I bought a good camera. Now how do I take good pictures?

[HalfPress]

That's the question a colleague of mine asked me today. She got a dslr. Spent $900 on a camera, but her pictures are still not what she wants.

I told her I'd post the question here and let her look at the answers. What would you tell her?

[brian.austin]

Take a class.

[cyclohexane]

Quoting WTD: "Shoot like hell". Sooner or later (after enough frames), something'll come through and she'll realize she needs to take the next step to improve her photos.

[JohnC]

Add a lens to the camera? No, just kidding. Develop an eye. Look at a lot of art. Study painting, form, perspective. Ask questions. Listen to the answers.

[nsurit]

All of the above and turn off the flash, get closer (fill the frame) and ready a book about photography, such as "Photography" by Barbara London. If she is interested in people photography or thinks she might be, Nick Kelsh has several "How to" books that are easy to understand and will get her headed in the right direction. Bill Barber

[cedric_r]

My answer would be read everything (books, online) you find and practice like mad.

[jfrancho]

I can only echo Cedric's advice. The more you shoot, the more you'll have to look at. Combine that body of effort with any knowledge about photography you've learned, and you'll begin to analyze what you are doing with a critical eye. Just looking at your picture and deciding it doesn't measure up isn't enough. You must determine why, and what could be done differently. Everyone learns a little differently, but I'd recommend examining composure first, sticking to the programmed auto exposure modes. You can certainly begin experimenting with some of the other shutter/aperture priority modes, but developing good composition skills will give really fast results, and it is something that you will still be working on long after you develop the technical skills of operating a camera.

[cedric_r]

I agree with that. when I started, I found that the technical bit was trivial and you could learn how to do anything with your camera very quickly. But knowing how to compose a photo takes a lot longer and a lot more effort.

[JerryReed]

I tend to agree most with JohnC, who favors developing a critical eye by using the established benchmarks of good images, whether they are the work of painters or photographers. The sense would be to use the camera in successive attempts to approach the work deemed to be excellent, and to self-critically evaluate their attainment. The beauty part about digital is that the results of one's series of efforts are immediately available for critique. I can remember finding magazine ads, studying the poses, lighting and backgrounds and then trying to reproduce them. The feedback and the development of the ability to evaluate the merit of one's own work is, in my mind, an essential feature of art education, photographic or otherwise.

Jerry Reed

[Paul Shields]

You'll learn so much with a digital camera. It took me ages to understand how to correctly set exposure in certain circumstances with film. Now you can just try all sorts of extremes and analyse the results later. Much quicker learning curve. Books are good too - if only to gen up on the correct terms and avoid public embarrassment .

[Mr. Pickles]

Originally Posted by HalfPress

I told her I'd post the question here and let her look at the answers. What would you tell her?

Spend MORE time on PhotoCamel.

All sorts of people learn all sorts of things on this site. Newbies and pros ask questions here. They get answers. All of those posts are here. Just a search away. Or just start reading the posts in the board that is of interest.

[HalfPress]

Thanks, everyone. Most people, though, don't even know about things like aperture, shutter, ISO, and don't really want to. Can they still take good pictures?

[ohenry]

Originally Posted by HalfPress

Thanks, everyone. Most people, though, don't even know about things like aperture, shutter, ISO, and don't really want to. Can they still take good pictures?

With today's auto features, just about anyone can take a "good" picture. The better question should be "Can they take a GREAT picture?"

[Frumious Boojum]

Originally Posted by HalfPress

Thanks, everyone. Most people, though, don't even know about things like aperture, shutter, ISO, and don't really want to.

Unfortunate cause of the automatic point-and-shoot.

Tell her to check into some of the local camera shops. Many of them offer classes. That'll be a good alternative if she can't or doesn't want to take a college course at the community college.

Another suggestion, check into some local camera clubs. Many of them will offer help or have somebody willing to help.

[Rense]

First of all: get the camera out of the automatic mode.
Second: Practice (alone or preferably in a group), evaluate, try to understand, read books/internet on how to do it better (ask for help on this forum) and then back to practice. Repeat this cycle for about one year.
Third: Then read and practice some more ...

[badpickev]

So, this is you

"I bought a good camera. Now how do I take good pictures?"

use good film, or buy post cards.......


this post has no redeamable value other than humor.

[JohnC]

You can get started without a great understanding of aperture, shutter speed, etc. But things will go faster if you learn about them early on. Have her read my "what is an F-stop" article, available at http://www.johncornicello.com/articles/photointro.pdf (about 1.5 meg PDF file). Then go take some photos. Then go read it again. Take more photos. Do more reading.

John

[Rense]

John,
That's a nice introduction. It was quite a pleasure to read. However, if people or more inclined to a pictorial view, I would recommend the site of Bill Huber working with the analogy of a teeter-todder.

[JohnC]

Thanks! Hadn't seen Bill's page before.

John

[aam1234]

Originally Posted by cedric_r

practice like mad.

Ding ding, that's the correct answer.