Hello

[lawbow]

Hello everyone,

My names Lawrence. I’m just beginning my journey into proper photography. Initially I was just considering getting a somewhat decent camera and learning to edit photos because I’ve recently become a garden designer (worked as a gardener for several and it’s still currently how I make most of my money) and I realised I need better photographs of my work than I can currently take and I don’t have the money at the moment to pay a professional to take them for me.

I started by shooting RAW photos on my phone and playing with editing them - I’m using affinity photo because I already had affinity suite for design purposes and have also been playing around with rawtherapee. This reminded how much I loved photography (on low-end compact cameras), and editing photos in photoshop as a teenager and now I’m thinking I may be getting the bug for it again as a hobby that will also be useful professionally.

I haven’t bought a camera yet - I figure reading and talking to people here may well help me figure out how best to spend my money.

Anyway, I’m excited to be joining this online community here, I have a lot to learn!

 

[droj]

You don't need tons of megapixels. But dynamic range is a good thing - the capacity to record from dark to light in the same image. Modern cameras may be better at that. The rest's down to your processing skills. Learn to see & assess light - how it falls on & reflects from things in the chosen scene.

Buying used is sensible, but be wary.

Focal length of lens - a 35mm is very adaptable. That's on full frame, if you acquaint yourself with the term.

And yeah - shoot raw then process - that's the way to get the max out, & have the freedom to choose the look.

It's all blind man's bluff to some degree, but gallop on, & learn on the way ...

 

[Box Brownie]

Hi and welcome to TP

You find, as you have already, that there are various sub-fora to learn from/share/discuss all things photographic

It might help others to aid the start of your journey if, in regard to your primary aim(?) photography of your finished designs (and possibly 'work in progress' of those gardens?) by telling exactly what you wish to record e.g :-

The overall garden?
Individual beds and plantings?
Closer views of the individual plants in isolation and/or within the place they are in relation to the plants around them?

Also, how will you share or display the final images:-

Online sharing on your own website where as much detail as possible if there to appreciate?
Online on social media?
Printed for a portfolio to show clients?
Printed in magazines and other printed media?

All the best with both your garden design business and your photography journey

 

[lawbow]

You don't need tons of megapixels. But dynamic range is a good thing - the capacity to record from dark to light in the same image. Modern cameras may be better at that. The rest's down to your processing skills. Learn to see & assess light - how it falls on & reflects from things in the chosen scene.

Buying used is sensible, but be wary.

Focal length of lens - a 35mm is very adaptable. That's on full frame, if you acquaint yourself with the term.

And yeah - shoot raw then process - that's the way to get the max out, & have the freedom to choose the look.

It's all blind man's bluff to some degree, but gallop on, & learn on the way ...

Thanks for the thoughts. Yes I've definitely been looking at 35mm (or 35mm equivalent as I'm thinking about going ASP-C), although also weighing up starting with a kit lens and then investing in primes later.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Hi Lawrence, And welcome aboard TP, looking forward to hearing from you and maybe seeing some of your images on the various forums. "Enjoy"

 

[lawbow]

Hi and welcome to TP

You find, as you have already, that there are various sub-fora to learn from/share/discuss all things photographic

It might help others to aid the start of your journey if, in regard to your primary aim(?) photography of your finished designs (and possibly 'work in progress' of those gardens?) by telling exactly what you wish to record e.g :-

The overall garden?
Individual beds and plantings?
Closer views of the individual plants in isolation and/or within the place they are in relation to the plants around them?

Also, how will you share or display the final images:-

Online sharing on your own website where as much detail as possible if there to appreciate?
Online on social media?
Printed for a portfolio to show clients?
Printed in magazines and other printed media?

All the best with both your garden design business and your photography journey

Hey Box, thanks for the welcome.

I've been thinking about what exactly I want to record. The answer to your first question is all three really, probably seeing individual beds/plantings but I'd also add views through the garden - not trying to take in as much of the overall garden as possible but the subject is a feature/bed across the garden rather than right in front of me. Worth mentioning as well that I work in London so most of the gardens are pretty small.

The final images will be website focused but some will go on social media. I'm not planning to be printing a portfolio soon but it's possible.

I'm leaning very strongly towards buying a fuji x-t2 although not entirely certain yet. I wouldn't have loads extra for lenses so I'm mulling over whether a kit lens or several cheap manual focusing primes - for example I've been looking at 7artisans 18mm lens cap, 24 mm f/1.8, and 35mm f/1.2.

The kit lens would cover a wider range and I imagine with autofocus would be much easier to shoot on for a beginner.

BUT

I've always loved the look of analogue film (one of my main reasons for thinking to go fuji) and imperfections and I can see the aesthetic of imperfect but characterful and nostalgic, filmic photos conveying the feeling and sense I want to evoke.

 

[lawbow]

Hi Lawrence, And welcome aboard TP, looking forward to hearing from you and maybe seeing some of your images on the various forums. "Enjoy"

Cheers G.L Jnr, I look forward to seeing what sort of photos you take too!

 

[Norkie]

Welcome to the forum Lawrence, enjoy

 

[Don Fischer]

If it were me I'd get telephoto lenses. . Maybe an 18-105 something on that order. I wouldn't stop at something like 18-50, get something with a bit more range but doubt you'll need a lot of range. I'd also get a flash. trying to cover everything with natural light might not only be a chore but could get expensive. Keep in mind you make your living gardening, not in taking photos. With todays cameras you can start on the budget side and get very good photo's. I'm guessing people who will normally be looking at your photos won't be assessing your photo skills, you'll be doing most of that. I'd make another suggestion, go with a point and shoot camera to start but not the least expensive you can find. I've had inexpensive one's and they worked fine for awhile then broke down. Presently I'm using a Panasonic ZS 100. It has a 25-250 lens, zoom lens. I use it to take dog photo in the field while training and to be honest it is every bit as good for that as my DSLR even with the extra lens for the DSLR. Got it on line on sale for $400. Pretty complicated for me in the beginning but a guy on here got me straightened away. Today I only use it in program mode and no complaints at all. Come to think of it I think I got this one used from B&HPhoto.

Unless you figure on leaving gardening and taking up photography, keep it fairly simple, no need for high priced camera's and lens to do what you want. Tell ya another place to save a few bucks, get a printer. Probably only need an 8 1/2" one but some of them are very inexpensive and do great on printing 8x10's. I have a 13" printer and can blow up much larger than I need but I also have an 8 1/2 Canon iP100 that does a great job up to 8"x16". Also learn to use a simple program for editing. I use a free one off the internet, Picasa and am happy with it. Keep in mind you don't need an education in brain surgery to put a band aid on.

I am not a pro. Been doing this a long time and really watch what I spend as I'm not wealthy either. I make myself happy and try to keep it at that. I don't need the 13" printer, just wanted it to sooth myself, it's not the most expensive one but does all I need. Shoot I have big print's laying all over the house. Next investment will be a scrap book that will hold 8"x10" photos.

Forgot, one last thing. Get a printer and check into aftermarket ink. I switch from Canon ink in my two printers to Ink Technologies and with my 13" printer Canon ink was, $18 a tank and Ink Technologies is $5 a tank. Ink from company's Selling printer's is very expensive. Keep in mind, at this point your simply trying to get good photo's to promote your skills in the garden. Your not trying to create photo someone will pay you for to hang on their wall. Follow the rule of KISS, Keep it simple stupid. Works the majority of times!