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Fairly new to photography looking for craft help


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Sorry if this sounds like a lonely hearts column. I've had a fair few cameras in my time but am not the most skilled: Pentax film DSLR (cannot remember), Nikon D40, Ricoh GR, Fuji X100. I'm awaiting my Leica Q (end of Nov delivery time) as I've always wanted a full-frame digital camera to match the results I got with my Ricoh in terms of colour and detail.

 

With that I'd like to learn about the craft of photography and wondered where I should look to learn. Books, You Tube videos, online courses, etc. I work in graphic design so can compose an image in my head in terms of what composition I'd like, its then the art of getting the optimum image from all the other aspects and what I change, what I don't, etc.

 

Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Really just want to improve my limited skills to improve my craft and the final output. Looking forward to using the manual focus as well. 

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You can get feedback if you post a photo for criticism. The useful remarks will direct you to the main problem in the shot that you can then study, for example, aspects of exposure. Of course, you need a thick skin, and you will find different forums around the Web are more or less helpful.
 

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There are tons of tutorials on YouTube:

 

let me mention 2 series

 

B&H tutorials. These are live recordings of lectures of photographers being invited by B&H in NYC. You can learn alot there and it is fun to watch.

 

Go the the website of "Visual Wilderness" by Varina and Jay Patel. These photographers have specialised in educational videos on their outdoor excursions. There are ebooks as well. The quality is exceptional even if you only look at the free material, a true inspiration in terms of landscape photography. You can apply there techniques on any subject.

 

Have fun!

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Difficult question to answer.

 

It's about imagery of course and as CharlesL suggested maybe the most direct way is to seek feedback on your work by posting photos in the forums here and elsewhere.

 

It's odd in a way that people on photo forums will write thousands of words about composition or how one lens gives better results than another lens, yet rarely post any images to demonstrate what they say - after all isn't a photograph worth a thousand words?!

 

At least you should get honest feedback and suggestions as to what you are doing right or wrong, as a basis from which to work on improving. Then you can decide how best to try to improve - be that reading books, doing courses or workshops etc.

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Not sure where you are in the UK but there is a burgeoning market in 1 day courses on many aspects of practical and theoretical photography ...... 

Most are not that expensive and are an entertaining day out ...... often with access to places/themes which are hard to access as an individual.

A trawl on the internet will almost certainly turn up something in your area. 

I've been on a fair few Line+Light days out ( http://www.lineandlight.co.uk/course-dates/ - next year is a bit sparser than usual - and they do theory study days as well) and they have all been good value. 

 

If you do post here on the forum don't be disheartened by lack of comments .... they are a pretty discriminating bunch ........ 

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Starting out learn to take photos that you like (Catches your eye). Don't worry what others think but do take on board "constructive" criticism where given.....

 

Don't try and take pics that you "think" others will like.....

 

Repetition - Go back to the same place at different times of the day and in different weather conditions. Stand on benches, lay down on the ground, take a tripod and do long exposures. The shooting options are endless.

 

You will be surprised how many great pics can be had from just one place.

 

This applies to photography as well:

 

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. 

Art is knowing which ones to keep.

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I want to compliment all that took the time to respond to this thread.  I can tell you there are many forums I am part of that a question like this would have been filled with insults.  I like that those here are willing to give helpful responses and are of sane minds.

 

With this was the case everywhere.

 

Cheers

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While the LUF is clearly the best source of information and advice on all things photographic ( :p) you might also look at the Cambridge In Colour site, both for the tutorial pages and for the forums, which are very open to offering advice to people new to photography. 

 

Never saw that before. What a great site! Simple and uncomplicated.

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The advice regarding revisiting a photo site to re-photograph is good, however if stationary subjects do not interest you (they do not interest me) then you might find a link that unites your artistic composition with the viewfinder. That link is intuitive; lives below language but is superior. Looking hard and seeing and feeling the right composition is what worked for me.

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Thanks all for not slating me, much appreciated. I love taking photographs and thinking a shot through and miss that dearly from my film days with the Ricoh.

I'm hoping the Q (when it arrives) re-invigorates that love for thinking a shot through and not just shooting the sh*t out of it and then hoping one image works.

Going to also dig out the Ricoh and start with some film again.

 

When my Q comes and I've shot my first few shots I'll post on here for feedback. Off to Dubai on the 10th Dec so going to shoot lots when there.
Its a city I used to live in and know really well so lots of good opportunities. Might have to take a morning and evening away from the wife and little one, as don't think they will follow me around of the sake of my art!

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