Fun Stuff > MAKE
yay, photography! (thumbnails or links only, pls.)
elcapitan:
No, thank you! I'm really glad that you like the shots.
Ballard:
I don't suppose you could point me to a resource from which I could begin to learn technique and artistry? I'm hoping to take an introductory photo course at SVA (the School of Visual Arts here in New York) over the summer, and go on to a BFA from the same place, but at the moment all I have are a DSLR and ambition.
As well, just how big a difference does gear (and more importantly the cost of gear) make? Is it at all possible for someone to take shots like the ones you posted above with consumer-grade lenses? What is the balance between artistry and incredible equipment when it comes to digital shooting in particular?
Scandanavian War Machine:
that's an excellent analogy.
Neebin:
Glimpses of Montreal
From Mont Royal the view of Pont Jacques Cartier.
The Olympic Stadium
A church in my neighborhood.
elcapitan:
--- Quote from: Ballard on 27 Feb 2009, 11:12 ---I don't suppose you could point me to a resource from which I could begin to learn technique and artistry? I'm hoping to take an introductory photo course at SVA (the School of Visual Arts here in New York) over the summer, and go on to a BFA from the same place, but at the moment all I have are a DSLR and ambition.
--- End quote ---
I personally haven't taken a professional course since my Year 9 photography class, which involved processing black and white film from an old Pentax SLR. So I'm almost completely self-taught, which is a whole lot easier these days. Why? The Internet!
That's a bit of a throwaway comment, but it's definitely true. There is so much information on the Internet about photography that it will make your head spin. The trick is winnowing the good stuff from the bullshit, unfortunately. What kind of information are you looking at to start with? How much do you know about photography and DSLRs? I can either give you some tips myself or point you in the right direction.
(That said, taking an introductory course is probably a really good idea if you have no experience!)
The big mistake when you're starting out, I think, is to get into the high-tech stuff too quickly (HDR, off-camera flash, etc.). You need to take time to develop your own style and sense of composition - this is something that you can't just pick up overnight. It's good to start with the simple stuff, and spend a while experimenting with it until you get a real sense for what you're working with. (If it's at all possible, you should consider getting an old non-digital SLR and shooting ten or twenty rolls of film with it over the course of a couple of months. It's amazing what not having a Delete button will do for your shot selection.) This leads on to the next point...
--- Quote ---As well, just how big a difference does gear (and more importantly the cost of gear) make? Is it at all possible for someone to take shots like the ones you posted above with consumer-grade lenses? What is the balance between artistry and incredible equipment when it comes to digital shooting in particular?
--- End quote ---
Umm. This is a tough one. At the end of the day, yes, gear makes a difference. But I definitely agree with Jeans that it's not all that important for a beginning photographer. The differences in quality between low- and high-end gear are often quite subtle and (in many cases) not even readily apparent until you start blowing up shots or printing them. Plus, there are plenty of very good photographers who use cheap gear, even to the point of only using point-and-shoots; some even consider it to be part of the challenge.
For reference, all my shots recently have been taken with a Nikon D80, an older, lower-end DSLR from their range. They're pretty popular because the build quality is high and they can take really nice shots if you treat them right, but it's still a consumer camera instead of a professional camera. It's been great for me, but I am definitely at the stage now where I want to upgrade to a better camera, probably either a D200 or D300. (I feel I'm starting to hit the limit technically with what I can do with the D80.)
I use two lenses more than any other:
1) The kit lens (i.e. the lens that came with the camera), which lacks clarity in areas but has a great zoom and is basically a solid, compact lens for travelling, and
2) A Tokina 11-16mm ultra-wide angle lens, which was a recent investment and is much more of a professional-level tool, but still only cost me something in the hundreds (rather than thousands, which is what a lot of hardcore lenses go for).
So basically, yes, you can take almost all of my photos with consumer gear, because that's how I've done it! :)
As far as "artistry vs. gear" goes, it really depends on how creative you are. The so-called "digital darkroom" is an absolutely integral part of digital photography, and you can do some incredible things with software these days. But at some point, you will need to actually have light pass through a lens and fall onto a sensor, and if you can't get that to work right, then the rest of the process is more difficult. :S
Hope that helps, I'm happy to answer any questions you have. I just like talking about photography. :)
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