Photography Tips for complete Beginner.

• Seaview

  Participant

  January 19, 2015 at 8:32 pm

  I’ve recently been asked by a friend of mine to give them a crash course on using their new DSLR, I’m thinking the rule of thirds really makes a huge difference in improving your photos.

  What do you think would be the most important tip for a complete beginner.

  Thanks.

  Dave.
  Anonymous

  Participant

  January 20, 2015 at 12:51 pm

  I think the first subject should be the camera.
  The settings such as TV, AV, WB, ISO & what they all do & what it means to the image.

  Unless of course they know these already!
  Seaview

  Participant

  January 20, 2015 at 4:13 pm

  Thanks John, my friend is a complete beginner so I will need to cover all the above points.

  Dave.
  Mark

  Keymaster

  January 20, 2015 at 4:44 pm

  Exposure and how an image is effected by shutter and aperture settings
  BallistiX

  Participant

  January 20, 2015 at 10:19 pm

  7 things that really assisted me since a year ago as a newbie are:

  1. Soak up free tutorials on youtube, with as much emphasis on post processing technique as camera activity.

  2. Expose for the highlights and process for the shadows.

  3. Find 1 or 2 photographers who’s work inspires getting out and capturing/creating images.

  4. Some folks say you learn by getting out and shooting, but I think this is over emphasised. I think get out and shoot with you eyes and mind, start actual shooting when the lighting is good and you have an idea of what you want to capture (the individual has a better chance of creating a personally inspired image in PP when the idea and or light is good). And slow down and consider composition, trigger happiness is wasteful IMHO.

  5. Learn post processing software, spend as much time learning it’s capabilities as shooting initially.

  6. Be prepared to purchase post processing plugin software down the road (what is captured on the sensor, only goes so far in LR).

  7. Lastly, self reflect. Set some goals within time frames, this allows the person see some growth over the initial learning period.
  mollybird

  Participant

  January 22, 2015 at 11:20 am

  What i did that i found very helpful is keep an eye out on groupon, living social etc for dslr day courses. i found one with the dublin photogrpahy school and found it seriously helpful. i had no idea any other way to learn how to use all the features of my camera.