Self Teaching Photography

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Sstar83

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Hi Everyone,

I was just looking for some advice really - I love photography and have an eye for capturing a moment, but im not the best at all the technical sides of photography !
I have a Nikon D3100 which i know is entry level but i have also been told its not about what camera you use, but how you take the photo!

Anyway.. I want to know the in's and outs of photography but i cant afford all these courses so im looking at self teaching myself - I read on here about the Karl Taylor masterclass dvds so im currently waiting for mine to arrive - but im wondering if anyone has advice on any good sources to help with self teaching - Books, other dvds, websites?

I have recently done a few photoshoots for friends, and whether it was a fluke or not, but even professional photographers commented on how 'professional' these looked - im not gonna lie, they had to be patient with me while i kept checking my little note book for the settings. This was a 1 speedlight set up with a white umbrella.
Eventually i want to be confident enough to be able to do a few shoots here and there and build a folio, but i want to do this confidently without the notebook and in full manual on camera!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!:thumbs:

Thanks!

S
 
Hi and welcome, Practice, Practice, Practice! Thats the key, get to know your camera really well and it will surprise you more and more. I started with an entry level dslr 18months ago and the more I learned about the camera the better results I was getting. There's also an amazing amount on info on the internet and youtube videos helped me alot!
 
Learn one thing at a time... and experiment with that thing time and time again until you've nailed it.

It's like trying to learn the guitar, you might want to play stairway to heaven but you have to start of learning simple chords, chord progressions, scales etc... we all want to be playing the guitar with our teeth or behind our backs but it takes a lot of learning to get to that stage, and the best way is one step at a time.

Start with aperture for example and take photos are all different f stops to experiment how and when to open it up or close it down... how zooming in makes for a shallower DOF than at the wider end of the lens etc etc.

Then try shutter speeds and so on.

There's too much to learn in one go so it's a case of making little personal projects and experimenting IMO.

As for becoming confident enough to ditch the notepad, well that's a good aim but as soon as you do that for one thing you'll be using the notepad for the next :D No harm in that though and bit by bit things will become more second nature.
 
Thanks TuscanDreams - I totally agree - every time i go do so, this fear or shall i say lack of confidence comes over me because im not so sure of the technicalities - which is so annoying as i know im capable of composing such great photos!
You are right tho....

Thanks !
 
@Ajax_Andy - Thanks for the advice - that is true - I think thats probably why im freaking out a bit because there is so much - 1 step at a time- mini projects - i like that -

Already feeling my confience getting bumped up!

:)
 
Sstar83 said:
@Ajax_Andy - Thanks for the advice - that is true - I think thats probably why im freaking out a bit because there is so much - 1 step at a time- mini projects - i like that -

Already feeling my confience getting bumped up!

:)
Click to expand...

I definitely think it'll work for you... I was the same in that I had a good eye and was creative but the technical side was daunting to say the least.

I only picked up a DLSR for the first time just under 3 years ago and doing the mini project / experiments has got me a long way very quickly.

Never be afraid to try something, learning through errors and going 'why didn't that work' is IMO a great way of learning :thumbs:
 
Source a book called digital slr photography essential guide to... either portrait or landscape. It dont matter which its the same info just different pictures.

Check out david notons videos on youtube, also mike browne. People like that, there are so so many different videos and while watching them test out thay they say with your own kit.
 
can we see some of these professionally apraised images??

Im self taught-never done a course in my life & I sell a few each month:lol:

Les :thumbs:
 
Hi, And welcome to the forum. As others have said Practice is the best tuition of all, don't be affraid to try things out it's very unlikely you'll damage anything and your confidence will build very quickly.

Never be affraid to break the so called rules as sometimes mistakes turn out to be the very thing that looks good. You'll get a lot of help on T/P from some very good photographers and you'll also sometimes get some rather harsh comments. Please don't be put off by any of it, as it's only people trying to help and at the end of the day it's only their opinions on your work.

As for books I've always found anything by "Scott Kelby" to be very good, both for teaching a good camera technique and post processing.

Hope this helps looking forward to seeing some of your work:thumbs:.
 
There's nothing better than getting out there and experimenting, as already mentioned the best idea is to try one "technique" at a time though, trying to get your head around everything at once will be too much.

It depends on your learning style but I do think that it is worthwhile in doing a short course/workshop or maybe even getting out with an experienced friend/colleague and just covering the basics. Learning from others can often be a much easier and quicker way of picking up the basics than churning through books and DVDs, once you have the basics your experiementing helps you develop your own "style" and way of working.

Either way it's great fun :thumbs:

Simon
 
Do your research and maybe find a youtube instruction channel that you find engaging, but remember to get out there and do it.

I am a fan of the Karl Taylor DVD's I have the advanced DSLR 1 & 2 and they are great so I am sure it will benefit you somehow.
 
personally i started with the most cheapest entry level Canon Dslr.
i read up the manual and keep shooting.
i would say the most important is keep shooting and practicing and looking up online for further information if iam not sure.
 
Im in the same position as the OP and am looking were to start learning about the camera (d5100).

My main issue for practicing is inspiration, any ideas of what to practice with. We have no pets/kids.

Also mentioned above is mini projects, any sugestions?

Thanks in advance

Jim

P.s sorry to the OP for hi-jacking your thread.
 
I'd add my location to below my screen name. There could well be a kind soul on here who would gladly meet up with you. You never know! Nothing wrong with the D3100 by the way!
 
There is some nice canals around here so ill get out for a wonder. Another interest i have is cars so and ive always thought of doing some trails shoots over th M6.

Profile updated to show my location, ill have a read through the local meets too to see whats going on.

Thanks for the replys
 
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