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 357932 times)

Offline noturbizniss

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 7116
  • Total likes: 140
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: North Jersey
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #380 on: January 07, 2014, 06:55:36 PM »
If the brightness is ok, exposure is not the issue. Sounds more like a white balance thing to me. Check if it's set to something weird like tungsten, then try manual or cloudy.
White Balance is something that can also be corrected after the fact in lightroom or photoshop, correct?
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

Chuck Norris...
...can still do FT method
...READS THE WIKI!!!

Offline Centro

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2012
  • Posts: 2935
  • Total likes: 8
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 33
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #381 on: January 07, 2014, 07:03:07 PM »
If the brightness is ok, exposure is not the issue. Sounds more like a white balance thing to me. Check if it's set to something weird like tungsten, then try manual or cloudy.
Here you go, the brightness was to the brighter, I hope this was the problem, a pity all those nice shots  :-[

Online Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8708
  • Total likes: 6077
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #382 on: January 07, 2014, 07:37:43 PM »
White Balance is something that can also be corrected after the fact in lightroom or photoshop, correct?

If you shoot in RAW, then yes, 100%. Otherwise, it could only be tweaked a bit warmer or cooler before it starts messing up the picture.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline wayfe

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 821
  • Total likes: 140
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #383 on: January 07, 2014, 09:05:12 PM »
Will you agree that SOOC a jpeg is better than a RAW image?

"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers which can't be questioned."
— Richard Feynman

Online Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8708
  • Total likes: 6077
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #384 on: January 07, 2014, 10:01:32 PM »
Will you agree that SOOC a jpeg is better than a RAW image?

Sure, the same way a steak bought at the supermarket's take out counter is better than a frozen one from the meat department. You could eat it right now and it may even taste good, but does it compare to what a chef could do to a frozen one?
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline wayfe

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 821
  • Total likes: 140
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #385 on: January 07, 2014, 10:23:42 PM »
Sure, the same way a steak bought at the supermarket's take out counter is better than a frozen one from the meat department. You could eat it right now and it may even taste good, but does it compare to what a chef could do to a frozen one?

Nice analogy!

So if you continue the metaphor- what would a fresh cut of meat in the chef's hands translate to?
"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers which can't be questioned."
— Richard Feynman

Offline wayfe

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 821
  • Total likes: 140
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #386 on: January 07, 2014, 10:27:44 PM »
Sure, the same way a steak bought at the supermarket's take out counter is better than a frozen one from the meat department. You could eat it right now and it may even taste good, but does it compare to what a chef could do to a frozen one?

So unless you're planning to post-process (ex. family snapshots) it's better to shoot jpeg?
"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers which can't be questioned."
— Richard Feynman

Online Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8708
  • Total likes: 6077
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #387 on: January 07, 2014, 10:34:51 PM »
Nice analogy!

So if you continue the metaphor- what would a fresh cut of meat in the chef's hands translate to?

This ;D:

Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Online Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8708
  • Total likes: 6077
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #388 on: January 07, 2014, 10:37:54 PM »
So unless you're planning to post-process (ex. family snapshots) it's better to shoot jpeg?

It basically comes down to two main points - one is what you said, if you're not planing on post processing you should shoot JPEG. The second one is if you're in a very challenging situation - say, tough lighting. With RAW you could coax out at least another 2 stops of exposure from both the highlights and shadows without a problem, while if you shot in JPEG there's nothing you can do afterwards.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline wayfe

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 821
  • Total likes: 140
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #389 on: January 07, 2014, 10:48:41 PM »
"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers which can't be questioned."
— Richard Feynman

Online Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8708
  • Total likes: 6077
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #390 on: January 07, 2014, 10:57:57 PM »
This ;D:

Seriously though, here are a couple of screenshots of SOOC vs. edited RAW. The adjustments on these were nothing fancy; usually just basic exposure/contrast/color:



Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline wayfe

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 821
  • Total likes: 140
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #391 on: January 07, 2014, 11:39:22 PM »
But that is unrelated. Of course, edited (as long as it's done well) will be better than unedited.

Although those travel photos are magnificent!
"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers which can't be questioned."
— Richard Feynman

Offline Little Bob

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 68
  • Total likes: 8
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #392 on: January 08, 2014, 02:19:38 PM »
Taking pictures of my 11 month old son is difficult since by"h he's always moving. My camera is a cannon s110. Is there any reason not to shoot with high shutter speeds in RAW format so I can fix the brightness which is affected  by the high shutter speeds.
thanks in advance

Online Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8708
  • Total likes: 6077
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #393 on: January 08, 2014, 02:33:08 PM »
Taking pictures of my 11 month old son is difficult since by"h he's always moving. My camera is a cannon s110. Is there any reason not to shoot with high shutter speeds in RAW format so I can fix the brightness which is affected  by the high shutter speeds.
thanks in advance

Yes, that should work.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline Little Bob

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 68
  • Total likes: 8
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #394 on: January 08, 2014, 02:44:10 PM »
thanks for the fast reply
Is it worth getting adobe lightroom or just use the cannon software that came with my camera for working on my pictures

Online Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8708
  • Total likes: 6077
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #395 on: January 08, 2014, 02:46:55 PM »
thanks for the fast reply
Is it worth getting adobe lightroom or just use the cannon software that came with my camera for working on my pictures

There's a 30 day LR trial, download that and try it out. I think you'll be hooked.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline wayfe

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 821
  • Total likes: 140
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #396 on: January 08, 2014, 03:22:39 PM »
Any major benefits of Lightroom over Photoshop?
"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers which can't be questioned."
— Richard Feynman

Offline noturbizniss

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 7116
  • Total likes: 140
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: North Jersey
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #397 on: January 08, 2014, 04:26:48 PM »
Any major benefits of Lightroom over Photoshop?
from the little I know lightroom has a simpler and more user friendly interface
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

Chuck Norris...
...can still do FT method
...READS THE WIKI!!!

Online Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8708
  • Total likes: 6077
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #398 on: January 08, 2014, 06:04:33 PM »
Any major benefits of Lightroom over Photoshop?

- Photoshop: Full, extremely powerful program. Photography is just a part of it; there's also 3D, video, and many many other applications.
- Elements: Pared-down version of Photoshop. More geared toward consumer photography. Chances are it'll do everything you'd ever need.
- Lightroom: This is complimentary to Photoshop, but could easily be used without it. This is more of an organizational tool, with most of its power lying in the Library module. The Develop module is where you'd edit pictures, and is identical to ACR, which is part of Photoshop.
- Aperture: Basically the Apple take on Loghtroom.

So - if you have crazy numbers of photos to edit (i.e. you shoot in RAW, and often, Lightroom is probably best. You'd only use Photoshop (or elements) when you need some heavy editing on a picture here and there.

Also note that Photoshop includes Bridge, which is sorta kinda like Lightroom organization-wise, but not as fast or powerful.

You could get a Photoshop and Lightroom package at $10 a month now, which is a great deal.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline wayfe

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 821
  • Total likes: 140
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Learn Photography Master Thread
« Reply #399 on: January 08, 2014, 06:11:09 PM »
I have a problem with postprocessing- I never know when I'm done. Doesn't it feel like there is always something to tweak?
"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers which can't be questioned."
— Richard Feynman