Specialising into a certain field

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Dorsetsnapshot

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Mark
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Evening guys & gals

Just after a bit of advice really....

Basically, I've just got into photography..I actually got my camera on Saturday, and I've been enjoying taking random shots so far, trying to get a feel for what these DSLR's can do.

What I was wondering, is would it be more advisable to stick to being general at the moment, learning and trying everything I can, or would you start and stick to, taking photo's of what you love/would prefer, and try and specialise in that?

I'm a very keen angler, of all disciplines, and so would love to be taking shots of that, but I only know myself down in Dorset that fishes, and I don't fancy my chances of taking pictures of myself whilst fighting fish!
So I may have to advertise for some people who fish so i can go with them to take photos!

Obviously I want to try and learn as much as possible, but if I try and cover alot of bases, would I be trying to take on to much? Would I be likely to get overloaded with information and techniques etc?

Any advice appreciated

Thanks in advance
Mark
 
I shot landscapes and random subjects for about 6 months until I even began portraits & fashion, and I've only recently decided I want to do just that, fashion and photography! (after 1 1/2 years of having a camera!)

You have a head start seeing as you're in Dorset.. one of my favourite places in the entire world! The fact that there's so much stunning scenery.. landmarks like Corfe Castle.. beaches, my favourite to photograph are Kimmeridge Bay and Durdledoor.. quarries.. animals!! So so much you can explore.. if you haven't got a tripod, get one and just go out and shoot shoot shoot.. anything and everything!

Lou :)
 
First of all you need to learn to use your camera. Then you can start to think creatively. Learn how the focal length of a lens can effect a image, learn how changing the aperture effect the depth of field, how changing the shutter speed shows or freezes movement and how altering the ISO alters what aperture and shutter speed you require are available to you.

Get a book on beginning photography it does not even have to be about using a digital SLR as the basic principles are all the same. Try to use the camera in manual then advance on to the other modes. With this as grounding the world will be your lobster. Take photos of anything and everything, in all types of lighting situation.

Have fun.
 
Thanks for the replies guys! I definitely need to get a book to help me... I read all these terms,and I kind of get an idea of what they mean, but I havent managed to get to grips of the relationship between the 3.

I guess I need to get a very good understanding of all three, how they work together, adn then see how they work together in practice in a photo...

Instead o buying a book, do you know of any guides online I could take a look at? Will get a book if its needed, but rather on the poor side at the moment!

Thanks again for your opinions guys
 
Dorsetsnapshot said:
Thanks for the replies guys! I definitely need to get a book to help me... I read all these terms,and I kind of get an idea of what they mean, but I havent managed to get to grips of the relationship between the 3.

I guess I need to get a very good understanding of all three, how they work together, adn then see how they work together in practice in a photo...

Instead o buying a book, do you know of any guides online I could take a look at? Will get a book if its needed, but rather on the poor side at the moment!

Thanks again for your opinions guys
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I've ever actually sat down and read a book on photography.. I've learnt everything I know about photography through the internet and networking.
If you can afford a few quid, it's worth getting a photography magazine each month, the one I get is practical photography, there's guides and plenty of info to mess around with each month. They also have a website with a forum which I find quite useful photoanswers.co.uk I have found that artist based websites aren't always the best for critique.. so the best place for that is probably here in the critique section as you can specifically ask for opinions, and you'll get an honest answer.
Going out with other photographers is always a good idea, I've learnt a lot from group meets and workshops :)
Hope that helped?
 
louise-knight said:
I'm not sure I've ever actually sat down and read a book on photography.. I've learnt everything I know about photography through the internet and networking.
If you can afford a few quid, it's worth getting a photography magazine each month, the one I get is practical photography, there's guides and plenty of info to mess around with each month. They also have a website with a forum which I find quite useful photoanswers.co.uk I have found that artist based websites aren't always the best for critique.. so the best place for that is probably here in the critique section as you can specifically ask for opinions, and you'll get an honest answer.
Going out with other photographers is always a good idea, I've learnt a lot from group meets and workshops :)
Hope that helped?
Click to expand...

Louise,

Thanks for the advice, some of which I had already taken, before the post. Did my weekly food shop Monday, and picked up PRactical Photography
and Digital Camera, magazines. PP had a 10 lesson little guide in it, and the DC had an 80 minute photoshop tutorial in it that looked rather handy, as Photoshop is something i've had for a while, but never really used, in any detail at all, and as I want to try and improve all aspects of photography, I figured this would be handy to have.

If the weather is nice this weekend, i'm hoping to maybe pay my first ever visit to Corfe Castle to take some photos, as i've heard good things about the place...but hopefully not having a tripod is going to be too much of an issue!
 
48thEagle said:
This was posted a day or so ago, and has helped me a lot.

http://www.kamerasimulator.se/index_eng.php
Click to expand...

That site was soooo helpful! I am still trying to learn the concepts they discuss, but I think i'm getting there...slowly! but having the photo there that you can play with, really helps!

I get the concepts on an individual basis, but I think the relationship between the three, is something I will probably learn better,by taking photos!

That link is so helpful though!

Thank you:love::clap::woot:
 
Trev Rich said:
Hi mate, where abouts in Dorset are you? Im down in Swanage.
Theres a few dorset peeps about we'll have to re-arrange a meet again.
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Hiya Trev,

Currently I am renting in Sandbanks, near the chain ferry, until the middle of May, after that, no idea, as I will need to be moving on somewhere!!
 
You do not have to buy books on photography - join the Library and borrow them :)
If you want to know the basics it will not matter if the book is old, talks about film, etc.
Borrow as many books as you can, get the relevant bits from each of them and go from there.
 
There are a few of us in Darrrrsit now, and a meet could be good. Swanage is nice to tog too.
 
I think i will try and find a library and get some books to read!

By the way, what does Tog mean? I'm seeing all these terms getting flung around, and I am clueless to their meaning!

A few I googled, hope i got the right term for them?

DoF = Depth of Field?
Exif = Is that the specification for the image once its done and edited?
 
DoF is depth of field yep, the exif data is the data recorded in camera about how you shot the image, what settings you used etc, here's an example of it from one of my images:

File Name IMG_3123.tif
Camera Model Name Canon EOS 450D
Shooting Date/Time 01/03/2009 15:19:29
Tv (Shutter Speed) 1/200
Av (Aperture Value) 4.0
ISO Speed 100
Image Size 4272x2848
Flash Off
File Size 71320 KB

It'll show up in your browsing software like adobe bridge, zoom browser.. etc etc.

Tog simply is short for photographer :D
 
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