Digital Photography

[ManImBored]

Anyone here into digital photography as a hobby? I just bought a new camera and am trying to get started learning more about it.

[Pudge]

I am, but I'm still pretty new with everything. Last spring my wife and I picked up a package deal on a Nikon D3000 with 2 lenses, a bag, etc and have been toying with it. I've been playing with using a polarizing filter on some of my stuff and started messing around with photoshop express to touch up some images.

I've got the bug and would love to get into some different lenses and filters.

[irishmick]

I do a fair bit. What do you want to learn?

[ManImBored]

I do a fair bit. What do you want to learn?

Everything! LOL

I just got the camera and am still working on the basic stuff. We are in the process of moving so once I get everything set back up I would like to start on some light photo editing and such. I am not trying to turn pro, just pick up a new hobby.

[irishmick]

I would start by getting to know your camera and what it can do. A good resource for general knowledge and terms would be a book called Step-by-Step Digital Photography : A Guide for Beginners by Jack and Sue Drafahl. I think you can pick up a used copy from Amazon for like a penny. Another good book is Understand Exposure by Bryan Peterson. I may have a copy floating around that you can have...let me see if I can dig it up.

I haven't gotten into the editing so much, but at least these two will give you a good starting point. They'll help you get to know your camera, understand staging a shot, what light is good to shoot in for minimal editing needs, etc. No amount of editing will make a crappy shot that great. heh

[Mark7]

+1 for Understanding Exposure, I also learned a lot about my specific camera (Canon D-30) from the Magic Lantern Guide by Simon Stafford, the guides are done for most major DSLRs. I've just started using/learning Adobe Lightroom- more user friendly than Photoshop.

[Pudge]

Here are some sites I've been directed to by others. Some good information, gear, and misc stuff.

Digital Photography Tips: Digital Photography School
Digital Camera Resource Page | Digital Camera News and Reviews since 1997
Digital cameras, all other cameras and everything photographic from Adorama Camera


Maybe KatieMH will log in and see this thread, she has a business and takes some great images.

[KatieMH]

Maybe KatieMH will log in and see this thread, she has a business and takes some great images.

Haha... or maybe someone will send me the thread as a hint I should log on and see the thread.

I'll be completely honest and say books are awesome... but didn't work for me. I can read how to do something all the livelong day, but I don't learn it until I actually do it.

Step 1 in learning photography: take your camera off auto. Put it in manual mode or you won't ever learn anything.

Step 2: learn exposure. Exposure consists of 3 things: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
To break it down:
a. aperture = diameter of your f/stop. This dictates 1) how much light can come through your lens and 2) amount of depth of field in your image (ie. amount of the image in focus - based on your plane). Wide open = f1.2-f2.8 = lots of depth of field (blurriness in image outside the plane of your focal point, great for individual portraits). Low aperture = f14-f22 = no depth of field (focus throughout the image - preferred for architecture shots, etc)

b. shutter speed = amount of time your shutter stays open. This also dictates how much light comes through based on how quick the shutter closes. 1/2000 = lots of light. When there is a lot of available light you'd use a fast shutter speed, when you're in low light you need to slow down your shutter to 1/200 or less depending on available light.

c. ISO = sensitivity to light. ISO 100=sunlight. ISO 1600=lacking light, so the camera needs to be sensitive to the light that's there.

Um, that's the basics for right now. Let me know if you have any questions. My best advice is to put the camera in manual and shoot static images. Put a chair in front of you and shoot it at f/22 then at f/2.8, then do the same with different shutter speeds and again for different ISO's so you can visually see the difference and how it affects your situation and what yields the best results.

[Pudge]

Haha... or maybe someone will send me the thread as a hint I should log on and see the thread.

I'll be completely honest and say books are awesome... but didn't work for me. I can read how to do something all the livelong day, but I don't learn it until I actually do it.

Step 1 in learning photography: take your camera off auto. Put it in manual mode or you won't ever learn anything.

Step 2: learn exposure. Exposure consists of 3 things: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
To break it down:
a. aperture = diameter of your f/stop. This dictates 1) how much light can come through your lens and 2) amount of depth of field in your image (ie. amount of the image in focus - based on your plane). Wide open = f1.2-f2.8 = lots of depth of field (blurriness in image outside the plane of your focal point, great for individual portraits). Low aperture = f14-f22 = no depth of field (focus throughout the image - preferred for architecture shots, etc)

b. shutter speed = amount of time your shutter stays open. This also dictates how much light comes through based on how quick the shutter closes. 1/2000 = lots of light. When there is a lot of available light you'd use a fast shutter speed, when you're in low light you need to slow down your shutter to 1/200 or less depending on available light.

c. ISO = sensitivity to light. ISO 100=sunlight. ISO 1600=lacking light, so the camera needs to be sensitive to the light that's there.

