Hi there. Completely new to photography and any help appreciated

[The Littlest Hobo]

Hi there,

I suppose i could be described as a complete novice when it comes to photography. In November i went out and purchased a Canon 1000d with the twin lense pack. I suppose i could have done a little more research as it seems to be that the lenses arent that popular for the money i paid but i bet i am in a big group of people who want to dip their toe into DSLR and end up with the entry level package. The smaller 18-55 lense seems ok but the 75-300mm one gets some very low reviews. I seem to be confusing myself because neither has IS on it. I thought the shorter lense should have :-(

Anyhow, you know the kit i have. The next step was to play around with the camera. I have a pretty gadgety way so every single button has been explored and pressed. Every setting has had at least a look. For a while i understood little in the way of how it effected the picture tbh. I was just trying to understand what on earth the symbols meant.

Next i started taking some pictures. As it was approaching christmas, i surely would have some great oppertunities. It was my sons birthday. The snow fell. Christmas lights etc etc. Not a single picture that i could be proud of. My wife took the christmas day pictures with my old canon ixus so that we could ensure some piccies that werent a disaster.

So since then i have bought magazines. I have purchased photoshop cs3. I have switched to shooting in RAW. I have watched and carried out all of the training videos i could handle to try to improve my photos both shooting and in photoshop. Hours and hours of watching the how tos and what nots.

So here i am now. Not a single photo to be proud of and a head full of information. I feel like i would like to take an exam to prove the work i have put in. Appeture values, exposure compensation, shutter speeds, iso settings. I dont have a master of them but i know what they are and a basics of how they effect the picture.

But i still dont have a picture i am proud of :-(

I live in cumbria. I drive all around the lake district with my job. I used to mountain bike for a past time so i know some amazing trails and views. I could get to places others couldnt dream of.

But i still dont have a picture i am proud of :-(

I seem to have a total mind block of where to start. I take the camera with me when i go for a walk with my kids and feel like i am spoiling the walk if i ask them to stop for a piccie. I have the camera in my car when i am driving around but never stop to think this would be a good oppertunity to take a photo. I coach a young lads football team and tried taking some piccies of them training. Disaster.

What i am probably asking is, where do you start? Have i gone the wrong way and filled my head full of info rather than shooting till my card fills up? What did you guys do? Choose something you are interested in and concentrate on that. Or look for oppertunities.

What gear would help. I was thinking (From reading) the 50mm Nifty Fifty. Its a bit basic but the chance to take pics at such low AV value would help me with shutter speeds (I think) and get some nice portrait shots. Should i sell the 75-300mm to buy the 50mm as i dont seem to be getting anywhere with it. Is the 75-300mm worth anything as its nearly new?

Oh and finally, thanks for reading me waffle on and any help appreciated

[silversnapper1]

Have you thought about composition?

Slow down and look around the viewfinder before you pull the trigger. Think about things like foreground interets and the rule of thirds.

Maybe start with the camera on auto and auto white balance and see what settings come up there before moving on to aperture priroty, shutter priority and then maybe even manual.

You should be able to handhold the 18-55 in most reasonable light without image stabilisation. Just think that to try to avoid camera shake your shutter speed needs to be equal to or faster than the focal length so even at 55mm, 1/50 second should probably be ok.

I have 5 lenses for my cameras, including a 70-300 and none of them has image stabilisation so don't gt hung up about IS.

RELAX, it doesn't happen instantly. I have been into photography for just over 3 years now and only have maybe a handful of images that I am proud of.

Maybe join a camera club or buddy up with another tog in your area to learn from each other.

There is plenty of advice available on this forum, you could maybe post a few pics in the critique section to see if others here can give you any advice.

But most of all, enjoy your photography.

[The Littlest Hobo]

Hi there silver snapper.

I have read about rule of thirds. Its something i am aware of when looking through the viewfinder (Even if the results say otherwise). Practice i suppose.

I have also used the auto mode but tbh i feel like i may as well use the Ixus compact i have if i use the auto mode. I believe there is some merit in using it to get a feel for how the camera sets itself up automatically though. I really like the AV mode although tbh i find that when i set it to values i deem appropriate it sets me a shutter speed i am hopelessly incapable of shooting. I know this is down to lenses and their F stops which is why i suggested the nifty fifty. I have also started adjusting the iso figures up to allow me quicker shutter speeds at these lower AV to help. I hope this comes across as someone clued up (basics) but having no practical knowledge because thats how i feel. The shutter priority setting just seems to send exposure settings out bh. I set what i deem appropriate shutter value. Magazines state figures for stopping action and blurring action etc. Forums suggest things like at 70mm then you should be at least 1/70 + a bit more etc. I have even tried full manual mode but it gets even more complicated balancing everything.

