I am almost done with my 365project, woot woot. I am successfully following through on a whole year of Photo a day. Not all of my pictures are perfect, in fact most of them aren't even good. But the sense of fulfillment it has given me is so important. I started this project with a two pronged focus. To both record my senior year of undergrad over a year, as well as to improve my photography skills. I have successfully done one of those things.
If I make it to July 1st 2012, I will have taken 366 photos (leap Year lol) recording my life over a year. But what I will have failed to do is improve my photography. I have spent a lot of photos this year with a cell phone camera but have also been too busy/lazy to follow through with using my DSLR. I have also failed to engage with this community and really take advantage of the diversity, experience, and the complete wealth of knowledge. I want to change that as I go into this next year of taking a photo a day for a year. I want to take a photo a day for as long as I can. But I want to improve my photography as well. I realize there are plenty of threads and resources on here, but this is my way of finally trying to engage with this community.
What advice can you give me from your own personal experiences that can challenge me to improve my photography? This can be advice on tips and tricks of shooting, ways to get creative, books to read, ways to challenge myself, or even just encouragement. But I don't just want to upload photos on this site anymore, I want to be a part of it.
The most value I have found is looking at the top 20 and seeing what and how they did. Recently the Camera Settings Challenge's have been very valuble on getting advise on using your camera. Congratulations on what you did do and best of luck on next year.
I'd say ban yourself from using the camera phone unless you really, really, REALLY have to use it. I learnt more using my camera than I ever did my phone.
Set yourself challenges for the week, try something new, try something out of your comfort zone, experiment more, ask a friend to say a word to you and try and capture something to reflect that word....the possibilities are endless!
Definitely try and interact with people more on here and as you build up relationships with them, people with constructive criticise your photos and that really helps you learn for next time. Try the themes too.....but make sure you have exif data or you'll get stung like I did!!!
Most of all, continue to enjoy what ou are doing, it is a passion not a chore.
The point of this project is to take a photo each day. I have been fortunate enough to have my Nikon with me always. If you have to take a picture with a camera phone to accomplish your task for the day than so be it. It is better than people posting a picture that they took 5 years ago. Also i have seen some pretty cool photos taken with a camera phone. Congrats again and i look forward to seeing your album.
Participate in discussions, look at other members photos and find some you like and follow them. People will start to follow you once they know you are there and if there is something in your shots that they like. Try looking through the latest photos, new faces, and by tag to find some that interest you.
I just thumbed through a few months of your photos -- almost every photo that grabbed my attention enough to open it up and view it was one that was taken with your Nikon D40, so the camera does make a difference! You have a good eye for composition and perspective. So, in addition to using your Nikon, my advice is to follow WAY MORE PEOPLE (say 50-100 -- start browsing new faces, popular page, theme entries, etc. to find them)! You will absorb and learn and be inspired by seeing their photos in your daily feed of recent activity. I suggest that you look for people, too, who have about the same number of followers as followees -- these folks are more likely to follow you in return, and their views and comments will motivate you to keep going and improving. Good luck! I'm now following you to try to keep you on task. LOL.
1. Decide what you like, I like photos of cute girls and photos made with non-digital cameras.
2. Take the pictures what you like, I like taking pics of cute girls and pics with non digital cameras.
3. Follow people who also do what you like, I follow people who take pictures of cute girls...yada yada.
Easy 3 steps to heaven. Oh and step four is smash your camera phone, they are not cameras, they are phones. A dog can use a camera phone, sometimes I take a photo with my camera phone by accidently sitting on it...what does that tell you? Best way to learn, buy a cheap film SLR camera and five rolls of film off ebay and learn old school.
Ah, thank you all for the advice. I appreciate it, and I will take it all into consideration.
I realize my camera phone is just that, a camera on a phone. With very little ability to create a good photo, but it can be so annoying to have my DSLR on me every single day at every single moment. It is kind of exhausting.
In terms of camera basics, do you recommend just trying things out, or is there some materials that any of you found helpful or beneficial?
I got my DSLR a little over two months ago, so I'm still very much learning. I have relied on this site to absorb a lot of info. I briefly perused the owner's manual for the camera, but it has limited assistance when you're wanting to shoot in manual mode. I thought about buying a DSLR for Dummies, or something to that effect, but I've yet to do so. Basically, trial and error, daily photos, and looking at people's exif info ... that's the imperfect method I'm using.
BTW -- you get notice of comments because you started the discussion, but if you want to follow up with someone after they have commented, you have to re-tag them into the discussion by typing @(name) in the comment. Just FYI.
Carry your camera every day. It can be annoying, but I have have gotten used to it now.... I bought my DSLR in last Sept/early Oct I think it was....and I carry it to work every day. The three times I have not, I see something Amazing with a captial A and wish I had my "good camera." In January, I have some seagull shots in my album..they were at Wal mart in this giant flock. I drove home (it was the weekend) and came back with my DSLR and had so much fun learning to shoot moving objects. I sometimes have to settle for my blackberry phone cam or my old p and s...because I cannot get my camera out of the back seat fast enough or trying to spare my husband my addiction...like if we walk to the dock. But then I usually see some great t hings and drive him more nuts with "i wish I had brought my good camera." So first step to improvement, is yes, take your camera everywhere!
@pbnardone
first lesson of interacting is you have to press reply on the comment you're replying to.
