set up shop from my roof and not from my window
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #116 on: May 27, 2013, 05:00:24 PM »
No time to go into details at the moment, but for now I'll just say that it's a white balance issue which could be fixed by shooting RAW and blending two versions of the same picture.
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Offline jaywhy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #117 on: May 27, 2013, 05:03:09 PM »
http://imageshack.us/g/1/10167513/

here are my pics i took as the sun was setting. i was rushed so hopefully tom night ill set up shop from my roof and not from my window
Cool. You need to take the pictures with the camera in the exact same position so you can align the images properly later.
Where is that picture btw?

Offline rots5

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #118 on: May 27, 2013, 05:10:53 PM »
No time to go into details at the moment, but for now I'll just say that it's a white balance issue which could be fixed by shooting RAW and blending two versions of the same picture.
@something fishy why u working today is memorial day? lol jk sorry! how much do you charge for an hr private course?
ok i think i know how to change the white balance. and i try to limit my RAW shots bec then i end up with, like u said, 20k non edited shots. (im upto 1k by now :-)

@jaywhy my apartment window machal 2, jerusalem Israel. and i know thats why im trying to get a key for the roof so i can take nice pics of the exact same place.

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #119 on: May 27, 2013, 05:38:07 PM »
@something fishy why u working today is memorial day?

Ha! Tell that to my boss.

how much do you charge for an hr private course?

Nothing for you, just provide transportation ;D ;D ;D.

ok i think i know how to change the white balance. and i try to limit my RAW shots bec then i end up with, like u said, 20k non edited shots. (im upto 1k by now :-)

True, but sometimes it's worth it. Jaywhy's idea would work too, but you'll still have to edit them, not to mention that you'll have two files to deal with now.
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