how do you take such good pictures?

[Avas Mom]

Little poll.. what's your favorite books/authors on photography?

I've been shooting in manual.. adjusting iso, shutter speed, aperture..etc. Trying to learn about "recomposing" a shot. I still dont get metering (but still reading).

Is there a book that really helped improve your photography skills? Easy to read? good book on lighting?

i really want to know improve my photography skills.. but searching the internet for tutorials can be time consuming.

Thanks!

p.s. confession... before i knew any better i use to think it was all about owning a pricey camera...teeeheee.. silly me

[ajfetzer]

I have learned most of what I know about my camera from taking online classes. Katrina just taught a great one at Get it Scrapped and I have also taken some from Candice Stringham at Jessica Sprague's site. They have helped my skills tremendously!
I have also started reading Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure, which I tried to read before but was above my skill level and I just couldn't get it. Now I understand it and it has really been helpful. I would HIGHLY recommend keeping an eye out for another class from Katrina at Get it Scrapped. I am now shooting in manual most of the time and my shots are better than ever!

[Carol Elliott]

I'll second Amie's recommendation of taking Katrina's photography class at Get It Scrapped. Her class made a HUGE difference in my photographs. I was shooting in aperature priority before her class, but now, like Amie am shooting in manual. She is just an awesome teacher.

[deanie]

Take a lot of pictures and try out the different settings-shoot in AP mode, and let the camera set your shutter speed and vice versa. After a while you become aware of what settings you use and where you get good results. When I got my camera I put a picture of a flower on my wall, and tried all the various settings for focus and metering. I would love to take Katrina's class too, I think we can always learn something important from each teacher. Go back on the photography forum here and read some threads-there is alot!!! of information there.

[carollee]

Katrina's class was amazing, I'm so glad I took it.

[katrinak]

Okay you ladies are making me blush I'll be teaching again, not sure when.

Watch for another little announcement though that I can't speak of yet

[Avas Mom]

Awesome! I will definitely keeps my eyes open Katrina!

Besides taking your class.. are there books that you would recommend? Especially books that might build on what I would learn from you class?

Carie

[ajfetzer]

Originally Posted by Avas Mom

Besides taking your class.. are there books that you would recommend? Especially books that might build on what I would learn from you class?

Carie try Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure it is really good if you already understand your camera a bit which it sounds like you do

[katrinak]

Definitely Understanding Exposure and well...your manual it is dry but the more you begin to understand your camera the more the manual will make sense! (but remember it is more like a car manual...teaches you about where things are on the car not how to drive it!)

[Avas Mom]

Originally Posted by katrinak

Definitely Understanding Exposure and well...your manual it is dry but the more you begin to understand your camera the more the manual will make sense! (but remember it is more like a car manual...teaches you about where things are on the car not how to drive it!)

LOL! yes -- i've been reading the manual like a fiend... I agree about it teaching me where things are...but i need more
Much thanks.. i'll have to check out understanding exposure while i'm waiting for your class

[anke]

Uh Katrina, something is brewing that sounds exciting! I definitely agree on katrina's class, she is awesome! I am reading the Understanding Exposure book also, I didn't get very far yet

[donitab]

Definitely Katrina's Class & Bryan Peterson's Book "Understanding Exposure" I'm wanting the rest of Peterson's books as well. You might even check your local library to see what they have.

Woohoo! on Katrina's next class!!!!!

[bluelemur01]

hi Carie,
well, having the good camera DOES help. Trying to learn on a point-n-shoot just doesn't cut it.

I like the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. I have an older version and I used to bring it with me when I taught photography classes to show samples to the class. In that book, Peterson gives several pictures of the same object/scene taken with different shutter speeds and/or apertures and explains why they look different. It helps you learn how to look at photos and what differences to start expecting from different settings.

I also like books by Scott Kelby, who has an irreverent sense of fun & describes things fairly well.

I'd really recommend finding a class you can take, because it's so helpful to have someone there to explain stuff to you and answer questions, as well as "forcing" you to practice various settings & exercises. I haven't taken Katrina's class but I hear it's really good from many dd ladies here!