;)
So scrap the phone and get a digital or film point and shoot. I reckon you could get a film point and shoot off ebay, or from a goodwill or whatever you people call second-hand shops for less than $10 then its in your pocket. But if you stray from the one a day rule as you enter your second year then don't worry about carrying your camera and leave photographing to specific outings. I take photos about 3-6 times a month, I upload once a day. If I have a photoshoot with a model I take 500 pics and use them until my next shoot. So you can visit somewhere inyeresting and shoot with your DSLR then keep uploading them. Once you really interact with the community its about uploading not when you took them.
@rockinrobyn
I love cute girls anywhere. but I'm trying to shoot models for 2012, and film, but its stretching me because I've nothing to photograph at the minute and models cancel shoots so often.
I recommend that you select goals for yourself. My goals for this (second) year are to learn more. I have set specific goals for my self: learn more about composition. Try to do a collage and do a black and white once a week. Try to do some of the challenges and themes. Learn more about processing. I try to work on one new technique or camera setting at a time, so I don't go crazy. I am struggling to keep up with the interaction with others due to my busy schedule. I will let others suggest how to do that part of 365. P.S. When I don't think I am improving, I go to the calendar view and go back month by month. I usually stop after a few months because I can see that I have improved.
I vowed during my second year to use my iPhone camera less and the dslr more... epic fail! BUT... I feel that for the most part my photography has not suffered for it... just my learning of camera settings, etc. I need planed to become a professional and just wanted a way to force myself to get a bit better at composition, creativity, and editing skills. I still have a long way to go on those. Like @grammyn I have found that entering some of the themes and challenges helps me become more creative and commenting and replying are the best ways to get involved... and you will soon find that the more you do, the more you will learn and thrive from the support! :)
Given how inexpensive a p & s camera can be, perhaps you could consider one of those for everyday use, and the DSLR for special outings. I can imagine it being so annoying to carry the DSLR that you start leaving it behind again.
@pbnardone I have a D40 too and even though it must be the smallest, lightest DSLR around, I never brought it anywhere. Tried serious P&S such as Canon S90 that lets you play around with all kind of settings, but wasn't satisfied with those either. What made if for me was to buy a small micro four thirds camera with a prime lens. Pocketable in a largish pocket and pretty close to the DSLR image quality. Even inside my house I now pick up my GF-2 before my D40, just becaue I know the camera better.
@primitiveprobe Interesting, thanks a lot I will look into that. A point and shoot would be a nice gift to myself for doing a whole year. Do you have a web site or something I could use to look at various ones. I was also thinking of getting a cheaper film SLR if possible.
Thank you all for the very helpful comments, I work a few jobs so it is hard for me to resopond to all of the replies. I really appreciate the advice and encouragement.
@pbnardone If you want a very pocketable good P&S Canon S90, 95 and 100 are great alternatives. My preferred cameras is as mentioned small mirror less system cameras such as Panasonic GF or Olympus PEN.
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Set yourself challenges for the week, try something new, try something out of your comfort zone, experiment more, ask a friend to say a word to you and try and capture something to reflect that word....the possibilities are endless!
Definitely try and interact with people more on here and as you build up relationships with them, people with constructive criticise your photos and that really helps you learn for next time. Try the themes too.....but make sure you have exif data or you'll get stung like I did!!!
Most of all, continue to enjoy what ou are doing, it is a passion not a chore.
Oh and do. not. use. the. camera. phone!!!!! :)
The point of this project is to take a photo each day. I have been fortunate enough to have my Nikon with me always. If you have to take a picture with a camera phone to accomplish your task for the day than so be it. It is better than people posting a picture that they took 5 years ago. Also i have seen some pretty cool photos taken with a camera phone. Congrats again and i look forward to seeing your album.
2. Take the pictures what you like, I like taking pics of cute girls and pics with non digital cameras.
3. Follow people who also do what you like, I follow people who take pictures of cute girls...yada yada.
Easy 3 steps to heaven. Oh and step four is smash your camera phone, they are not cameras, they are phones. A dog can use a camera phone, sometimes I take a photo with my camera phone by accidently sitting on it...what does that tell you? Best way to learn, buy a cheap film SLR camera and five rolls of film off ebay and learn old school.
I realize my camera phone is just that, a camera on a phone. With very little ability to create a good photo, but it can be so annoying to have my DSLR on me every single day at every single moment. It is kind of exhausting.
In terms of camera basics, do you recommend just trying things out, or is there some materials that any of you found helpful or beneficial?
BTW -- you get notice of comments because you started the discussion, but if you want to follow up with someone after they have commented, you have to re-tag them into the discussion by typing @(name) in the comment. Just FYI.
first lesson of interacting is you have to press reply on the comment you're replying to.
;)
So scrap the phone and get a digital or film point and shoot. I reckon you could get a film point and shoot off ebay, or from a goodwill or whatever you people call second-hand shops for less than $10 then its in your pocket. But if you stray from the one a day rule as you enter your second year then don't worry about carrying your camera and leave photographing to specific outings. I take photos about 3-6 times a month, I upload once a day. If I have a photoshoot with a model I take 500 pics and use them until my next shoot. So you can visit somewhere inyeresting and shoot with your DSLR then keep uploading them. Once you really interact with the community its about uploading not when you took them.
I love cute girls anywhere. but I'm trying to shoot models for 2012, and film, but its stretching me because I've nothing to photograph at the minute and models cancel shoots so often.
Thank you all for the very helpful comments, I work a few jobs so it is hard for me to resopond to all of the replies. I really appreciate the advice and encouragement.