Hi everyone, let me precede the discussion with two things. Firstly, an apology if threads like this are somewhere in this forum. But hopefully we can get a lot of good ideas and conversations flowing around. I find this forum one of the friendliest and the advice is often very constructive.
Secondly, about myself, I've been using a Fujifilm HS20 EXR, but tomorrow my new Canon t5i/700D (please don't tell me it's a t4i/t3i etc, I got a good deal) and I'm looking to spend even more time and visiting different places to shoot different things. I would also like to do small bits of video, but thats unimportant in this discussion. I enjoy using my HS20, the zoom is truly great, but some areas of the camera are found wanting. I plan to spend one day a week around work to take photos. I don't really plan on what I'm going to take but I try to thing of cool places to go. I live in the South Wales valleys, but I love photos of buildings and candid photography, although I more than appreciate other forms of images. I having a bit of an issue with candid photography, as it appears people aren't too fond of being aimed at with a camera.
Anyhow, I wanted to hear from all of you. I want to hear how much time a week/month you spend taking photos.
Do you take photos for fun or professionally? If for you're doing it as a hobby - which I am currently doing - why did you choose photography? If you earn your bread by taking photos, what made you chose that path. I take photos as a hobby, though perhaps when my abilities and equipment list get better I might offer services to friends and family
What equipment are we all using, what as your decision behind choosing what you chose. (Please NO Nikon v Canon v Sony v whatever, arguments of x is greater than Y are among the worst aspects of forums and comment sections). Are you happy with your selection? Which certain bodies/lens etc do you use the most? My t5i is coming with the 18-135stm lens, nothing groundbreaking but I feel I'll start in a good place. I'll probably add a nifty fifty to my collection soon
What areas of photography are you most interested in?
I enjoy many types of photography and I'm having trouble nailing down which I'd like to concentrate most on. Perhaps a wide scope is the way for me. As I mentioned above, I enjoy looking at cityscapes and candid pictures. But I also love portraits, seascapes (I'm looking at you 'TheReef', I've really enjoyed your work on the P.O.T.D threads), macro, landscapes ('Phrasikleia') and everything else in-between. There are other users on here who's work I absolutely adore as well.
Do you decide where you're going to go before hand, or do you let the wind take you? Do you drive, take a train, catch a bus, cycle? How far would you travel (excluding holidays/vacations).I walk and drive to certain locations. Luckily I live in a mountainous area which is covered in forestry which I can walk around in, but I have to drive to other locations for a bit of variety.
Do you have an idea of what shot you want to take? Or do you take many photos and see what you have when you get back to your computer.
At the moment, I'm taking lots of images and seeing what I like. I will try to change this and think more about lighting and composition before I take the photo. I've seen good tip which is to pretend you only have the amount you'd have on one roll of film, so you wouldn't take a photo you wasn't happy with.
Do you fly solo, with a friend, partner, group, club, colleagues?
At the moment, solo. Though I have a friend with a photojournalism qualification who I will try and shoot with. I'm passing on my HS20 to my girlfriend who seems interested in joining me.
I hope this gets the ball rolling. I hope this helps me - and hopefully other people reading this thread - to enjoy photography and take jaw dropping photos. Sorry for the length!
Ross.
Secondly, about myself, I've been using a Fujifilm HS20 EXR, but tomorrow my new Canon t5i/700D (please don't tell me it's a t4i/t3i etc, I got a good deal) and I'm looking to spend even more time and visiting different places to shoot different things. I would also like to do small bits of video, but thats unimportant in this discussion. I enjoy using my HS20, the zoom is truly great, but some areas of the camera are found wanting. I plan to spend one day a week around work to take photos. I don't really plan on what I'm going to take but I try to thing of cool places to go. I live in the South Wales valleys, but I love photos of buildings and candid photography, although I more than appreciate other forms of images. I having a bit of an issue with candid photography, as it appears people aren't too fond of being aimed at with a camera.
Anyhow, I wanted to hear from all of you. I want to hear how much time a week/month you spend taking photos.
Do you take photos for fun or professionally? If for you're doing it as a hobby - which I am currently doing - why did you choose photography? If you earn your bread by taking photos, what made you chose that path. I take photos as a hobby, though perhaps when my abilities and equipment list get better I might offer services to friends and family
What equipment are we all using, what as your decision behind choosing what you chose. (Please NO Nikon v Canon v Sony v whatever, arguments of x is greater than Y are among the worst aspects of forums and comment sections). Are you happy with your selection? Which certain bodies/lens etc do you use the most? My t5i is coming with the 18-135stm lens, nothing groundbreaking but I feel I'll start in a good place. I'll probably add a nifty fifty to my collection soon
What areas of photography are you most interested in?
I enjoy many types of photography and I'm having trouble nailing down which I'd like to concentrate most on. Perhaps a wide scope is the way for me. As I mentioned above, I enjoy looking at cityscapes and candid pictures. But I also love portraits, seascapes (I'm looking at you 'TheReef', I've really enjoyed your work on the P.O.T.D threads), macro, landscapes ('Phrasikleia') and everything else in-between. There are other users on here who's work I absolutely adore as well.
Do you decide where you're going to go before hand, or do you let the wind take you? Do you drive, take a train, catch a bus, cycle? How far would you travel (excluding holidays/vacations).I walk and drive to certain locations. Luckily I live in a mountainous area which is covered in forestry which I can walk around in, but I have to drive to other locations for a bit of variety.
Do you have an idea of what shot you want to take? Or do you take many photos and see what you have when you get back to your computer.
At the moment, I'm taking lots of images and seeing what I like. I will try to change this and think more about lighting and composition before I take the photo. I've seen good tip which is to pretend you only have the amount you'd have on one roll of film, so you wouldn't take a photo you wasn't happy with.
Do you fly solo, with a friend, partner, group, club, colleagues?
At the moment, solo. Though I have a friend with a photojournalism qualification who I will try and shoot with. I'm passing on my HS20 to my girlfriend who seems interested in joining me.
I hope this gets the ball rolling. I hope this helps me - and hopefully other people reading this thread - to enjoy photography and take jaw dropping photos. Sorry for the length!
Ross.