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 402288 times)

Offline springles

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1540 on: August 02, 2018, 11:11:57 PM »
Any suggestions for a decent lens for portraits for my Sony a6000? Nothing too expensive. Am i just looking for a 50mm prime with a low (number) aperture?
bump

Offline Zalc

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1541 on: August 06, 2018, 01:10:05 AM »
bump
If you are only focused on portraits, then generally the longer the focal length, the better (assuming you will shoot with enough space to back up)

Some reasons I can think of:
1. As your focal length grows, the same aperture will have a more blurred background (f/2 on a 50mm is not as blurred as f/2 on a 100mm).
2. As the focal length grows, there is better separation of the foreground and background, even when keeping it all in focus.
3. There is much less barrel distortion at linger focal lengths, giving heads better looks. (50mm approx matches your eye's view, but longer can look even better many times)

The reason for this (and the downside) is that you will need to stand further back to fit the same subject in the frame.

Some others here can probably explain this far better then I, but this is a start.

Google visual examples of all of these and it'll be much clearer.


Offline Zalc

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1542 on: August 06, 2018, 01:12:23 AM »
Any suggestions for a decent lens for portraits for my Sony a6000? Nothing too expensive. Am i just looking for a 50mm prime with a low (number) aperture?
If you are on a low budget and take good care of your gear, consider buying a used lens on eBay or MPB.
 I've always been happy buying used lenses, and used premium primes hold their resale value incredibly well.

If you are on a really tight budget, consider using a manual lens?
There are some amazing manual lenses for very cheap.
Only recommend that if you are shooting adults...

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1543 on: August 06, 2018, 07:28:25 AM »
I need some recommendations on how to shoot pictures where there's a bright spot (like a light fixture in middle of the scene). I have not been able to get my settings right to capture normal looking photographs. They either come out washed out or way too yellowed and dark.

Offline springles

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1544 on: August 06, 2018, 02:23:29 PM »
If you are only focused on portraits, then generally the longer the focal length, the better (assuming you will shoot with enough space to back up)

Some reasons I can think of:
1. As your focal length grows, the same aperture will have a more blurred background (f/2 on a 50mm is not as blurred as f/2 on a 100mm).
2. As the focal length grows, there is better separation of the foreground and background, even when keeping it all in focus.
3. There is much less barrel distortion at linger focal lengths, giving heads better looks. (50mm approx matches your eye's view, but longer can look even better many times)

The reason for this (and the downside) is that you will need to stand further back to fit the same subject in the frame.

Some others here can probably explain this far better then I, but this is a start.

Google visual examples of all of these and it'll be much clearer.
would this be something you would recommend?
https://www.amazon.com/Sigma-60mm-F2-8-Black-Sony/dp/B00CMRTXVQ

Offline Zalc

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1545 on: August 06, 2018, 07:19:40 PM »
would this be something you would recommend?
https://www.amazon.com/Sigma-60mm-F2-8-Black-Sony/dp/B00CMRTXVQ

I don't use Sony so I don't know what is out there, but the wirecutter seems to like it:
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/first-sony-e-mount-lenses-to-buy/#the-portrait-lens

(Be sure to use dan's link if you do buy it....)

Offline EJB

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1546 on: August 06, 2018, 11:32:56 PM »
would this be something you would recommend?
https://www.amazon.com/Sigma-60mm-F2-8-Black-Sony/dp/B00CMRTXVQ

Very good for portraits. Not sure how much better than sony's 50mm prime, though. And 50mm may be a more useful focal lengths for portraits of more than one person

Offline EJB

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Offline springles

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1548 on: August 07, 2018, 05:42:18 PM »
I think I am going to try and get the Sigma 30mm f/2.8 and the Sony 50mm f/1.8. I am looking for them used so hopefully can find a good deal.

With the Sony 50mm I see that the full frame version is significantly cheaper than the crop lens. How much of a difference will it make on my sony a6000?

Offline Zalc

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1549 on: August 10, 2018, 11:46:31 AM »
I think I am going to try and get the Sigma 30mm f/2.8 and the Sony 50mm f/1.8. I am looking for them used so hopefully can find a good deal.

With the Sony 50mm I see that the full frame version is significantly cheaper than the crop lens. How much of a difference will it make on my sony a6000?
Are you sure they have the same mount?

50mm on a crop lens is much (edit: tighter) then 50 on a full frame.


Also, the 30mm will be very close to your 50mm, i'd possibly suggest getting a wider lens if you will be carrying 2 primes.
« Last Edit: August 10, 2018, 12:41:01 PM by Zalc »

Offline springles

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1550 on: August 10, 2018, 12:00:31 PM »
Are you sure they have the same mount?
Yes, same e mount
50mm on a crop lens is much wider then 50 on a full frame.


Also, the 30mm will be very close to your 50mm, i'd possibly suggest getting a wider lens if you will be carrying 2 primes.
So you think they are too close in focal length and i should pick one not both?
I would just go with the 50mm but I'm afraid that it won't be good as my main lens.

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1551 on: August 10, 2018, 12:15:25 PM »
Yes, same e mountSo you think they are too close in focal length and i should pick one not both?
Not sure about the mount, maybe someone else can answer.

What other lenses do you have currently?

The focal lengths are close, but if you are ONLY using them for controlled portraits then it might not be too close.
Even 30mm is pretty tight (50mm equivalent). Maybe consider the 19mm sigma (cheaper and 1/3 wider)?
See here: https://blog.thomasfitzgeraldphotography.com/blog/2016/3/sigma-30mm-and-19mm-e-mount-lenses-mini-review

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1552 on: August 10, 2018, 12:29:15 PM »
Are you sure they have the same mount?

They do not.

50mm on a crop lens is much wider then 50 on a full frame.

The other way around.

Also, the 30mm will be very close to your 50mm, i'd possibly suggest getting a wider lens if you will be carrying 2 primes.

...and the 50 will be a 75.

But correct, there's not much of a reason to carry both a 30 and a 50 (45 and 75 equivalent).
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1553 on: August 10, 2018, 04:51:17 PM »
They do not.

The other way around.

...and the 50 will be a 75.

But correct, there's not much of a reason to carry both a 30 and a 50 (45 and 75 equivalent).
so what would you recommend as a main lens that will get me good pictures of the kids for the a6000?

Are you sure they don't have the same mount?

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1554 on: August 14, 2018, 01:34:29 PM »
How important is image stabilization, like Sony's OSS for picture taking (not video)?

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1555 on: August 19, 2018, 12:35:07 AM »
Practicing some color correction, how does the coloring look on this?
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1556 on: August 19, 2018, 04:08:19 AM »
Practicing some color correction, how does the coloring look on this?

The distortion (colors and lines) is hurting my eyes...

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1557 on: August 19, 2018, 04:10:35 AM »
How important is image stabilization, like Sony's OSS for picture taking (not video)?

If you use a tripod, not at all. If you don't use a tripod and shoot landscapes or in low light, it can be useful. It allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without introducing too much blur. The general rule of thumb is don't go slower than 1/focal length. With OSS, you usually can go 3-4 stops slower. In practice, this depends on many factors, including the steadiness of your hands.

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1558 on: August 19, 2018, 08:07:37 AM »
Practicing some color correction, how does the coloring look on this?
The lines I fixed.
What's got to be done with the color?
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1559 on: August 27, 2018, 12:19:19 PM »
we are having a family trip and i would really like to be able to capture the best photos. none of us are really that good with photography. what would be our best bet? just to stick to phones? or get a shared camera to use? and if yes which camera would be best for auto settings...  TIA
#TYH