Photography Post Vol. 2

[laxlife1234]

I'm looking at improving my photography skills... My family has a Canon Rebel T3i that no one really uses, and I just wanted to be able to take better shots when we go on vacation trips... I bought a 50mm lens this summer to mess around with it but never got around to feeling comfortable enough with the camera, so I put it down and never got to pick it up again. Do you guys have any advice besides going out there and taking more pictures?

We can give you all the advice in the world, but it wont make a difference unless you go out and take pictures. I will admit 'studying' other photographers work most certainly helps you take better pictures as you have a concept/picture already in mind and although it may not come out right or be the same you will have tried something new (hopefully).

[Rob060]

Technically not a photograph, but whatever.

 

death valley's awesome. went there a while ago. think the dunes were my favorite part.

 

[Walt Thizzney]

I'm looking at improving my photography skills... My family has a Canon Rebel T3i that no one really uses, and I just wanted to be able to take better shots when we go on vacation trips... I bought a 50mm lens this summer to mess around with it but never got around to feeling comfortable enough with the camera, so I put it down and never got to pick it up again. Do you guys have any advice besides going out there and taking more pictures?

 

Well What I did was rent a book from the library called intro to digital SLR photography.... learned about iso, shutter speed, lighting and all that then just started shooting... If you have the love/passion for it you will learn it in no time. If you are just faking it to make it will be harder. Once you understand the triangle of exposure and get use to good framing you are set. Also learn how to edit photos (not hard)

[WillKhitie]

 

[rirakuma]

 

 

 

[rirakuma]

I'm looking at improving my photography skills... My family has a Canon Rebel T3i that no one really uses, and I just wanted to be able to take better shots when we go on vacation trips... I bought a 50mm lens this summer to mess around with it but never got around to feeling comfortable enough with the camera, so I put it down and never got to pick it up again. Do you guys have any advice besides going out there and taking more pictures?

 

I agree with the tips people have said, they're very helpful and in one way or another I'm sure almost every photographer goes through this phase at the start. What kind of pictures do you like and do you have any favourite photographers? After learning the basics you may want to look into their work and critique them as a learning exercise. The more you study photographs the more things will make sense and because its such a broad genre there's endless possibilities of what you want to pursuit. If you provide a few examples of the pictures you like we may be able to provide you a more detailed direction. Obviously everyone will have different preferences so it will be up to you to choose which one suits your needs best. Good luck !

[Marw]

@Macky.

I'm a photo student and what I've learnt most from is looking at other photographers and trying to find out what I like! Check out photo books and study that shit. Got to your local book store and just look at books. After years I'm finally starting to figure out what I like, and WHY I like it. That's an important part as well.

Last year we had a workshop with Nadav Kander(Check him out if you don't know him). He's a really great guy and an awesome photographer. One of my biggest inspirations right now.

I learned a whole lot from that workshop. I learned to trust my eyes and guts and just leave my head out the whole thing. Things like compositions and all the technical stuff is the easy part. The hard part for me is figuring out how I want to convey my message. And why I'm attracted to something. And don't just look at photography, study art and everything that gives you a good feeling. There's a reason you like it!

[zayyarwinthein]

Georgia on 35mm film:

 

 

 

 

http://zayyarwinthein.com

[koven]

Untitled by MrEllis, on Flickr

 

Untitled by MrEllis, on Flickr

 

 

Untitled by MrEllis, on Flickr

 

 

[Wu_Tun]

 

 

 

[TheCreativeD00m]

 

 

 

 

[fuego]

Does anyone shoot medium format here? I am looking to get into it from digital. Should I shoot 35mm, or skip right to the analog big leagues?

[Japaslavian]

Fuego,

 

There isn't really a significant difference between 35mm and MF as far as technique and know-how go.

If you're competent in how to use a camera it's more a choice between the look of the different film types and your willingness to spend more of less money.

 

You can get into 35mm on the cheap and still end up with a really nice setup. You could get a Canon AE-1 for under $100 or step up to something like a Canon F-1 or Nikon F3 for $3-400.

 

MF is categorically more expensive. Cheapest viable route in my eye in a Yashica Mat 124G which you can get for sub-$300. It'll get you quality results, but it's pretty limiting as you can't swap lenses or anything. If you're really planning on investing in film and MF, you really should just go all the way with either a Hasselblad 500 series, Mamiya 7 II (their slr's are good too, just massive), or maybe even a Bronica SQ-A or something. All-in-all you're looking at spending $1000+.

 

Some MF shots from late 2013 with my 500C/M:

 

 

 

 

Edited January 12, 2014 by Japaslavian

[rirakuma]

I would have thought there would be a huge difference between MF and 35mm mainly due to DOF? Anyway how much do you guys spend on film and developing per year? I've been wanting to get into it but it seems like its going to cost a lot of money.

