I got myself a new camera, judging by my ability to take pretty good pictures with a normal digital camera, NOW i have a DSLR, and i don't know where to start, i joined 365 project- but i'm so held up at work and get back tired- i just manage to take picture of objects in my house......so how and where to start!
Getting my first DSLR was what initially inspiried me to join this project. I knew I would be intimidated by it and just using it every day is a great start to get comfortable. I decided I'd try and learn one feature at a time and then hopefully, eventually, I'd be able to put them together. I'm still working on it, lol, but I've learned so much! I've tried to get out of my comfort zone and try things I'd never done before, like long exposures and macro shots, things I couldn't do with a point and shoot.
Just find things that you want to try and then learn how to do them with your new camera. This is a looooong project, so you have a lot of opportunity to experiment. Just don't stop taking photos. Every day is not going to be an amazing work of art.
Just take some pics (read the manual later!). I took pics of the same subject and played about with the settings and studied the differences. As @blerinab commented, have fun with it!
Ok, so not everyone thinks reading the manual is a great idea - but it sure helped me get off auto settings right quick, which helped me to experiment a LOT more than I would have otherwise.
I agree with @pwallis --- read the manual. No matter how boring it is, learn how to operate the camera right at the start. This is the only way to push yourself to learn it. It takes time but you will be much happier in a couple of months when you understand how to work your camera.
Get comfy with it on auto, then take one setting/concept at a time and learn them. Before you know it, you will have different lens', filters, attachments, running on manual. But give yourself TIME!
@dmortega I kind of made myself sit down and read at least one feature a day, and then try that particular feature. It didn't always work out, but certainly pushed me to try new things. Otherwise I think I would just own a *really* expensive point and shoot. Thanks Dorrena:)
@mej2011 .... i was gonnasay thesame, read the mannual ? ? :O ive NEVER done that ever :S ........ wonders off to check out which corner she tossed it into 18 months ago ..........
I attempted to read the whole manual when I first got the camera. It was tough going . I am now reading through it slowly and think it makes a lot more sense this time around.
I think the advice above is useful. Play around with it, get to know the basics, then when you're comfortable with that, hit the manual. Good luck with it:-)
@roo There may be an echo in here but definitely read your manual. One suggestion would be to read the manual, find a feature that interests you and play with it until you feel like you understand it and then do the same thing again with another feature. Another trick is to find a picture you like here, view the EXIF and work to recreate the settings on your camera. It helps a lot. Oh! And go take some night shots! There is no quicker way to learn and really understand how it all works together than to take bad night shots and fix them until you are taking good night shots. =D Good luck!
I'm pretty new to this, but I bought a 'dummies' guide and read in sections experimenting as I went. Think I understand the basics now, just need to remember all the things you can do while trying to get good pics of my small children who move too fast!
Welcome!! Just start taking pictures of anything that interests you...then read your manual to learn little things everyday...the manual is very boring..:( My Nikon also has a Guide function on it and that is fun to experiment with. The great thing about DSLR...no such thing as a wasted picture...doesn't cost you anything to snap away! You will see from others on the site that you can take a photo of ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!! Enjoy enjoy enjoy
I google a lot! Learning the settings on the new camera is the most important for getting the best out of it. I got my first DSLR almost 2 years ago and I can honestly say the manual has still not left the box. I don't know if that is good or bad but I am a hands on learner. My old point and shoot had many manual set options so I think I had that going for me when I got the DSLR.
As far as subject matter anything can be interesting. I am shooting the same subject for my whole project. So I encourage people to pick the most mundane object in their house and try to get creative and make it interesting (different POV, DOF, props, location,ect. ect. ect.)
. Hope some of this helps. The best advise I have is don't give up. Even if you need a few days break and catch up later, just don't give up.
Hey guys, does anyone have any ideas on what can be and where can be an inspiring place/thing to take interesting pictures? I want to try and capture a personal element to each image but also bring something new to the table. Would love some advice!
Look around. Learn to see. And to frame what you see. I would encourage you to study a little bit of composition, geometry, textures, lines. More important than the camera or your ability with Photoshop are your ideas. Think first, then struggle to get to the result you want. And then read the manual or ask around how to do it. I think personal effort and a great idea can take you much further.
Here is advise that I received when I started: Read you manual, take photos, post photos, ask for critique. It is that simple on this site. This is the start of my third year and the people here are very friendly and knowledgeable.
@dmortega I've tried and I've tried but it makes less sense each time I try lol. Last night I ended up watching You Tube videos trying to work out how to do what I wanted....it seems I am more visual than technical jargon .
Thanks guys- yes i have read the manual- will start exploring one feature at a time- till I get it right!!
ans @sondra sarra- I think not giving up is the key!
P.S- I love this Project!
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Just take photos and experiment. When you're ready to progress, read your manual.
Read your manual?! Now you tell me. :)
I think the advice above is useful. Play around with it, get to know the basics, then when you're comfortable with that, hit the manual. Good luck with it:-)
As far as subject matter anything can be interesting. I am shooting the same subject for my whole project. So I encourage people to pick the most mundane object in their house and try to get creative and make it interesting (different POV, DOF, props, location,ect. ect. ect.)
. Hope some of this helps. The best advise I have is don't give up. Even if you need a few days break and catch up later, just don't give up.
ans @sondra sarra- I think not giving up is the key!
P.S- I love this Project!