Topic: Becoming A Better Photographer: Lesson 1

The lessons I'm posting were done by John Setzler sixstring. He's a awesome photographer and taught me everything I know about photography. He gave me the following lessons to share here with others to help new photographers learn how to get started or even help if you feel you need to climb out of a slump. He has prints and a awesome gallery


Lesson

During my first year participating on the DPChallenge website, I have learned quite a bit. I look at things differently now. I see things that I didn?t see before. I have participated in a lot of discussions on the site and in chat that have helped me create a formula for improving my photography.

I have learned, through my own mistakes and others, that there are certain requirements involved in making great photographs. Learning to make great photos is a ?from the ground up? process just like anything else. Learning the basics first seems to be important. Once the basics are mastered, you can use that knowledge to expand your photography to higher levels of image quality and subjective excellence.

Lesson 1: Know Your Equipment

You have a camera. Do you know what it is capable of doing? How much experimentation have you done with it?

Read your camera?s manual from cover to cover. You need to be familiar with every function your camera offers. You need to know what the camera is capable of so that you can determine when to use certain features and how they will benefit your photos.

As you read your manual, if you stumble across a function or feature that you do not understand, it?s time to do some experimentation. Play around with the feature or function until you fully understand its purpose and how it affects your photos.

You should be familiar with every feature your camera offers. You should also understand what the purpose of each feature is. If you come across a feature or function that you don?t understand, you should ask for help. There are plenty of people on the site that will answer your questions.

Your camera manual will not explain much to you about photography in general. It will usually only give you a very minimal amount of information about the features of the camera. You will need to play around with the features to gain an understanding of what they actually do.




[This message has been edited by Shiiizzzam (edited 08-31-2003).]

Shiii...great advice in all of your lessons here...any more coming? I'm gonna stick these in a Faq...

yup...more in the works and will post them soon. I love John's work and he has a lot to share as far as helping others. He taught me everything I know and still helps me each day. He's a most awesome guy He'll probably join up here and share on his own but until then he's told me to post his lessons

OK...that's this 4 in the faq, properly credited 'n all.

Thanks Shiiizzzam, it's really appriciated

I love you Shiii

all of them are very good .. some of the same advice that my friend who got me started gave me ..

his site is at
www.davidyerby.com

Thanks, Shiii! Great stuff.

. . : slicePuzzle

Thanks y'all John signed up last night and will be around to help anyone that wants/needs it. I hope the lessons help out and would love to see someone not just read them but do them. It truly will make a difference in the photos you take !

Right on Shiiizzzam! thanks so much for that. i've been debating all week about posting and asking for beginner things but didn't. and i can't keep blaming my camera for my crappy pictures! i'm so happy for this! thank you so much! i definitely look forward to more of them!

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