Some assistance or input if you'd be so kind :)

[dcrad]

So,

A little background, I'm 32, I have taken a fair few photos over the years but never really "looked" at it properly. I brought a canon 450d in 2009, partly on impulse, partly on the desire to learn.

Fast forward a couple of years and I've finally "found the time" to sit and learn. This was a month or so ago. In this last month I feel like its turned into a bit of an obession - fueled by the fact I work with a fellow photographer - amatuer also, and the fact that naturally inclined to develop the odd obessional hobby. Its all I've done pretty much, either take photos, play with lightroom (I use a macbook pro mostly, so use Aperture atm - even though I suspect this will change (if I can find a solution to the no NAS/shared catalogs problem that I like... another thread maybe), look at photos, read booked and mags about photography.

I have done arty stuff throughout my life on and off, nothing that great to be honest, and nothing with much of a passion (or at least any that I was aware of having). I'm finding that I love taking candid photos, catching a moment that no one else noticed! I'm truly stunned by some of the work I've seen (I've seen some lovely ones today on that 500px site I came across earlier on!).

And so, here I am, looking to learn more, looking to be skilled enough to take the photo I See.

A few things I would like help on.

Firstly, I have a canon 450d, a 50mm 1.4, and the stock 18-55mm, a decent size Tripod - I NEED to buy something else, I was thinking another lens, maybe a wide angle, something I could use for landscape and maybe some street? But then I also thought I'd like a tele, and a Macro, then the lensbaby kit I saw - ARGGGHH so much choice of lens.

I'm looking ot spend anywhere upto around £500, I was also thinking, wouldnt a proper flash suit me better than a lens for now, I think I'm feeling rather uncreative with the kit bits I have now.

What equipment would you recommend I get first?. I Was thinking about seeing if I can a monitor calbrater thingy on the cheap - is it a good idea to "start as I mean to go on" and get everything setup properly? I dont even have a good bag, but I seem to be stuck deciding on which I want on that front!. I will mostly be shooting around the home for a while, was thinking some still lifes for a while might help me get to grips with what does what and what effects lighting etc have.... bad learning idea?

How do people, or "where" do people find inspiration for a photo, or a series, I feel so lacking at times, like I have no imagination - or not enough to find the good shot. Is this something that takes time, ie the find your photographers eye?

(Sorry for the rambling...I can go on sometimes lol)


Thanks guys,

D

 

[stumac]

Depend what you want to shoot. When I bought a flash and some triggers it totally transformed my portrait photography

 

[dcrad]

Well, this is what I'm thinking....

Because im far to shy and paranoid about going out with my camera and shooting on the streets etc. I would work at home, I would like to do portraits and some still life stuff to start off with, maybe with an option of doing some landscapes gear depending.

If I buy say a 10-22mm lens - which I think is good for landscapes right on my camera, I wouldnt be able to use for portraits right as its to wide? I was also thinking maybe a macro lens, would I be able to do still lifes and portraits using that, plus macro stuff of course?

I deffo dont think a tele will be next lens, I wouldnt have much use for what I want at the moment.

 

[artyman]

Before rushing off and buying equipment, think about what you want to shoot, then have a go with your existing kit and look at the results. You will then have a clearer idea about what you may need to add to get the images you invisage but are hampered by your kit.

Your 18-55 lens whilst it may not be state of the art, has sufficient range to do landscape. You have a lens capable of shallow DOF so that area is covered. Using natural light with just a reflector (white card) can change things as well. So think twice before emabarking on impulse buys, use what you have first, then buy when you are limited by your kit.