How to get good at taking pictures?

BrianMcLeod

BrianMcLeod

New member
Joined
May 10, 2013
Messages
812
Reaction score
0
So I have a Nikon d3200 I got for Christmas and I like it but I really want to learn how to take good pictures not just for detailing any help? Any books I could read or watch any videos? Thanks for the help
 
So I have a Nikon d3200 I got for Christmas and I like it but I really want to learn how to take good pictures not just for detailing any help? Any books I could read or watch any videos? Thanks for the help
 
 
BrianMcLeod said:
So I have a Nikon d3200 I got for Christmas and I like it but I really want to learn how to take good pictures not just for detailing any help? Any books I could read or watch any videos? Thanks for the help
Click to expand...

You can read and read and read until you're blue in the face but what worked for me, and what I suggest is go out and shoot! Shoot anything! In the house for different lighting, in the sun, at night, moving objects, still objects, just shoot.

Use the auto mode and pay attention to what its using, and learn why its choosing that shutter speed, or why that low of an F stop. Then move into manual and play with all the settings.

Its digital, so mistakes are free. You are your best teacher!
 
BrianMcLeod said:
So I have a Nikon d3200 I got for Christmas and I like it but I really want to learn how to take good pictures not just for detailing any help? Any books I could read or watch any videos? Thanks for the help
Click to expand...

I got the same model!!!!! I got a book about that model explains everything in detail!
 
The articles Zach wrote are great. You can also try and subscribe to an online weekly newsletter for ongoing tips and tricks and also look at a website called Digital Photography School.

With the large availability of online content and some time behind the lens actually shooting (preferably in manual mode) you should soon pic it up.

Good luck
 
Check out Jared Polin aka Fro knows photo on YouTube. He's got guides for using Nikons. Get on some photo (not camera) forums, DPS is great.

Take pictures and be critical of your work. As for critical input from others.

Lastly don't get caught up in the equipment. (GAS=gear acquisition syndrome).
 
smack said:
Fellow forum member Zach Mcgovern has written 4 articles that I know of on photography.
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting the links, Mike!

I've also written a couple of articles on the DI AAP Blog related to detailing photography.... one on "How to Capture the 50/50 Shot" and another on "How to Capture the Before/After Shot".

StangFan25 said:
You can read and read and read until you're blue in the face but what worked for me, and what I suggest is go out and shoot! Shoot anything! In the house for different lighting, in the sun, at night, moving objects, still objects, just shoot.

Use the auto mode and pay attention to what its using, and learn why its choosing that shutter speed, or why that low of an F stop. Then move into manual and play with all the settings.

Its digital, so mistakes are free. You are your best teacher!
Click to expand...
Excellent advice!

No doubt that practice and experience are key, but knowing what each of the settings mean and how they relate to each other are critical. So do a bit of research and understand the basics of exposure (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO) so you can really grasp what the camera is doing when you're shooting in auto, or a semi-auto mode. Then you can experiment with full manual mode when you feel comfortable.
 
I have learned a lot from talking with Zach and reading different things online. I shot all images in RAW format and full manual mode now. It takes time to figure out the setting, but as you get a grasp on the setting your images will really improve. You have the exact same camera that I just got last month. So far I am really like it over my old DSLR that I was using. Good luck with it.
 
Practice, practice, practice. Read the Manual.
 
I am going to do this but haven't done so yet. Since they are not available summer semester.

Why not take an community college photography class?
 
Angles make a huge difference. Also i like to take my pictures and darken them as well as sharpen them. This makes the reflection in the paint stand out more.

Here are a couple tips. Turn the wheels to the right and take a shot from the drivers side and be lined up so you are staring straight at the face of the tire. Do this with the sun behind you. This shot shows reflection in the paint, how clean the wheel wells are, how clean the tires are, and is kind of a dramatic angle when done right.

My rule of thumb is no matter where i am around the car im essentially aiming at the face of the turned wheel.

6f8352ea-8c81-43d5-aba4-ac175d5dd62b.jpg


IMAG1049_1_1.jpg


IMAG2173.jpg
 
Read and shoot. I'll second taking a community college class if you can.

By shoot I mean find a subjects that interests you and shoot 10-20 pics of that each subject. Shoot from the same location but play with the settings, then move to a different angle and shoot more with different settings. I like to take ordinary things, say a road cone and keep shooting like that until I think I have 2-3 interesting pics of an "uninteresting" object. I took a community college class where we had to take 40-50 pics like this a week ontop of our weekly assignments, and that was with film!

Look up David Hobby's Strobist blog there is a 101 tutorial. It's geared toward flash, which I think complicates things for a beginner but there is plenty on ambiant light and how photography works in general.

Sent by carrier pigeon using AG Online
 
As an education, I would get the manual out, sit down, start reading, and play with the various options to see how they work. This help you understand how the camera works if you want to use anything other than automatic. For example, take shots at various ISO settings in normal light and dim lighting to get a feel of how noise increases with ISO and personal preferences of acceptability.
 
Thanks everybody for the replies! I really appreciate it! nThats what I keep on hearing practice practice. I am excited to get dive into it.
 
smack said:
Fellow forum member Zach Mcgovern has written 4 articles that I know of on photography.

Here is article #1
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/68142-photography-basics-part-1-a.html

Article #2
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/72922-photography-basics-part-2-depth-field.html

Article #3
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/73193-photography-basics-part-3-exposure-modes.html

Article #4
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...sics-part-4-file-formats-post-processing.html
Click to expand...

Thanks smack I know zmcgovern45 knows what he is doing! is your name Mike?

zmcgovern45 said:
Thanks for posting the links, Mike!

I've also written a couple of articles on the DI AAP Blog related to detailing photography.... one on "How to Capture the 50/50 Shot" and another on "How to Capture the Before/After Shot".


Excellent advice!

No doubt that practice and experience are key, but knowing what each of the settings mean and how they relate to each other are critical. So do a bit of research and understand the basics of exposure (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO) so you can really grasp what the camera is doing when you're shooting in auto, or a semi-auto mode. Then you can experiment with full manual mode when you feel comfortable.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I need to learn how to get good at 50/50s and before and afters and all around! wow I put alot of ands lol

hernandez.art13 said:
I am going to do this but haven't done so yet. Since they are not available summer semester.

Why not take an community college photography class?
Click to expand...

not a bad idea

brondondolon said:
Angles make a huge difference. Also i like to take my pictures and darken them as well as sharpen them. This makes the reflection in the paint stand out more.

Here are a couple tips. Turn the wheels to the right and take a shot from the drivers side and be lined up so you are staring straight at the face of the tire. Do this with the sun behind you. This shot shows reflection in the paint, how clean the wheel wells are, how clean the tires are, and is kind of a dramatic angle when done right.

My rule of thumb is no matter where i am around the car im essentially aiming at the face of the turned wheel.

6f8352ea-8c81-43d5-aba4-ac175d5dd62b.jpg


IMAG1049_1_1.jpg


IMAG2173.jpg
Click to expand...

I know! nice truck I like dodge trucks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top