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Photography buffs

B

BobDaMenkey

Diamond Member
So, I've got a Canon Powershot A300, that I've had sitting around for more than 2 years now. It's an OK digital camera from what I've used it for, has a tendancy to blur a bit, I have a hard time steadying my hands.

But, I'd like some tips on how to become more than just a simple point and shoot. I'd like to take some good pictures for once, something I'd be proud to put on my desktop, or show off on the net.

What kind of things should I note when trying to figure out the angle ect on a subject to make it look the best?

Edit: I appriciate the useful links and helpful advice I've gotten so far. I'll be 'cutting my teeth' when I have some more spare time from studying, but I'm a full time student, and the first round of tests are coming up.

I WILL NOT be spending money on a DSLR anytime soon. I don't have the extra money to drop on a hobby I might not stick with. I can start developing skills with my current hardware. It might be something I will do later on once I can actually start taking good pictures, but it's not something that'll be happening anytime soon.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
You're not going to get great pictures without an SLR
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I got great pictures from my old Canon G2. So ignore that statement. Yes, a DSLR makes life easier and adds a lot of versatility. But a good photographer is what makes good pictures, not necessarily the camera.
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: mugs
You're not going to get great pictures without an SLR
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I got great pictures from my old Canon G2. So ignore that statement. Yes, a DSLR makes life easier and adds a lot of versatility. But a good photographer is what makes good pictures, not necessarily the camera.
Click to expand...

The pictures you can take with a point-and-shoot are not as good as what you can take with a DSLR.

Of course the photographer is what makes the picture, but there's a reason you don't see professional photographers using point-and-shoot cameras very much.
 
Lighting is #1. Make sure you have good lighting.
Then the composition.
This guy used a cheap P&S Nikon S2 camera and has REALLY nice pics with it
You could see how he frames everything. He leaves out anything that can distract with the main subject.
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: mugs
You're not going to get great pictures without an SLR
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I got great pictures from my old Canon G2. So ignore that statement. Yes, a DSLR makes life easier and adds a lot of versatility. But a good photographer is what makes good pictures, not necessarily the camera.
Click to expand...

Seconded.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: mugs
You're not going to get great pictures without an SLR
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I got great pictures from my old Canon G2. So ignore that statement. Yes, a DSLR makes life easier and adds a lot of versatility. But a good photographer is what makes good pictures, not necessarily the camera.
Click to expand...

The pictures you can take with a point-and-shoot are not as good as what you can take with a DSLR.

Of course the photographer is what makes the picture, but there's a reason you don't see professional photographers using point-and-shoot cameras very much.
Click to expand...

Check out the link I posted. It shows that a professional photographer with a P&S still can take professional photos.
 
But to respond to the OP...

1) Read the manual for your camera from cover to cover with the camera at your side. Learn to use each function, especially the "Manual" function.
2) Get a good book (or online tutorial) and read about exposure and composition and how these concepts apply to your camera in terms of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.
3) Get another good book (or online tutorial) and learn the basics of Adobe Photoshop (or some other "digital darkroom" software).
4) Learn to see the world from a perspective beyond your two eyes. Sometimes a great picture is an everyday object, literally seen through the different light/angle/perspective of the eye that is your camera lens.
5) Be patient. Don't just lift the camera to your eye and snap the photo. Lift the camera to your eye, hold it steady, take a deep breathe, and look at every corner of the viewfinder to make sure the photo is framed as you want it. Make sure your settings are correct, then snap it. You learn to do this faster and faster as time goes on.
6) If you feel like you are making progress, and that you have exhausted the capabilities of your camera, then consider upgrading.
 
Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey
So, I've got a Canon Powershot A300, that I've had sitting around for more than 2 years now. It's an OK digital camera from what I've used it for, has a tendancy to blur a bit, I have a hard time steadying my hands.

But, I'd like some tips on how to become more than just a simple point and shoot. I'd like to take some good pictures for once, something I'd be proud to put on my desktop, or show off on the net. Will the A300 get me started, or should I abandon my old $200 investment?

What kind of things should I note when trying to figure out the angle ect on a subject to make it look the best?
Click to expand...

