Re: Top tips

Thanks everyone for taking part in the "Top tips" debate, even those that
were very judgemental of me and my abilities. My photographic abilities may
be average but it doesn't stop me taking the odd decent picture, with your
tips I'll maybe get a few more.
The idea for my posting was to stir up a debate and it judging by the number
of responses it appears to have been quite successful. From all your tips I
intend to use the following top ten for my personal use, to (hopefully)
improve my abilities.....
1. READ the camera manual and refresh memory of basic photographic
technique. I've a couple of books, John Shaw's Nature Photography Field
Guide and NG's Photography Field Guide: Secrets to Making Great Pictures
both inspirational with good technical advice and thought of adding
Understanding Exposure - Bryan Peterson, anyone seen this?
2. LOOK for inspiration, other photographers photos, (Photonet, IMO is an
excellent resource).
3. Be PREPARED - Carry a camera everywhere with a fully charged battery and
clean memory card. (I've been disappointed not to have a camera when seeing
a good photo opportunity and caught out by flat batteries and no memory
space before).
4. SEE - have an idea of the picture before clicking the shutter.
5. TAKE PLENTY OF PHOTOS:
- to find the best viewpoint for landscapes
- to capture the moment (and the focus point!) for action and people.
- to learn to use the equipment (practise makes perfect).
- To develop style and photographers "eye"- stepping out of comfort zone
experimenting with different subjects and techniques.
6. AVOID CAMERA SHAKE, use a tripod where appropriate and shoot within
shutter speed limits imposed by technique, equipment and subject matter.
7. PATIENCE expect to wait for perfect light, it's the LIGHT that makes the
photograph. Make the best of it, get up early and avoid the harsh shadows of
midday. Find something else to do if the light is uninteresting, unless
somewhere for a short time only.
8. Shoot at the BEST QUALITY available on your camera, Raw if possible.
9. REVIEW your results critically and learn from successes and failures.
10. EDIT hard, print and share only share your best work.
Finally, not from anyone's list, but something I intend to learn is
PHOTOSHOP to make the best of the shots I've taken and to keep busy on dark
winter nights.
Thanks again for all your top tips.
Kevin

Kev


Re: Top tips

I would go further and say don't worry about cameras or lenses, ignore
ISO, grain/noise reciprocity law failure (one for the film users
there!)
In fact before you begin to get your head around those things... learn
to see.
I mean really SEE the world around you. Look at things, through the
lens of your eyes and try to see what it is that captures your
imagination in a subject. Then, and only then, will you have something
worth photographing. This will also tell you something about how to
shoot it. If you're standing on a bare hilltop with one gnarled tree
and you think, this place feels lonely, then try to shoot it to convey
that emotion.
Then learn about lighting. Not the studio kind, or flash, but learn
about light and weather and how that affects things. Carry a compass.
If you think, "This would look great on a winter's morning with that
bright reddish light, and the long blueish shadows" - then check your
compass to see where the sun will rise, figure out the composition, and
return when the time of year, time of day, and the weather all combine
to make this an amazing scene.
I'm sorry if this sounds a little "new age" but I think too many people
get bogged down in technology, and equipment and forget to really look
at things.
My one pence (which is roughly equivalent to 2 cents)
Nigel
--
http://www.nigelcampbell.net


Nigel@nigelcampbell.net


Re: Top tips

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:31:29 -0800, "Steve B" <dsrttrvlr@aol.com>
wrote:
AND if all else fails stick your thumb up yer rectum
and whistle Dixie - - - - - in Dolby.
..
He He He <smirk> Ho Ho Ho.Ohh Deary Deary me.


Arch


Re: Top tips

Exactly.
Thank you.


Steve B


Re: Top tips

acorn.


Pudentame


Re: Top tips

OTOH, at some point you have to quit gazing at your own navel and take a
picture or two.


Pudentame


Re: Top tips

But then, again, one could use it as reading material while in the
"library".
Steve


Steve B


Re: Top tips

Well, hopefully it's written on tissue paper.


Pudentame


Re: Top tips

Well, that would depend - surely - upon whether or not the pages were made
of soft and absorbent paper.
With a perforated binding.
--
Jeff R.


Jeff R.


Re: Top tips

These are not jokes, they are truths.
It was a joke...
--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Darkroom Automation: F-Stop Timers, Enlarging Meters
http://www.nolindan.com/da/index.htm
n o lindan at ix dot netcom dot com


Nicholas O. Lindan


Re: Top tips

Do UUs have "excommunication?" I kinda doubt it.
Excellent. site for UU jokes: <http://stoney.sb.org/uujokes.html>
(Hit "refresh" for a new joke...)
rafe b
www.terrapinphoto.com


Rafe b


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