So, I got a new camera at Christmas, and looking back at the photos I took in January and comparing them to May, I can see that I have improved so much since then. However, I am too impatient to concentrate on just one area from improvement and keep flitting from one to another. I think I need to concentrate on things like composition, lighting, white balance, focus etc - essentially everything!
So, the question is, when you started your project, did you have a list of things that you felt you needed to improve and if so what? If you didn't, have you developed a list as time went on? Have you found yourself wanting to improve on everything and managed to limit yourself to just a few? If so, how? What do you break it down into - do you say that you want to improve your photographs of animals or landscapes, or a specific technique or a function on your camera?
I guess that isn't just the one question but it covers everything I was wondering! My exams finish next monday, so I will review after that and most likely write an actual list and order to concentrate on. Me and my lists.... See how that goes!
Once you have learned the basic functions of your camera then NO lists! No methodical list of when and what to do. Creativity cannot be kept confined. We improve because we take pictures everyday. We try new techniques. We grow and learn and what we learn fits the need at the moment. That is what keeps photography or any art fresh and fun.
I started out wanting to know EVERYTHING I could find out. I spent a few months REALLY learning the vocab, terms and my 2 year old camera. All of a sudden, I stopped having fun and I HATED EVERYTHING I produced. One day, I read an article that said don't let the technicallities ruin the creativity of photography. I now try to LIVE by that each day. My photos are back to being spur of the moment and just fun. NOW, I see an overall improvement. Good luck to you and your project!
@dmortega Thank you for your reply. A lot of it is gonna have to focus on learning and understanding my camera. For example, I don't understand the exposure triangle, and f-stops in particular, so that's gonna have to be one of the things I learn about! I'm not going to go out of my way to take photos of something just so I can learn about it, but carry on as I am, but it's nice to be able to have an idea of what I want and need to improve on so I have them in the back of my mind when taking photos.
@indiannie_jones I need to improve on dof and bokeh too! And ensuring that I focus on the eyes of animals rather than on whiskers or the nose etc! I'm glad you are getting on well with your aims :)
@naomi Hehe I play with some of my photos as well, but I'm too impatient to do it too much! Plus I'm still just guessing :)
@cfitzgerald I don't want to go so far that I don't like it, but I do need to learn how to use the camera a lot better! Currently a lot of it is just picking the camera up and shooting - in which case, what is the point in having an SLR?
@shenay I try and go out as much as I can :) I booked an "end of exams celebratory photography course" at London Zoo for next Friday - very very excited about that! I guess a lot of this is just me wanting to know what I want to get out of it! I am also planning to do an Open University Digital Photography course starting in October as well which is very exciting!
Write a Reply
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
Off the top of my head: dof/bokeh, animals (cat's eyes, really) and getting the courage to shoot outside... in crowds, even.
I think I'm doing alright with those :)
@indiannie_jones I need to improve on dof and bokeh too! And ensuring that I focus on the eyes of animals rather than on whiskers or the nose etc! I'm glad you are getting on well with your aims :)
@naomi Hehe I play with some of my photos as well, but I'm too impatient to do it too much! Plus I'm still just guessing :)
@cfitzgerald I don't want to go so far that I don't like it, but I do need to learn how to use the camera a lot better! Currently a lot of it is just picking the camera up and shooting - in which case, what is the point in having an SLR?
@shenay I try and go out as much as I can :) I booked an "end of exams celebratory photography course" at London Zoo for next Friday - very very excited about that! I guess a lot of this is just me wanting to know what I want to get out of it! I am also planning to do an Open University Digital Photography course starting in October as well which is very exciting!