Post 3 tips you'd give a newbie.

[CuriousMike]

Even before getting a DSLR, I wish I had the following:

1. Get to the height of your subject. This was a big one for me, because I was always standing above my kids, dog, or flowers. Getting at their level made a large improvement to my photos immediately.

2. Get closer. This one sounded so obvious when I first heard it, but going along with #1, this has really improved my photos as well.

3. Learning the exposure triangle (once I got a DSLR ) -- or maybe more simply, learning to read the shutter-speed. Once I recognized hand-holding the camera with a 1/4 second exposure was going to end up with blurry photos, I discovered aperture and ISO.

 

[zCypher]

1. Practice, practice and more practice. Trial and error, learn from your mistakes.
2. Play with all the settings, take the same shot a few times but with different settings to familiarize yourself with your camera and get a good feel for it.
3. Don't be afraid to use the "auto" setting once in a while, you can learn from it.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

I only have 1 tip, but I think it's pretty important.

Spending $8000 on a camera and lenses won't make up for the fact that you're not good at photography. The trick is to practice, not spend money on equipment.

 

[Spoooon]

Don't wait for people to leave the frame when shooting.

 

[NAC]

1. If you have a DSLR, make sure that almost all of your shots of stationary subjects are in focus. Zoom in on a computer to check this. If a large portion of shots are out of focus - your camera may need adjustment.

2. Don't buy an expensive camera and use a cheap lens.

3. Don't be overwhelmed by all there is to learn about photography, by expensive equipment, or by snobby "artsy" types who degrade everything but top quality pictures as snapshots. Don't be overwhelmed or discouraged by anything. Just take pictures, learn a little, and then repeat.

 

[Syborg1211]

1. Don't be afraid to experiment. There isn't really a way for you to permanently damage your camera by playing with the settings unless you are pointing your camera directly at the sun with super long exposures.

2. Learn how to use single point focus mode to select what you want to focus on. Note that this is different from "manual focus" where you have to manually turn the focus ring to get your camera in focus. Single point focus is telling your camera exactly what to focus on. This also means that you're telling the viewer of your pictures exactly what to focus on.

3. Only after you have mastered above should you proceed to this next step. Learn Aperture priority and Shutter priority modes. There's lots of info on this web so I won't delve into it, but each mode will allow you to learn what aperture and shutter speed are and how they affect your images.

4. After learning Aperture and Shutter priority modes make the move to full manual mode and learn what situations YOU can use each of these modes in. This will differ per person and experience. Manual is difficult in fast-changing situations at first.

 

[Imp]

Get a tripod. Use your tripod. Love your tripod?

 

[Paladin3]

1. Don't get bit by the gear bug. Too many photographers think better gear will make them better photographers. Avoid the urge to upgrade until you can out-shoot the gear you have and know why you need to upgrade. And when you do upgrade, spend your money on good lenses instead of chasing higher megapixels cameras. A basic camera and a kit lens offers a lot of bang for the buck.

2. Buy a good flash and learn how to use it bounced and off-camera. Learn how to mix flash with the existing light both indoors and outdoors.

3. Learn to make images and not just snap them. Spend time really looking through the viewfinder as you move around and compose your photo. Don't be afraid to bend a knee, climb a ladder or lay on the ground. Learn how different lenses effect perspective, and how different apertures change your depth of field. Fill your frame and use empty space creatively. Avoid just snapping photos from pedestrian angles without any kind of composition.

4. (runner up) Carry your camera with you and shoot as much as possible. Sure, leaving it at home safely wrapped in a cloth diaper will keep it looking shinny and new, but it makes for lousy photos.

 

[Smoove910]

Assuming the person will practice, and carry their camera with them, etc, etc, etc.

- buy a prime lens and force yourself to compose the shot

- learn about hyperfocus

- don't ever listen to someone tell you that you're doing it wrong

 

[shortylickens]

1. Manual White Balance

2. Manual Exposure

3. Manual ISO

 

[Euchrestalin]

Don't wait for people to leave the frame when shooting.

Care to elaborate on why?

 

[dkkruse]

1- take the camera off of Green mode ASAP

2- Learn what Shutter speed, ISO, Aperture, and white balance are and how to change them.

3- Ask lots of questions.

Bonus- Learn your photo editing software, all good photos need post-processing.

