Help a Newbie!

[MedicBill]

I'm wondering if the photography gurus here can recommend some websites where I can learn the basics of photography. I have always been interested in it but have never really had the time or money to start.

I plan on buying my camera this week, either a Nikon D5200 or Nikon D7100. I've also done some research on which lenses to buy. I think I decided on a 18-105mm, f 3.5-5.6. Most of the shooting I want to do is outdoor so I think this should work fine.

I've been lurking on this section of the Dis for over 3 years now and I love all of the pictures you guys take. Please feel free to leave some advice on how I can develop my photography skills.

Thanks all!

 

[cisobe]

I shoot canon, so I don't have any Nikon specific websites for you. But for me photography on the net is a great resource. It is canon focused but there are some canon and Nikon converts in there that can see beyond the gear at talk shop about the art...

Besides that, I can recommend a few books... Understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson is a great place to start and my goto recommendation for people starting out. I have the eBook copy on my tablet for reference.

Good luck and have fun. Digital is a great way to learn as you get instant feed back.

 

[mamaCta]

The best straight forward, simple tutorials I have ever seen to help you understand manual settings:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/userblogpost.asp?id=51069

Understanding Exposure is also a very good read.

 

[cisobe]

YouTube is also a good resource. Adorama and bhphoto have educational series for free...just remembered...

 

[photo_chick]

There is good information online but it's unfortunately mixed in with a lot of bad information.

Go with a reputable book. Understanding Exposure is a good one to start with.

 

[BBQMonster]

Besides that, I can recommend a few books... Understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson is a great place to start and my goto recommendation for people starting out. I have the eBook copy on my tablet for reference.

Good luck and have fun. Digital is a great way to learn as you get instant feed back.

Reading Understanding Exposure right now and agree that it is a great resource. I have a question regarding the recommended "Cloudy" white balance setting. Do you leave your White Balance at the Cloudy setting or use Auto?
BBQMonster

 

[cisobe]

Reading Understanding Exposure right now and agree that it is a great resource. I have a question regarding the recommended "Cloudy" white balance setting. Do you leave your White Balance at the Cloudy setting or use Auto?
BBQMonster

WB is a tough one. The wb preset settings on your camera are generally close for most situations, but I find the cloud and shade settings, at times to be a bit too warm. I shoot raw so I have the option to easily adjust it after the fact. My 5d3 does pretty decently in auto wb, so I typically leave it there (especially since I shoot raw). I go custom web when I shoo with my studio strobes as I have the exact color temp from those lights.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Read that book! Read your manual!!!! Websites, I think Fro Knows Photo is a fun guy to listen to...

 

[photo_chick]

As far as WB... I shoot RAW and leave the WB on auto when I'm out and about. If I'm in the studio where I completely control the light I'll set it to what I need.

 

[BBQMonster]

WB is a tough one. The wb preset settings on your camera are generally close for most situations, but I find the cloud and shade settings, at times to be a bit too warm. I shoot raw so I have the option to easily adjust it after the fact. My 5d3 does pretty decently in auto wb, so I typically leave it there (especially since I shoot raw). I go custom web when I shoo with my studio strobes as I have the exact color temp from those lights.

I know I need to start shooting in RAW, but my Nikon D5200 is 24MP and the RAW file sizes are sort of an issue with my current setup. I will have to start experimenting with it before our next trip. Understanding Exposure has been a great help, I only wish I had of bought it before our last trip.
BBQMonster

 

[MedicBill]

Thanks for the help, guys!

 

[cisobe]

I know I need to start shooting in RAW, but my Nikon D5200 is 24MP and the RAW file sizes are sort of an issue with my current setup. I will have to start experimenting with it before our next trip. Understanding Exposure has been a great help, I only wish I had of bought it before our last trip.
BBQMonster

He he, my 5d3 is 22.3MP so the raw files are quite large as well. Good thing memory cards and hard drives are cheap.

 

[DisneyTog]

I'm wondering if the photography gurus here can recommend some websites where I can learn the basics of photography. I have always been interested in it but have never really had the time or money to start.

I plan on buying my camera this week, either a Nikon D5200 or Nikon D7100. I've also done some research on which lenses to buy. I think I decided on a 18-105mm, f 3.5-5.6. Most of the shooting I want to do is outdoor so I think this should work fine.

I've been lurking on this section of the Dis for over 3 years now and I love all of the pictures you guys take. Please feel free to leave some advice on how I can develop my photography skills.

Thanks all!

Hey...I am a studio owner in the UK and I teach Photography classes. If I am honest the internet is not the best place to learn photography because if you dont understand something who do you ask???? My advice is to keep your eye on something like Groupon and go on a face to face course. There is no quick easy option but this is my best advice.

 

[MedicBill]

Hey...I am a studio owner in the UK and I teach Photography classes. If I am honest the internet is not the best place to learn photography because if you dont understand something who do you ask???? My advice is to keep your eye on something like Groupon and go on a face to face course. There is no quick easy option but this is my best advice.

Thanks! I'll look into getting face to face lessons.

I ended up ordering the D7100 and I should have it by Monday. I'm very excited and can't wait to play around with it!

Thanks so much for all of the advice. You guys rock!

 

[cobright]

photochick preaches truth about WB and shooting RAW. WB is one of those decisions your camera-brain makes about how to alter and save the data it gets off the sensor. Light changes from shot to shot.

Anyway, to the OP: Put the camera on auto and shoot up a day or two. Then look at the file properties and see what the camera decided to use for each shot.

 

[DisneyTog]

Thanks! I'll look into getting face to face lessons.

I ended up ordering the D7100 and I should have it by Monday. I'm very excited and can't wait to play around with it!

Thanks so much for all of the advice. You guys rock!

Congrats on the new buy....What dates are you back in WDW? We are just looking at going 9/10 to 9/24. If you are there at that time I would be happy to give you a couple of hours lesson on the camera free of charge at one of the parks....Just let me know if you are interested. Otherwise if you get stuck just drop me an email and maybe I can talk you through some stuff on skype....Always happy to help. Iguanaphotography.com

Cheers

Si

 

[MedicBill]

Congrats on the new buy....What dates are you back in WDW? We are just looking at going 9/10 to 9/24. If you are there at that time I would be happy to give you a couple of hours lesson on the camera free of charge at one of the parks....Just let me know if you are interested. Otherwise if you get stuck just drop me an email and maybe I can talk you through some stuff on skype....Always happy to help. Iguanaphotography.com

Cheers

Si

We just miss each other. I arrive on 9/29. Things are going well so far. I put down the instruction manual today for a bit and went outside to take some pictures. They look like beginner pictures! I was able to fix them up nicely in Lightroom (with the exception of the stuff that I cut off when shooting).

 

[MedicBill]

Anyway, to the OP: Put the camera on auto and shoot up a day or two. Then look at the file properties and see what the camera decided to use for each shot.

It may sound silly but today I went out and shot some pics. I used auto to take a pic then I looked at the settings the camera used and recreated the shot in manual mode. After that, I kept it in manual and changed the settings slightly just to see what happened.

Actually using the camera helped put a lot of things together that I have read here. Thanks for all of the great advice!