Comments on: WFMW - Photography Lessons http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/ The musings and ravings of a bloggart family Fri, 16 May 2008 20:50:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Kristine/SHS http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8707 Kristine/SHS Sun, 11 May 2008 03:45:13 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8707 Aperture, ISO, it all sounds rather algebraic. I tried it. Once. For now, I'm happy if I move my camera to sports/motion, scenery, or close up mode. I figure the auto's there for a REASON, and I'm not going to let it go to waste! Aperture, ISO, it all sounds rather algebraic. I tried it. Once.

For now, I’m happy if I move my camera to sports/motion, scenery, or close up mode. I figure the auto’s there for a REASON, and I’m not going to let it go to waste!

]]> By: julie http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8672 julie Thu, 08 May 2008 02:30:11 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8672 Honestly when I first started with my DSLR I was the same way. Manual? ARe you kidding me??? Who does that???? Then I bought this lens that for some reason I thought I would have to shoot everything in manual...don't know why I thought that but I did. So I jumped in and just started shooting and messing up all kinds of stuff. Well, in my trek down the manual lane I found this guide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_16_rule it's not perfect but it's a starting point for me. LOVE IT! Don't give up. If I can figure some of that stuff out you can too., This website offers fun stuff with instructions ( a must have for me in learning....http://shuttersisters.com/home/2008/5/4/sunday-school-get-your-flare-on.html I didn't link you to the home page but to one that taught me something. Go try it out! JULIE Honestly when I first started with my DSLR I was the same way. Manual? ARe you kidding me??? Who does that????
Then I bought this lens that for some reason I thought I would have to shoot everything in manual…don’t know why I thought that but I did. So I jumped in and just started shooting and messing up all kinds of stuff. Well, in my trek down the manual lane I found this guide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_16_rule
it’s not perfect but it’s a starting point for me. LOVE IT!
Don’t give up. If I can figure some of that stuff out you can too.,
This website offers fun stuff with instructions ( a must have for me in learning….http://shuttersisters.com/home/2008/5/4/sunday-school-get-your-flare-on.html
I didn’t link you to the home page but to one that taught me something.
Go try it out!
JULIE

]]> By: Posie http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8671 Posie Wed, 07 May 2008 22:41:37 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8671 Thanks Babychaser for the tips! I have a SLR camera (FILM!!) along with my extra telephoto lens and love it!! only I don't always understand all the photography mumbo-jumbo... Kathy, I'm with you...just point and shoot, fiddle with the buttons a little bit and hope for the best! Okay, I do want good pictures but could someone please explain the manual to me??? Thanks Babychaser for the tips! I have a SLR camera (FILM!!) along with my extra telephoto lens and love it!! only I don’t always understand all the photography mumbo-jumbo…

Kathy, I’m with you…just point and shoot, fiddle with the buttons a little bit and hope for the best! Okay, I do want good pictures but could someone please explain the manual to me???

]]> By: Babychaser http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8669 Babychaser Wed, 07 May 2008 17:44:03 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8669 The reason your picture was blurry set on Aperature Mode (I'm asuming) is that with the aperature set where it was, you shutter speed was too slow. To get the right amount of light the two have to balance out... like being on a seesaw. The lower in numbers your aperature is set, the higher in numbers your shutter speed has to be. Try setting your aperature number as low (f/2.8, 3.2, etc) as your lens will allow (though you have to be careful to focus on the right thing or it will still be blurry... the lower the aperature number is the less stuff is in focus.) Another idea is to set your camera on the shutter priority mode (usually the "S" option.) We shoot everything manual usually, though we do sometimes shoot weddings in aperature priority (my husband especially and his pics always turn out a little better than mine). The down side is that soemtimes that shutter speed gets down low... this won't matter though if you are using a tripod and your subject is still (i.e. not on a swing!) :) Definatelly keep experimenting... use the light meter in your camera (I have a D200, but I assume yours has one too.) When the pictures don't matter and you are just playing around, try manual mode and switch things around until your light meter is right on in the middle... then note what your setting were and what the effect was. :) Oh... one note on ISO... if it is bright and sunny, ISO 100 is the best bet. Your pictures will turn out better. As you have less and less light, turn the ISO up. As you do this, you can use a faster shutter speed etc. :) I hope this helps! The reason your picture was blurry set on Aperature Mode (I’m asuming) is that with the aperature set where it was, you shutter speed was too slow. To get the right amount of light the two have to balance out… like being on a seesaw. The lower in numbers your aperature is set, the higher in numbers your shutter speed has to be. Try setting your aperature number as low (f/2.8, 3.2, etc) as your lens will allow (though you have to be careful to focus on the right thing or it will still be blurry… the lower the aperature number is the less stuff is in focus.) Another idea is to set your camera on the shutter priority mode (usually the “S” option.)

