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
123 (36.8%)
Point & Shoot - advanced (Canon S100 or G Style)
52 (15.6%)
Mirrorless
27 (8.1%)
DSLR - consumer (Up to a Nikon D5200 or Canon Rebel)
74 (22.2%)
DSLR - prosumer or pro (Nikon D7000 or Canon 60D and up)
30 (9%)
P&S, but I plan on getting an SLR or Mirrorless in the near future
28 (8.4%)

Total Members Voted: 278

Author Topic: Learn Photography Master Thread  (Read 424174 times)

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1340 on: July 23, 2016, 07:50:00 PM »
Any comment on this?
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline skyguy918

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1341 on: July 23, 2016, 11:24:42 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?
Just FYI, for anyone who might be looking for an answer to this, I found a feature in Windows Live Gallery called photo fuse that worked really well.

Offline shwarmabob

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1342 on: August 15, 2016, 11:17:04 AM »
anyone has a http://kelbyone.com/ subscription I can join?

Offline normaly

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1343 on: August 26, 2016, 04:47:10 PM »

Offline Work-for-ur-muny

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1344 on: September 05, 2016, 05:46:23 PM »
I'm not sure where this belongs but will try here. To all those who may be interested, (perhaps SF)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Wiki_Loves_Monuments_2016_in_the_United_States

Offline Work-for-ur-muny

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1345 on: September 26, 2016, 02:57:42 AM »


Worked like a charm, just downloaded a video.

Was far easier and simpler than my old way with Orbit.
Doesn't seem to work anymore. But there's probably a new way already.

ETA: I couldn't get it on KelbyOne, but got it on Lynda.
« Last Edit: September 26, 2016, 04:11:15 AM by Work-for-ur-muny »

Offline etech0

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Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline pixi

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1347 on: October 09, 2016, 11:42:30 PM »
I'm looking to buy a lens for my galaxy s7,  in ready to spend a lot.  Will it make such a big difference to the quality of the picture?
money doesn't talk......      it SCREAMS !

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1348 on: November 01, 2016, 01:10:32 AM »
I'm thinking about trading in my 60d for something smaller and more manageable like a rebel. Died that makes sense?

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1349 on: November 01, 2016, 08:03:05 AM »
I'm thinking about trading in my 60d for something smaller and more manageable like a rebel. Died that makes sense?

Not really :P

What makes a rebel "more manageable"? And the size difference is not so significant. If size is critical enough to downgrade your camera, go to mirrorless.
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Offline ushdadude

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1350 on: November 01, 2016, 03:47:04 PM »
Not really :P

What makes a rebel "more manageable"? And the size difference is not so significant. If size is critical enough to downgrade your camera, go to mirrorless.
Size is the issue. I wouldn't schlep such a large camera. I bring my g12 with me on vacation now.

What's a decent mirror less that takes a macro lense and ring flash?

Thanks

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1351 on: November 01, 2016, 04:58:04 PM »
Size is the issue. I wouldn't schlep such a large camera. I bring my g12 with me on vacation now.

What's a decent mirror less that takes a macro lense and ring flash?

Thanks

Olympus Micro 4/3 is your best bet. Model depends mainly on your price point.
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Offline ushdadude

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1352 on: November 02, 2016, 12:49:02 AM »
Olympus Micro 4/3 is your best bet. Model depends mainly on your price point.

Thanks

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1353 on: November 02, 2016, 12:06:13 PM »


Hear, hear!

I've been saying this for years. I've shot with lenses with actual chips in them - that's bits of glass missing, not just a scratch - and it's 100% invisible in the pictures.

And about lens hoods - I can't say this emphatically enough. Put them on and never take them off again. I can't count the times they've saved my lenses. Just this Sunday I dropped a lens and it went bouncing down the parking lot, landing on the lens hood each time. You know what happened? The $20 bit of plastic absorbed the shocks, got all beaten up, and the lens was left perfectly unscathed.

So always use a hood, and save the money on UV filters (and maybe throw your lens caps down a well while you're at it, too).
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Offline springles

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1354 on: November 02, 2016, 12:50:45 PM »
I myself am not into photography, I use a point and shoot or my phone and am happy. However, my father in law has been slowly getting into photography. He has a beginner DSLR and likes good nature pics that he can blow up and display. I have been thinking of getting him some lessons or classes on photography as a gift but cant find anything that seems like a good fit. Any of you photographers have any suggestions? He lives in the 5 towns.
Thanks

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1355 on: November 02, 2016, 12:54:11 PM »
I myself am not into photography, I use a point and shoot or my phone and am happy. However, my father in law has been slowly getting into photography. He has a beginner DSLR and likes good nature pics that he can blow up and display. I have been thinking of getting him some lessons or classes on photography as a gift but cant find anything that seems like a good fit. Any of you photographers have any suggestions? He lives in the 5 towns.
Thanks

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=62659.0

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Offline Work-for-ur-muny

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1356 on: November 02, 2016, 06:59:17 PM »
Hear, hear!

I've been saying this for years. I've shot with lenses with actual chips in them - that's bits of glass missing, not just a scratch - and it's 100% invisible in the pictures.

And about lens hoods - I can't say this emphatically enough. Put them on and never take them off again. I can't count the times they've saved my lenses. Just this Sunday I dropped a lens and it went bouncing down the parking lot, landing on the lens hood each time. You know what happened? The $20 bit of plastic absorbed the shocks, got all beaten up, and the lens was left perfectly unscathed.
Yup! I can testify. We all watched that thing drop from, let's just say, the tallest man in the group... ...and gasped... but it survived, BH.

So always use a hood, and save the money on UV filters (and maybe throw your lens caps down a well while you're at it, too).
Why can't you tell me when you see something fall out of my pocket??!!??!!  ;D

Offline Mordyk

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1357 on: November 07, 2016, 03:49:21 PM »
im looking to print on those hard boards.  what are they called on the printing sites?
#TYH

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1358 on: November 07, 2016, 04:07:10 PM »
im looking to print on those hard boards.  what are they called on the printing sites?

The kind with the foam in the middle? That's called foam core.
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1359 on: November 07, 2016, 04:09:57 PM »
The kind with the foam in the middle? That's called foam core.
thats it.  where is best for very good quality pics?
#TYH