New Camera!

[footfootfoot]

Congrats on the new camera!

It sounds like the whole thing is pretty new to you. Since you asked, this is what I'd recommend, they are books not online resources, but they are infinitely better than any website you'll find. Even though they are not about digital cameras they are about the theory and principles that digital photography is based on and 90% of what you learn is directly applicable to digital photography. The other ten percent is translatable. E.g. ASA is now called ISO. Even though you don't use film, the principles of film speed (ASA) and how it relates to exposure translate directly to digital exposure ISO settings. (Exposure=Intensity*Duration) F- stops and shutter speeds are the same, depth of field and so forth. Understanding these concepts will make the camera your bitch in the parlance of the streets, rather than vice versa.

The first is a very clear. understandable book on flash units and even though it was written in 1981, the general concepts of lighting with a flash haven't changed even though some of the bells and whistles available today are pretty shiny. When you do begin looking at flash units you'll understand the pros and cons much better after reading this. And you can get it used for $0.91

http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-fla.../dp/0879852712



The second is another book that I can't recommend highly enough; it's the gold standard for college photo courses. And I just realized I lent my copy to someone, I can't remember who, and they never returned it. Fuck. When will I learn?
http://www.amazon.com/Black-White-Ph.../dp/0316373052

Feel free to pm me if you have any questions, or make a thread.

What kind of camera did you get?

[glatt]

I'd add that there are two things to know about photography.
The first is the technical side of it. You want to learn, as foot said, about the different ways you can set the exposure. Several things impact the exposure: the aperture (also known as F-stop); the shutter speed; the ISO (or sensitivity) of the sensor; and manually adding light to the scene by using a flash or moving a subject a next to a window or something.

That brings me to the second thing. The funny thing about the technical side of things is that EVERY single one of those things you can adjust has other things it will impact, and that's where the artistic side of things comes in. You can force the camera to achieve different effects by manipulating any one of them. For example:
-by adjusting the aperture, you can change the depth of field, which is how much of the scene is in focus.
-by adjusting the shutter speed, you can freeze motion sharply, or you can let things have a motion blur
- by adjusting the ISO, you can magnify the "noise" in the image, or get rid of the "noise" altogether.
-by changing the amount of light in the scene, either by using a flash, or other external light, or putting a neutral density filter on the camera to block out light, you can play with the other settings more than you would be able to otherwise

And when ever you change any one of those things, the others will either change automatically to retain the proper exposure level, or if you are in manual mode you will have to change them manually to keep the exposure right. So there are always trade offs. For example, if there isn't a lot of light available, a fast shutter speed can only be accomplished by opening the aperture wide and maybe cranking up the sensitivity of the sensor. So if you are in a nightclub and want to take a picture of somebody dancing without using a flash, they are going to be blurry from moving around. And there is going to be a lot of noise in the picture from the sensor being cranked up.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by glatt

That brings me to the second thing. The funny thing about the technical side of things is that EVERY single one of those things you can adjust has other things it will impact, and that's where the artistic side of things comes in. You can force the camera to achieve different effects by manipulating any one of them.

Yeah, but it won't make your supper less burnt after it goes crispy which you're fuckin' with the camera. First things first.

[bbro]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Yeah, but it won't make your supper less burnt after it goes crispy which you're fuckin' with the camera. First things first.

Oh, please. I think we all know that food quality comes before the picture. If it didn't, I don't think I'd be as pudgy -

[BigV]

When I read this:

Originally Posted by bbro

--snip
I have used a point and shoot, but it never gave me the pictures I actually wanted.
--snip

I felt compelled to write this.

QFT.

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Congrats on the new camera!

--snip--

Understanding these concepts will make the camera your bitch in the parlance of the streets, rather than vice versa.

--snip