What Ways Can I Practice Photography?
I've been wanting to get more into photography recently. I have a decent camera I got at a thirft store a few years ago. How can I best practice taking photos?
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Answers ( 1 )
Want to know the best thing about the advent of digital photography? Once you buy your equipment- your camera and lenses, mostly- it's all pretty much free from there.
Didn't used to be that way. Used to be you bought your camera and lenses, then your film, then all the equipment for a darkroom, then papers and chemicals, then film again-- it was constant expense so photographers came to forget the Ten-to-One "rule": For every ten shots you take, you get one with potential. For every ten with potential, you get one that is good. For every ten that are good, you get one you can sell.
Film photographers were constantly spending money to indulge their interest.
With digital, though, it's just data crammed onto an SD card- pretty much each shot is free, and when you delete one for being out of focus or having blown highlights, it doesn't cost you anything- zip! gone and that space is ready for more.
So digital photography has that huge advantage over film photography- you can afford to practice.
So practice.
Get yourself up early in the morning, go to a somewhat scenic spot nearby, and take pictures of how the light of sunrise effects the landscape. Not shots of the sunrise, itself, so much, but of how the light changes-- everything. Make notes of your camera settings so you know what worked and what didn't with each shot.
Go to the park and grab pics of movement- Frisbee players, runners, a soccer game (smart to ask permission before shooting people who may be recognizable- and be very careful shooting kids). Make your notes so you know what worked.
A zoo is a marvelous place to get pics- especially if you are willing to pay a bit to go "behind the scenes" so you have access others don't. You don't have to, though- there are amazing shots from the usual viewpoints. Notes, as always.
At the same time, read up on visual composition, eye paths, and the difference between color and value. Then practice some grayscale work.
If your camera does it, shoot in RAW; take a class- with actual instructor- in Photoshop because there's likely not a thing called "perfect untouched photo". Save your money and go on a photography workshop in your- or some remarkable area, such as the Grand Canyon- with an instructor who will help you improve. Just keep taking pics until you feel you know a little bit about what you are doing- and that's when you start practicing in earnest.
And don't forget the Ten to One Rule- it's still true- even with digital.