Any other forums for beginers ?

Nick T said:
You want to get involved in the 52's here then - it's a brilliant way of being forced to shoot something you wouldn't necessarily get involved with, and to get feedback from everyone else doing their 52's :)
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:thumbs:
 
Briony said:
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I went to bed last night with "Understanding exposure" I know exciting wasn't it :lol: but I am going to nail this so be preapared for the stupid questions etc.and I want honest c & c when I post pictures here.
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Smart move, Briony :thumbs:! That book really helped me a lot when I began with photography, a year ago. Admitteldy, I had to re-read it a few times over the first few months, just to make sure that I was using all of the information in my photographic attempts. Once you've nailed exposure and understood how different apertures and focal lengths affect the look of your pictures, then you're pretty much free to get on with the business of looking for good subjects and will be more confident about how to use your kit to get the best results possible.

It does take time to get to this stage though (weeks for geniuses, months for some people and years for others), although you will surely get there more easily by asking questions and reading good books.

If you haven't already seen this, could I recommend that you have a play with this online tool :shrug:? It's a simulator, which allows you to take (pretend) photographs using different aperture and ISO settings and illustrates how those changes affect the look of the final picture. It really made things clear for me :) ...

http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/

The "Shutter and Aperture" page is especially good ...

http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/shutteraperture.php

Before I go, I'd just like to offer some praise to you for posting this thread in the first place and for being so honest ;). Also, I know exactly what you mean when you talk about some members being "intolerant of newbies" - I've seen it many times. The problem for some members is that, IMO, they spend waaaaayyy too much time on this forum and read almost every single thread that gets posted. Then, when they see someone asking a question, which might have been discussed two days earlier by a different member, they make comments like, "Use the search function, FFS!", "If you don't know the answer to that question, you probably shouldn't be thinking of buying (whatever piece of kit you're asking about) that.". Or, they just post emoticons like this ...

:bang:

... and leave you wondering what they're so frustrated about!?

But, those people are in a minority and should be ignored, or better still, reported! There's also 'cliquiness' and a lot of misunderstandings over what people really meant with the words that they chose to type - but that's Internet forums for you! It happens everywhere.

To be honest with you, I gave up posting here for several months last year, because I was getting tired of this kind of behaviour. After a while, I realised that it was really my loss, as there isn't a better (English language based) photography forum anywhere, that I know of. So, I came back and now I'm learning and being inspired all over again :).

Stick with it, Briony! Photography's a great hobby and you're in the right place to learn more about it.
 
you want to hear some of the questions i ask !



but they still answer them :)

now where did i leave that bone? :bonk:
 
nobody asks dafter questions than me, anything you need to know will be answered on here and this is the friendlyist forum on the interweb
Stay with us you cant go wrong
 
The other thing I have done on here is to post a picture which is all wrong and asked the question:-
This is how I did this - what should I have done and when I got the replys I went out and re-shot and got it right.
The advice on here is better than all the books.
 
I think joining in on some of the meet-ups is a great idea. People are friendly and willing to help. It is often far easier to learn when you can discuss and see things face to face rather than over long winded typing sessions.

In 2008 I went on one TP meeting. In 2009 I went on none. So far, in 2010, I have already attended two meet-ups and, weather permitting, will be going to Whipsnade too. If I can be of help then I will certainly try. :)
 
Anyone who feels this forum is too advanced for them, or feel they have inferior kit, take heart. I arrived here in 2008 having just bought my first DSLR, although I have been interested in photography (or at least in taking photos) since childhood.
I was overawed at the "camera bags" in peoples profiles, thinking "this is way too much for me."
I tentatively posted up my first few pics and was taken aback by the kind comments and help offered. This gave me the courage to get out and take more photos, and experiment with exposure times and apertures. I still have what feels like tons to learn, but the path of self improvement starts with a single step. You joined here, that was your first step.
I honestly do not believe my efforts at taking photos would be as improved had I not joined here.
Last year was a very busy year for me, so very quiet photographically. I intend taking many more photographs this year, and being more involved here. Don't feel, like I did, that you are not able to comment on peoples photos either. Even if you say "I like this, just because I like it," the person posting that photo will get something from the comment. Even if it is just a warm and fuzzy feeling.
We all started somewhere.
Enjoy your camera, and enjoy being here. Look at the photos people post, and if you like what you see compare them to people/places/objects near you etc. then get out there and see if you can capture something similar.
If you take a photo of a subject and you don't like how it turned out, post it here and ask. No-one will bite you, or make fun.

Now, this epic (for me) post probably echoes what everyone else has said, but being fundamentally lazy I haven't read the entire thread yet.

