Photography.

Ep91 Tortoise

Fresh Recruit
Hello all,

Due to medical circumstances im now 98% fit to start looking at my career choices. I have been looking into doing a home study course in photografphy. Now, I know alot of photos nowadays are enhanced/changed in many ways using Photoshop or simular programmes. So i have to look into doing a simular course to get my skills up in that area too. Just looking to hear any advice on cameras + setups etc... and most of all courses to learn the art of essentically taking a Photograph and any tips you may have. I know its not the hardest thing in the world to do at all but its what i enjoy and would like to make a profession in doing so. Any advice welcomed.

Thanks in Advance.
 

Derek

Lifer
There are a few lads into there photography on here im sure once there on they will point you in the right direction.
 

gv1.3

Admin
you will find lots of information in the photography sub forum in the chillout room. There are many members on here, including myself, that really like photography. I would give you some simple pieces of advice that various people gave me when I was starting out.

-Buy an SLR, dont buy the most expensive - the lens takes the photo not the camera - buy nice lenses.
-Get a good tripod
-Play around with the camera a lot!
-Get a remote release!
-Read...read...read... so much stuff to read about photography

Its amazing some of the things you pick up along the way and the interesting bit is seeing the world differently. I look at stuff completely differently now compared to how I used to. I was at the beech last weekend and took a nice photo on my phone but the sun was very strong so I used my sunglasses as a filter over the lens of the phone, turned out nicely.

Oh... and go try out lots of different cameras at camera shops and see what you like. It was all very confusing but I eventually settled on a nikon. Oh and megapixels are for idiots who dont know any better so pay no attention to them.

Here is a great website - http://www.kenrockwell.com/
 

Ep91 Tortoise

Fresh Recruit
you will find lots of information in the photography sub forum in the chillout room. There are many members on here, including myself, that really like photography. I would give you some simple pieces of advice that various people gave me when I was starting out.

-Buy an SLR, dont buy the most expensive - the lens takes the photo not the camera - buy nice lenses.
-Get a good tripod
-Play around with the camera a lot!
-Get a remote release!
-Read...read...read... so much stuff to read about photography

Its amazing some of the things you pick up along the way and the interesting bit is seeing the world differently. I look at stuff completely differently now compared to how I used to. I was at the beech last weekend and took a nice photo on my phone but the sun was very strong so I used my sunglasses as a filter over the lens of the phone, turned out nicely.

Oh... and go try out lots of different cameras at camera shops and see what you like. It was all very confusing but I eventually settled on a nikon. Oh and megapixels are for idiots who dont know any better so pay no attention to them.

Here is a great website - http://www.kenrockwell.com/

Thanks for that dylan! website is helping alot about getting a understanding of everything. When you say remote release what do you mean by this? What would you recommend for a camera and lenses wise and a tripod? Was at BDC back in april and met a amazing guy called Stephan brooks seeing the videos and shots the guy makes in really inspiring and would love to be able to produce the work he does. Ill post up a video of his work if you dont know him. :)
Thanks again.
 

gv1.3

Admin
well just to start off with I would go with something like a nikon d40 and a nice lens, this will get you great shots and let you get to grips with all the different settings.

The remote release allows you to take the shot without pressing a button on the camera. They are cheap and well worth having especially if you are doing long exposures, you dont want to press the button on the camera as it will move the camera.

The kit lens, the lens that comes with the camera, is usually pretty good. Depending on what you want to use the camera for you might want to go with something a with a bit more zoom or one for macro shots. I bought a nice nikkor lens, 70 - 200mm and it takes savage shots - not cheap though, it was more expensive than my camera, remember the lens takes the photo.

You can pick up cheap tripods but will probably end up buying an expensive one if you get in to photography. The current tripod I have now is a very nice carbon fibre giotto's unit with quick releasing legs etc and I use a nice head mount from manfrotto - pricey but now that I have used one I wouldnt use anything else.

Get a nice camera bag with protective padding and plenty of space for filters, headmount, camera and lenses etc.

If i was starting off again I would buy a second hand camera... like a d40.. bargains to be had.
 

Ep91 Tortoise

Fresh Recruit
well just to start off with I would go with something like a nikon d40 and a nice lens, this will get you great shots and let you get to grips with all the different settings.

The remote release allows you to take the shot without pressing a button on the camera. They are cheap and well worth having especially if you are doing long exposures, you dont want to press the button on the camera as it will move the camera.

The kit lens, the lens that comes with the camera, is usually pretty good. Depending on what you want to use the camera for you might want to go with something a with a bit more zoom or one for macro shots. I bought a nice nikkor lens, 70 - 200mm and it takes savage shots - not cheap though, it was more expensive than my camera, remember the lens takes the photo.

You can pick up cheap tripods but will probably end up buying an expensive one if you get in to photography. The current tripod I have now is a very nice carbon fibre giotto's unit with quick releasing legs etc and I use a nice head mount from manfrotto - pricey but now that I have used one I wouldnt use anything else.

Get a nice camera bag with protective padding and plenty of space for filters, headmount, camera and lenses etc.

If i was starting off again I would buy a second hand camera... like a d40.. bargains to be had.

You definately wasnt wrong about the price of that lense mate... Looks and sounds amazing though for what it can do! What lenses would you recommend getting? was thinking about getting a Nikon D5000 Camera. Also what benefit would that lense get you?
Thanks
 

gv1.3

Admin
you need to read up on lenses and what the different ones do. They all have different purposes. The kit lens that usually comes with a camera will be a kind of all purpose middle of the road lens. You then can get macro lenses for close up work, wide angled, telephoto etc etc... there are loads of different lenses read up on them. I wanted something that took up where the kit lens finished from a zoom point of view and its excellent.

Why are you thinking about getting the D5000?


good review - http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5000.htm
 

Ep91 Tortoise

Fresh Recruit
you need to read up on lenses and what the different ones do. They all have different purposes. The kit lens that usually comes with a camera will be a kind of all purpose middle of the road lens. You then can get macro lenses for close up work, wide angled, telephoto etc etc... there are loads of different lenses read up on them. I wanted something that took up where the kit lens finished from a zoom point of view and its excellent.

Why are you thinking about getting the D5000?


good review - http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5000.htm

Will do got alot of research im going to be doing over the next few weeks about everything and sorting out what i want to shoot etc... But im going for the D5000 because of what that site has told me really, going to read up on it abit more but it sounds like the camera that will suit my needs starting off. Then just going to read up about lenses etc... will go and speak to my local shop (camera specialist) and see what they say about everything aswell. Thanks for that link really has shed some light on the situation and is helping me alot. Here is some of Stephan brooks work.
http://vimeo.com/16596346
 
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