Missing the point

Rozzy

Rozzy

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Chris
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Right, well I spent my spare 200 quids a few months ago on my fuji, thinking that I wouldnt mind having a half decent camera as I believed that I had abit of an eye for photographs. Anyway, I invested the money and was happy with my purchase, still am. The problem arose when I started to learn about photography, and the "science" involved. I now find myself too busy fiddling, trying to find the right settings, adjusting exposure comp. ect. that I tend to either miss what I want to photograph, ie, the moment, or I just fail to compose properly. The downside is, that this makes me just want to switch to Auto mode and take pictures. Which is depressing, as im already thinking about upgrading to a proper DSLR.

Any thoughts? or do I still have a lot to learn before It all comes together???
 
The fact you are taking the time to learn all that stuff is really good, so when it comes to getting your DSLR you will have a bit more know how, and then it shouldn't take you as long to figure things out as it could have done.

I went from using a Kodak z740, to a Canon 350D. I wasn't sure what I was doing when I made the switch, but I did have some know how since towards the end of using my Kodak I was pushing it as far as I could with the manual settings. Had I not done this first I believe it would have taken me much longer to learn how to use the DSLR, and my transition from the Kodak to the DSLR would have been much more severe, and I imagine it would have taken a lot longer for me to find my feet. Which would have meant a whole lot more craps shots from the DSLR in the beginning than there were :lol:

I now use manual mode almost all of the time with my 40D, and it comes much more natural to me. Turning a dial here and pressing a button there is now just a matter of course, and I can relax more, which means more thought for composition.

You'll be fine, don't worry. Just take your time and the rest will follow :)

HTH
Jo
xx
 
Ho Rozzy,
Much the same as Jo, I used a Kodak P880 for about a year or so before I got my 350D (amazing DSLR for the dosh).
 
Getting the picture is everything. OK so you've got to switch to auto . Fine for now. You're being overwhelmed by technicalities. Just stop and think why you bought the camera, to take photographs and get enjoyment out of it.

Take it slowly, there is a lot to learn, and to be honest it's highly unlikely you'll ever stop.:)

One step at a time. Learn one function at a time, preferably when you can't take photographs ( it's pouring with rain) Then set yourself a simple project to practice what you've taught yourself. That way you'll learn at your own pace and feel comfortable with it.

I'm off to learn how to make selections with the pen tool in Photoshop . never done it before, as I said you never stop learning
 
It isn't easy darlin! If it was, everyone would be able to take a decent photograph. It takes time and patience and you are doing all the right things by just trying!

I started off 6 months ago with a whole load of kit that I didn't really understand and didn't really know what to do with after years of using a P&S - all I knew was that if I wanted to develop my love of photography, then I needed to up the ante.

At that time I was taking photos that I was mega ashamed of, then on Saturday, I shot a dog show and when I got home and downloaded all the photos, I realised that all the months of reading and practicing were coming together. Out of probably 150 images, I would proudly show off about 40 - 45 of them. Now that really is something for me! :lol:

The only way to get better is read loads and basically get out and about and take as many shots as you can, come home and evaulate what went wrong (or right) and learn from it. I've still got LOADS to learn and so have folk who've done this for years and years and years.

In response to my cry for help thread, Wookie was super - it's him that put me on the right track and then I went on and experimented from there once I knew what I needed to do to get a decent shot.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=41787 scroll to about half way down to find Wookie's post.

Keep plugging and good luck :thumbs:
 
I'd echo Chappers sentiments if you finding all the settings bit to much gut back and go for one of the semi auto modes, I shoot almost entirely in aperture priority mode as it gives me most of the creative control I need without over complicating things.

Spending days taking rubish pictures is no way to learn and certainly no way to enjoy photography.
 
Oh sorry, I read your post, started writing, the phone rang, went off and made a cuppa then came back and finished my reply :lol: :lol: :lol: didn't realise you didn't have a d-slr! Still, that thread may help someone else or you in the future when you take the plunge :)
 
a1ex2001 said:
Spending days taking rubish pictures is no way to learn and certainly no way to enjoy photography.
Click to expand...

Actually I disagree as I think it's a really good way to learn. You can spend a hour "learning" in the garden with a selection of objects (a good mix of texture and colour) on a table.

Start with something white, a cushion or sheet maybe and take a close up of it.. Hmm, that's come out very dark..

Let's try something black... Hang on that's come out very light.

Ok, what if I try something grey? That's almost spot on.​

Right there you've got the basics of metering and exposure.

Sessions like this can be done whenever you've got a spare half hour and different times of the day in weather conditions so you see results in all kinds of light.
 
pxl8 said:
Actually I disagree as I think it's a really good way to learn. You can spend a hour "learning" in the garden with a selection of objects (a good mix of texture and colour) on a table.

Start with something white, a cushion or sheet maybe and take a close up of it.. Hmm, that's come out very dark..

Let's try something black... Hang on that's come out very light.

Ok, what if I try something grey? That's almost spot on.​

Right there you've got the basics of metering and exposure.

Sessions like this can be done whenever you've got a spare half hour and different times of the day in weather conditions so you see results in all kinds of light.
Click to expand...

I agree 100% A heck of a lot of my shots from the early days were flowers from the garden, or stuff brought into the house for shooting with backgrounds. And I did learn a lot quicker that way, as I had time to adjust things and do over if necessary. It was frustrating going out and about taking shots and getting them wrong, but it made me more determined to learn for the next time.
 
My method when I was first trying to get used to my camera was to set the camera onto aperture priority when I was out and about taking landscapes. I only had to decide then how much DOF (depth of field) I needed. Set aperture to a high number for big DOF and to a low number for small DOF.

It gets more complicated when shooting macro or fast moving objects, but at least it's a good way to start.
 
It's certainly a lot to take in at first, but persevere and one day it will all 'click,' most likely without you even realising. Then you can get on with taking pictures, and worrying about the next 118 things you've got to learn.

The old adage that you never stop learning, is scarcely more true than it is in photography. But with time, the fiddly bits on your camera will become secondary and you won't even give it a thought as you flick around the settings.

Composition is probably somewhat of a natural 'eye' that people have, it can be learnt to a degree, but I feel you either see it or you don't. It's also very subjective, take a look at virtually any thread on here and you'll find people simply prefer different styles.

Enjoy your photography and I've no doubt you'll improve more than you thought you would, in less time than you thought it'd take.

Jamie.

PS.

Chappers said:
... preferably when you can't take photographs ( it's pouring with rain)
Click to expand...

Sacrilege! If it's pouring with rain then you should be outside shooting it. :rules:
 
Rozzy said:
Any thoughts? or do I still have a lot to learn before It all comes together???
Click to expand...

I'd have a suggestion: try using the M (manual) mode on the Fuji exclusively for some time (a week could be enough). Learn the Sunny 16 "rule" and use it, check the histogram of your shots after you take them (if you have the time) to see whether it is well exposed (you usually want to expose to the right).

Think about your shot for a few seconds if you can, 5 is a good number to start with. Composition, lighting, subject, background, etc.

That's about all there is to it when taking most shots (casual shots and landscapes), in my opinion.

If you're losing shots because you spend too much time playing with the settings, switch to auto, P, Aperture priority or Shutter speed priority (which is my favourite if M is too troublesome) for the time being.
 
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