Completely New to Photography

Ben! · #1 (**permalink**) 27-02-2007, 06:02 PM

I have a HP 7.0 Mega Pixels Digital Camera, and I haven't got a clue on how to take good pictures, so could I have some advice please? Beginners advice and just slightly up from beginners advice perhaps?

Thanks guys.

Ollie · #2 (**permalink**) 27-02-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben!

I have a HP 7.0 Mega Pixels Digital Camera, and I haven't got a clue on how to take good pictures, so could I have some advice please? Beginners advice and just slightly up from beginners advice perhaps?

Thanks guys.

Well Ben, I aren't familiar with the HP camera but it's definitely got enough megapixels to do the job. Best advice I can offer at the moment is study the manual for it and get to know all the controls settings etc as best you can. I'm sure someone will come along who has knowledge of this camera.
Roger

Ben! · #3 (**permalink**) 27-02-2007, 06:28 PM

I'll try to find a picture of it, then I'll edit this post, to help you guys out.

Ben! · #4 (**permalink**) 27-02-2007, 06:57 PM

Does it not let you edit after a certain amount of time?
Anyway, heres the link Clicky

jasongallier · #5 (**permalink**) 27-02-2007, 07:02 PM

Like poeple say - get to know your new camera. Thats the technical stuff.

Photographically - All you need to do is go out and have a play! Find something nice - bird, flower etc and photograph it from every angle, low down, sitting, standing. Try as many settings as possbile on your camera (the camera should keep a record of all of those settings). Get home and have a look on computer to see which are best. If you can't wait get a couple of cups, glasses or figurines and set them up on a well lit table and you can start playing this evening!!

Get a couple of phoyography magazines - they usually have lots of ideas and how to's.

Don't get too fustrated as it's a lot to take in at first, just enjoy yourself.

Goodluck,
Jason
Wild Light Photography: Welcome

Gaina · #6 (**permalink**) 27-02-2007, 10:42 PM

Hello Ben

Tom Ang writes books on Digital photography that I found very helpful when I was first starting. You might want to have a look at 'Digital Photography: An Introduction' by Tom Ang. The ISBN number is 1405302356 and is published by Dorian Kindersly.

Hope that helps

eeyore · #7 (**permalink**) 27-02-2007, 10:51 PM

Hi Ben - if you give me your email adress I'll send you the advice sheet for complete beginers i wrote a while back - its best to use PM to send me the address as if you put it on the open boards you could get a shed load of spam.

nightshade · #8 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 09:15 AM

I think that it has a 35-100 zoom range so you will
have to practice your stalking skills
Practice close up on flowers and insects,read the
photo forum on this site,just use the camera and see
if you like the results.Look forward to seeing some images

Ben! · #9 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 04:09 PM

Sent you that PM, thanks guys, I've read the manual and thats helped me a lot, nightshade, how far is the maximum distance I can stand away from the object with the 35-100?

Sorry if thats a dumb question I just dunno whether it could be 35-100cm or 35-100 miles.

nightshade · #10 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 05:42 PM

Hi Ben the 35-100mm is the 35mm film equivalent of focal length
35mm gives a wide view, for landscape scenes or groups
100mm gives a telephoto view (or apparently brings the subject
about 3x closer)

Do you have the actual model number of your camera ? it will be
something like (for example) HP927 then we can help a bit more

Monkster · #11 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 06:22 PM

Hi Ben!
Just thought I'd let you know that you aren't the only one baffled by digital cameras.

I have a camera very similar to yours and I find myself looking through the photography forums hoping to glean some useful info and am then stopped in my tracks by words like dslr, isos, filters, sigma lenses and generally lots of letters followed by lots of numbers that I don't understand....aarrgghh

.
However, looking on the bright side, I can feel it is all slowly starting to slot into place in my brain.......and not a moment to soon!
The more I read and the more I practice with my camera the sooner I am hoping it will all come together, and having such a great gallery here I can now see what I'm aiming for.
Thanks nightshade , because at least now I know what 35-100mm means.

And eeyore could you please send me a 'complete beginners advice sheet' too if I pm you with my email address ? when you get a moment that is, thanks

And thanks for starting this thread Ben!...I no longer feel so alone!!

nightshade · #12 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 07:27 PM

Wow! I had no idea there were complete photo novices out there
Come on people how many more of you are there?
Let us Know and we will do our best to assist
Please do not think anything you want to know is stupid
we all have to start somewhere! write in now
this is your website your forum come on

Monkster · #13 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 07:50 PM

Thanks nightshade

I know it must be hard to believe...I can't believe I've announced it to the whole world either

!!
I am actually sat in a small darkened room at this moment chanting....'my name is Monkster and I am a photo novice'
I do feel better though...quite liberated infact !
Hmmmm....I hope this isn't going to be a small club

Anyone else care to join???.....no experience necessary

nightshade · #14 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 08:02 PM

I find that how ever much you know when you try to explain it you realise
how much you just accept, but do not really fully understand,it is good for
everybody to try and pass on knowledge.Excercises both brain cells

geordie1970 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 02:04 AM

Practice with different settings and in different light but remember what settings you used until you get it right.the great thing with digital is that if it does not work just delete and try again and don't expect too much too soon.

