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 401283 times)

Offline RJ898

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1380 on: January 15, 2017, 08:02:55 AM »
Try that the other way round...
Nope, exactly that way. Too many people who don't have a clue how to shoot messing with settings. Learn how to shoot in auto, and once you can compose a decent shot, play with settings
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Offline springles

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1381 on: January 15, 2017, 12:56:40 PM »
Mazal tov! Get a copy of Bryan Peterson's "understanding composition". When you've read that 2-3 times, he has another book called "understand exposure"
thanks, requested from the library

any advice on where to store pictures online? I use google photos but the free storage is only good for up to 15 mp

Offline RJ898

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1382 on: January 20, 2017, 08:09:15 AM »
thanks, requested from the library

any advice on where to store pictures online? I use google photos but the free storage is only good for up to 15 mp
If you're an Amazon prime member, you get free unlimited photo backup
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1383 on: January 20, 2017, 12:42:37 PM »
If you're an Amazon prime member, you get free unlimited photo backup
no downgrade of quality?

Offline springles

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1384 on: January 20, 2017, 01:39:53 PM »
Just read through all the lessons linked in the wiki. Thanks for all that info. Will probably have to reread as I try taking pictures and see the results but I feel like I am starting to grasp the basics.

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1385 on: January 23, 2017, 11:19:04 PM »
wanna get an extra battery for my a6000. I see I can get 2 non OEM batteries with a charger for around $25. Anyone have experience with the non OEM's? It seems like a much better deal than Sony.

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1386 on: January 23, 2017, 11:26:39 PM »
Get the Wasabi's. They work just fine
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Offline whYME

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1387 on: January 24, 2017, 12:06:04 AM »
wanna get an extra battery for my a6000. I see I can get 2 non OEM batteries with a charger for around $25. Anyone have experience with the non OEM's? It seems like a much better deal than Sony.
I've gotten plenty of non-OEM batteries for various cameras and TBH I can't really tell the difference (I never did any tests or anything but any difference wasn't discernable to me with normal use)

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1388 on: January 24, 2017, 12:20:29 AM »
Get the Wasabi's. They work just fine
thanks, ordered

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1389 on: January 24, 2017, 08:04:57 AM »
I've done lab testing on lots of batteries. Generally OEM will match the listed capacity, while 3rd party options tend to be around 10-15% less.

Other than that they're pretty much identical and are highly recommended. It's a crime to spend money on OEM batteries IMO.
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1390 on: January 24, 2017, 01:20:06 PM »
I've done lab testing on lots of batteries. Generally OEM will match the listed capacity, while 3rd party options tend to be around 10-15% less.

Other than that they're pretty much identical and are highly recommended. It's a crime to spend money on OEM batteries IMO.
+1
I found that my Wasabis (which I got two of, for half the price than what I would have paid for a single OEM) have a bit of a shorter life span than the Sony. Value-wise, though, they were totally worthwhile.

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1391 on: January 27, 2017, 12:09:14 PM »
https://photographylife.com/recommended-sony-a6000-settings

Does this make sense? Good place to start?

Offline RJ898

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1392 on: January 27, 2017, 12:28:28 PM »
https://photographylife.com/recommended-sony-a6000-settings

Does this make sense? Good place to start?
Best place to start is by learning how to take great shots (understanding composition).

Step 2 is to get the tech right (understanding exposure)

After that, you'll know what functions you use most, and you'll have no need for an article telling you how to customize your camera
« Last Edit: January 27, 2017, 01:31:12 PM by RJ898 »
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1393 on: January 27, 2017, 12:36:38 PM »
After that, you'll know what functions you use most, and you'll have no need for an article telling you how to customize your camera
That's ridiculous.

Knowing how to take a picture doesn't automatically make you know the features of your camera.

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1394 on: January 27, 2017, 12:40:12 PM »
That's ridiculous.

Knowing how to take a picture doesn't automatically make you know the features of your camera.
Before you know how to take a picture, the settings are mostly an irrelevant distraction.
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1395 on: January 27, 2017, 01:30:19 PM »
Best place to start is by learning how to take great shots (understanding composition).

Step 2 is to get the tech right (understanding exposure)

FTFY
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1396 on: January 27, 2017, 01:31:22 PM »
Part of the vast right wing conspiracy.

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1397 on: January 27, 2017, 01:35:36 PM »
Before you know how to take a picture, the settings are mostly an irrelevant distraction.

Sorry, but this is really, really bad advice.

Composition is useless if the picture looks like crud. Settings are useless if the composition makes no sense.

The answer is - shockingly - to learn both at once. If Ush was smart enough to become a dentist I trust he could walk and chew gum at the same time. Learn the basic settings as well as the basic composition ideas. Exposure triangle, exposure compensation, metering modes; rule of thirds, stay away from the center, move around and explore the scene before you begin shooting. That's 90% of what any budding photographer needs to know and can be learned and understood in a couple of hours and some experimentation.

Locking yourself into "rules" and "this before that" will get you nowhere.

In regards to the initial question: don't go around changing all the settings in your camera until you know what they mean, especially not someone else's personal "laundry list" of settings. Keep things on the default and with a little bit of experimentation you'll learn how to set your camera so that it works right for you.
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1398 on: January 27, 2017, 03:56:26 PM »
Sorry, but this is really, really bad advice.

Composition is useless if the picture looks like crud. Settings are useless if the composition makes no sense.


I disagree.

You can appreciate a poorly exposed but well composed image...

I see no value in perfect exposure without an engaging composition.

Aside from which- composition is about a lot more than just photography. So I see as more important than just camera settings.
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1399 on: January 28, 2017, 09:20:27 PM »
Sorry, but this is really, really bad advice.

Composition is useless if the picture looks like crud. Settings are useless if the composition makes no sense.

The answer is - shockingly - to learn both at once. If Ush was smart enough to become a dentist I trust he could walk and chew gum at the same time. Learn the basic settings as well as the basic composition ideas. Exposure triangle, exposure compensation, metering modes; rule of thirds, stay away from the center, move around and explore the scene before you begin shooting. That's 90% of what any budding photographer needs to know and can be learned and understood in a couple of hours and some experimentation.

Locking yourself into "rules" and "this before that" will get you nowhere.

In regards to the initial question: don't go around changing all the settings in your camera until you know what they mean, especially not someone else's personal "laundry list" of settings. Keep things on the default and with a little bit of experimentation you'll learn how to set your camera so that it works right for you.

Awww Thanks!
So any good crash courses you recommend?