First of all, I would like to congratulate those who have won the week theme contests and those who have make the top 20 list. I have been wondering what the percentage of winners that use a DSLR versus a simple point and shoot. Does anyone know the percentage? I use a point and shoot camera and try not to edit them. The only edits have been adding my watermark and on my Friday photo editing challenge. My pictures are not close to the quality of the winning photos and I would like to better my skills. Can someone advise me on how to take better pictures, besides practice, without spending time post processing. Is there a good site with tutorials for p&S cameras?
When you find it ... I'll have a look too. Both of my cameras are P&S and while one of them does good macro... I know that I'm not getting the best from them!
I can't think of a particular website to help you out, but there are two little pieces of advice that I can give you. First off, I started my project with a little canon powershot p&s. It wasn't till I was about 6 months into my project that my boyfriend let me use his canon rebel.
One of my tricks with the p&s is to use the different color profiles. On my powershot, there is a neutral, sepia, black & white, vibrant, etc. color enhancer that you can use. I almost always use the vibrant settting (of course I favor really saturated colorful pictures too). I find that using this color profile makes the shadows and highlights stand out quite nicely, aside from just saturating the colors.
My other suggestion is to get a really good understanding of composition. Do a web search for "elements of art" and "principles of design." Understanding how line, balance, shape, contrast, texture, etc. work together to make a good composition, will really help make amazing compositions in a photo. I went over these things with my mom and it really helped her photography improve!
I have just moved from a point and shoot to a bridge camera for less than £400 so still not cheap, but it has provided me some capabilities of DSLR but also maintaining the ease of point and shoot when required, so far I have thoroughly enjoyed using the camera and the results I think have been pretty good, I regard this as taking small steps, until I'm ready (if ever) for the big boys/girls toys.
As regards to editing where possible don't but I do find an imaginative way of being quite creative too, and think of it as part of the process
Hi Joe,
We'll be doing a P&S series on the blog soon, covering all manner of things, composition, lighting, trickery. I'd love to hear about any tips you or anyone else has.
You can Email them to me at ross@365project.org
The only tip I'd have is to get to know your camera. I know it sounds weird, but spend some time figuring out what it can and can't do. Play with the settings and if you have the option to use any manual settings, use those. Auto isn't always the best option.
make sure you follow the rule of thirds, the horizon leveled, the midpoint section subject, full details, no space, no flares, and correct exposure. by doing so you will be able to have better photographs even if its a P&S camera.
these are some of my rules im following. but this is just me, maybe others have a deifferent point of view.
That's a good question Joe, about the percentages, it'd be interesting to know. I myself use a P&S, it's the only camera I have, but I do not for a minute feel at a disadvantage because of it. I was blessed enough to have a photo make #1 in the top 20 (something I never thought would happen!).
I just take what I have and I take photos of the things that stand out to me. I'm still learning so much about it, and would love to keep learning more about how to improve my skills with what I've got, so I look forward to seeing what sites or tutorials come from this post! I fully believe that only so much of what is produced is about the camera (P&S v. DSLR), and the rest comes from the person taking the shots, and if you're enjoying what you're doing your photos will reflect that! Keep up the great work!
Well, Joe, I also am a p&s person, but I think that it is my creativity that is lacking, not my camera. I also try to do as little editing as possible (no software or desire to spend the time), occasionally I crop and once or twice I have adjusted the color of a food shot. But usually I just try to choose something that pleases me straight out of my camera.
My tips? Understand the limitations of your camera. Understand its strong points. Explore whatever settings it does have, for instance I found that I can get a relatively long exposure using the fireworks setting on my camera. Its limitations are that it has a very weak zoom--only 3x,no bulb shutter setting and autofocus. Its strong points are that it has a fairly good macro (not amazing, but better than my old camera) and is very portable--I would have missed many of my shots just because I would not carry a DSLR with me EVERYWHERE.
Also remember that as with any art you take the pictures first to please yourself.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/ This is a place that I have used.....lots of information and good photographers, more than willing to offer advice and answer questions.
Composition and technique are more important than equipment, but the equipment and software can give you that 'wow' factor. Here's a link from Ken Rockwell's website that has various articles about taking better pictures: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm
My 365 was done with a p&s until March 19th. (When I got a dslr)
The main advice I can give is if your p&s has a manual function...learn it!
It really changed the look of my photos. Try to only use natural light and never the flash.
And third use the macro function. Once I found that macro function on my camera my whole perspective changed.
I am not in this project to get reconized only to better my photo taking abilities. I am not seeing any improvement in my photos and would like tips on how to improve myself.
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One of my tricks with the p&s is to use the different color profiles. On my powershot, there is a neutral, sepia, black & white, vibrant, etc. color enhancer that you can use. I almost always use the vibrant settting (of course I favor really saturated colorful pictures too). I find that using this color profile makes the shadows and highlights stand out quite nicely, aside from just saturating the colors.
My other suggestion is to get a really good understanding of composition. Do a web search for "elements of art" and "principles of design." Understanding how line, balance, shape, contrast, texture, etc. work together to make a good composition, will really help make amazing compositions in a photo. I went over these things with my mom and it really helped her photography improve!
As regards to editing where possible don't but I do find an imaginative way of being quite creative too, and think of it as part of the process
We'll be doing a P&S series on the blog soon, covering all manner of things, composition, lighting, trickery. I'd love to hear about any tips you or anyone else has.
You can Email them to me at ross@365project.org
these are some of my rules im following. but this is just me, maybe others have a deifferent point of view.
I just take what I have and I take photos of the things that stand out to me. I'm still learning so much about it, and would love to keep learning more about how to improve my skills with what I've got, so I look forward to seeing what sites or tutorials come from this post! I fully believe that only so much of what is produced is about the camera (P&S v. DSLR), and the rest comes from the person taking the shots, and if you're enjoying what you're doing your photos will reflect that! Keep up the great work!
My tips? Understand the limitations of your camera. Understand its strong points. Explore whatever settings it does have, for instance I found that I can get a relatively long exposure using the fireworks setting on my camera. Its limitations are that it has a very weak zoom--only 3x,no bulb shutter setting and autofocus. Its strong points are that it has a fairly good macro (not amazing, but better than my old camera) and is very portable--I would have missed many of my shots just because I would not carry a DSLR with me EVERYWHERE.
Also remember that as with any art you take the pictures first to please yourself.
The main advice I can give is if your p&s has a manual function...learn it!
It really changed the look of my photos. Try to only use natural light and never the flash.
And third use the macro function. Once I found that macro function on my camera my whole perspective changed.