We shoot everything manual usually, though we do sometimes shoot weddings in aperature priority (my husband especially and his pics always turn out a little better than mine). The down side is that soemtimes that shutter speed gets down low… this won’t matter though if you are using a tripod and your subject is still (i.e. not on a swing!) :)

Definatelly keep experimenting… use the light meter in your camera (I have a D200, but I assume yours has one too.) When the pictures don’t matter and you are just playing around, try manual mode and switch things around until your light meter is right on in the middle… then note what your setting were and what the effect was. :)

Oh… one note on ISO… if it is bright and sunny, ISO 100 is the best bet. Your pictures will turn out better. As you have less and less light, turn the ISO up. As you do this, you can use a faster shutter speed etc. :)

I hope this helps!

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8668 Jennifer Wed, 07 May 2008 14:48:06 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8668 I never could figure out the settings on those fancy cameras. We have an old Cannon something or other with several lenses and gadgets, but neither of us really knows how to use it. My sister and brother in law use all the settings on thier cameras and take great shots. At least we're in the digital age and not using up a ton of film!! Keep practicing and you'll get it you smart lady you. :) I never could figure out the settings on those fancy cameras. We have an old Cannon something or other with several lenses and gadgets, but neither of us really knows how to use it. My sister and brother in law use all the settings on thier cameras and take great shots.

At least we’re in the digital age and not using up a ton of film!! Keep practicing and you’ll get it you smart lady you. :)

]]> By: Kirstin http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8667 Kirstin Wed, 07 May 2008 14:20:38 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8667 Ha! I had to laugh...okay laughed inside because everyone is still sleeping, but..I was just thinking about this very thing! I love going to Pioneerwoman.com she has great stuff, especially photography. Anyways, I was there today and she was talking about aperture. I have Nikon D40 and mainly use the presets...I haven't ventured to try and figure out the manual stuff. So I went outside to try the aperture setting and it ended up looking like your first picture. Guess I"ll have to try again. At the same time, I think I take some great pictures using the pre-sets!! Ha! I had to laugh…okay laughed inside because everyone is still sleeping, but..I was just thinking about this very thing! I love going to Pioneerwoman.com she has great stuff, especially photography. Anyways, I was there today and she was talking about aperture. I have Nikon D40 and mainly use the presets…I haven’t ventured to try and figure out the manual stuff. So I went outside to try the aperture setting and it ended up looking like your first picture. Guess I”ll have to try again. At the same time, I think I take some great pictures using the pre-sets!!

]]> By: Swank Girl http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8666 Swank Girl Wed, 07 May 2008 13:16:10 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8666 Can I suggest a site for you that might help? http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/cg_list.asp?t=55 This site has free tutorials on how to take better photos with your digital SLR camera. In particular, the 12 week online tutorial for better digital photography was great! I tried this tutorial out, also using my handy dandy user guide that came with my camera. You might find it useful! Good luck! Can I suggest a site for you that might help?

http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/cg_list.asp?t=55

This site has free tutorials on how to take better photos with your digital SLR camera. In particular, the 12 week online tutorial for better digital photography was great! I tried this tutorial out, also using my handy dandy user guide that came with my camera. You might find it useful!

Good luck!

]]> By: Sarah http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8665 Sarah Wed, 07 May 2008 12:41:04 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8665 I got the D80 in November and was disappointed at first b/c my pics didn't look that much better than with my point and shoot. You really do have to learn how to shoot in manual mode to get the best results. However, if you use the AP mode, you should be able to get decent shots, as long as you set your white balance and ISO manually. I did find a photographer for some lessons, but I also learned a tremendous amount from Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure. It's the best $15 you could spend. I'm no expert, but I'm getting better! If I can be of any help, let me know. Happy shooting. I got the D80 in November and was disappointed at first b/c my pics didn’t look that much better than with my point and shoot. You really do have to learn how to shoot in manual mode to get the best results. However, if you use the AP mode, you should be able to get decent shots, as long as you set your white balance and ISO manually.

I did find a photographer for some lessons, but I also learned a tremendous amount from Bryan Peterson’s Understanding Exposure. It’s the best $15 you could spend.

I’m no expert, but I’m getting better! If I can be of any help, let me know. Happy shooting.

]]> By: Angie @ Many Little Blessings http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8664 Angie @ Many Little Blessings Wed, 07 May 2008 12:23:14 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8664 The book that I really liked that helped me with lots of stuff like that was Understanding Exposure. It was an easy read and things were really written in a way that were meant for a person to actually understand, instead of priding itself on being really technical. The book that I really liked that helped me with lots of stuff like that was Understanding Exposure. It was an easy read and things were really written in a way that were meant for a person to actually understand, instead of priding itself on being really technical.

]]> By: BundyMum @ Thirsty? http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8663 BundyMum @ Thirsty? Wed, 07 May 2008 11:37:14 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2008/05/06/wfmw-photography-lessons/#comment-8663 Keep experimenting! And thanks for the post! Im still learning too, one day Im going to get a shot of a soaring eagle. I dont know how all those settings work, but I did find a photography blog about taking shots of birds in flight so Im going to try out what they have suggested and increase my knowledge in practice that way. If you like, check out the picture I got of a possum this week! Keep experimenting! And thanks for the post! Im still learning too, one day Im going to get a shot of a soaring eagle. I dont know how all those settings work, but I did find a photography blog about taking shots of birds in flight so Im going to try out what they have suggested and increase my knowledge in practice that way. If you like, check out the picture I got of a possum this week!

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