phancj Posted January 6, 2011 Share #21  Posted January 6, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Books are great, but the best way to learn is experience. Find a subject and take the same shot over and over switching through the aperture settings. Do the same with shutter settings. Digital cameras make it much easier to learn than it was with film cameras. I had to take studious notes regarding what photos I shot at what settings because I might overexpose three rolls of film in a day and never know it until I had the film developed a week later. Then I had to go back to figure out what I did wrong.  With digital, you can immediately see it. Don't be afraid to experiment.  Totally agree. In film days to get ONE product shot that really matters I went thru several rolls of film. Was shooting from different angles, lightings, settings it was a royal pain now I recall in retrospect. Since we could only see after developing when mistakes become apparent only then it was then back to the same trial and error process until the photo was what we wanted.  And for digital the X1 cannot be beat for simplicity. Little controls. A little practice and you'll get the hang of things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 6, 2011 Posted January 6, 2011 Hi phancj, Take a look here Photography Basics. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Firesuite Posted January 6, 2011 Share #22 Â Posted January 6, 2011 Like others i recommend "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson, taught me all I needed to get out there and do it myself, and in a very short space of time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelb Posted January 6, 2011 Share #23 Â Posted January 6, 2011 Totally agree. In film days to get ONE product shot that really matters I went thru several rolls of film. Was shooting from different angles, lightings, settings it was a royal pain now I recall in retrospect. Since we could only see after developing when mistakes become apparent only then it was then back to the same trial and error process until the photo was what we wanted. Â Ah yes, known as the process of gaining experience and learning. Most film photographers took this in their stride - had to! People these days need to short-cut the learning process to get instant gratification. As for shooting several rolls for one shot, I guess you never used large format. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted January 6, 2011 Share #24 Â Posted January 6, 2011 Ah yes the typical poo-poo of using technological advancement to learn more quickly. Sheesh. If you can now get instant feedback and learn on the spot rather than a week later, what's the problem? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted January 6, 2011 Share #25 Â Posted January 6, 2011 People these days need to short-cut the learning process to get instant gratification. Â Where are these people? I don't see people who are seriously into photography taking shortcuts to get instant gratification. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest badbob Posted January 6, 2011 Share #26 Â Posted January 6, 2011 Shortcuts are always good, if they produce the desired result. All you have to do is define 'desired'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phancj Posted January 7, 2011 Share #27 Â Posted January 7, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ah yes, known as the process of gaining experience and learning. Most film photographers took this in their stride - had to! People these days need to short-cut the learning process to get instant gratification. As for shooting several rolls for one shot, I guess you never used large format. Â Nothing wrong with instant gratification haha...especially when not at the expense of quality of results. Learning faster thru a more direct process doesnt hurt too. Â But I guess some purist would be tempted to believe suffering and taking things thru the long route is better, to each his own. As an amateur hobbyist, I want it to be fun, not hard. Â I havent tried large format, and I think fewer do these days. Perhaps because it doesnt accord instant gratification and quick learning. Â CJ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted January 7, 2011 Share #28 Â Posted January 7, 2011 As an amateur hobbyist, I want it to be fun, not hard. CJ That's absolutely fine CJ, just as long as you realise that some photographic techniques actually require some fundamental knowledge in order to be able to use them to best effect. Empirically derived skill levels can enable a lot of images to be taken but are fundamentally limiting in the long term. Anyway, learning about photography from books and applying what you have learnt can actually be quite fun too:)! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phancj Posted January 7, 2011 Share #29 Â Posted January 7, 2011 haha I agree. I did shoot film so the basics I kinda gotten them then ....or so I hope??!! Â CJ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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