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Topic: Improving photography
| Author | Message |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 11/15/2007 11:23:15 PM | show profile I just joined the staff of a daily and I've been taking pictures for my stories when I can't get a photographer to come with me. I'd like to improve my photography skills--also making myself more marketable for future jobs. Anyone have advice? Are workshops worth it? Any good books or magazines that could get me thinking, particularly from a photojournalism perspective? Thanks. |
| candylilacs | Posted – 11/16/2007 4:26:53 AM | show profile Get a good digital camera, my first (and so far only) was the Canon Rebel EOS. You will learn more as you take more photos. First lesson: in outdoor pictures, make sure the light is behind you. Go out and take photos. While you may learn things in a class, it's also good to learn by doing, too. ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
| Gern Blansten | Posted – 11/16/2007 9:24:02 AM | show profile Really study photos which catch your eye...make notes of the elements you find appealing (and I do mean write them down)...then go duplicate those elements...do this very often and soon you'll find yourself considering composition even without your camera...and soon after that, composition will become second nature. ALWAYS keep the purpose of your photo in mind....don't try to be artsy fartsy all over the place...good photography is quiet. Pay attention to EVERY photo which is purpose driven....advertising, art, journalism...consider why it is successful or not with regard to its function. Workshops are fine if you want your hand held but the above tips happen in your mind and will continue to improve your skills forever. |
| Metro Writer | Posted – 11/16/2007 10:50:55 AM | show profile Gern's advice is sound. Also look into The Nikon School regardless of the camera you own. Also join www.nppa.org (National Press Photographers Association). Their magazine has great photos and articles about news photographers. |
| pinky | Posted – 11/16/2007 11:25:07 AM | show profile I've heard good things about ICP classes (in New York), but I've never taken one because they're a little expensive. National Geographic just launched a site with photo tips, but I haven't looked at it closely yet. I'm kind of in the same boat: I shoot some of my own stories and I'm pretty good with composition and things like that, but I'd like to get better at things like manipulating the light, not having the flash too blown out on close-ups, making skin tones more natural. |
| updated | Posted – 11/16/2007 3:23:23 PM | show profile Dynamic duo: digital camera with Photoshop Use a digital camera with several options. (I would love a great SLR but...$) My new little Kodak C340 has some settings for quick changes that help with selecting for the appropriate situation. The Sports setting allowed me to capture a pitched ball in mid-air during a Spring Training practice. It also fits in my purse, so I don't miss an opportunity. As was said earlier, try never to have your subject back-lit unless it's deliberate. Use filler flash if it can't be avoided. Once you plug your memory card into your computer later it's a great time to manipulate the images to the quality you want. Portrait shots that were washed out can be readily enhanced with auto level ajustments, and fine tuned with more selective level ajustments. Then crop until you get a good composition. Save your work to a fairly high resolution (300dpi or more) for reproduction, depending on how you are delivering the photos being used. Alot of simple photo programs will do this also (many already installed in MS XP) if you don't have Photoshop. In short, Carpe Dium and tweak later. I'd browse in the local library for Digital Photography How-To books for tips on the basics. Train your eye, then your hand. |
| Letterbox | Posted – 11/16/2007 3:52:27 PM | show profile On the tech side, get an SLR if you can with a decent fixed focus lens. Even an older SLR with lower megapixel resolution will blow any high resolution point and shoot away because it has far more glass. The Canon 50mm 1.8 is an excellent all around fast lens for a cheap price, though on a digital it's more like a 70 because of the sensor size. Don't be lured by package zooms which are crap. It's better to move yourself than zoom in. Buy a camera with a RAW mode since jpeg is a lossy format and the photos will have artifacting. |
| Steady70 | Posted – 11/18/2007 8:44:30 PM | show profile writers: write ! Editors: Edit ! photographers shoot images writers: write ! Editors: Edit ! photographers shoot images ! each one is an art.. and it takes a professional to get results suited for print.... |
| miles | Posted – 11/19/2007 12:05:44 PM | show profile | email poster photography tutor I'm a photographer with over 15 years of experience for publications such as The New York Times and W Magazine. If you need private lessons on photography, photoshop, or printing feel free to contact me Miles@MilesLadin.com |
| candylilacs | Posted – 11/19/2007 1:13:14 PM | show profile An EOS is the digital equivalent of an SLR. Regardless, it's a good starter camera. Most professional photographers I deal with say it's the best to start with. The 6.3 MP (megapixel) model you can get for around $350-$450. You can get 8 MP, but you don't really need it. If you shop around you can get it with a zoom lens, too. ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
