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 357948 times)

Offline wayfe

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1320 on: June 01, 2016, 05:09:21 PM »
In any case, for people (animals as well, technically), always put your focus point on the eye.

Is that between the eyes when they're fully facing the camera?
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1321 on: June 01, 2016, 05:09:43 PM »
Thanks!

And in this one I should also have smaller aperture to get them both in focus?

That, or align yourself a bit to the right so both their faces are the same distance from the camera, hence in the same focal plane.

Here's the thing - 1.4 is incredibly fast, so barely anything will be in focus. I know that the gut feeling of anyone with a fast lens is to always use it at the largest aperture (I'm sometimes guilty of that myself), but fact of the matter is that f/1.4 is simply too fast most of the time. This is a thousand times worse with kids, as they can't keep still for half a second. The slightest movement and they're out of focus.
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1322 on: June 01, 2016, 05:10:11 PM »
Is that between the eyes when they're fully facing the camera?

No, on the eye (the near one if they're not straight-on). Between the eyes is the nose (surprise ;D!), which is closer to the camera than the eye. Makes a world of a difference t f/1.4.
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1323 on: June 01, 2016, 05:32:14 PM »
No, on the eye (the near one if they're not straight-on). Between the eyes is the nose (surprise ;D!), which is closer to the camera than the eye. Makes a world of a difference t f/1.4.

Have a look at this:

I just shot this at 85mm, f/1.8 - roughly equal to a 50mm at f1.4. You could see that the focal plane is barely half an inch deep.

A typical adult's eye is around an inch deeper than the bridge of their nose. This means that if you focus between the eyes, you don't have a prayer of getting sharp eyes.

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Offline wayfe

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1324 on: June 01, 2016, 07:09:44 PM »
link missing
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1325 on: June 01, 2016, 07:20:27 PM »
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Offline Zevi16

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1326 on: June 28, 2016, 08:35:23 AM »
Cool picture no? Taken in the Florida keys on a regular galaxy s5. Check out the sun bringing out the colors of the parachute.

Offline Zalc

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1327 on: June 28, 2016, 12:40:42 PM »


Cool picture no? Taken in the Florida keys on a regular galaxy s5. Check out the sun bringing out the colors of the parachute.

A good example of "the best camera is the one you have with you".

A "real" camera would make this shot so much nicer and less grainy, but at the same time, it wasn't there.

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1328 on: June 28, 2016, 12:58:05 PM »

A good example of "the best camera is the one you have with you".

A "real" camera would make this shot so much nicer and less grainy, but at the same time, it wasn't there.
This is a print out on a non color paper. The digital is much better.

Also, the s5 is water resistant so that help in this situation

Offline Bukboy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1329 on: July 03, 2016, 02:49:30 PM »
A bit off topic but i still think i'm in the right place,
Anybody doing product photography specifically for Amazon? I'm located in Monsey so logistic wise would be great to deal with a local   

Offline Work-for-ur-muny

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1330 on: July 03, 2016, 03:00:12 PM »
A bit off topic but i still think i'm in the right place,
Anybody doing product photography specifically for Amazon? I'm located in Monsey so logistic wise would be great to deal with a local
I know someone in the city, if that helps. Have heard great things about him.

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1331 on: July 03, 2016, 03:11:54 PM »
I know someone in the city, if that helps. Have heard great things about him.
?

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1332 on: July 03, 2016, 03:23:39 PM »

Offline Bukboy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1333 on: July 03, 2016, 03:31:56 PM »

Offline RatRace

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1334 on: July 12, 2016, 09:34:35 AM »
Im not professional nor aspiring to be, just love taking nice photos of my kids etc. I have a nikon d3300 and take alot of indoor photos, and guess ive improved enough to realize im ready for an extra flash! (Mount) . Can anyone help with recommendations? Not looking to spend too much at this point.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1335 on: July 13, 2016, 04:27:51 PM »
For a one time underwater trip, does it make a difference if I buy a $5 red filter over a brand name $25 one?

Offline srf60

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1336 on: July 13, 2016, 06:17:15 PM »
Im not professional nor aspiring to be, just love taking nice photos of my kids etc. I have a nikon d3300 and take alot of indoor photos, and guess ive improved enough to realize im ready for an extra flash! (Mount) . Can anyone help with recommendations? Not looking to spend too much at this point.
This one is manual;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004LEAYXY/ref=pd_aw_vtph_421_bs_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=4372DEKJQHKFMBX4771M

This is also TTL;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GE4MNQA/ref=pd_aw_sbs_421_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=5193NGu%2BGAL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL100_SR100%2C100_&psc=1&refRID=7G7D7S6FMNYC4R3CX0Y8

Online skyguy918

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1337 on: July 21, 2016, 09:52:31 PM »
I have 2 consecutively taken photos of my 3 kids. 2 are smiling in one and 1 in the other. What's the easiest way to combine them? Google supposedly does this automatically with Auto Awesome, but it hasn't happened yet, and I have no way of forcing it to combine them. Any suggestions?

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1338 on: July 21, 2016, 09:53:43 PM »
I have 2 consecutively taken photos of my 3 kids. 2 are smiling in one and 1 in the other. What's the easiest way to combine them? Google supposedly does this automatically with Auto Awesome, but it hasn't happened yet, and I have no way of forcing it to combine them. Any suggestions?
Photoshop?

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1339 on: July 21, 2016, 10:16:10 PM »
Photoshop?
Doesn't seem to exist in PS Express, and I'm not shelling out money for the real deal just for this.