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 357853 times)

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1520 on: May 24, 2018, 09:03:08 AM »
Any difference between transferring pics from my camera to computer thru usb or wifi with sony playmemories?

USB will be faster. Also confirm that Playmemories can transfer RAW files if you shot those.

In general, it's always better to use a card reader. Way faster, and no risk of your battery dying and corrupting a file mid-transfer.
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Offline avadah

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1521 on: May 24, 2018, 05:58:48 PM »
USB will be faster. Also confirm that Playmemories can transfer RAW files if you shot those.

In general, it's always better to use a card reader. Way faster, and no risk of your battery dying and corrupting a file mid-transfer.
Thanks.
How do I know what format they're being saved to? I find that each picture takes a substantial amount of memory (or at least a lot more then pics from my phone).

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1522 on: May 24, 2018, 05:59:55 PM »
Thanks.
How do I know what format they're being saved to? I find that each picture takes a substantial amount of memory (or at least a lot more then pics from my phone).

Check the quality setting in the menu.
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Offline avadah

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1523 on: May 24, 2018, 06:08:16 PM »
What quality should i have it set too? There's raw, raw & jpeg, fine and standard.
I'm assuming if I'm not editing i don't need raw.
Is there a big difference between fine and standard if i'm not planning on doing a huge portrait?
What about file format? It's set to AVCHD but there's also MP4 and XAVC S

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1524 on: May 24, 2018, 06:15:53 PM »
What quality should i have it set too? There's raw, raw & jpeg, fine and standard.
I'm assuming if I'm not editing i don't need raw.
Is there a big difference between fine and standard if i'm not planning on doing a huge portrait?
What about file format? It's set to AVCHD but there's also MP4 and XAVC S

RAW if you want the best quality.
JPEG if you don't want to edit.
RAW+JPEG if you can't make decisions, or plan on possibly learning to edit.

If JPEG, then Fine.

AVCHD if you plan on editing.
MP4 if not (but only if you still get at least 1080p, I can't remember if your camera has that)
XAVC if you're a weirdo.
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Offline avadah

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1525 on: May 24, 2018, 06:30:21 PM »
So the fine and standard settings are different levels of jpeg?
Mp4 is less quality then AVCHD? How do i check if i can do Mp4 and get 1080p?
MP4 AVCHD and the weirdo setting are videos?

Offline whYME

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1526 on: May 31, 2018, 12:36:29 PM »

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1527 on: May 31, 2018, 01:07:14 PM »
This is epic ;D
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Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1528 on: May 31, 2018, 01:09:06 PM »
Stalking Fishy's Instagram is the biggest push for me to do this.
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Offline springles

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1529 on: May 31, 2018, 02:20:38 PM »
Stalking Fishy's Instagram is the biggest push for me to do this.
I just wish he posted more

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1530 on: May 31, 2018, 02:34:47 PM »

I didnt get half of what he was saying but that seems really cool

Offline mgarfin

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1535 on: June 05, 2018, 10:39:28 AM »


Between the ice and the methane, bad choice of emoji ;D
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1537 on: June 05, 2018, 07:08:57 PM »

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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1538 on: June 10, 2018, 12:46:11 PM »
A freind of mine was telling me that a micro sd card should not be used in a dslr camera as the video and pictures are effected, meaning video stops in middle and pictures don't come out good, any truth to this or was it his specific camera or sd card?

 For example this micro ad card on the dems.
https://www.dansdeals.com/shopping-deals/amazon/samsung-128gb-100mb-s-microsd-evo-select-memory-card-sd-adapter-36-99-shipped-amazon/
Quote
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Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #1539 on: July 31, 2018, 11:24:51 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?
« Last Edit: July 31, 2018, 11:27:58 PM by springles »