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Photography How To Teach Yourself Photography

I'm re-posting this from an article I wrote on FringeFX... I know it's probably in the wrong section... Feel free to move it, but I will say I intentionally posted it here to garner more attention to photographers... Of course this applies to any art form, not just photography... And most of this applies to everyday life, and the application of common sense.

How To Teach Yourself Photography

advise from the self-taught

1. Choose Unwisely
The first question most beginners will ask is "what camera do I buy?"... The truth of it all is, in an artistic sense, your gear is irrelevant. Ideas can be captured by compact cameras, just as well as a semi-professional DSLR. Of course DSLRs have a few more advantages like shutter speed management, versatility in optics, and of course they just look cool to carry around. But if you want to start out simple, you don't need fancy equipment to take an image that gets a point across. Here are a few examples of some of my most favourite images, all taken with compact cameras.

I say "Choose Unwisely" because in my opinion, it's better to get into the mindset that, as a person photographing for artistic intent, that you, the creator must be more confident in your artistic vision, and less dependent on your equipment. A good DSLR body doesn't make a good photographer.

2. Observe and Learn
As you grow as a photographer, you're going to find photos that you like, and you dislike... The most important thing though, is to ask yourself why you like/dislike a photo. Do you like it because it has a good concept that you relate to? Or because it has colours you really like? Maybe you don't like it because the subject is posed awkwardly, or because their expression doesn't seem quite right in your eye. Asking yourself these questions will help you develop your own style. You're basically asking yourself what your personal preferences are.
After you observe these things, learn from them. Search engines are you best friends when you want to find free information. Maybe you like this photo because it's really clear and crisp... A simple phrase like "how to create crisp photos" typed in google can take you miles in your endeavours. Search through free resources. Deviantart.com for example has an insanely large library of free tutorials all at your disposal! All you need to do is search.

3. Find Your Inspiration
Observe your daily life. Find things that inspire you. Try not to just take inspirations from other photos, but broaden your horizons. There are so many things to be inspired by. Music, paintings, quotes, events in your life. What things have sentimental value to you? For myself, paintings and music are a huge impact on my photography. I like how they can be abstract, and leap over the obstacles that reality presents to us.

4. Inspired? Do it!
Have you gotten inspired? Then get up and do it. Perhaps you just saw this amazing photo with a dazzling effect, and you've just learned how to replicate that effect and you want to put your own spin on it. Don't wait till the next day, do it ASAP. You'll never learn if you never try.

5. Change and Adapt
If you're trying to take a photo, and something goes wrong, don't just keep taking photos. Stop. Take a breath, and look at your surroundings. What could you use, move, shift, or change to get the results you want? If you're unsatisfied with your results, you'll never get what you want unless you actually do it yourself. Is it your surroundings? Your camera settings? Perhaps the lens you're using isn't fast enough? Change what you're doing for different results.

6. Be Patient
Unless you're perfect, chances are you're not going to get the results you want right away. Trial, and error are an essential part of photography, and patience is needed in order to get that one perfect shot. It could take 1 minute. It could take 1 hour.

7. Question What You Read
Don't always trust what you read online or what others may tell you. We all can make a mistake, and may at times provide false information. Challenge the "facts" before you, and try to find them from credible sources. If many people or web pages say that there's distortion in wider angles, then that statement may very well be true. However if only one source of information says otherwise, challenge it. Present yourself with how many people say A over how many people say B.

8. Don't Take Everyone's Advise
This isn't to say not to take advise at all... This is kind of what I said before in 7, to question and challenge what you read. Know that everyone you ask for advise has a subjective view point. Some people prefer black and white photos, others prefer vivid colours. In that situation, there's no wrong or right. So if one person says "I love the colours" while another says "I want to see this in black and white" question yourself. Do YOU like black and white, or do you prefer coloured photos?
After you decide which advise you go with, be confident of your vision. Remember, you are the creator of your final image, no one else. Building your integrity as an artist, also means becoming an individual that forms his or her own opinions.

9. Use Logic
If you feel like you're doing something wrong, or you've followed some incorrect advise, use logic to evaluate your current situation. Common sense can take you further, not just in photography, but in life in general. Take what you know, not just from photography, but your collective memory of knowledge, and make a deduction of what you need to do in order to "logic" your way out of a situation. For example... When learning about aperture... Is it logical to say that "A bigger opening, will let in more light"?

10. Be Open To Change, But At Your Own Pace
As you grow as a photographer, the chances that your tastes will start to change is very likely. You'll suddenly prefer sharper images to softer ones, or prefer low-key to hi-key. Whatever this change may be, be sure that you're the one making it. Don't change your style because someone else said they hate sharper images, or low-key photos. Being your own individual comes first and foremost. Accept that you very well may change as a photographer, and accept this change at your own pace, by your own terms.
Click to expand...

Thread by: Jade, Mar 11, 2012, 0 replies, in forum: Arts & Graphics
Post
Photography what are the KH-V photogs up to?

