Posted By: Rachel
Another newbie looking for tips! - 05/07/07 06:03 PM
I am VERY new to photography, and so far just take pics of my own dogs. I would like to advance to the point of shooting other peoples pets. This seems like a great board and i have learned quite a bit just by lurking!
Here is a recent pic of one of the dogs....
Posted By: Blue Dog
Re: Another newbie looking for tips! - 05/08/07 01:48 AM
Hi Rachel,
Shooting digital now days allows us to take thousands of images without much cost. In a weekend at an event I take 2000-3000 images a day. Many of them are out of focus, poorly exposed or just plain garbage. But, because I shoot so many, by accident a few turn out to be keepers. As we gain more experience, we increase the keepers and decrease the garbage shots.
If I shot film, I could never afford to shoot the way I do. Having digital allows us to experiment, refine our technique and bump into a good image more frequently.
How to become a better photographer?
1. practice, practice, practice
2. read books, magazines and the web
3. learn post-processing
4. ask other photographers
5. study light
6. learn what makes a good exposure and all the different controls your camera has to create an exposure - quit using the Auto modes and learn to use the 'Manual Mode'
7. learn what makes a good composition
8. did I say practice?
(I am still doing all of these and someday I hope to become a good photographer)
Good luck and have fun!
Posted By: DavidRamey
Re: Another newbie looking for tips! - 05/08/07 08:23 PM
Digital is NOT cheaper than film!!!! When I switched from film to digital, I saved $25,000 in film and processing costs, but it also cost me $25,000 in equipment to switch to digital so ... no savings. Add up the costs of new camera bodies every 2 years, the endless upgrades to computers, software, digital storage, CD's, DVD's, hard drives, printers, paper, ink, etc. and you are spending as much or more on digital than paying for film and processing. During the days of film, the camera bodies lasted for 10-30 + years. Now they last a full time professional photographer about 2 years. A new digital camera for professional use is $1000 to $5000 + while film cameras were for the most part below $1000. Then there are all the new lenses we had to buy because the old "film lenses" didn't resolve good enough for digital, the camera and lens repairs that didn't need repairing for film , but need to be repaired for digital. Worn out shutters, circuit boards going bad, lenses and bodies not communicating, etc. I base this on over 10 years of full time professional photography with over 1,000,000 photos in storage. We have just traded up front costs for back end costs. Would I go back to film? NO !!!! The advantage to digital is instant feedback, not savings.
How much time do you spend on post processing? Probably more time than you spent dropping off and picking up film. Remember, time IS money.
Posted By: Blue Dog
Re: Another newbie looking for tips! - 05/09/07 04:16 AM
Hi David,
While none of your points are debatable, I think a beginner's experience like Rachel's is different from your experience. I assume she already has at least a "starter" digital camera and it is much more affordable for her to shoot many practice images than a person with a similar quality film camera. Buying one roll of film, processing and prints for 36 exposures would cost her about $8 - $10 and not all of them keepers.
Once a person goes digital, it costs about the same to shoot 3600 images as it does to shoot 36. That's my point.
Oh yeah, instant feedback AND maintaining full control every step of the way are the best reasons for digital and that's what hooked me.
Have Fun!
Jeff
Posted By: Blue Dog
Re: Another newbie looking for tips! - 05/10/07 03:17 PM
Hey David,
I have two points:
1. Most people now already have a computer in their homes, for the most part capable of supporting a beginning level of digital photography. For them the computer came first and then the camera. Your argument assumes the person decides to get into digpho and then buys a camera AND a computer. I don't think that is the common evolution of a beginner. Most will already have a computer for many other reasons and then get a camera.
With your argument it is like saying if I want to go to the store and buy a gallon of milk I would have to include the price of the car as part of the enjoyment of drinking milk even though I already had a car for many other reasons.
2. I can buy an entry level dig camera and not need a computer at all. I just shoot away and take the memory card to the drug store and an hour later I have a contact sheet and then chose the prints I want from the contact sheet. This scenario is problematic because it deprives the user of the joy and reasons for getting into digpho. However, this is the new world when film production and use has decreased and it is getting difficult to find a place to process film.
This is a very weak argument but I felt compelled to make it anyway.
You have a very practical and realistic perspective which needs to be taken into account for anybody getting into digpho.
But enough, let's stop hijacking this thread and how about you leaving some tips for Rachel from a pro's perspective.
I enjoyed the discussion.
Best Regards,
Jeff
