Help on being a photographer

[Pikemann Urge]

Everyone so far has been constructive. I don't have much to add, but here it is:

1. snberk103's post was great. Re-read that.

2. There are two commandments in photography: take lots of photos and look at lots of photos.

3. This might not sound nice to some, but studying photography formally (getting a degree) is a waste of time and money. It is not education. Education is a second language or liberal arts or science or theology or whatever. A photography degree is a vanity degree IMO. Having said that, no person, no matter what their field, is self-taught in the true sense - we all learn from each other. You might find doing the odd workshop quite valuable, too.

4. You are 13 years old - you have many years ahead of you where you can gain precious experience without any pressure. That's gold.

5. As a side interest, read up on cinematography. It can't hurt and you will learn something here and there. If you go to thrift shops, keep an eye out for old issues of American Cinematographer, for instance.

6. Speaking of thrift shops, you can find heaps of magazines like Vogue, Bazaar, National Geographic, some food magazines etc. All those are worth looking at to learn from.

7. If you can express in plain language why you like certain photos then you are half way to being able to emulate that standard.

8. Sites like photo.net have photo critique forums. It might be worth checking those out.

I hope that what I've written is at least interesting, if not useful.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I"m not sure where it is on your specific model, it could be in the viewfinder or on the back of the screen but in a broad sense, when shooing manual and you look at the exposure meter, if the arrow is in the center (or as close to it as you can get), then you will have a properly exposed image when you press the shutter button.

If your arrow is far off to the left, your picture will be under exposed and you have to either increase the ISO, widen the aperture, or lower the shutter speed.

If your arrow is off to the right, then it means you will have an over exposed picture so you'll have to decrease the iso, shrink the aperture, or raise the shutter speed.

I think it is in the viewfinder, but i don't even notice it doing anything when i take pictures or adjust aperture, shutter speed, etc. Not sure? lol.

 

[chrono1081]

I think it is in the viewfinder, but i don't even notice it doing anything when i take pictures or adjust aperture, shutter speed, etc. Not sure? lol.

It should look like that (the line with numbers between -2 and 2 with the arrow).

If you're on manual mode you should see the arrow fluctuating when you aim the camera different places. That arrow is the one you want to get in the middle.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Image

It should look like that (the line with numbers between -2 and 2 with the arrow).

If you're on manual mode you should see the arrow fluctuating when you aim the camera different places. That arrow is the one you want to get in the middle.

Seems to always be in the middle, and i know i'm not that good yet. Maybe i've just been in Aperture Priority a lot lately. I'll pay attention to it and shoot in manual today and see how it goes. Thanks.

 

[r.j.s]

Seems to always be in the middle, and i know i'm not that good yet. Maybe i've just been in Aperture Priority a lot lately. I'll pay attention to it and shoot in manual today and see how it goes. Thanks.

Well, if you are in anything but M, it will always be in the middle - and the camera adjusts the settings to get it there.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Well, if you are in anything but M, it will always be in the middle - and the camera adjusts the settings to get it there.

Yeah. I paid more attention to it earlier and noticed what you guys meant. Manual did move off of center a bit here and there. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

 

[Phrasikleia]

It should look like that (the line with numbers between -2 and 2 with the arrow).

If you're on manual mode you should see the arrow fluctuating when you aim the camera different places. That arrow is the one you want to get in the middle.

As a starting point, yes, but often the exposure that yields very deliberate results has the arrow somewhere else.

 

[chrono1081]

As a starting point, yes, but often the exposure that yields very deliberate results has the arrow somewhere else.

Ssshh! I was trying to keep it simple at first

@CockyJeremy Phrasikleia is right, you'll eventually use that arrow to compensate for bright/dark scenes so don't believe it always has to be in the center.

If you are shooting snow for example and the viewfinder is centered, you'll find that your image is darkened. You would have to overexpose the image, pushing the arrow farther to the right to get a correct picture.

 

[sim667]

If you really want to learn the trade, ask a photographer if you can assist for them.

Dont pick a rubbish photographer, and dont irritate them, you have to be mature and helpful, if you are, just working with them will teach you so much more than a book, a video, or an internet forum can.

Learn the difference between professional and commercial photography.

Try and join a photo club.

Get out there and shoot!

Dont get roped up in doing 'art' courses, look for one that will teach you practicalities. I teach an ND course in the UK in photography, its a very technical and hard course, but I can confidently say I reckon our students are as good as second year uni students with their understanding of lighting etc.