[TheCreativeD00m]

Yeah if you don't develop yourself it can get expensive like 20 bucks a roll with good scans on a disk

[Japaslavian]

I may have been a bit misleading with my explanation, because there is certainly a significant difference in quality and look/feel between the two formats. MF is a higher fidelity film in that the quality is "better" by simply being larger, but as far as how the 2 films interpret light and color, it's more of a personal preference.

 

I pay upwards of around $18/roll for developing and hi-res scans. Some people will offer low-res scans for cheaper but I find it's becoming rarer because it costs them the same amount of labor to do it either way. Taking into consideration a single roll of MF film costs roughly $5, and there's usually an extra charge for B&W developing, it essentially costs you between $1.50-2.00 every time you press the shutter.

 

It's definitely an investment, and it's really up to the individual to decide whether or not it's worth the money. I personally enjoy the results that only MF film can produce, but I'm also pretty selective about what I choose to use my Hasselblad for and what to do digitally. I probably developed 20 rolls last year, but clicked the digital shutter 20,000.

[rirakuma]

Interesting, thanks for the info. I'll probably just invest on a different body, it will end up costing the same as film and development if I shoot a roll per week.

[laxlife1234]

Interesting, thanks for the info. I'll probably just invest on a different body, it will end up costing the same as film and development if I shoot a roll per week.

 

Here's a few different links to a couple of photographers I look up to on flickr. I would much rather just shoot MF, but as a broke college student I just can't afford it.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68156622@N05/

 

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13581586@N08/

 

(He uses a bit of 8x10 and 4x5 so you would need to click the images to see which are MF)

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexeydubinsky/

 

Also want to say that it's complete bullshit that Penn State UP doesn't have a darkroom.. you'd figure one of the biggest colleges would have one. 

Edited January 12, 2014 by laxlife1234

[Marw]

Right now a pretty much only do digital, But I really want to start shooting film. I think I'll jump straight to large format. That shit is so amazing. We got a camera I can use at school, and a ark room for B&W. A scanner too!

[fuego]

Thanks for the advice Japaslavian. I didn't considered the cost of running the camera or producing images over the course of a year. Your photos are incredible! The second one especially. Was that shot in Bishop?

Edited January 26, 2014 by fuego

[fatKARLOS]

Right now a pretty much only do digital, But I really want to start shooting film. I think I'll jump straight to large format. That shit is so amazing. We got a camera I can use at school, and a ark room for B&W. A scanner too!

i wouldn't jump straight into large format, especially because the view camera is a bitch and three quarters. and then film get's more and more expensive as you go larger. 10 sheets of portra 400 in 4x5" costs roughly $50 (add in developing or scanning costs and you're up to $10-15 per shot)

[fatKARLOS]

here's a 4x5 scan from about october when i just learned how to use the view camera (the vertical perspective isn't fixed). i develop b+w and scan on my own so it's quite a lot more affordable

still haven't shot color though, because of financial reasons

Edited January 12, 2014 by fatKARLOS

[Wu_Tun]

[BearCousin]

how much do you guys spend on film and developing per year? I've been wanting to get into it but it seems like its going to cost a lot of money.

 

not sure if where you're from or if there's a sam's club near you, but i take my rolls there and it costs $3.00 to develop/scan them to a disk. not extremely great quality but for recreational stuff you can't go wrong.. i've posted a few shots on here, all of which have been scanned at sams club.

[beatplusmelody]

Some shots from Streamer Espresso in Osaka

 

 

 

 

 

Also wrote some words about it at http://blog.careyciuro.com/food/streamer-osaka/

Edited January 14, 2014 by beatplusmelody

[zayyarwinthein]

Does anyone shoot medium format here? I am looking to get into it from digital. Should I shoot 35mm, or skip right to the analog big leagues?

 

I have a Hasselblad 500 C/M and honestly I don't think I use enough.

 

Where I live a roll of 400 Portra goes for $17 NZD and developing that one roll and scanned to a disc is $18 NZD which is the cheapest I could find. It's just so costly as well as lugging it around is annoying so I leave my Hassy for particular shoots or outings.

 

MF is a pretty big step and personally I feel like I went into it far too quickly without knowing a lot about film in the first place whilst I was shooting 35mm, the only reason I got into MF was because I got a bargain on the Hassy so I couldn't say no.

 

I would without a doubt go into 35mm first and dip your toes into film, just find a cheap camera off eBay or in your granddad's attic, pick up a cheap roll of film and see what you come up with and if you like it after two rolls or so see what MF cameras you want and how much they're going to cost as well as how much you THINK you're going to use it in the long run.

Edited January 14, 2014 by zayyarwinthein

[StrangeweatherYawn]

The rain never ends in North London

 

[dragon_]

spent the new year with my family and relatives in the philippines. twas fun

[Wu_Tun]

[Wu_Tun]