Um, that's the basics for right now. Let me know if you have any questions. My best advice is to put the camera in manual and shoot static images. Put a chair in front of you and shoot it at f/22 then at f/2.8, then do the same with different shutter speeds and again for different ISO's so you can visually see the difference and how it affects your situation and what yields the best results.

Hey...you got on here, didn't you? That's all that matters.

I've been just playing with different settings when I can, but I have a lot more practice to do yet before I'm comfortable with changing it up on the fly.

[ManImBored]

Thanks for the info everyone. This gives me some reading material for awhile.

[Cidp24]

Good thread. I want to get into photography as a hobby but I just haven't come up off my wallet yet. I also can't decide on a good beginner camera that can accept options/accessories that will grow with my ability.

[Five-0]

Another good place to look:

KenRockwell.com: Photography, Cameras and Taking Better Pictures

[Pudge]

Good thread. I want to get into photography as a hobby but I just haven't come up off my wallet yet. I also can't decide on a good beginner camera that can accept options/accessories that will grow with my ability.

My D3000 is a great beginner/intermediate camera to use. The D3000, D3100, and D5100 have the point and shoot options, as well as all of the manual settings of a professional camera. Canon also has comparable models. The 3100 series is this year's release of my camera and has HD video recording capabilities. Mine, as well as the new ones also have a manual guide mode on the screen that will help you select your settings.

I found the entire package on Best Buy's website, then printed that off and went to the store. The price in store for a lesser package was $100 more than online, but they matched what I had found.

I got the following for $800 and some change with Tax.

Camera
18-55mm lens
55-200 mm lens
Camera Bag
Memory Card
2 year protection plan from Best Buy on camera and both lenses that will cover any and all damage.
4 gig memory card (I can get about 500 images on that card)

Individually for all of those I would've paid nearly $1400

[Cidp24]

My D3000 is a great beginner/intermediate camera to use. The D3000, D3100, and D5100 have the point and shoot options, as well as all of the manual settings of a professional camera. Canon also has comparable models. The 3100 series is this year's release of my camera and has HD video recording capabilities. Mine, as well as the new ones also have a manual guide mode on the screen that will help you select your settings.

I found the entire package on Best Buy's website, then printed that off and went to the store. The price in store for a lesser package was $100 more than online, but they matched what I had found.

I got the following for $800 and some change with Tax.

Camera
18-55mm lens
55-200 mm lens
Camera Bag
Memory Card
2 year protection plan from Best Buy on camera and both lenses that will cover any and all damage.
4 gig memory card (I can get about 500 images on that card)

Individually for all of those I would've paid nearly $1400

Very nice! Thanks!

[Pudge]

Very nice! Thanks!

Welcome.

I forgot to add that mine will use all of the accessories of the higher end cameras. So any Nikon or Nikon compatible lenses, remotes, flashes, etc of the high end camera bodies will work with it too.

I'd like to get another camera eventually, but I need to learn this one inside and out (Thanks, Katie ) before I do. Otherwise we may get something else since my wife loves to shoot too, and we're constantly passing the camera back and forth.

You can pick up lens filters pretty cheap anywhere too. I just saw the other day that Wal Mart even sells them now too.

[KaiGywer]

Just be careful with Nikon's cheapest models. Some of them do not accept the higher end lenses, so if you buy more lenses for this camera, then upgrade in the future, they might not be compatible. Just ask before you buy. As far as who is better, Canon, Nikon or Sony...it's like comparing GM, Ford and Chrysler...

[Five-0]

OK. Giving this thread new life as I just bought the wife cough cough me cough this camera:

Nikon AW100 COOLPIX Compact Digital Camera | Underwater Camera

Got it in the Blue, with 32 gig memory card, and a float. Yes, this one will go everywhere.

[Pudge]

OK. Giving this thread new life as I just bought the wife cough cough me cough this camera:

Nikon AW100 COOLPIX Compact Digital Camera | Underwater Camera

Got it in the Blue, with 32 gig memory card, and a float. Yes, this one will go everywhere.

Nice!

[KaiGywer]

OK. Giving this thread new life as I just bought the wife cough cough me cough this camera:

Nikon AW100 COOLPIX Compact Digital Camera | Underwater Camera

Got it in the Blue, with 32 gig memory card, and a float. Yes, this one will go everywhere.

Nice!

When can we expect the first picture thread?

[Five-0]

Nice!

When can we expect the first picture thread?

Whenever it gets here I'm sure. If I end up using this a lot and enjoying it I will start looking to get into the photography game a bit deeper.

1. Kayak
2. Glass for my .308
3. Serious Camera and lens