A bit of follow-up ...
The weekly brunch is a sub-group of a nature photography group - CNPA
Carolinas Nature Photography Association.
Grandfather Mountain regulars will know who I'm referring to.
This guy recently joined the local group here in the Triangle.
As I mentioned, he had a specific question about getting a computer for
post-processing using Lightroom. I tried to answer without getting into
a Windoze vs Apple argument ... or Canon/Nikon; Tamron/Sigma ...
I should have suggested a good tripod, but I couldn't get a word in
edgewise once the debate got going.
I'd also suggest he join in some of the photo outings our group has to
get a better feel for what might interest him. I got the feeling
"landscape photography" was some kind of a generic place holder because
he doesn't know what he wants to do. The advice to look at other
people's photos should help him there.
He's at a stage where he doesn't yet know enough to figure out what
questions he wants to ask.
I know what that's like.
I think the Ansel Adams exhibit will be at the NCMA for another month,
so if he comes back to the brunch next week I'll suggest he start there.
On 3/24/2017 10:25 AM, Stanley Halpin wrote:
On Mar 23, 2017, at 11:54 PM, Larry Colen <[email protected]> wrote:
John Sessoms wrote:
But that got me thinking overnight & I decided to submit a more general
question to the group wisdom.
Given a new photographer who already has a "pro-sumer" DSLR, what advice
would you give him/her regarding BASIC kit?
... after I suggest a good, solid tripod.
Watching the advice stream by, most of it is discussing what someone needs to
do to become the best possible photographer, without actually considering what
his goals are, or how much effort (never mind money) he wants to devote to the
pursuit, which is actually orthogonal to the OP question of their basic (*) kit.
Along that line, I'd suggest that he first go out and have fun playing with his
camera, figure out what he enjoys doing, what his goals as a photographer are,
and how much time, money and effort he wants to spend pursuing his goals.
In the 80s-90s my mom, who told us that she couldn't even see through a
viewfinder when Dad and I had a darkroom before they divorced, got into
photography. She covered the walls with prints of rather mediocre cliche
photos, taken with minimal technical ability. However, she had a lot of fun,
and was very happy with her work.
It is entirely possible that this fellow can have has much fun with the kit he
has and not investing the effort to achieve professional levels of competence.
--
Larry Colen [email protected] (postbox on min4est) http://red4est.com/lrc
Yes Larry, John’s question was about “basic kit” for a newbie. But there is an
underlying presumption that the person in question may in fact use the kit and
that it may become a hobby. I.e., something that is “...a regular activity that
is done for enjoyment…”
If this is to be a “regular activity” then the person in question needs several
things besides a basic kit. Here then is my advice to him.
a. Motivation. Why would you pick up the camera, much less step outside, much
less walk/drive/fly someplace just to take pictures? Presumably because there
is something satisfying and rewarding about capturing an image of a
person/place/scene/object, a picture which becomes a representation of your own
memory that can be not only revisited but also shared with others. But it is a
big world with lots to see. As others have suggested, a good exercise easy in
the process would be to look at photo books and websites and magazines, seeing
which sort of images intrigue you for whatever reason. As you go off into that
wide world with basic kit in hand, keep paying attention to what others are
shooting.
b. Knowledge. It helps to have an understanding of the basic controls on the
camera and why they are there and how they make a difference in the image.
Aperture, shutter speed, ISO. How these three variables interact and why you
might want to make different tradeoffs when shooting a flower macro than you
would shooting a seascape. And oh by the way it helps to know something about
light and the way the light on a scene can vary moment to moment, hour to hour,
day to day and how the quality of light affects the images.
c. Understanding. You can read the manual, you can read or view basic
instructional materials and quickly “know” about things like aperture, speed
and ISO. But a deeper understanding takes practice and reflection.
So, to summarize and also echo what many others have said:
1. RTFM.
2. Look at others’ work.
3. Spend a year or two taking pictures.
4. Look at others’ work, try to figure what you are missing.
5. Take a field workshop or two with competent professionals who shoot the sort
of subject you are interested in.
6. Go shoot a bunch more.
7. Buy more lenses, maybe a new camera body.
8. Look for recommendations for a local psychotherapist who can treat cases of
obsession
stan
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