how did you all start?

[crackthatoff]

so I got a dlsr, a couple of lenses and photoshop and I havn't got the foggiest Idea where to start, I'm looking at doing 1st steps to digital photography at college or there is a city and guilds which looks a little more difficult?
then there is photoshop... wtf.. my head is spinning! had the camera a few months now and have only used it twice, in the house and on my first track day.
what the hell is RAW ? How did you lot start then, I've been looking at the photoshop competition, it's absolutely amasing that such things can be done from the home pc.

thanks
noel

[curtisl]

personally i just took my camera wherever i went, everywhere i look i look at what would be a good shot. when i brought my first dslr (not that long ago) i just playing around with the settings until i was comfortable with what i was doing, and looking at the photo section here, flickr and done lots of reading. there is so much knowledge on here, i am sure if there was something that you didn't quite understand, the guys on here could help, i know they have helped me.

regarding PS, that is much the same, just keep on playing, but that seems a lot harder to get to grips with. there are a lot of good books on PS and also if you look on www.metacafe.com there were a lot of tutorials that i have seen.

good luck anyway.

[Jenx]

http://ronbigelow.com/articles/articles.htm

When you've memorised that lot you can start asking questions

Martin.

[curtisl]

Jenx said:

http://ronbigelow.com/articles/articles.htm

When you've memorised that lot you can start asking questions

Martin.

That is a very good place to start, i have read this and it helped me no end.

Happy reading!!

[MartinP]

I'm doing a City & Guilds level 2 course at the moment and really enjoying it. I was self taught from reading books and magazines before, but the course forces you to put everything into practice and really learn what works and what doesn't. I'd certainly recommend it if you've got the time.

[flat-planedCrank]

crackthatoff said:

so I got a dlsr, a couple of lenses and photoshop and I havn't got the foggiest Idea where to start, I'm looking at doing 1st steps to digital photography at college or there is a city and guilds which looks a little more difficult?
then there is photoshop... wtf.. my head is spinning! had the camera a few months now and have only used it twice, in the house and on my first track day.
what the hell is RAW ? How did you lot start then, I've been looking at the photoshop competition, it's absolutely amasing that such things can be done from the home pc.

thanks
noel

I wouldn't worry about photoshop yet - just get a decent grounding in using your camera, what effects are achieved by adjusting different settings, etc..

Most of all, keep taking pictures Much of what you will learn is experience...

RAW ? Its basically the sensor data from the camera dumped into a file - it doesn't get processed into a normal image (eg .jpg, .tif, etc..). This means that it records everything the camera sensor actually 'saw', there is much more scope to store data about the scene that wouldn't be included in a normal image file e.g. Data about under / over-exposed areas. They could be thought of as a sort of 'digital-negative'.

With raw files you have some post processing to do, importing them into graphics packages (like photoshop) where you can decide on the final exposure, contrast, white balance, etc.. for your final image.


Downsides ?

* Well the files can be large - for my 30D they are 7MB-7.5MB each.
* There can be problems with importing them into some graphics packages as the software has to support each RAW file standard. They vary between both manufacturer and camera model.
* The time that you must spend in post processing can be a hassle if you are on a deadline. Some press photographers still shoot jpg for this reason.
* Not all cameras support RAW shooting (though i'd guess all recent dSLR's would), best to check the spec of your camera.

Cheers.

[Simpo Two]

crackthatoff said:

How did you lot start then

1979:

[4hero]

It all started for me when I was at high school 23 years ago), my old man gave me a Practica SLR and a couple of lenses (film of course). We had an amazing photography class at school, dark room, and all the tools. I always shot b&w and fell in love with it there and then.

Then, left school, lost the SLR, had no money to get back into it until last February. Since then I have spent all my hard earned spare cash on building up my collection.

I also have worked as a graphic/web designer for the last 10 years, and have used photoshop for all that time.

Keep practicing, photoshop can be pretty heavy. Read tutorials (google photoshop tutorials) until you get to grips with all the tools!

Good luck,

Neil.

[ofcorsa]

i started with a DSLR a few months ago, Im just taking my camera everywhere and taking lots of photos at different settings.

At the moment im learning more from my bad photos than my good ones, Hopefully that will change.

I did use photoshop years ago,But im a complete begginer again, Im leaving that to one side for now, Trying to get as good as possible at capturing the image i want.

[crmcatee]

Since I was in the loft seemed like a good idea.




My camera history in a single shot.

Left to right :

1980 - Canon AV-1 Used, abused and still only on it's second battery !!
1995 - Canon A-1 Second hand, used abused but the motorwind (bought in 1999) eats batteries.
2004 - Canon 20D Inspired me to get out and take photo's again.
2008 - Canon 1D MKIII Just starting to get to grips with it.

[F308 MAN]

it was that long ago, i can't remember:



d

[cvp]

For me an Olympus trip 35mm compact back in the early 1980's, the borrowed parents Olympus Om1 and OM2 SLRs to learn the basics. Father gave me his old used and abused Nikon F3 plus MD4 motordrive for my 18th birthday many many moons ago.

I've had two brief flings with Mamiya, a 645 which I found was great for landscapes but a pain for travel and wildlife and a 7 which was just total and utter crud, breaking down twice within 6 weeks to be rapidly returned for a Nikon FM2T). Apart form that have always been a Nikon user. The only thing I regret now is not hanging onto some of my old SLRs I always traded them in. Now been shooting digital since July 2004 (if my filing system is anything to go by).


Chris

[elderly]

cvp said:

The only thing I regret now is not hanging onto some of my old SLRs I always traded them in.


Chris

The only thing I regret now is hanging onto most of my old SLRs I never traded them in .

[Scho]

i got a really old nikormat 35mm slr i bought for a city and guilds course.

never finished it, foudnd it really boring!

[simpo two]

Scho said:

i got a really old nikormat 35mm slr i bought for a city and guilds course.

never finished it, foudnd it really boring!

Was it a kit?

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 18th May 19:50

[Rude Girl]

I got started when the O/H and I bought matching cameras (and anoraks) for a big holiday about 4 or 5 years ago. He picked things up quite quickly but I was like you - a bit overwhelmed. It was ooooor Simpo who gave me my breakthrough moment - explained some of the words and helped me narrow it down so that I was only experimenting with one or two parameters at once and learning by experience what different settings did.

If you're really stuck, try mailing Simpo, talking to him really really nicely and asking for a copy of his Idiot's Guide. He does a damn good line in constructive criticism as well - good to see him back on this forum.

[Simpo Two]

Rude Girl said:

talking to him really really nicely

Hey, I'm only bhy when provoked!

[Scho]

simpo two said:

Scho said:

i got a really old nikormat 35mm slr i bought for a city and guilds course.

never finished it, foudnd it really boring!

Was it a kit?

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 18th May 19:50

jig saw..

[Famous Graham]

Get your head around how aperture works. The rest just falls into place.

Well, the technical bits anyway.