I bought a nice Canon Rebel, with a an IS lens and a great external
flash. It does a great job. But.......my daughter just got married and
the pictures that the pro took were fantastic. Obviously the picture
quality was great, but the setup, background. her eye for what the
whole shot would be like was unbelievable. My picture quality was as
good as or almost as good as, but the background, the twist of the
camera. I'm sure there are terms that I am trying to describe. I know
I am amateur and she certainly is the pro. I have no excuses anymore.
I want to learn more about how to take a great shot. I'm not looking
to go pro, but wanting to always improve and learn. Anyone make any
sense of this and have any ideas about how to learn, what to look for
in taking a picture please give me some advice. Thank you so much in
advance.
Wendy wrote:
> I bought a nice Canon Rebel, with a an IS lens and a great external
> flash. It does a great job. But.......my daughter just got married and
> the pictures that the pro took were fantastic. Obviously the picture
> quality was great, but the setup, background. her eye for what the
> whole shot would be like was unbelievable. My picture quality was as
> good as or almost as good as, but the background, the twist of the
> camera. I'm sure there are terms that I am trying to describe. I know
> I am amateur and she certainly is the pro. I have no excuses anymore.
> I want to learn more about how to take a great shot. I'm not looking
> to go pro, but wanting to always improve and learn. Anyone make any
> sense of this and have any ideas about how to learn, what to look for
> in taking a picture please give me some advice. Thank you so much in
> advance.
>
> Wendy
Study what you see in the pro's shots and others to get an idea of how
they compose. With practice you can anticipate the obvious, like a pole
sticking out of someone's head. It's experience, I don't have it but I'm
not a pro. A good book will help with composition and lighting, the
latter needs to be well understood, both film and digital have a limited
contrast range.
Dave Cohen
"Wendy" <wendy.kiss@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:k15rm3ti6u2sjf0sgaer2d0jnmk5tiei2u@4ax.com...
>I bought a nice Canon Rebel, with a an IS lens and a great external
> flash. It does a great job. But.......my daughter just got married and
> the pictures that the pro took were fantastic. Obviously the picture
> quality was great, but the setup, background. her eye for what the
> whole shot would be like was unbelievable. My picture quality was as
> good as or almost as good as, but the background, the twist of the
> camera. I'm sure there are terms that I am trying to describe. I know
> I am amateur and she certainly is the pro. I have no excuses anymore.
> I want to learn more about how to take a great shot. I'm not looking
> to go pro, but wanting to always improve and learn. Anyone make any
> sense of this and have any ideas about how to learn, what to look for
> in taking a picture please give me some advice. Thank you so much in
> advance.
>
> Wendy
Go and do a course, will be the best money you ever spend.
> Anyone make any
> sense of this and have any ideas about how to learn, what to look for
> in taking a picture please give me some advice. Thank you so much in
> advance.
By admitting your limitations, you're already way ahead of the pack, who
think they're already perfect!
Wendy wrote:
> I bought a nice Canon Rebel, with a an IS lens and a great external
> flash. It does a great job. But.......my daughter just got married and
> the pictures that the pro took were fantastic. Obviously the picture
> quality was great, but the setup, background. her eye for what the
> whole shot would be like was unbelievable. My picture quality was as
> good as or almost as good as, but the background, the twist of the
> camera. I'm sure there are terms that I am trying to describe. I know
> I am amateur and she certainly is the pro. I have no excuses anymore.
> I want to learn more about how to take a great shot. I'm not looking
> to go pro, but wanting to always improve and learn. Anyone make any
> sense of this and have any ideas about how to learn, what to look for
> in taking a picture please give me some advice. Thank you so much in
> advance.
>
> Wendy
Wendy,
You have good equipment, but have discovered that getting good
pictures is not just in having good cameras.
You might check to see if your local junior college has photography
classes. Many have such classes at nominal prices, and you can, at
least, learn some of the basics. And, since you have a digital camera,
you can afford to take as many pictures as it takes to gain some
experience about what works, and what doesn't. Still, there are 'rules'
(I consider them guidelines) for composition, and framing, and getting
PEOPLE to cooperate for taking a picture is a 'people skill'. For that
reason, I HATE taking posed pictures of groups.
"Ron Hunter" <rphunter@charter.net> wrote in message
news:z6edncAr2bQgrPPanZ2dnUVZ_v-hnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Wendy wrote:
>> I bought a nice Canon Rebel, with a an IS lens and a great external
>> flash. It does a great job. But.......my daughter just got married and
>> the pictures that the pro took were fantastic. Obviously the picture
>> quality was great, but the setup, background. her eye for what the
>> whole shot would be like was unbelievable. My picture quality was as
>> good as or almost as good as, but the background, the twist of the
>> camera. I'm sure there are terms that I am trying to describe. I know
>> I am amateur and she certainly is the pro. I have no excuses anymore.