I used to teach basic & portrait photography through my local parks/rec district, and you might be able to find something similar and relatively inexpensive where you live. When I taught, I would give the class packets of information that I'd written -- it included lots of basic "how to's" and samples of my own pics to illustrate shutter speed/aperture differences. That's a bonus of taking a class -- you often get additional materials to help you learn.

Just having a pro/teacher to talk to really helps you figure out the "little" things that can turn into BIG things -- like when to use the lens hood, when/how to use a circular polarizer, when to change ISO, how to use your flash optimally, etc.

I wish I could offer more help. I just don't know of ONE book or one place that can give you everything you need. For me, learning photography is still an ongoing process where I just accumulate bits and pieces of knowledge from practice, web, books, pros, people here at dd, people at photo.net, etc.

Oh -- let me add that I love going to Photography community, including forums, reviews, and galleries from Photo.net to learn and look at sample pics. Some of the posters there can be pretty snotty/rude at times, arrogant, etc. -- so take it with a grain of salt. But there are also LOTS of great, talented & genuinely helpful photos there -- amateurs & pros both -- who can give excellent advice and often go off on tangents that are just as interesting as the main topic in the thread. I sometimes go there just to browse and read and have learned some fun techniques and ideas there. (But really, be careful of the snarky posters & don't let them scare you away!)

Good luck!

[bluelemur01]

Carie, you also asked about lighting. I bought several books that I found in the photography section of Barnes/Noble and also some from Amazon. They are softcover books, and some samples are:

Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers by Christopher Grey, Master Posting Guide for Portrait Photographers by J.D. Walters, Posing and Lighting Techniques for Studio Portrait Photography by J.J. Allen, Outdoor and Location Portrait Photography by Jeff Smith. There is some great info about setting up poses and lighting, although it's still a LOT of practice & trial/error for yourself. Some of their shots are kind of cheesy but it's great to look at the different lighting & how they achieve it.

And one more book that I LOVE is called The Art of Photographing Nature by Martha Hill with photographs by Art Wolfe. This book has some really excellent shots and good description of how they achieved the shots. Like Peterson, this book gives the aperture & shutter info for the pics, and sometimes contrasts how different setting give a very different look to the photo. Plus, the photos are just stunning. I like this book a lot!

[bluelemur01]

Here are a few more things to check out. I like this article about dragging the shutter when using flash:
http://www.planetneil.com/tangents/f...g-the-shutter/

and here is some good information on flash in general:
http://www.planetneil.com/tangents/f...looking-flash/

[Avas Mom]

Thank you, Thank you Jennifer! I really appreciate ALL your advice. I just found a local class -- they arent sure when the next class will be..but I'm ready. I have to spend more time checking out the links. I feel like i'm on my way

[dugarner]

Originally Posted by bluelemur01

Here are a few more things to check out. I like this article about dragging the shutter when using flash:
http://www.planetneil.com/tangents/f...g-the-shutter/

Wow! That is really helpful! I hadn't thought about handholding with a flash, I mean, I had always assumed under 1/50 was a no-no; so this is sort of like rear-sync flash, but instead of flash firing at the end of the shutter so you get blurry + stopped action, it flashes with the shutter so you get all stopped action but with the ambient light that the meter suggested. Hmm. I'm going to have to try this---seems like an acceptable compromise between a fast lens (which I can't afford right now) and an obnoxiously-lit indoor shot in lower light. Thanks, Jennifer! Though the way the link is abbreviated above isn't the most . . . proper?

[bluelemur01]

lol Sarah! I totally agree...I wondered if it might be just my browser abbreviating it that way, and I thought...hmmmm...that's someone who REALLY LOVES THEIR CAMERA. ha.

Carie, I'm glad the info helped!

[f_nobles]

Hi. I'm new to the whole community thing, but want to learn more about the class that Katrina offers. How? How much? when?
Thanks so much!

[ajfetzer]

I read in this thread Katrina will be offering her class again in September. You can find all the info at Get It Scrapped.com
Her class is great!!
HTH