Photography: More over the horizon

Dizkoteck

Dizkoteck

Well-known member
Hello,

After shooting and editing and doing all types in video medium, Im considering expanding my horizons to photography. Photography is a unknown country for me, dont know anything about except the cheap point and shoot cameras. Im thinking SLR, professional lighting and the such.

Are there any photographers here in this forum? What advice can you give to this old dog that needs new tricks?

Honestly, I think its a beautiful art, it really helps with framing compositions and etc, to tell a story in one frame only, but also I think there is a bigger market for photographers out there than video. I see that as an advantage, and even if there isnt, theres nothing like learning something new.
Thanks guys
 
There's alot of us on here... There have been a few threads not too long ago discussing still cameras and the like. Definitely go with a digital SLR. Anything less isn't even worth your time.
 
I would love to get into photography, but I currently have too many gear addictions to feed for now. and HD doesn't make me feel any richer.
 
Quite frankly, I think you started at the wrong end of the evolution chain. How can you shoot anything in film/video without having a firm understanding of photography?

That said, I agree with you - it's a beautiful art.

I bet most users here have photography background (there have been a few threads related to photography), but I may be wrong.

If I could give you any advice, get a digital SLR (Canon digital rebel cameras are excellent), turn the dial off the automagic, put a piece of ductape over it, and go mad! Do it WWW style (as in Wild Wild West) - shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot some more, and then ask questions (mainly yourself). This is a great time to learn photography - the incremental cost of shooting is practically zero, so you can learn a lot if you pay attention to the results you are getting with your camera.

May you have a good light!
 
Xcheck, LOL dude thats how I got into Video.... people will always tell me shoot shoot shoot, thats what I did and quite frankly, thats the best way. Make mistakes, shoot urself in the ass and get back up again rinse wash repeat.

Well, I'm gonna go for it...the actually camera will have to wait(Im not rich, look at my signature below) but as for everything else, I love to get into it. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to catch Spiderman
 
Dizkoteck said:
Maybe I'll be lucky enough to catch Spiderman
Click to expand...
Well, that would for sure earn you enough dough to buy a new camera! :happy:

Okay, if an SLR is out of your league, you can probably get by with a cheaper model - just make sure it can be taken off the autopilot (i.e., set into full manual mode). I know both Canon and Nikon make 'point&shoot' with manual override, not sure about specific models, though.

Have to warn you - these cameras have tiny chips in them. Signal to Noise will probably be disappointing, as will be the exposure lattitude. Depth of field is pretty much infinite, so if you like selective focus, just forget it.

Why don't you get one of those high-intensity, high-stress, high-pay fishing/oil field summer jobs in Alaska? You can make something like 50K in three months, build some muscle, hopefully not get killed, have something to brag about, ...

A friend of mine's son did it a few years back. It's a sure conversation starter. :grin:
 
I have to disagree about going digital. Well, I only disagree if you have access to a dark room. I think you can learn FAR more, far better by using real film, developing and enlarging everything yourself. Working with those kinds of processes shows you the mechanics of everything, and how it really gets from point A to point B.

If you don't readily have access to a dark room, go to a local community college and sign up for a night class, where you have free reign over your dark room times.
 
Hmmm, nice idea TC. I gotta check up on some classes.
But other than that, I have no access to a dark room. I love to get into film but alas, I was born too late. Oh why! why mom am I an accident?!

But anyways, I plan to get an SLR of some type. Something one step above the Canon Rebels. Ive had a lil Nikon vs Canon war with somebody. I personally had a confrontation with a Canon representative who lied to us about an XL1s (we ended up threatening their lives and their family,actually it was just him) so yea...eh, Nikon or Canon? your experience?
 
My favorite source of info for digital photog stuff is DPReview.
Check out the forums there for a wealth of advice. It's the DVXUser.com site of digital photography.

My choice - Canon 20d - go for it! You'll never regret it.
 
TC said:
I think you can learn FAR more, far better by using real film, developing and enlarging everything yourself.
Click to expand...
True. Also, far more costly.

I't like that old GFC triangle (Good, Fast, Cheap). You can't have it all, buddy. If you are on a budget, film is not the way to go - not these days.

The community college idea is great - depends where you are. If you can find the cash, I think Canon 20D is the best bang for the buck (I don't own one - I got D60 which is about two models before 20D, and I LOVE it. Can't justify 20D, as much as I would love to find the reason).
 
Go to a local camera store and try out a few of their DSLR's. If the 20D is a little much for you, the Nikon d70 (the just released the d70s, and since it's practically the same as the d70, you might find some good clearance prices on the d70) is a solid choice, as is the new Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D). The difference for me comes down to feel and lenses. After holding some of the cameras, you'll know which one you prefer...

And as someone has mentioned, dpreview.com is a fantastic site!
 
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