Still no good pictures to be proud of :-(

I was going to link my fotopic site but work doesnt let me into it so will do that later.

Thanks for the help btw.

[matt wilson]

It's not the camera it's a fine tool as is the basic lens .I got exactly the same for my partner.(I own the canon 50 d but on a trip to the Lakes where we stayed at skelwith Bridge she got some equally good shots )

If I were you I would go out to a favourite location and play with settings .Take some shots on full auto then move to aperture priority (it's what I did at Blea Tarn in the Langdales )move from 5.6 where only a narrow band will be focussed through to 22 where more will be sharp) Really look at what is in the viewfider or the rear screen.Ask yourself why the scene appeals .Is it a shape ?colour ?texture? Remeber in a landscape your eyes take things in in 3d you r camera does not .Fool a viewer and add foreground interest that leads the eye in ,lines that lead to a place for them to stop and linger .Too busy an image and the eye will wander

rather than take out all your equipment discipline yourself and take only one lens.Too much choice will lead to confusion.

Finally don't be too hard on yourself .Also set up a gallery and ask us to review .If we know you are just starting and want advise it is there .You will always be your own worst critic that is human nature.Criticism is usually constructive here we won't intimidate you and make you feel worse .

[matt wilson]

re the shutter speed .The hand holding rule is a guide only .If you can brace and stabilise the camera (ideally with a tripod but you can use a wall a rock a car roof ,save the expense for now ) you can go a lot lower.

[The Littlest Hobo]

Hi Matt,

I felt a little bad dissing the camera. TBH as a bit of a mountain biking freak i get tired of people trying to make up for lack of ability with spending thousands of pounds on equipment to compensate.

Blea Tarn (lovely). Might have a tootle into the lakes on the weekend to see if i can get some inspiration. I suppose a basic one would be to have a bit play at suprise view and then up to ashness bridge. My son likes it up there and the chippy in keswick do a great 'poke o chips' for afters.

Will link my site later but it is truly terrible

Thanks again

[The Littlest Hobo]

Hey matt, i had a bit of a play over christmas to get the typical shot of the christmas tree in the dark with the lights glowing etc. No flash, higher iso, AV mode. My camera was giving somereally slow speeds. I did manage to get some in focus but i was having to get my breathing and everything in check.

[matt wilson]

Ashness is so poular it would be a fair one to start on.If you do go try using selective focus .Perhaps go for water flowing and let the bridge fade a bit (use that aperture )

Then go for a crisp sharp bridge and have the water in front less sharp and finally try and get as much sharp as you can using a narrow aperture.

When you get home see what works and why.

I have found the 1000 d will go to iso 400 with no problems at all and 800 only gives a slight loss in quality .Unless you are going to make enlargements above A 4 don't get too hung about it .

Know what you re the bike got a basic GT arrowhead and updated gears cranks and brakes as funds allowed .

[matt wilson]

one other thing .........try manually focussing .Although af is good it does not always choose the area you want .Most of the time I set things up to use just the centre spot .

[pburness]

A way to learn really quick is to put some images up for people to comment on. Everyone on this forum started some place, and I've never seen anybody criticise ability, just feedback on alternative ways of viewing things, setting the camera, or using post production techniques. It also gives you an opportunity to measure progress as you learn.
One good book to read is understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson. It has been commented on a couple of times in the forum. It doesn't explain in detail about what settings to use on the camera, but explains about how you may set the camera to achieve a particular type of photograph.
Books will only give you knowledge though, and you also need experience. This will only come with using the camera. The equipment you have is fine, and will serve you well. Try setting yourself some goals, like a landscape, or a portrait etc - look at some sample images by other photographers and try to re-create them compositionally, don't worry about the lighting, check things like focus, making sure the image is sharp from front to back - if not why not? change something and try again. Once you've mastered the techniques for using the camera to get the image you see, then start on the lighting to get the image you want - maybe change the time of day, wait for weather conditions, use flash or artificial lighting etc.
Build you're capability up slowly and learn as you do so. Post images here under the critique forum, explain what you are trying to achieve or what struck you about the image that compelled you to take the photo, what camera settings you used etc. You'll get plenty of advice, support and encouragement for sure , you can enter into discussion on how to change things, or do it differently, ask questions etc. which you can't do with a book.

Phil