How Did You Learn Photography?

[redwing210]

I was wondering how everyone got to grips with photography when they first started out?

I am asking because I am 3 weeks in to a photography course for begginers, however it is slightly to basic, and because of other peolple with less knowledge of cameras they hold the class back a bit (which is fair enough as it is for begginers) so I really wanted to know if other people went to courses, or learnt from books etc.

Thanks

redwing210

[Ollie]

I didn't go to any courses, learnt most of what I know and that isn't much by reading books and taking advice from other people. Many of them on this site I might add. Also learnt a lot by experimenting a great deal. Sometimes it worked, often it didn't but it's fun learning
Roger

[pressld2]

I've never done a photography course - yet.

When I first started I learned more from my mistakes than from any other source. Once I reached a reasonable degree of competence I started to buy books and magazines and these gave me some good background about why some things worked and others didn't, plus some tips for new things to try (new mistakes to make ).

Nowadays I really value the advice of my peers given on forums like this one and I'm seriously considering signing up for one or two courses run by professionals like Chris Weston or Andy Rouse.

Dave P.

[redwing210]

I bought a Lonley Planet guide to wildlife photography by Andy Rouse, spectacular images although a lot of the info went over my head...guess I will have to keep on snapping till' it starts to make sense!

[Ollie]

Hi again redwing. I don't know what level of photography you are up to if you see what I mean so what I am going to say you may already be familiar with, but once you have learnt the relationship between shutter speeds and ISO speeds for example the higher the ISO speed the higher the shutter speed it will all come together. Another feature that I use much more as I gain experience is exposure compensation

Also don't be afraid to experiment it may get you that image you were after and assuming you are using digital you have nothing to lose.

Please excuse any spelling mistakes, I'm not on my PC at home and this one doesn't appear to have a spell check on it.
Roger

[mystictonka]

I have learnt through trial & error, this can be frustrating. When I used film I had a book called the wildlife photographers handbook by Micheal freeman, this really helped & now my camera is continually on manual!!

[Interpreter]

Eighteen months full time course at RAF Cosford as a boy. Then I started learning photography! Became an Incorporated Photographer and went on from there.

[Wolfhill]

Well my Dad is a professional photographer so I dabbled in and out as a child, but I only really got into photography in 2004 when I was 12 after a wonderful encounter with a couple of sanderling, and I've gotten really into it over the last three years It helps having a good teacher

[jennyb]

The great thing about Digital cameras is that you can experiment as much as you like and it does not really cost anything - unlike film cameras. So my suggestion is practise. I am still practising but if you take enough photos, once in a while you get a good one! I am definitely improving.

The exif data on digital photos is also really useful. If you get a good one, you can see what your settings were!

Jenny

[nightshade]

Tried, just used the camera (to the dismay of my parents who had to foot the bill) discovered bulk film and books.
I think one of the first I bought was The Penguin Book of Photography and
a jumble sale Henri Cartier Bresson (progressed to Helmut Newton)
Photos through a magnifiying glass then dioptre lenses tubes etc.fascinating
new world then a telephoto 300mm Sniper and a mirror lense colour slides
and finally digital