Beginner Beginners advice

precisionn

precisionn

Messages
17
Name
Justin Robinson
Edit My Images
Yes
Hiya Ladies & Gents.

Just recently bought myself my first DSLR in fact my first ever camera lol. Is this an ok buy for a first DSLR?

Nikon D3100 witch also come with a 55-300mm lens and the standard 18-55mm.

Iv learnt quite a bit so far with just playing around using the camera in Manual, have taken some nice photos in my eyes but my real struggle is the editing afterwards, whats best for this? Photoshop? or is there maybe something easy and user friendly... find myself watching YouTube videos one after the other haha!

Regards
Justin
 
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•
You will learn, sooner or later, that I absolutely banned photoshop and alike of the
same software publisher; for personal and professional reasons. Rather…

I would recommend a RAW converter that will support you efforts and will permit
you to grow fast in post-processing as well as inspiring you to a sensible workflow
that will not require the use of libraries necessarily. This Raw converter is called
CaptureOne. Not a budget killer since you may subscribe for less than 10₤/month.
In any case, there is a free 30days trial to explore it.

As pixel editor, try Affinity Photo's free 30days trial but for Mac only at this time. For
imagery work, try OnOne Perfect Photo Suite's free 30days trial.

Good luck in this new adventure and start rocking'.
 
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Thank you Kodiak, Will look into OnOne Perfect Photo Suite.
 
Hi

Welcome to TP.

I use lightroom 5 as opposed to lightroom cc which I am happy with.
 
Photoshop Elements will do more than you need at this stage and its relatively cheap.
 
There is a thread in the post processing forum here where people have suggested good programs they are using. Many are not expensive or free. It makes sense to start with one of the free ones, and discover what you need first. Before deciding 'if' you need to spend money. You certainly don't need to pay Photoshop prices to get good results.

(A short list of photo editors, raw converters and other photo editing tools https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/index.php?threads/70196/)
 
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You can get something like Gimp free, if you do a quick Google search it will come up with several free photo editors, I would say have a look through the free ones first, you may get what you need there.
 
Hi Justin, for simple basic processing which is probably all you'll need right now, so you're not overwhelmed try FASTSTONE, it's a completely free download and works with RAW files too. I use it for quick stuff, see what you think :).
 
I already own Adobe Master Collection, Photoshop and Light room are both there, will check out all the others that have been recommended :)
 
Yes your gear is very good to start with. For me the best software for straight forward photography software but also allows for more advanced techniques is lightroom. To start with you can just move sliders around until you get more au fait with it. Also, lightroom has a very good library making it easy to store and organise photos.
 
Hi Justin, my first and only dslr is a Nikon 3100 and battered and still going strong after six years. The 3100 is a cheap now starter camera and you will learn loads without being overawed. I have elements and is a watered down version of Photoshop and meets all my needs and again is fairly cheap.
 
precisionn said:
I already own Adobe Master Collection, Photoshop and Light room are both there, will check out all the others that have been recommended :)
Click to expand...

Use LightRoom. It's the number one choice of both enthusiasts and professionals alike (at least for those who haven't got the hump with Adobe's business strategy). It's a total workflow package designed for photographers, and is both easy and intuitive as these things go. Most people neither want or need anything else.

Also get a book - suggest Scott Kelby. And browse a view video guides, though some are both rubbish and out of date. Julieanne Kost is good, and an official Adobe tutor (y)
 
HoppyUK said:
...

Also get a book - suggest Scott Kelby. And browse a view video guides, though some are both rubbish and out of date. Julieanne Kost is good, and an official Adobe tutor (y)
Click to expand...
Richard, do you think I'd benefit from a book on LR, I learned it from fumbling around and I can't decide whether I'm missing something.
 
Agreed, I've tried most of the free ones and Lightroom is much nicer.
 
Phil V said:
Richard, do you think I'd benefit from a book on LR, I learned it from fumbling around and I can't decide whether I'm missing something.
Click to expand...

I think most people would benefit Phil, pretty much regardless of competence. If they work like me, there are the basic features we all use all the time, and then a selection of more specialist bits that I also use regularly and first learned how to use properly with a book. No need for help with those now, but LR is very extensive and I know it can do many other things that I need now and then, but can't remember the best way of going about it. So I still need a book for those things.

I'm about to buy my third Kelby book for LRv6. I will speed read every section, just so I know exactly what's in there. Then read in detail about the new stuff so I know what's what. Every time I do that, I discover things I didn't know, or had forgotten.

BTW, I'd be quite happy still using LR5, or even an earlier version, but I need the latest one for work that includes new camera models and new lens profiles.
 
HoppyUK said:
I think most people would benefit Phil, pretty much regardless of competence. If they work like me, there are the basic features we all use all the time, and then a selection of more specialist bits that I also use regularly and first learned how to use properly with a book. No need for help with those now, but LR is very extensive and I know it can do many other things that I need now and then, but can't remember the best way of going about it. So I still need a book for those things.

I'm about to buy my third Kelby book for LRv6. I will speed read every section, just so I know exactly what's in there. Then read in detail about the new stuff so I know what's what. Every time I do that, I discover things I didn't know, or had forgotten.

BTW, I'd be quite happy still using LR5, or even an earlier version, but I need the latest one for work that includes new camera models and new lens profiles.
Click to expand...
I'm on the photographer program so upgrades just happen. I'll put a book on my Christmas list.
 
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