[/essay like post]
 
I also am a beginner and ask lots of to others stupid questions, but hey I will more than likely never meet any one else from here so it doesnt really matter. I look in awe at some of the photos and even if I was in the same place at the same time with same kit mine just would not be the same! But I am learning. Slowly admittedly but nonetheless. As to kit I have the sony a200 whats classed as entry level dslr but to be honest at this moment in time I cant see what else I would need. Apart from an expert standing next to me when I am taking photos!!
 
One of Briony's earlier points was also about the quality of kit that you use and I was also wondering recently whether there is an "exclusivity" about this. Or to put it another way, ultimately does there have to be a minimum (expensive) level of kit needed for good (not mediocre) pictures?

If you take bird photography as an example then I am pretty much stuffed when it comes to achieving the average levels of quality shown on this forum. In typical UK winter light and with a kit lens (or cheap 70-300) I can't achieve the shutter speeds necessary for good sharp pictures. Solution? I have to buy fast glass or a camera capable of low noise at ISO1600 or above, which equals megabucks.

There are other examples but I do question how far you can go qualitywise without expensive lenses, additional lighting and cameras capable of low noise/high ISO. :shrug:
 
Spuff said:
One of Briony's earlier points was also about the quality of kit that you use and I was also wondering recently whether there is an "exclusivity" about this. Or to put it another way, ultimately does there have to be a minimum (expensive) level of kit needed for good (not mediocre) pictures?

If you take bird photography as an example then I am pretty much stuffed when it comes to achieving the average levels of quality shown on this forum. In typical UK winter light and with a kit lens (or cheap 70-300) I can't achieve the shutter speeds necessary for good sharp pictures. Solution? I have to buy fast glass or a camera capable of low noise at ISO1600 or above, which equals megabucks.

There are other examples but I do question how far you can go qualitywise without expensive lenses, additional lighting and cameras capable of low noise/high ISO. :shrug:
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There are of course caveats. The answer would be better stated as saying that you can achieve excellent picture quality in the right conditions, with more expensive gear giving you a better chance in sub optimal conditions.

My 400D is a classic example. I consider it pretty much impossible to shoot anything I might consider printing at 12*8 and framing with an ISO above 200, 400 maybe if everything but the level of light is perfect. I try to stick to 100 ISO. The kit lens is also not sharp for a wide range of apertures. Interestingly I find that it is razor sharp wide open, and at various other points in the range, F14 is better than F12 IMO. I cannot get a sharp image above F16 with the kit lens, and god knows I've tried, mirror lock up on a tripod not daring to breath. I know the performance of all lenses must decrease at smaller apertures for simple reasons of the physics involved (circle of confusion must get larger), but the kit stuff head downhill faster than good glass I expect.

However, when conditions are reasonable, there is nothing to stop you taking excellent images with entry level kit.
 
Spuff said:
One of Briony's earlier points was also about the quality of kit that you use and I was also wondering recently whether there is an "exclusivity" about this. Or to put it another way, ultimately does there have to be a minimum (expensive) level of kit needed for good (not mediocre) pictures?

If you take bird photography as an example then I am pretty much stuffed when it comes to achieving the average levels of quality shown on this forum. In typical UK winter light and with a kit lens (or cheap 70-300) I can't achieve the shutter speeds necessary for good sharp pictures. Solution? I have to buy fast glass or a camera capable of low noise at ISO1600 or above, which equals megabucks.

There are other examples but I do question how far you can go qualitywise without expensive lenses, additional lighting and cameras capable of low noise/high ISO. :shrug:
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Well I usually shoot at 1600 ISO on both my 350D and 450D cameras then use Neat Image to reduce the noise.

I have the 70-300mm IS USM lens you mentioned and it is quite a good lens.

This shot of a Gull in flight was taken recently using the 70-300mm lens, and the 450D set at 1600 ISO:



​

It's just an ordinary shot of a gull in flight but it's reasonably sharp and illustrates what a fairly simple set up can achieve, the only caveat being that to get a good shot of birds (especially in flight) you have to take a lot of pics and bin the bad ones!

And this one was taken on a 28-135mm IS USM lens:



​

A larger version can be seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20926615@N05/4273065328/sizes/o/in/set-72157623052469228/
 
If you are talking to me then "No" :thumbsdown: I did not fire one shot today was trying all the buttons and geting to know my camera again and then had head in books, walked the dogs a nice long walk and just took in the scenery, by the time I was going out with the camera I could not see hand in front of fist due to the fog.:shrug:

Will try and get out tomorrow and catch something.

I promise.:thumbs:

Which was the other book that someone recommended other than Ross Hodnetts book or was this the easiest one to understand??
 
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