This past Tuesday I ran into a friend of mine who happens to be a photographer. He was taking pictures of the Tuesday indie bands at the Horseshoe (Toronto), and we got to talking about camera settings and what works best in which conditions. This was cool for two reasons:
1. It was more interesting talking to my friend than listening to the crappy band on stage.
2. Now I have a small amount of knowledge about how to work my camera! A dangerous thing indeed...
I'd like to start taking photographs now that I know the difference between it and a hole in the ground, so I guess a lot of experimentation is in order. I've just been reading up on some technical aspects like aperture settings, shutter speed, film speed, and how to balance them to get the right focus, exposure, and sense of motion. I've also come across one compositional tool, the "rule of thirds". But if anyone has any tips, websites, advice, etc... for me it would be a great help in getting started.
And if I can fight the urge to take thousands of pictures of my tally-wacker in different moods and poses, I may even submit a photo to the next RHP Photo Competition!
Originally posted by PBE6Try to keep the sun behind or to the side of you, so you don't get really deep shadows.
This past Tuesday I ran into a friend of mine who happens to be a photographer. He was taking pictures of the Tuesday indie bands at the Horseshoe (Toronto), and we got to talking about camera settings and what works best in which conditions. This was cool for two reasons:
1. It was more interesting talking to my friend than listening to the crappy band on ...[text shortened]... in different moods and poses, I may even submit a photo to the next RHP Photo Competition!
Use fill flash if taking a shot of somebody with a hat on.
When taking a landscape shot, don't try to capture the entire scene. Try to focus on a small element of it.
Try to use leading lines, like using a line of trees to a castle. Or position a cottage on the meeting of the thirds, so that a hedge leads up to the cottage, and so that the mountains in the background also lead down to the cottage, for example.
Experiment.
Have fun.
D
Originally posted by RagnorakThanks Ragnorak, good advice...
Try to keep the sun behind or to the side of you, so you don't get really deep shadows.
Use fill flash if taking a shot of somebody with a hat on.
When taking a landscape shot, don't try to capture the entire scene. Try to focus on a small element of it.
Try to use leading lines, like using a line of trees to a castle. Or position a cottage on th ...[text shortened]... in the background also lead down to the cottage, for example.
Experiment.
Have fun.
D
Use fill flash if taking a shot of somebody with a hat on.
Now, what if that, umm, "person"...happens to be wearing, umm, a "helmet"...?
Originally posted by PBE6tell them you don't trust anyone who's face you can't see and then ask them to remove it.
Thanks Ragnorak, good advice...
[b]Use fill flash if taking a shot of somebody with a hat on.
Now, what if that, umm, "person"...happens to be wearing, umm, a "helmet"...?[/b]
Then hand in your resignation notice.
I used to shoot local indie (Dischord) bands in D.C. alot after I got out of college. I would suggest:
Go to a few shows and try one setting all night i.e. wide angle/shutter speed/ film speed, etc. - then try some variations. (Professional photographers will often carry more than one camera..)
Keep a notebook and record your settings.
Make sure your developing in consistant so you can reproduce your great results. ( I dropped my film off at a lab - I hated having all the checmicals in the house..)
1600 speed film is neat.. but too grainy in my opinion..
Practice shooting without looking through your lens, it can help you get some variation.
More than half of the work is in choosing your best images from your contact sheet - so give yourself alot to choose from.
I loved my old Pentax K1000 with a 28-80 lens, 400 ISA film it was perfect for bouncing around the pit. Durable, reliable & classic.
Have fun!