This tutorial will get you started. It's a bit long but it covers some good basics in photography.

You could start with your camera and see where it takes you. You could stick to point-and-shoot and get a new 3/5/7MP camera depending on budget, or get a something between a point-and-shoot (like the Canon S2 IS, OR take the plunge and invest in a starter DSLR (like the Canon Digital Rebel XT).

edit: here's a good article on DSLRs.
 
GTaudiophile and George P Burdell, thanks for your usefull information. I realise I'm not going to get AMAZING stuff with a DSLR, but this is ment to be a new past time, on the cheap. I'm a poor college student with no job and no time for a job (Schoom M-F from 9-6 give or take, plus commute). I've got a bit more than $800 in the bank to last me for gas for the rest of the semester. Housing and food are taken care of though.

I'll take some time later to further check out your information, but right now I need to get back to studying. Thanks again 🙂
 
Luminous Landscape - check that site out and read read read

Go join some forums. Phototakers, Photography-on-the.net, etc.

Practice, practice, practice. Get out and take shots, post them on forums, and get advice/help.
 
Forget gettting a DSLR, you will only be paying for convience. Go to your local photography store and tell them that you are looking for an older 35mm camera with a 50mm lens on it. Go out and buy a wide range of film and just start shooting! Buy a book or two, something approiate to your level and read up on the subject. Practice Practice Practice.

You should be able to get started in under $200.
 
Originally posted by: illusion88
Forget gettting a DSLR, you will only be paying for convience. Go to your local photography store and tell them that you are looking for an older 35mm camera with a 50mm lens on it. Go out and buy a wide range of film and just start shooting! Buy a book or two, something approiate to your level and read up on the subject. Practice Practice Practice.

You should be able to get started in under $200.
Click to expand...

In the long run, DSLR will be cheaper. You don't have to spend more than $500 to get a used Canon D30 or D60 with a 50mm f/1.8.
 
Yeah a cheap older manual film SLR would be a good starting point. When you get better with one of those then a digital SLR may be worth going to.
 
Originally posted by: illusion88
Forget gettting a DSLR, you will only be paying for convience. Go to ebay and look for an older 35mm camera with a 50mm lens on it. Go out and buy a wide range of film and just start shooting! Buy a book or two, something approiate to your level and read up on the subject. Practice Practice Practice.

You should be able to get started in under $30.
Click to expand...
Fixed

 
I forgot to add: definitely invest in a tripod. Spend in accordance with your budget (if you can find a used one for cheap, even better), but definitely check to see if the tripod is sturdy when extended... that's all you need 🙂
 
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: illusion88
Forget gettting a DSLR, you will only be paying for convience. Go to ebay and look for an older 35mm camera with a 50mm lens on it. Go out and buy a wide range of film and just start shooting! Buy a book or two, something approiate to your level and read up on the subject. Practice Practice Practice.

You should be able to get started in under $30.
Click to expand...
Fixed
Click to expand...
I've got a Canon Rebel S2 I've been looking to sell.
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: illusion88
Forget gettting a DSLR, you will only be paying for convience. Go to ebay and look for an older 35mm camera with a 50mm lens on it. Go out and buy a wide range of film and just start shooting! Buy a book or two, something approiate to your level and read up on the subject. Practice Practice Practice.

You should be able to get started in under $30.
Click to expand...
Fixed
Click to expand...
I've got a Canon Rebel S2 I've been looking to sell.
Click to expand...

Let him start with the A300. You can do a lot of manual control with it. Sure the lens is not as great, but I get along just fine with my Powershot G3. I know I would love a XT or a D70, but for a lot of amateur photographers, they should start with whatever htey have....
 
You don't need a DSLR but at some point you might outgrow your current camera and you can worry about that when the time comes.

Some good links were posted and I'd just like to add:
http://www.dpchallenge.com/

It's a good site to learn some more after you've read through the tutorial sites posted by others in this thread.

Here's a quick tut on that site for people with low end cameras to improve their pics without spending a bundle: http://www.dpchallenge.com/tutorial.php?TUTORIAL_ID=11
 
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