>> I want to learn more about how to take a great shot. I'm not looking
>> to go pro, but wanting to always improve and learn. Anyone make any
>> sense of this and have any ideas about how to learn, what to look for
>> in taking a picture please give me some advice. Thank you so much in
>> advance.
>>
>> Wendy
>
> Wendy,
> You have good equipment, but have discovered that getting good pictures
> is not just in having good cameras.
> You might check to see if your local junior college has photography
> classes. Many have such classes at nominal prices, and you can, at least,
> learn some of the basics. And, since you have a digital camera, you can
> afford to take as many pictures as it takes to gain some experience about
> what works, and what doesn't. Still, there are 'rules' (I consider them
> guidelines) for composition, and framing, and getting PEOPLE to cooperate
> for taking a picture is a 'people skill'. For that reason, I HATE taking
> posed pictures of groups.
I second these sentiments. But I also suggest you carry the camera
everywhere you can and "play". The best way to know what works for you is to
try it. Getting comfortable with your camera is one of the first rules and
knowing how to do such things as how to turn the flash on and off (as well
as auto), how to manually set shutter and f-stop is important. By trying
things and exploring you get quicker at being able to make changes eaily.
Then when you begin to concentrate on composition and subject selection,
those "functions" are so automatic that they won't get in the way. Also try
many ideas on a simple subject. For example, choose a christmas tree and
take closeups, distant shots, with the camera turned on its side, exposed
for the brightness of the lights, and for the shaded trunk area, and for the
wrapped packages underneath. Try a composition with the tree to one side
(maybe with a person standing by the tree).
Then examine the images on a larger screen (like your computer) and see what
catches your eye and what didn't work. You will probably find that several
of the photos will give a different, but pleasing result. Remember what you
did to get that effect. Then you can try that combination on other subjects.
And many of these "getting used to the camera" suggestions go just as much
for a new camera for an experienced photographer, as for a new photographer.
One of the advantages of digital is it won't cost you time and materials to
explore. And along the way you may stumble on some incredible images just
because you are taking photos of things you hadn't anticipated until your
eye fell on it. How many of us see those scented candles in use at this time
of year, and how many of us take time to try getting a good photo of one.
Maybe with a sprig of evergreen as an accent. Unless you are shooting almost
everything you may have not thought to try.
"Ron Hunter" <rphunter@charter.net> wrote in message
news:z6edncAr2bQgrPPanZ2dnUVZ_v-hnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Wendy wrote:
>> I bought a nice Canon Rebel, with a an IS lens and a great external
>> flash. It does a great job. But.......my daughter just got married and
>> the pictures that the pro took were fantastic. Obviously the picture
>> quality was great, but the setup, background. her eye for what the
>> whole shot would be like was unbelievable. My picture quality was as
>> good as or almost as good as, but the background, the twist of the
>> camera. I'm sure there are terms that I am trying to describe. I know
>> I am amateur and she certainly is the pro. I have no excuses anymore.
>> I want to learn more about how to take a great shot. I'm not looking
>> to go pro, but wanting to always improve and learn. Anyone make any
>> sense of this and have any ideas about how to learn, what to look for
>> in taking a picture please give me some advice. Thank you so much in
>> advance.
>>
>> Wendy
>
> Wendy,
> You have good equipment, but have discovered that getting good pictures
> is not just in having good cameras.
> You might check to see if your local junior college has photography
> classes. Many have such classes at nominal prices, and you can, at least,
> learn some of the basics. And, since you have a digital camera, you can
> afford to take as many pictures as it takes to gain some experience about
> what works, and what doesn't. Still, there are 'rules' (I consider them
> guidelines) for composition, and framing, and getting PEOPLE to cooperate
> for taking a picture is a 'people skill'. For that reason, I HATE taking
> posed pictures of groups.
I second these sentiments. But I also suggest you carry the camera
everywhere you can and "play". The best way to know what works for you is to
try it. Getting comfortable with your camera is one of the first rules and
knowing how to do such things as how to turn the flash on and off (as well
as auto), how to manually set shutter and f-stop is important. By trying
things and exploring you get quicker at being able to make changes eaily.
Then when you begin to concentrate on composition and subject selection,
those "functions" are so automatic that they won't get in the way. Also try
many ideas on a simple subject. For example, choose a christmas tree and
take closeups, distant shots, with the camera turned on its side, exposed
for the brightness of the lights, and for the shaded trunk area, and for the
wrapped packages underneath. Try a composition with the tree to one side
(maybe with a person standing by the tree).
