I'm NO photographer, so tell me...HOW DO YOU DO IT?!

[JustAKid]

In high school I took a photography class but that was....a very long time ago. Since then I have toyed with the idea of getting a DSLR but could never get myself to do it. With our Disney trip on the horizon, I am REALLY tempted. Here's the thing, though...I'm not really sure how to do it anymore.

Can any of you direct me to a place with great information about f/stops, aperatures, ISOs and things in LAYMENS *BEGINNER* terms? Obviously I'm going to have to play...A LOT...but I can't remember which does what and why and how I should use them. Pathetic, I know.

Also - again, please forgive my ignorance - but part of the reason I got a point and shoot was so that I wouldn't have to fiddle with dials every time I tried to snap a shot. I just wanted it to be BOOM, captured it. How often do y'all change your settings? Is this something that I'll just get quicker at as time goes on? While I do some scenery shots and things, mostly I do pictures of my kids and the best photos I have captured have been candid.

Lastly, I HATE AF. It NEVER focuses on what I'd like it to, and the MF feature on my P&S is laughable. How's the AF feature on DSLRs? I, obviously, won't be using it much but I'm wondering if it'll be used...EVER?

Thanks for your time, folks!

 

[JoeDif]

Here is a really good starting point to understanding what a DSLR is capable of:

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-3rd-Photographs-Camera/dp/0817439390

 

[Chikabowa]

How often do y'all change your settings?

A lot. Every time the light changes. I'd say every shot but there are times that conditions allow for the same settings in a sitting/series of shots. But pretty much the answer is all the time.

Is this something that I'll just get quicker at as time goes on?

Yes you'll get faster. As with anything in life practice makes perfect and at some point it becomes second nature. If you shoot manual exposure you'll get really good at it over time. You'll find sweet spots for your camera/lenses and you'll start to eyeball exposures as well.

While I do some scenery shots and things, mostly I do pictures of my kids and the best photos I have captured have been candid.

Candids are completely possible with manual exposure, but not without a steep learning curve. It takes time to learn to be that quick in adjusting your exposures and it takes time to learn how to anticipate the moment. Again, with dedicated practice, it's completely doable.

Lastly, I HATE AF. It NEVER focuses on what I'd like it to, and the MF feature on my P&S is laughable. How's the AF feature on DSLRs? I, obviously, won't be using it much but I'm wondering if it'll be used...EVER?

There is time/place for manual focus... And I use it when necessary. But 99.9% of what I shoot is auto focus. The key is the ability/knowledge of how to pick your focus spot, what focus mode to use (af-s, af-c, manual) for the situation, use of back-button focus, and how to adjust all that on the fly.

I guess you can boil down my advice to one word. Practice. That trial and error is the important step to learning and developing.

 

[photo_chick]

In high school I took a photography class but that was....a very long time ago. Since then I have toyed with the idea of getting a DSLR but could never get myself to do it. With our Disney trip on the horizon, I am REALLY tempted. Here's the thing, though...I'm not really sure how to do it anymore.

You'll learn again. Once you get going chances are you'll start to remember things.

Can any of you direct me to a place with great information about f/stops, aperatures, ISOs and things in LAYMENS *BEGINNER* terms? Obviously I'm going to have to play...A LOT...but I can't remember which does what and why and how I should use them. Pathetic, I know.

Understanding Exposure is a great book.

Also - again, please forgive my ignorance - but part of the reason I got a point and shoot was so that I wouldn't have to fiddle with dials every time I tried to snap a shot. I just wanted it to be BOOM, captured it. How often do y'all change your settings? Is this something that I'll just get quicker at as time goes on? While I do some scenery shots and things, mostly I do pictures of my kids and the best photos I have captured have been candid.

It's never really as simple as pushing a button and getting the shot, is it? I change settings in every new situation and often adjust them during the situation. Most of the time it's without thinking much about it. My fingers know where the buttons I need are so I don't even have to look. It's one of those things that comes with using a camera for a long time.

Lastly, I HATE AF. It NEVER focuses on what I'd like it to, and the MF feature on my P&S is laughable. How's the AF feature on DSLRs? I, obviously, won't be using it much but I'm wondering if it'll be used...EVER?

Thanks for your time, folks!

Once you learn to use AF on a DSLR it will be your best friend. Until you learn to use it you will probably swear your point and shoot got more in focus shots. I'm about 50/50 AF/MF. Some people never MF. Some people only MF.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Once you start shooting again with a SLR, it will come back. I'm going to go out on a limb here and state that the majority of DSLR shooters use a semi-automatic mode. Because I shoot a lot of action I use Tv (time value or shutter priority) a lot while monitoring the other values to obtain the correct exposure. When shooting an event I just have to monitor the light in case it changes. If I get lucky and there is very little light change, I can shoot an entire event without changing the settings. Most of the time, I will make small changes throughout the event, unless I going for a different type of shot, ie freeze action vs a pan shot, etc. After a while, it all becomes natural and your making changes on the fly. As far as auto-focus, with the DSLR it becomes your best friend. I only switch to manual when the situation is such that I can't get the focus I want, ie, macro shooting, through fences, etc.

 

[JustAKid]

Thanks, all, for the responses. I think I have made the right decision with my "bridge" Canon and am gonna stick with it!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Check out Fro Knows Photo, hes fun to listen to and has some decent beginners guides. Also iso5571 is a Disney related podcast that has tips for the beginner to enthusiast.

 

[mamaCta]

I love this set of lessons. It is what finally cemented the basics into my brain.
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/userblogpost.asp?id=51069