Wild-Woman · #16 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

Wow! I had no idea there were complete photo novices out there
Come on people how many more of you are there?
Let us Know and we will do our best to assist
Please do not think anything you want to know is stupid
we all have to start somewhere! write in now
this is your website your forum come on

I think they'll be lots looking in who are grateful for this thread. I'm only a year into photography and still need all the help I can get-especially with the technical jargon and then of course there's applying all of this technical jargon!

The good thing about WAB is, nobody is regarding as being silly asking basic questions.
One of the nicest persons to help out(and there's loads)is Matt-xyz. He has never made me feel foolish asking some really, what I would say are, 'daft' questions.

That of course goes for loads of other photographers on here too.

I find that, if you follow a photography thread through from the beginning, even though some have varying opinions on 'know how' and techniques on how to get a quality shot etc, it's surprising how much goes in.

I don't cower in the corner of Jessops anymore!

Everyone on WAB, even those newly signed up, have areas of expertise and we all learn from each other.

Have a nice day WABites.

Jules

MalcolmX · #17 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 09:36 AM

i have encountered this problem of complete novices before particularly with local groups in my area and in order to counter this i run a one day course for the complete beginner . if there are some wab members who would like to take part i will organize a day
this is free if it takes place at my house but i charge mileage if it is further away
i can accomodate about 6-8 at my home

Ben! · #18 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

Hi Ben the 35-100mm is the 35mm film equivalent of focal length
35mm gives a wide view, for landscape scenes or groups
100mm gives a telephoto view (or apparently brings the subject
about 3x closer)

Do you have the actual model number of your camera ? it will be
something like (for example) HP927 then we can help a bit more

M627? Does that sound right?

nightshade · #19 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 05:01 PM

Hi Ben!,yes that is right I was trying to find the closest focus
but there is no info,you will have to find out for yourself
Have you seen this?
photography beginners advice sheet

Monkster · #20 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmX

i have encountered this problem of complete novices before

Hmmmm......... are you calling us a problem???

You make us sound like a garden full of molehills !!

MalcolmX · #21 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 09:06 AM

the problem is that novices are often unable to find tuition that is not via the manual or forums . i set up this course after a request by one of the local wi groups .
it would take a braver man than me to compare the wi to Moles

Monkster · #22 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 09:59 AM

Hi MalcolmX
Yes you are quite right.....there don't seem to be many places to learn the basics and manuals aren't always the easiest things to understand

I suppose some people grasp it quicker than others as well. I haven't had a great deal of opportunity to practice wildlife shots and mostly use family and landscapes to practice on at the moment. Sometimes they are perfectly in focus and sometimes not , sometimes they look 'great' when I've taken them, but when I zoom in they are a bit blurry.
I think sometimes it's the abillity to react quickly to the 'moment' as well and by the time I've sorted myself out and the zoom's come out most things have either been shock by the noise (it doesn't sound that noisy to me though) or ambled away of their own accord.

I only got my camera last year, mainly for family snaps, and didn't properly realise all that could be achieved (with the right equipment and know-how ) until I saw this site, really.

It has definately whetted my apetite to learn more and I will get out and take more shots to see where I'm going wrong, it's a case of practice, practice and a bit more practice I suppose.
And it is great to have people here who are willing to help , so many thanks !! (and your post made me smile

....it must be the way I read them

)

peterjclarke · #23 (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 08:39 PM

Can I suggest from a compositional and inspirational point of view that looking at professional nature photographer's websites and viewing their images is a great way to learn what makes an photograph work. Laurie Campbell, Niall Benvie, Peter Cairns, Neil McIntyre, Ben Hall, Arthur Morris (to name but a few) all have websites which you can view photographs and gain some inspiration. Niall Benvie's website has a searchable database with thousands of photograph to look at. Arthur Morris is one of the world's top bird photographers and he has a vast bulletin archive in which he give tips and technical information on how he captures his images. It's also worth subscribing to his bulletin updates as its free and very informative. If your really bored you could always look at the rubbish on my site. Peter J Clarke - Marine Photography | Maritime and Nature Photography from Scotland and Great Britain | including photographs of Sea Shells, Nature and Wildlife, Lighthouses, Seascapes, Bridges, Ships and Boats, Nightscapes and Low Light, Moving Wate

Peter