 

[AViking]

1. Don't buy gear until you know you need it. If you're not sure, you don't need it.

2. Read books and practice.

3. A tripod and flash are a good investment. Try to get your flash off camera and try to have two tripods. Start out with a heavier and more affordable aluminum tripod which is good in cold and windy weather and then get a carbon fiber tripod which is lighter and easier for travel and much nicer to take out of the house. If you're not doing cold weather photography you might want to just skip the aluminum tripod, invest in the carbon fiber, and hang something heavy on it to keep it steady in the wind.

 

[AViking]

Oh and shoot in RAW from day one. Really no point in shooting just jpeg. Do raw plus jpeg and then when you're ready for post processing you'll have all your images ready to go and experiment with.

 

[brainhulk]

Im still a newbie, but I have worked something out that gets me satisfactory photos most of the time.

I set my camera to exposure bracketing. Takes 3 shots at different exposures in rapid succession.

I set my aperture depending on the depth of field I want

I check my shutter speed to make sure it is high enough and increase my iso if its not

Then shoot away.

Everything else I adjust on the computer. Using raw, I was amazed that I could make everything look just the way I like it. Contrast, hue, saturation, white balance, tone curves, sharpness, remove noise, cropping.

Fairly brainless process to me. Im just not artistic so I keep looking on flickr at the cool looking shots to copy, hehe

 

[Doomer]

RTFM

 

[IronWing]

Don't be so obsessed with getting the picture that you neglect to get a picture.

 

[Spoooon]

Care to elaborate on why?

People make things interesting.

Obviously, it depends. But shooting digital... may as well snap a few while you're waiting for them to move out of the way.

Boring :

Interesting:

 

[Throckmorton]

Get a tripod. Use your tripod. Love your tripod?

#1 tip... The opposite of this. Don't use a tripod unless you're doing long exposures.

I see people photographing sunsets, people, and surfers with tripods. I have no idea why. To photograph those things you need a fast shutter speed.

#2 Don't use the flash unless you have to

#3 Use Lightroom

#4 Buy a prime lens

 

[iGas]

1. Get a camera that is comfortable for you hands.

2. Take the camera with you and take lots of pictures...every opportunity you have.

3. RTFM so that you know how to use and why the manufactures includes the features/options.

4. Get Lightroom and learn how to edit and manipulate RAW.

5. Learn to use Aperture & Shutter priority, and learn when to use M mode.

6. Learn natural lighting and fill-flash.

 

[jhansman]

1. Learn the basics of exposure inside and out, and practice them regularly.
2. Learn to look for the elements of design (pattern, shape, color, etc.) in your subjects.
3. Shoot in RAW, in manual mode if possible. Once you know how to manipulate and understand ISO, aperture and shutter speed, then you can experiment with dedicated modes.

 

[Berliner]

Go out and shoot, in manual, and RAW.

 

[JamesV]

Talking about new DSLR users (which I still am), I'd say these are the three things that helped me the most :

1. Buy a sling strap and get rid of the crappy strap that comes with your camera. So much nicer to hike with the camera on your side with easy access to it.

2. Go to the library and get a book about photography; not a book about your camera. Learn the terms and play with your camera while reading to see what the author is talking about.

3. Go out and shoot tons of pictures. After learning the basics, take the same shot with different settings and then compare them at your leisure.

 

[mediademon]

1. Learn about the rule of 3rd's and when it applies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds

2. Know about the sunny 16 rule because it does work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_16_rule

3. Remember that light is what will make or break the image. Not enough and the image is ruined, too much and the image is ruined, even while shooting RAW, there is still only so much that can be saved. The best light and softest light is early morning and late evening. For mid day when the sun is harshest see the sunny 16 rule. Know how natural light is going to work for you, know that light changes from one second to the next, know that unless in a controlled environment, you have one chance. Treat every image as if it can not be duplicated. Forget that you shoot digital. Do not spray and pray. Make it count as if it were film. Experiment with light, use static objects and watch how light responds as well as the results vs. what you see with your own eyes.

 

[captainslow]

1. Learn about the rule of 3rd's and when it applies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds

2. Know about the sunny 16 rule because it does work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_16_rule

That's cool! I knew about the 3rds rule, but the Sunny 16 looks pretty helpful.