- This topic is empty.
Calling All Who Can Help
-
Hey Guys/Girls
This is my first post as you might be able to see. And I am still trying to work my way around the site, and trying to find a topic that can help me but I didn’t see anything so I said its probably best to just ask the experts, you guys.
I would like to consider myself a keen and eager amateur photographer but I think I am just more snap happy with a fancy camera, well fancy in the sense that it is a DSLR (Canon 400D) not that they are all that fancy anymore. Ok I will shut up now and get on with it.
Anyway what I would like to ask is if anyone knows of any good Photography Courses or Books etc that focus on all the technical stuff like aperture, f-stops etc but for a DSLR. I got a photography course from a distance learning place and was very disappointed with the quality of it. It was very basic and mainly focused on compact cameras which is not what I am going to be using.
If there is anything or anywhere you can point me to I would really appreciate it.
Thanks a million :)
Hi Dan, welcome to the site.
One book that I’d wholeheartedly recommend is “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson. OK, it isn’t specifically how to use a DSLR but your manual will show you this. This book shows how aperture, shutter speed and ISO all tie in together in simple, easy terms. You won’t regret owning a copy as many on this site will vouch for.
Best of luck with it and start posting.
Alan.
Yep, Understanding Exposure is a great book, I wish I’d bought it sooner! Amazon link here
One recommendation I’d make is to abandon all the automated modes, and delve into what Canon call the “creative” modes – Av, Tv, and M (Understanding Exposure suggests you use the latter for full control). If you’re into landscapes and such, Av (aperture priority – you have control over the aperture) is probably a better bet, if you want to take nature photos Tv (shutter priority where you have control over the shutter speed) might be better. Either way, you get an appreciation of the relationship between aperture/shutter speed that you won’t on the auto modes, though it may be frustrating trying to get anything decent at first. Anyway, keep at it, and as Alan says, start posting and get some feedback which can help you realise what to do better
Good luck!
John
This was my formula (in no particular order)… I’m not sure yet if it’s truly worked… but I think I’m doing ok…
* Get out with the camera as much as possible and experiment with it. I do about 90% of my work in AV (Aperture Priority) mode but play about with it.
* Understand the core concepts of Aperture, Shutter Speed, Depth of Field & Exposure to name but a few. You can Google these.
* Buy (and read) some photo magazines e.g. Digital Photo. It’s very good for beginners and you’ll pick up lots of camera and post processing techniques
* Get a few books, like what the lads have already mentioned
* Look for Photography related websites and read articles. Use Google as your doorway to information.
* Look at other people’s photos and gain ideas and inspiration
* Read as many threads as you can here on PI. You’ll pick up loads of nuggets of information, ideas, concepts etc.Now.. all this takes time & effort on your behalf. But the most important thing is you have to try and enjoy it. Getting to know a few people and arranging to go out on a shoot can be fun plus you get to knock heads and share ideas.
J
Theres also an online photography course and its Irish http://www.schoolofphotography.com worth a look and you can do it in your own time and at your leisure.
http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/index.html
http://www.photonhead.coma couple of good sites to take you through the baics
I did a one day course in Ennis last year and it was brilliant! I would totally recommend doping one :)
The Canon Australia site is pretty food for the bare essentials as well. Also, join your local photographic club, if there is one in your area. If not, find out if there are any other photographers in your area that you could hook up with and share ideas and shoots.
thanks a million guys. I have ordered that book “Understanding Exposure” from amazon so we will see how i get on with it when it arrives.
Had a little bit of an accident with my camera a while back, it slipped from my hand and now the LCD has cracked. Can’t see anything on it. Need to get it repaired. But not sure how much it is going to cost :( Am thinking of moving up to a Canon 40D soon so I might do my studying and reading before then.
dan.browne wrote:
thanks a million guys. I have ordered that book “Understanding Exposure” from amazon so we will see how i get on with it when it arrives.
You won’t regret it. It is a truly amazing read for a beginner (like me!).
Check out DigitalBeginner, infact he sponsors this site. Look at the bottom of the main page, there’s a section on sponsors, look at DigitialBeginner.
Hi Dan,
I can recommend the Digital Beginners courses to you, I have done three with Dave over the last year and all were both very informative and great fun. With Dave there is no such thing as a stupid question and you also get homework to do each week, which I found forced me to use my camera more and also think more about what I was taking and the options I was using.
Regarding your creaked LCD the best Iwould suggest is you bring it into one of the shops around town and they should at least be able to get a quote for its repair.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