Then examine the images on a larger screen (like your computer) and see what
catches your eye and what didn't work. You will probably find that several
of the photos will give a different, but pleasing result. Remember what you
did to get that effect. Then you can try that combination on other subjects.
And many of these "getting used to the camera" suggestions go just as much
for a new camera for an experienced photographer, as for a new photographer.
One of the advantages of digital is it won't cost you time and materials to
explore. And along the way you may stumble on some incredible images just
because you are taking photos of things you hadn't anticipated until your
eye fell on it. How many of us see those scented candles in use at this time
of year, and how many of us take time to try getting a good photo of one.
Maybe with a sprig of evergreen as an accent. Unless you are shooting almost
everything you may have not thought to try.
Wendy wrote:
> I bought a nice Canon Rebel, with a an IS lens and a great external
> flash. It does a great job. But.......my daughter just got married and
> the pictures that the pro took were fantastic. Obviously the picture
> quality was great, but the setup, background. her eye for what the
> whole shot would be like was unbelievable. My picture quality was as
> good as or almost as good as, but the background, the twist of the
> camera. I'm sure there are terms that I am trying to describe. I know
> I am amateur and she certainly is the pro. I have no excuses anymore.
> I want to learn more about how to take a great shot. I'm not looking
> to go pro, but wanting to always improve and learn. Anyone make any
> sense of this and have any ideas about how to learn, what to look for
> in taking a picture please give me some advice. Thank you so much in
> advance.
>
> Wendy
I think a good pro photographer of weddings and the like
knows how to pose a photo. It is partly psychology.
Marvin wrote:
> Wendy wrote:
>> I bought a nice Canon Rebel, with a an IS lens and a great external
>> flash. It does a great job. But.......my daughter just got married and
>> the pictures that the pro took were fantastic. Obviously the picture
>> quality was great, but the setup, background. her eye for what the
>> whole shot would be like was unbelievable. My picture quality was as
>> good as or almost as good as, but the background, the twist of the
>> camera. I'm sure there are terms that I am trying to describe. I know
>> I am amateur and she certainly is the pro. I have no excuses anymore.
>> I want to learn more about how to take a great shot. I'm not looking
>> to go pro, but wanting to always improve and learn. Anyone make any
>> sense of this and have any ideas about how to learn, what to look for
>> in taking a picture please give me some advice. Thank you so much in
>> advance.
>>
>> Wendy
> I think a good pro photographer of weddings and the like knows how to
> pose a photo. It is partly psychology.
True, and the REALLY good ones can do it quickly, without having
everyone there ready to kill them. I have seen wedding photographers
who turned a happy occasion into a nightmare of delay, and frustration,
while a hundred people wait in the reception hall for the happy couple,
who then arrive rather frazzled, and in a bad mood.
If I were going to be married, again, I would tell the photographer he
was allowed 10 pictures before the reception. Any more and the delay
becomes rather annoying for the guests, and the wedding party.
"Ron Hunter" <rphunter@charter.net> wrote in message
news:ROWdnay13rTJ7_LanZ2dnUVZ_jSdnZ2d@giganews.com ...
> Marvin wrote:
>> I think a good pro photographer of weddings and the like knows how to
>> pose a photo. It is partly psychology.
>
> True, and the REALLY good ones can do it quickly, without having everyone
> there ready to kill them. I have seen wedding photographers who turned a
> happy occasion into a nightmare of delay, and frustration, while a hundred
> people wait in the reception hall for the happy couple, who then arrive
> rather frazzled, and in a bad mood.
> If I were going to be married, again, I would tell the photographer he was
> allowed 10 pictures before the reception. Any more and the delay becomes
> rather annoying for the guests, and the wedding party.
Very true. Think back to when you first drove a car. You had to give all
your attention to getting started, stopping, even figuring how to turn on
the turn signals. All this took attention and time to think. But now you
drive from home to work and get there realizing you don't remember a single
inch of the trip. All that stuff that needed thought and concentration is
now automatic. The same goes for photography. When you first start out you
need to think about how to change the shutter speed or visualize how to get
a particular effect (or how a single scene can be taken in many ways to
enhance different features or effects). Experience makes these decisions so
fast that getting a particular image is faster and easier with a higher
chance of good results. And adjusting to changing situations happens with
much less thought. You don't even have to concentrate on how to put your
finger on the right button, it just goes there.
The experience does not have to be professional experience. Spending time
trying things and exploring your equipment can give you a big boost in that
experience. And who knows, you may catch some really nice photos along the
way. And with digital capturing exif data with each photo it is much easier
to see what you did to get that good (or bad) photo.
Great camera! Now its up to me. 
Linear Mode