Ouch! You should give the photographer some more credit! I'm gonna cop out and just copy paste this from an article I wrote on Fringe:
This was from "how to teach yourself photography, advise from the self-taught"

1. Choose Unwisely
The first question most beginners will ask is "what camera do I buy?"... The truth of it all is, in an artistic sense, your gear is irrelevant. Ideas can be captured by compact cameras, just as well as a semi-professional DSLR. Of course DSLRs have a few more advantages like shutter speed management, versatility in optics, and of course they just look cool to carry around. But if you want to start out simple, you don't need fancy equipment to take an image that gets a point across. Here are a few examples of some of my most favourite images, all taken with compact cameras.

I say "Choose Unwisely" because in my opinion, it's better to get into the mindset that, as a person photographing for artistic intent, that you, the creator must be more confident in your artistic vision, and less dependent on your equipment. A good DSLR body doesn't make a good photographer.
Click to expand...

To answer your question though, I use a Nikon D5000. It's currently a year out of date, and almost 50% off its original price. It costs more than my PS3 at the moment!

Post by: Jade, Mar 11, 2012 in forum: Arts & Graphics
Post
Photography what are the KH-V photogs up to?

I'll post more if you guys post more :3 <333

Post by: Jade, Mar 9, 2012 in forum: Arts & Graphics
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SotW Voting Signature of the week #79- Remix

1. Misty
Original: I remember this! hahahah. I like it a lot. That style of smudging is really something you did quite often and it was never a bad thing.
Remix: I'm a sucker for minimalism. Vector shapes also get to me hahaha. The colouring is really nice too. The best thing though is seeing a completely different style. That's something that really wins me over in themes like these is seeing a different style with the same piece.

2. Plums
Original: It's not my favourite, but it's why I'm voting for this second because...
Remix: Bamph! It just shows a lot of improvement in colouring and composition. Totally different style and it's pretty cool. :)

3. Espada
Original:
I really like the washed out tones, and the faded contrast.
remix:
I love how you keep those washed out tones, and just do different things entirely. It's a pretty nice result. :)

Post by: Jade, Mar 3, 2012 in forum: Competitions

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SotW Entry Signature of the week #79- Remix

I can't believe I did this...
Original
[IMG]

[IMG]

Code:

[noparse][img]http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/7214/ultrons.jpg[/img][/noparse]

Remix

[IMG]

Code:

[noparse][img]http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3402/ultron.png[/img][/noparse]

Post by: Jade, Feb 24, 2012 in forum: Competitions

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SotW Discussion Signature of the week #79- Remix

Oh no. I'm not claiming credit or anything. Ideas are ideas. Besides, I don't really tag anymore.
I just find it funny that right when I come back to check up on KH-V this theme resurfaces. I think it was the last theme I did here. I could be wrong though. Hahaha.

Post by: Jade, Feb 23, 2012 in forum: Competitions
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SotW Discussion Signature of the week #79- Remix

I totally suggested this in 2010... Lol

Post by: Jade, Feb 22, 2012 in forum: Competitions
Thread
Photography what are the KH-V photogs up to?

Hey! I keep coming and going from here... But... Uhh... What's up?
Here are some photos I took this year so far.
I swear, I hate making dump topics, but I feel like this is the only way to compensate ;_;

Thread by: Jade, Feb 19, 2012, 7 replies, in forum: Arts & Graphics
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SotW Entry Signature of the Week #73 - Freestyle

... Oh hey KH-V's sotw. Lol

Post by: Jade, Oct 30, 2011 in forum: Competitions
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Photography fashion, glamour, things, uhh... OH HEY KH-V!

Hey KH-V... It's uhh.. Been a while. Sorry I haven't been around. I've been SUPER busy with life, work, photographing things... Senior portraits, fashion shoots, learning how to do make up... stuff like that. Anyway... Here are some photos that you may or may not have seen... It's been so long I forgot what photos I've shown you last, so sorry if you see things twice!

You can also view my entire portfolio on Facebook or my Personal Webpage

So what do you think? Improved or no? :o comments and whatever. GO!

Thread by: Jade, Oct 30, 2011, 4 replies, in forum: Arts & Graphics
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Digital Art Bet you weren't expecting...

@Aqua: Tagwalls are hardly simplistic just because the point of them is to have several tags featured on them. I love simplicity and minimalism too but I don't that should be a reflection based on a tagwall :p
It's just a little more tidy to make a tagwall than to dump several images in a thread you know? :)

@The Fuk?: I've made a few before. I actually shrunk a lot of the pieces down from their original size on the tagwall to keep it from being 10x bigger than it already is :o

Post by: Jade, Jun 3, 2011 in forum: Arts & Graphics
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Digital Art Bet you weren't expecting...

It's a tagwall. It's just a collection of all the tags/LPs I made in 2011. It's not a standalone piece darling :3

Post by: Jade, Jun 3, 2011 in forum: Arts & Graphics